The story of Mohan Baug started in 1934, in pre-independent India, with the British Govt. granting this piece of ‘darkasth-land’ to Kota Lakshmi Narayana Karanth. K.L. Karanth is the older brother of K. Shivarama Karanth and was for the most part of his life the Head Master of a local High School and also started the Viveka High School. He is a noted writer on science, and his book, Janatha Khagolashastra (‘Astronomy for the people’) won an award by the then Madras government in 1953. A part of the orchard is now maintained by Dr. C. Udaya Rao, his grandson.

Naville homestay is a family run entrepreneurial initiative to share the heritage of Mohan Baug Orchard with likeminded nature enthusiasts and a small way of keeping K.L. Karanth’s love for nature alive.