A roughly 15km drive on twisting and turning hill roads from Coonoor will take you to the quiet and green environs of Kurumba Village Resort (KVR).
The scent of spices like clove, nutmeg, cinnamon, cardamom and pepper will follow you everywhere you go in this over 10-acre property, for the land on which KVR is set used to be a spice plantation. The luxury retreat, run by Nature Resorts, has only 22 cottages. Not a single tree was chopped when the resort was built so the cottages are spread out and you will feel like you are the only soul here when lounging in your cottage. Be prepared, though, for long walks to the common areas and for your meals!
There are a range of cottages, from the 500 sq ft Kurumba cottage that comes with large balconies with views of the forested mountain slopes to the jacuzzi suite, which as the name suggests has an in-cottage jacuzzi besides a four-poster bed and a private dining area, and the Kurumba duplex suite, which is a 1,000 sq ft luxurious bedroom-living room combination with balconies that offer spectacular views.
Pampering the guest is the goal of this resort and so they have something called ‘Wishineering’, which is trying to make guest’s dreams and wishes come true. So as a guest here you could enjoy a romantic dinner in a treehouse or within a natural cave on the grounds that has been converted into a dining spot. Or you could have a rejuvenating Ayurvedic massage in the in-house spa. Getting a hands-on tribal cooking lesson is also a possibility. Something more active? You could drive to the foot of the Pakasuran hill and then trek to the top and enjoy a delicious hot picnic lunch with unmatched views. There are numerous forest and plantation trails to be explored as well. Or just while away an afternoon in the in-cottage or on a hammock while nursing a mocktail and watching the birds fly.
Price: From Rs 12,864 per couple for 2D1N all-includive package. Rates vary according to season; ask for packages.
Read more: https://www.natureresorts.in/kurumba/
Slow Travel
The Kurumba Village Resort was built in a spice plantation and no trees were felled during construction. The treated waste water is used in the plantation. Degradable/bio-degradable waste is segregated and plastic, paper, glass and cans are recycled. All the shampoo, conditioner, lotion bottles are returned to the supplier so that they can be sterilised, refilled and recycled; in some cottages hand made pots are kept instead to reduce the plastic used in the bottling of these products. Only organic fertilisers are used in the plantation. The management has planted over 3,000 native species of trees within the resort. These include fruit bearing trees that are a natural habitat for birds and other fauna.