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Luxury in Wild
The Personal Telegraph , January 2008
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The Orange County resorts in Kabini and Coorg give a new twist to getting away from it all.
This one is not for budget travelers, backpackers and their ilk. But if you’re game for a boutique vacation, read on. In fact this is a holiday that combines luxury and decadence in equal measure. The icing on the cake is the visual extravaganza that accompanies the traveler at every step of the way – think malachite blue waters of the Kabini River, lush national parks teeming with wildlife and rocking rides on quaint country boats called coracles.
This is Kabini in Karnataka, the catchment area of the dam built on the river by the same name, just 90km from Mysore, that cuts across the Nagarhole and Bandipur wildlife sanctuaries. Alternatively, you can also take a car from Bangalore Airport, which is 240km away.
Coming from Mysore, the highway (Mysore - Manathavadi) to Kabini is a super mall for the visual connoisseur. Travelers can simply feast their eyes on everything from the tiny dots of marigold silhouetted brilliantly against the emerald mountains to the stacks of ripe orange corn soaking up the sun on black, paved roads.
However, there’s a word of caution for the city shutterbug. A click too many and he risks photographing villagers by the droves. The models are way too persistent to let go of and ace lensman!
The evening offers equally gorgeous photo ops. There were herds of elephants and spotted deer that could be seen slaking their thirst in the innumerable water bodies of the Mudumalai wildlife sanctuary. Mint-fresh after a cool drink and an impromptu shower, the animals usually scuttle to the safety of the jungle before the intrusive tourist can get up, close and personal.
But zipping through the national park has its other rewards. The leaf-fringed dirt tracks are packed with langurs cavorting with each other and feasting on a spread of amla and other fruits.
Giving the serious competition to this executive class wildlife safari is the Kabini Dam whose gushing waters provide the perfect background score to the freewheeling wilderness. By the time you’ve taken in the spectacular visual spread, you’re at the Orange County Resort, Kabini, a study in opulence. The resort spreads over 19 acres and has the Kabini River as a picturesque perimeter on both sides.
The resort, with its hand crafted beds and split-bamboo ceilings, is also eco-friendly, the latest buzzword in luxury tourism. A reverse osmosis plant installed in every suite is aimed at eliminating the need for the almost 50,000 plastic water bottles each year.
However, this is just scratching the surface of up-market vacationing. The resort’s designer was given a mandate to create and ambience of luxurious indulgence and that’s reflected in the two kinds of living arrangements available here.
The magnum opus is the Pool Hut with 2,332 sq ft of private space that comes with a sitting room, bedroom, en suite bathroom, two sit-outs and private pool with built-in Jacuzzi in and open-to-sky courtyard. The Jacuzzi Hut comes fitted with similar facilities but sadly no private pool.
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And then if you decide to step outside those ultra-chic rooms, there’s the Jungle Safari around Nagarhole National Park which you do by motorboat or jeep. The motorboat takes you down the Kabini River. But the journey does not end here. The next pit stop in the itinerary has to be Orange County, Coorg, some 120km from Kabini. You can also reach Coorg from Bangalore since it’s just a four-hour drive from the airport. This 300-acre property is set amidst lush coffee and spice plantations.
And in case you think you’ve seen it all, get a load of this: There are 11 villas designed in Kodava-style- the Kodavas being the native warrior community of Coorg- in the resort each with living room and a centre courtyard, bedroom, en-suite bathroom with courtyard and private pool, sprawling over 3,700sqft.
Now on to the food…. The gastronome is truly spoilt for choice at the resort’s three specialty restaurant- one of which serves up a delectable spread of authentic Coorgi cuisine including Pandhi (pork) curry, Coorg koli (chicken) curry, akki(rice) rotis and kadambuttu (steamed rice dumplings). The bells and whistles restaurants include al fresco dining facilities in the heart of the coffee plantation as well as fresh farm produce consisting of anything from turkey and ham to vegetables, honey and fruits. For a change of pace, you can also head to the Bylekuppe, the second largest Tibetan settlement in India, a stone’s throw from the resort. The 40-ft gold plated idol of the Buddha sits in its glittering glory in this monastery, home to 7,000 Tibetan monks.
All this of course comes at a price. But if you decide to treat yourself - and want to combine luxury with adventure - the resorts of Coorg and Kabini are great options.
- Susmitha Saha.
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