It was a palette of light and shadow... an arcadia of winding tracks amid luxuriant coffee bushes, lofty Silver Oaks swaddled in pepper vines, orange trees, and jackfruits and the occasional mango. With no man-made intrusions, the wooded estate joyously proclaimed the glory of nature, under a cloudless sky. Crickets kept up an unending chirp, while birds of different feathers tweeted and warbled and yodelled, proclaiming that they are the masters of this domain. Drenched in overnight showers, foliage glowed a brilliant green, while grass edging the twin tracks on the path glistened with fresh moisture and leafy branches swayed lazily in the cool morning air. The intermittent splattering of dung on the twisting trail could've come from horses, deer, or even elephants that occasionally roamed the estate.
I was in The Windflower Resort & Spa in Coorg. Just a two-hour drive from Mysore along a smooth and winding highway, this secluded retreat ensconced within a sprawling 25-acre coffee plantation and perched over 5,000 feet above sea level promises contemporary luxuries, gourmet food, wellness therapies and interesting adventure and leisure options.
Accommodation comes in three categories: studio, suite, and villas. The studios promise contemporary comforts without really indulging the guests. The suites are better located though along a winding paved path bounded by landscaped gardens. And the interiors are designed to indulge. Pull back the curtains on the wide French Windows in the living room and the distant hills beckon you; step on to the deck outside, relax on rattan chairs and take in the verdant misty slopes. While parquet flooring, plush seating, and warm lights make the living room cosy, the bedroom is large and spacious, with recliners and other pieces of furniture adding comfort and utility and large windows letting you savour the outdoors, while you lie snug in the king-sized bed. The bathrooms are a delight too: trendy fittings, a Jacuzzi, glass enclosed shower niche and an open-air shower in a cosy little pebble strewn. Toiletries are generous and classy too. But the villas go up another notch in terms of comfort and space. Bedroom and living are roomier with added accessories and so is the bath, but it's the wooden deck outside the living area that takes the cake.
Ample privacy
Surrounded by clipped hedges that provide ample privacy, a capacious Jacuzzi that can accommodate four adults with room to spare, sits on a patch of grass. Lounging chairs on the deck surrounding the Jacuzzi invite you to bask in comfort and may be catch up on your reading.
With such attention to creature comforts, food cannot be any less pretentious. The yet-to-be-named restaurant is wide and spacious and sits on a lower deck below the huge reception portal, overlooking the “infinity” swimming pool. Rattan chairs and glass topped tables, rows of lights under cane and cloth shades hanging from the high ceiling, a patch of green with a tree growing right through the ceiling, decorative light fixtures and an entire side open to the green outdoors make for an ideal setting to savour the gourmet fare. A-la-carte or buffet is based on occupancy but both offer Indian, Asian, continental and the local Kodava cuisine.
The Emerge Spa here is a welcome feature, housed inside a separate block not far from the meandering line of suites and villas. The entrance foyer is a study in peace and elegance. The muted shades of the walls, the soft-toned flooring, pieces of art hanging strategically from the walls, the minimalist but classy furniture, all contribute to the understated but tranquil ambience. Adding to the tranquillity, a peaceful visage of Buddha on a large granite bust sits inside a rectangular pool under a patch of sky. The lower floors house the massage rooms for traditional ayurvedic massages and other procedures, while the upper floors has rooms for Balinese massage and other wellness treatments. Steam, sauna and chilled showers add to the experience. While a well-equipped gym caters to the fitness freaks, yoga and meditation classes every evening purvey the mind and body.
The swimming pool here boasts an interesting setting. Surrounded by lush greenery and lofty old trees, the contoured pool is capacious and inviting. While the pool deck is strewn with lounging chairs and sun shades, a large water body nearby provides an ideal waddling pool to a dozen or so geese that go about their business unmindful of the swimmers nearby. At the break of dawn, guests looking for peace and tranquillity could be seen taking up vantage points around the waterfront for meditation.
Elephant watch
Outdoor activities include plantation walk, early morning nature walk, horse rides within the estate, treks and river rafting at the nearby Dubare Elephant camp, and if the guest prefers, a dinner at a traditional Coorg home for groups of 8 to 10. A trip to Madikeri town just 15 km away and called the “Scotland of India” offers vistas of misty hills in winter, lush forests, acres of tea and coffee plantations and orange groves. En route, the Abbi Falls is a popular tourist attraction especially post monsoon.
