TRAVEL + LEISURE / MARCH 2016
BEING THERECOORG IS HOMEto fragrant teakwood forests, rolling
hills, lush tall trees with pepper vines entwined around
them, picturesque green valleys, and over all tranquility
that’s earned it the moniker ‘the Scotland of the east.’
I woke up on a misty morning in an enormous
bedroom furnished with charming old wooden furniture
giving one a taste of the past, coupled with thinkable
present-day creature comforts. Lush green gardens
with a quaint patio to sit out at and enjoy your evening
coff ee or even a sunny breakfast outside the colonial-
style bungalow. TATA Coff ee off ers a wonderful getaway
in their coff ee-growing estate Pollibetta where these
heritage plantation bungalows are.
The days are spent relaxing in the comforts of
the bungalow or taking a tour of the plantations and
understanding how coff ee is grown and cultivated.
Not only do you get to a chance to pick beans but also
interact with coff ee planters and understand the fi ner
nuances of the business.
For those not keen on coff ee-picking, there are
various other activities to keep you busy—an early
morning bird-watching walk, a day trip to Nagarhole
Forrest for a quick safari, a visit to the nearby Buddhist
Monastery, or a day at the 9-hole golf course. Warm
hospitality by the skilled and trained local staff of TATA
coff ee even includes a butler. Hearty homemade food
included some Coorgi specials like Pandi (pork) curry,
Koli (chicken) curry, or Kadumbuttu (rice dumplings).C o ff ee Picking
in Coorg
ROXANNE BAMBOAT was greeted by verdant green
valleys and all the world’s tranquility in Coorg—exactly
what she expected. But, a coffee picking
exercise later, and the place bought itself a whole
new dimension. PHOTOGRAPHS BY ADIL JAIN