We had 9 days in Kerala and stayed for 4 days at GK homestay at the end- for me it was the highlight of my holiday as I found it so homely with stunning lush and beautiful green surroundings. I met lovely people and I felt that the hosts really made it for me. We were welcomed very warmly by George and his wife Dai. They are gracious and extremely hospitable hosts- open to all people from all backgrounds. While we were there the place was always full of interesting people- we met lovely people. George arranged a local boat trip for us and all the guests staying on that day went together and shared the costs. George pays for the trip so he is charged at local rates which then we pay him for and he does not add any costs to this- as he wants his guests to enjoy an economical rate rather than being charged tourist rates. Guests are welcome to borrow a book to learn about local birds -his homestay is not at a bird sanctuary (and he never claimed it was) but on the day that we went on the boat trip George arranged for us to go to the lake where the sanctuary is which was a great day out.
The accomodation is basic which we knew before we went so were not disappointed. It is very clean and comfortable and the setting is stunning. I thought that it might be hard to fill in 4 days but it is easy to take a bus into Kottayam and see the very old churches and do some shopping,. .It is also easy for George to call an autorickshaw to take you about if you wish, But mainly it is a great place to take a book, lie in a hammock, go on a canoe trip, go on a boat trip to the lake and further, and do lots of walks about the villages in the area. George's family is very well known and respected in the area and he takes great pride in his simple but very serene and welcoming homestay. Thank you for great memories - I am recommending this homestay to everyone I talk to about my holiday.

Myself and a friend have just spent five days and four nights at GK Homestay and what a super time we have had.
Wondeful Keralan food freshly cooked by his wife Dai and plently of it, good company, in fact a new found family. We were made to feel at home from the minute we arrived and nothing has been too much trouble for our hosts. George has had the answer to every question as to where to go and how to get there and has arranged whatever we decided to do. He has shown particular kindness to all of his guests, for example, a young lady guest, newly pregnant, was worried and he even arranged for her to have a scan to put her mind at rest.
When we a problem booking a hotel that would not take a credit card and wanted payment in advance, he paid it from his account and we reimbursed him.

We had five days of total relaxation, long walks around the paddy fields bird-watching, canoeing and laying in a hammock.

George and his family are held in great esteem in the area and the locals also made us very welcome.
We cannot recommend GK Homestay highly enough and hope to return in the future.

George is the owner of GK's Riverview Homestay and he states that it is a bird sanctuary. This is not a bird sanctuary, he has no knowledge about birds. He knows nothing about the birds genius, habitats, what the birds eats, where they migrate, how long they stay in a particular area, when they lay eggs. He does nothing when it comes to the protection of birds. George is not affiliated with any ornithologist organization or is affiliated with any group in the area, there are no bird counts held at his so and so sanctuary. It is very disappointing for people who have travelled and came to this homestay.
The food that is made at the homestay is sugar and salt based and the family members suffer from obesity, diabetes, high blood pressure. There are no stores in the immediate area. The directions to get to the homestay are horrible, people in the area don't even where the homestay exists. It is a hush hush deal. The owner is prejudice of people who are not Christian. So if you are Hindu, Buddhist, Muslim he will treat you very poorly and nasty. He has a contempt for people. The homestay is outrageously overpriced with no airconditioning or hot water. He charge $3,000 rupees plus.

We absolutely loved our stay at GKs Riverview. Why? Because George and his family made it a time to remember, they are really, really great hosts. The rooms are clean, comfy and basic, we had one with a fan in the guesthouse which we loved, they also have two A/C rooms in their family house. When you are there, you become part of their family, and they will go out of their way to ensure you have a treat experience of the backwaters. While we were there, everybody at their place spontaneously went on a spectacular day trip across the backwaters and the lake to Alappuzha in a boat that George rented for all of us - such a pleasure. You can choose between veg and non-veg food, it's basic but good - and the best part is sharing it with your host!