Highland Eco-organic Cottage – Sholayur – Property review
When most residents of Chennai think of a weekend getaway, images of Pondicherry, Ooty or Kodaikanal inevitably pop into their minds. So, when I heard about an Eco-organic property in the forests of Sholayur, just an hour’s drive from Coimbatore, I was initially sceptical. I had lived in Coimbatore for 3 years and had never heard of such a place. However, a very close friend was getting married and we didn’t have a lot of time to choose a weekend getaway for the friends before the wedding. So, on impulse, we decided to spend this important weekend in Sholayur.
GETTING THERE
For those who might not be aware, Sholayur is about 40 km from Coimbatore across the Tamil Nadu-Kerala border. On Friday night, we took the train (Cheran Express) from Chennai to Coimbatore. We arrived early Saturday morning at about 6 AM. Somewhat surprisingly, the property offered to pick us up directly from the station, but we chose to be picked up at about 11 AM from R.S Puram.
Within an hour of leaving Coimbatore, we arrived at the property itself, a beautiful home complete with a lawn, its own river and a lake with beautiful lilies and ducks to complete the picture of bucolic calm. Instantly, our phones lost signals, and I heaved a sigh of relief! No one could call me while I was there!
This host actually has a few properties in the area, but we stayed at the Highland Eco-organic Cottage.
WHAT YOU CAN EXPECT
- A beautiful house with two bedrooms, two bathrooms and a kitchen. Very clean, but no frills here. It can accommodate 6 people with the extra beds and mattresses that are available.
- A single night at Highland Eco-Organic Cottage costs INR 10,000 and this includes pick-up, food and all experiences that are arranged.
- It has a lawn that is perfect for picnics, lounging, doing yoga or working out – whatever floats your boat. Children can play here while parents lounge around sipping wine and reading books (that’s just my image of what children and parents might like to do
- Space where you can have a campfire and a barbecue in the evenings. Just notify the extremely helpful staff, and they will arrange everything for you.
- Multiple hiking trails that will take you through gentle hills with colourful flowers and a stream that would turn into a river during the monsoons
- Other activities include a visit to a spice plantation and picnicking by or bathing at the nearby Siruvani river.
One of many hikes that led us to a small stream nearby
- A small hill that you can climb at night and is absolutely perfect for star-gazing.
- Staff on the property who stay a short distance away and will accommodate your every request.
- The cottage mostly provides simple, home-cooked, Indian food. You can also request them to purchase Kerala food from a nearby restaurant. Both are lip-smacking delicious. I have to say that they have excellent cooks at this property.
- This is a single cottage so you will not be sharing with anyone else. That makes it perfect for a family or a group of friends
- If you will be drinking, I would highly recommend that you carry your own alcohol. While you can purchase alcohol around the place, it will be of the local variety. So, avoid the hassle and carry what you need.
