Red Hill Nature Resort

For those looking for a truly immersive ‘Back-to-Nature’ staycation, the best place to be is in the gorgeous environs of the blue hills of the Nilgiris. For many travellers the overcrowding of their favourite hill towns has become a bit of a downer. But here, on the outskirts of the all-time hot spot of Ooty, there’s a wonderful secret to be shared. This is the awesome seclusion of the white-washed, gabled Red Hill Nature Resort, whose primary focus is to give guests a taste of some of the most magical allurements of mountainscapes – and organic life pursuits on a plantation in the western Nilgiris in unpolluted environs at 7200 ft.

On arrival you will be bowled over by the serenity, the unpolluted air and the swathes of pristine verdure in the environs of Red Hills, so named after a memorable piece of England by the British on arriving here. Awesome panoramas of the Emerald Valley and the Emerald Lake are served up by this colonial plantation dating to 1875. Your host Vijay Kumar, who lives on the estate with his family and five very friendly dogs, is totally into the organic way of life and is very keen about how to make guests thoroughly enjoy the sustainable living pursuits at the resort. A friendly and knowledgeable host, who takes a personal interest in making your vacation special and memorable, is a true asset.

You have a choice of 5 cottages featuring 10-double bedded, nicely appointed guestrooms, but meals are served in the dining area in the main house. Just keep in mind bookings are done directly, so there’s no online option as they really want to make your stay experience here personalised and exclusive. Following through on the back to nature theme, there’s no TV, as they want you to spend quality time soaking up the benefits of the outdoors. There is, however, availability of Wi-Fi in the rooms.

Red Hill Nature Resort’s, primary focus is to give guests a taste of some of the most magical allurements of mountainscapes – and organic life pursuits on a plantation in the western Nilgiris in unpolluted environs at 7200 ft.

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Meals are a celebration here. Both traditional local, continental and Chinese, served buffetstyle meals, are homely, tasty and fresh having been sourced from organically grown vegetables on the 80-year-old kitchen garden located on the estate itself. They use heirloom seeds to grow all the organic veggies in keeping with natural practices. Even the milk, cheese and butter are in-house. What’s not produced on their Kikui farm is supplemented by the local farmers market in Ooty or surrounding farms. Did you know you could get a taste of traditional Badaga cuisine that has been fused with the local cuisine over the last generation or two? These recipes have been treasured in the family for years. Even the water here is sourced from the uncontaminated mountain spring. The kitchen at Red Hills is a modern affair, but incorporates age-old techniques, such as woodfired stoves, traditional marinades and sauces, and only the very best ingredients!

The key themes of Organic and Sustainability are the heart of the Red Hills experience. Centric to your stay is the holistic approach of fun-filled activities they have put together, that will keep you charged up to revitalise both body and spirit. A gentle hike up the forested mountain here offers the gift of fabulous views from on top of Avalanchi and Porthimund lakes.

You can also enjoy a spot of organic farming, angling, cycling and explorations of the Emerald Lake environs. On the jungle trails keep your eyes peeled for viewing of endangered faunal species such as the endangered Nilgiri white capped Langur.

There are gentler walks to be savoured on the estate itself where one can watch the tea pickers going through their daily routines. You can even learn tea making and taste the high quality hand crafted speciality teas (white, green, black and oolong).

(FOR BOOKINGS CALL: 09442254755. ONLY PRIOR BOOKINGS FOR STAYS AND MEALS ARE ENTERTAINED)

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