Wanderlust: Top Exotic Hill Resorts in India
Want to spend a summer holiday on India’s islands? Well, there are many, apart from the Lakshyadweep and Andaman and Nicobar Islands.
Vivanta by Taj, Madikeri, Coorg
Nothing can beat the refreshing experience of raindrops greeting you when the weather acts like a furnace, and that is exactly what Vivanta by Taj promises. Situated at an altitude of 4000 ft. above sea level, the serene property of Vivanta by Taj in Madikeri, Coorg, makes for a thrilling summer getaway. 180 acres of vast rainforest encompassing this resort are lined with Coorg-style houses with the sloping roofs, featuring open terraces, private swimming pools and a view that lets you experience 250 species of flora.
Housing 62 suites, five private villas and the iconic Presidential Nirvana Suite, the resort’s wooden interiors are all done up in reds and whites. While each room gives a floor-to-ceiling view of the forests, the Presidential Nirvana Suite is generously sprawled across 9,000 sq ft that offers the exclusivity of three bedrooms, a swimming pool, Jacuzzi, a central courtyard and a private chef for in-house dining.
While it promises the best when it comes to comforts, the hotel’s restaurants offer a scrumptious multi-cuisine menu.
The Fern Creek, Kodaikanal
Known to rejuvenate all the five senses, The Fern Creek, a luxury resort nestled in the heart of Kodaikanal on the Palani hills is the perfect escape for couples. Spread across 1.5 acres with seven exclusive tent rooms, the luxury resort is tucked away from urbanisation. The resort offers beautiful canopied rooms with a view of the green forest.
Offering a home-stay experience with a private butler, a guide and amenities similar to those of a five-star room service, the luxury hill-resort actually grants you a chance to mingle with nature.. With activities like bird watching and various water sports, clubbed with epicurean delights served in the midst of the forest and in-suite fine-dining facilities, this resort also makes for a great honeymoon destination.
The Oberoi Cecil, Shimla
Retaining its colonial charm, The Oberoi Cecil, which was once famous for its grand ballroom and plush setting during the British Raj, today, is the crown of the coveted Himalayan range as a grand heritage property. Situated at the end of the marketplace on Mall road, this pristine white wooden hotel is adorned with English artefacts, marble fireplace and a signature atrium.
With luxurious, deluxe and premium suites, the hotel is the perfect space to soak in picturesque views of timeless terraced gardens, the foggy Himalayan range and the pine forests.
The Khyber Resort, Gulmarg
Perched atop the Pir Panjal range of the Himalayas is Gulmarg’s latest pride – The Khyber Himalayan Resort & Spa. Winner of Asia’s Best Luxury Ski Resort, it houses 85 spacious suites. Nestled amidst locally sourced pines, with exteriors and interiors that stand true to the architectural heritage of Kashmir, the resort’s immaculately beautiful outdoors flaunt a heated swimming pool, mini theatre, a well-curated cigar lounge and a well-equipped spa. A neighbour to the world’s highest skiing point called the Gulmarg Gondola, it has recruited a team of certified instructors with A-class quality equipment (from the Indian Institute of Skiing and Mountaineering). With freshly powdered slopes and a personal concierge to plan your skiing itinerary, the Khyber Himalayan Resort & Spa seems like the perfect break from summer.
The Serai, Chikmagalur
The beauty of this hill top resort in Chikmagalur lies in driving along dense coffee plantations. Surrounded by the historical ruins of the first ever coffee cultivation, the 70 acre resort houses 29 villas, including estate villas designed with private pools, private Jacuzzi, green terraces and exclusive water lined residence. Whether it is a suite with plantations in your back yard or an elegantly furnished two-tiered villa overlooking an expanse of trees, ferns and plantations from its chilled pool, you are sure to experience an unmatched luxury amidst this beautiful coffee land of Karnataka.
Glenburn Tea Estate & Boutique Hotel, Darjeeling
Glenburn is a heavenly little plantation retreat that lies on a hillock above the banks of the River Rangeet. High in the Himalayas, overlooking the mighty Kanchenjunga mountain range, you can experience the best at Glenburn Tea Estate & Boutique Hotel, walking through the tea estate in the morning or sipping on tea from the exclusive terraces of the hotel’s Kachenjunga Suite. The luxury bungalows and other suites and abodes here are designed to relax your senses with the views their beautiful large floor-to-ceiling windows offer. Each suite is named after the experience they offer, for instance, the Planters suite offers a view of the tea estate while the Rangeet suite overlooks the serene Rangeet River.
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