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20 summer breaks at home & abroad
India Today - Travel Plus, April 2005
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The BAD news about the 300-acre Orange County resort in Coorg, Karnataka, is that the 200-odd km drive from the nearest airport in Bangalore is not meant for the faint-hearted. Brave it only if you and your vehicle are pothole-proof. The good news, though, is that a holiday here comes completely decaffeinated from the worries of the outside world. Nurtured by a family tradition of hospitality stretching across four generations, and flavoured by the fragrant coffee, pepper and cardamom plantations, you couldn't possibly brew it any richer.
Cosseted by Cauvery on one side and the 50,000-acre Dubare Reserve Forest on the other, the resort is incredibly beautiful. It comes alive in a sweep of lush landscapes and postcard pretty scenery: green paddy fields, ripe red coffee berries, clumps of bamboo... and of course, the Cauvery. The Orange County, named thus for the orange trees that grew in the area before a blight destroyed the orchards about a dozen years ago, today boasts about 50 meticulously designed, 16th century Tudor style thatched cottages in six unique clusters, each with its own fireplace, a kitchenette and a balcony that offers breathtaking views of the hills. And then there is The Camp, 10 luxurious tents with air-conditioning and heating, an exclusive infinity swimming pool that borders the lake and Peppercorn, a speciality restaurant exclusively for guests.
A holiday in the resort is about savouring all the distinct flavours of this delicious land: from the spicy Coorg koli (chicken) curry to leisurely walks through thick bamboo forests to tribal settlements, from indulging in bird-watching in the thickly foliated resort to a drive down to Kushalnagar, the second-largest Tibetan monastery in India.
CONTACT: Orange County, Coorg, Karadigodu Post, Siddapur, Coorg-571 253, Karnataka; tel: 08274 258481/2/3/4; fax: 08274-258485; e-mail- coorg@www.trailsindia.com
HOW TO GET THERE: The resort is about 260 km from Bangalore, 120 km from Mysore, 195 km from Mangalore, and 560 km from Goa. The nearest airports are Mangalore and Bangalore.
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