The moment you hit an undulating mud road off the highway that passes through the lush Bandipur Tiger Reserve, the dense vegetation gives way to neat rows of slim areca nut palms bordering the narrow road. Gone are the city vehicles zipping through the forest in total disregard of the speed limit and leaving a billowing cloud of smoke in their wake. Instead, bunches of plump green berries appear along the slopes flanking the mud road, and the chirping of birds and buzz of the insects hidden in the folds of fallen leaves is the only noise you hear as you roll down the window of your car to take in the fresh, nippy air.
I am at Tranquil Resort in Wayanad, nestled in the coffee plantation of the Kuppamudi estate. Surrounded by 400 acres of coffee, nutmeg, mangosteen, avocado, pepper vines and areca nut trees, the boutique homestay lives up to its name, rewiring any jaded city soul with its peaceful, rejuvenating vibe.
The over-100-year-old estate was acquired by current owner Rajesh Rajaram’s father in 1994 and turned into a boutique resort in 2000. As restoration stories go, the expansive mansion was falling apart, and careful renovation restored it in a way that it could function as the central hub of the resort with private quarters for the estate manager, two suites, and a restaurant.
The extended part of the mansion features five rooms complete with a spacious shaded verandah reminiscent of the old bungalows, where one can enjoy that morning cup of freshly brewed coffee. A private pool villa with three bedrooms, a large living room, and a kitchenette is earmarked for larger groups and sits a little secluded from the main activity area.
The most fascinating (and easily the most booked-out space) are the two tree houses, where the tree trunk passes through the bedroom. Here, the glass-walled bathroom gives a sense of bathing under a waterfall. When you wake up, the only sound you hear is that of the gurgling stream below. Built with neem and silver oak wood sourced from the plantation itself, the treehouses are a luxurious upgrade from the Enid Blyton version you grew up reading about. On the balcony, which offers a bird’s-eye view of the plantation, you’ll see a reddish-brown lattice on the railing that resembles tree roots and is fashioned from the roots of older coffee plants that have lived past their prime.
The winter months, from January to March, are the coffee-picking months and the perfect time to book a place in these warm rooms and curl up with a book. Forgot to carry one? The rooms have inbuilt wood shelves meticulously lined with titles you can pick up. Other thoughtful and creative touches are evident in the interiors—there are spoon holders fashioned out of the dried pods from the African tulip tree, platters made from sliced coffee, and rosewood trunks that will catch your eye.
There’s also a little souvenir shop at the resort, where the wood scraps from the estate are reimagined as napkin holders and driftwood lamps and placed alongside coffee and spices that you can take home.
When I step out for a tour of the plantation, a quaint sign with colourful arrows points to the eight walking and hiking trails that run through the estate. The self-guided, easy-to-navigate trails are perfect for birdwatching and exploring the estate at your pace. In no time, I discover the shortest trail to my treehouse with the aid of two adorable Labradors, Duke and Cherry Blossom, the resident pets at the resort.
