Dubbed as the Scotland of India, Coorg or Kodagu is a beautiful hill station set amid valleys, forests and mountains. Coorg is situated in the Western Ghats and is about 250 kilometres from Bangalore. Our journey started from Delhi, we first flew to Bangalore where a pre-paid taxi was waiting at the airport to take us to our weekend stay at Coorg Marriot Resort & Spa.
After a long, winding journey, the chosen property was a welcome respite. Opened very recently, Coorg Marriot Resort & Spa is located amidst the lush expanse of Makandur Forest. It is much loved for its proximity to nature and is located in a coffee estate. The owners have opened a part of their estate to the property for nature lovers and fatigued city dwellers. The gracious resident staff pampers you with warm hospitality and delicious food. My weekend was replete with coffee brewing experiences, evenings by the pond, meandering walks in the plantations and mouth-watering local cuisine.
The highlight of my stay was the total absence of time-bound schedules, televisions and mobile phones. Instead, the predominant entity there at Coorg Marriot Resort & Spa was nature at its best. The property fulfils every nature lover’s desire to mingle with nature, romance the trees, feel the tingle of the wafting breeze, watch leaves flutter and dance and hear bird songs.
The hotel offers 108 plush villas and cottages with modern furnishings while being in the middle of a forest. The scale of the hotel reminds visitors just how cramped life is in city homes. High ceilings, long corridors, oxygenated rooms looking out at the plantations with detailed with prized rungs, mirror consoles, gleaming teak and rosewood antiques provided a sense of pervasive warmth that makes you want to kick off your shoes, wiggle your toes and curl up on a sofa, and never leave. A select category of cottages also features a plunge pool, allowing guests to indulge in a refreshing dip within the comfort and privacy of their own space. The property gives you the cold perfection of the hotel but the lived-in feel of a home that is always welcoming and nourishing.
Our first meal was by the pool, where I was instantly reclaimed by the pure breeze scented with coffee and cardamom, with a night sky speckled with stars bigger and closer than you remember in your city. The chef had prepared South Asian culinary delights for us where the khao suey soup stood out for me. The next morning, I woke up to a steaming cup of hot coffee and a sumptuous breakfast at the Madikeri Kitchen which was pure nirvana. The friendly chef had laid out a veritable feast from Western dishes to local specialities. Madikeri Kitchen is the contemporary all-day dining restaurant at the hotel that gives you an option of inter-national favourites and the myriad flavours of traditional Coorgi cuisine.
We made use of the crisp morning to go trek through the plantation and witness how coffee travels from a bean to your cup. The naturalist took us to cardamom and pepper trees while he explained the richness of the landscape. Lovely spices, coffee and fresh air rounded off our walk perfectly.
I still wistfully remember the lunch that day at their restaurant, Grills by the Valley. Offering everything from the grill, the restaurant is my favourite at the hotel. Firstly, because it opens to a valley-view setting and secondly, because of the impeccable food. Heart and tummy full, we spent the leisurely hours of the evening exploring intimate spaces around the hotel where one could commune with nature. The last day turned out to be immersive starting with a coffee brewing experience at the Cocolab. We dived into Coorg’s rich coffee culture where one can explore the fascinating world of coffee with experiences led by expert baristas. From cultivation to processing and brewing, uncover the secrets behind Coorg’s renowned coffee beans and indulge in tastings of speciality coffees. Whether you are a coffee aficionado like me or just curious, this was very enlightening and left us buzzing with energy thanks to the strong coffee shots. The second experience lined up for the day was a holistic treatment at the Quan Spa.
Of course, all good things must come to an end, and so did my little weekend retreat at Coorg Marriot Resort & Spa, a magical place where the old and the new met seamlessly. I wandered to our hearts’ content and finally reluctantly made my way back to our old selves as the time of departure inched closer. And though I am back, the resort remains an unforgettable memory—a sanctuary of restful beauty, serenity and unforgettable memories.
Words Hansika Lohani
Date 23.04.2024