For many work-from-home employees, the biggest problem is not the workload but the routine. The same room, the same desk and the same four walls can eventually make even a flexible workday feel repetitive.
Keralam is now offering a different kind of change of scene which is work from a forest.
The state has rolled out its first government-backed workation initiative, SHOLA, opening forest destinations to travellers who want to combine work with a nature-focused getaway. The initiative was inaugurated with workation facilities at Gavi and Suryanelli.
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Instead of spending the day inside a conventional office or working from the same corner at home, visitors can stay amid greenery while continuing their regular work remotely.
What does Keralam’s SHOLA workation offer?
The initiative called SHOLA stands for Seek-Hike-Observe-Lodge-Absorb, combines accommodation and work facilities with elements of ecotourism.
കേരളത്തിൽ ആദ്യമായി സർക്കാർ മേഖലയിൽ വർക്കേഷൻ സൗകര്യം. വിനോദസഞ്ചാര കേന്ദ്രങ്ങളിൽ താമസിച്ചു ജോലി ചെയ്യാൻ കഴിയുന്ന വർക്കേഷൻ സൗകര്യങ്ങൾ ഗവിയിലും സൂര്യനെല്ലിയിലും ഒരുക്കുന്ന 'SHOLA' (Seek-Hike-Observe-Lodge-Absorb) ബ്രാൻഡുമായി സര്ക്കാര്#KeralamGovernment #SHOLA #workation pic.twitter.com/Es316skyRC
— PRD LIVE (@prdlivekerala) October 1, 2026
The facilities include high-speed Wi-Fi and cafeteria services, allowing visitors to work during the day and step out for nature activities when they take a break. The initiative also includes premium pod stays, along with branded tea, coffee and sandalwood products intended to promote sustainable ecotourism.
The idea is simple: finish your workday and swap the usual commute for a trek through the forest.
How much does the forest workation cost?
A three-day package costs ₹14,000, including accommodation, food and trekking.
The rooms can accommodate two people, while four rooms have been prepared in the first phase.
The workation facilities are currently available at Gavi, a forested destination within the Periyar Tiger Reserve, and Suryanelli, a highland village located around 25 km from Munnar.
Why could forest workations appeal to WFH employees?
Working remotely has made it easier to change locations, but that does not always mean people actually get away from their usual surroundings. A forest workation offers a middle ground between a holiday and a regular workday.
Employees can continue working while getting a change of environment, with nature, trekking and outdoor activities replacing the usual after-work routine.
For someone tired of staring at the same walls every morning, the biggest attraction may simply be the view.
Is this a holiday or a work trip?
The SHOLA initiative is designed around the workation concept, so work remains part of the experience.
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The three-day package combines accommodation and food with trekking, while Wi-Fi facilities allow visitors to continue working remotely. In other words, it is less about taking a break from work and more about changing where you work.
And for WFH employees who have started treating cafés, co-working spaces and short getaways as alternatives to their home desks, a forest could be the next step.