Lonely Planet India - August 2016

GREAT FROM

Chennai Bangalore Madurai Kochi

GREAT FOR

Nature lovers wildlife enthusiasts

GO NOW

To escape to the mountains.

TURN OVER FOR ALL YOU NEED TO GET THERE

1. From sweet lime
   to water rose apple
   fruits from the
   orchard invite you
   to sink your teeth in


2. The property feels
   like a home away
   from home


3. The women
   on the plantations
   are a hardy lot
   who work tirelessly


4. At Manalar
   Cottage you’re
   spoiled by the view
   and attentive staff


5. It’s easy to forget
   about the squelchy
   ground on walks
   like these

of a tea leaf from plantation to sack as

it is processed at the Venniar Tea Factory

(9am – 5pm; free for guests ` 100).

As night falls and you chat with friends

or family by a bonfire (` 1150) the sound

of your voices will be broken only

by cicadas and the breeze whispering

in the trees. After your time at the Briar

Tea Bungalows Lord Byron’s words

“There is pleasure in the pathless woods

there is a rapture in the lonely shore there

is society where none intrudes... I love not

Man the less but Nature more” are sure

to echo in your mind.

words vibha ravi

photographs aparna nori

services of an attendant at the quaint
Colonial-style bungalows. Feast on
mouth-watering fare prepared by chef
Pushparaj and curl up with a book unwind
with some music or just catch up on sleep.
Should you need some activity indulge
in a game of carrom chess or even

badminton on the indoor court.

If the weather is friendly the world

is your oyster. Bathe in the cool stream

at the Ootutheri waterfall accessible

only to hotel guests (5km) hike to the

animal crossing point at Vattaparai

to spot Indian bison or elephants (8km;

9am – 3pm; free) have a picnic breakfast

near dams like the Iravangalar Dam that

dot the landscape take in verdant views

at Maharaja Mettu (10km) or go looking

for the Malabar grey hornbill – Meghamalai

is a biodiversity hotspot after all.

What’s more you’re on a tea estate –

go for a plantation walk to watch women

or new-fangled machines chopping

tea leaves or to witness the journey

5

1 2

4

3