Done and dusted with the regular summer vacation spots and looking for something different? We have compiled some offbeat destinations that are perfect for a quiet holiday to beat the summer heat and let your hair down. Check these out:
The location is remote (a four-hour drive from the temple town of Madurai in Tamil Nadu) and all the more enchanting for it, as it often happens with lovingly kept colonial-era tea bungalows. It's not just the history, but the sweeping other-worldliness -- tiers of tea plants enveloped in mist, deep silences broken by birdcall (behold the Malabar whistling thrush), the crunch of booted feet on moist moss, a hot cup of freshly brewed tea on the sunny verandah. Why, Meghamalai itself means 'cloudy mountain', and the sense of being cut off from civilisation and chaos is very strong, especially when there are only two cottages and three rooms between them on offer. The cooking includes three-course meals featuring rare Anglo-Indian recipes.
Tariff INR 11,400 per room.
Contact 09442204001, 94422 02002 / 94422 02003 teabungalows.com
In the Balipara division of the Addabarie estate in Assam, this 22-acre certified-organic sanctuary includes a century-old heritage bungalow plus smaller 'tea bungalows'. The big wooden bungalow was originally the Visiting Agent's residence. The smaller ones used to house the Group Accountant and the Doctor, and serve as the Agent's office. The First Flush dining pavilion boasts of 57 different types and grades of chai from the world over at teatime, and dishes up a full planter's breakfast (full English plus puri and chana masala, with tropical fruits), Assamese and Anglo-Indian specialities for lunch and dinner. Besides the tea gardens and farm, angling -- as the name suggests -- as well as river rafting and (river) dolphin watching are the big draws for nature enthusiasts.
Prices for the Heritage bungalow in the adventure season (Nov-April) is INR 34,100 for two adults, including all meals and taxes. Tariff for the other bungalows (Ambrosia, Golden Tips and Silver Tips) is INR 16,200. The Camelia bungalow is priced at INR 14,400. There is also one cottage, priced at INR 17,500. The prices are for two adults and inclusive of all meals and taxes.
Contact 9833631377, wildmahseer.com
A 60-year-old residence in the vernacular Assamese style with framed bamboo walls stands on stone stilts by the River Umshyrpi. Next door is a more modern annexe, bringing the property to five rooms in all. Inside, the chintzy furnishings are fit for a fairy tale or an Enid Blyton holiday caravan. A charming family-style dining room with fireplace serves homestyle dinners on request at this B&B as well as sumptuous breakfasts. And all of it framed by pretty, private garden spaces with cosy reading nooks amidst the flora close to the heart of town. Owner and staff alike exude welcome. Tariff INR 5,800 plus GST. Breakfast is included in the tariff.
Contact 9774065366, aerodene.in
More B&B than homestay, these five cottages on Bundla Tea Estate each have four rooms and a lounge, dining space, front and rear gardens, a cook and a butler per cottage, TV and wi-fi. The Dhauladhars stand guard over the tea gardens. The fluffy white-linened rooms are of a standard any star hotel could be proud of and the staff as professional and efficient to match. The food is reportedly fingerlicking good too. In high season (mid-Apr-mid-Jul), cottages are rented out as a whole or a half, but single rooms may be had for the low season.
Tariff INR 10,000 to 18,000 plus GST for two people.
Contact 9736031300, norwoodgreen.in
Chumbi preserves the atmosphere of awe with an old-fashioned but pared down aesthetic in architecture and decor. The setting is picturesque -- with the Kanchenjunga for backdrop. Inside are sizeable rooms and bathrooms, themed suites, an amphitheatre, bonfire pit, a spa with traditional dottho (stone hot tubs for a herbal bath), and a 40-seater movie theatre. Dyenkhang, the Sikkimese restaurant, serves local cuisine and produce. There is another dining area with Indian and Continental regulars. Organic Nepali coffee and Sikkimese tea are the beverage highlights.
Tariff INR 25,000 for a single room, including dinner and breakfast. For double rooms, tariff is INR 28,000.
Contact 03595-258241/ 099331 26619, thechumbimountainretreat.com
They sell the yoga, but this Mohanchatti property on the River Hyule in Rajaji National Park hardly needs such enticements when nature already provides so much. Younger sibling to the popular Whispering Pines in Kanatal, this place could as well be a birder's best friend and a trekker's tented safari camp. There are luxurious rooms as well, if you prefer, and an al fresco sheesha lounge and a movie theatre. Aranyam strikes the elusive balance of peace and excitement too. Bungee station and golf course and Asia's longest zipline rides are close at hand, with abseiling, body surfing, cliff jumping and white-water rafting for a start.
Tariff starts from INR 8,955, including breakfast.
Contact 011-43539195, aranyam.in
Built in 1871 as a boarding house for British Raj families -- the likes of Vivian Leigh and Julie Christie visited as schoolgirls -- Ivanhoe wears its growing age with grace and courteous charm for contemporary visitors content to rest with him from the daily crusade. It is run as a B&B with other meals provided on request in the golden wood-panelled dining hall. Cast-iron fireplaces warm the bedrooms. Gingham and chintz cheer up the dining table.
Tariff Deluxe room INR 4,000, Suite Single INR 5,000.
Contact +918191900063 , +918191900057, 086428 42514, ivanhoehouse.info
Designed as a rustic-chic seven-room 'vacation farmhouse' property, this addition to the also excellent Soulitude in the Himalaya sits on the river Kalsa, in Chanfi village, on a working organic farm. It is truly off the beaten path, reached by a 30-minute trek and thus suited only to the fitter traveller. Accommodation is split across three cottages, one 70-odd years old with skylights, and the others furnished with red-oxide floors and fireplaces. Meals are often cooked al fresco on angeethi or chulha or in a solar cooker. No TV here, but yes, Internet, heated beds and towel rods and hot water are available.
Tariff, which includes three meals, ranges from INR 12,800 to 18,000 plus taxes.
Contact 09555314150, soulitudebytheriverside.com
In the Neolithic archaeological site of Mayong, opposite Pobitora Wildlife Sanctuary, this young development in the land of the rhino is just 35km or so from Guwahati. Swiss-style luxury tents, safari tents and mud huts with beautifully appointed modern bathrooms are complemented by a bamboo-thatch air-cooled restaurant serving classic Assamese meals such as fish curry and joha rice in traditional platters and metal bowls. Like the food, room decor is vernacular, wholesome and simple -- bamboo beds and cotton bedspreads in vibrant colours.
Tariff for mud huts INR 4,480, rooms with forest view INR 9,440. Tariff inclusive of breakfast and taxes.
Contact 98540-30506, zizinaresorts.com
It's a nicely located colonial-era villa that has well-appointed rooms with balconies, and big bathrooms with jacuzzis. The food is good and always-smiling staff tries hard to please. There's a spa, fitness centre, games rooms and swimming pool. Naturally, it's a favourite with families. The century-old heritage property is at walking distance from Mahabaleshwar's main market but you would never guess from the quiet that prevails once you're inside. It's what we might call a perfectly acceptable vacation.
Tariff From INR 7,500
Contact +91 2168 260 632 / 567; +91-91588 81310, mahabaleshwar.citrushotels.com
This heritage building, certified Category I by the government, belongs to an erstwhile Rajputana royal family and retains its regal Indo-Western lineage visibly across all six suite -- the interiors are lush and ornate with carved woodwork, velvet furnishing, Persian carpets, downy beds, sink-in sofas, paintings, checkered marble corridors, old-fashioned writing desks and antique-style chandeliers. The personnel, who outnumber guests two to one, keep up all this immaculately. Outside, terraced lawns and gardens complete the picture.
Tariff INR 12,850 including breakfast for two people.
Contact 096490 36999, altusabu.com
There are only some pockets in Ooty where the Queen of the Hills retains her old grace effortlessly and Bouganvilla manages to be one of them, nestled as it is high above the town's famous arboretum. Some parts of the roomy bungalow and surrounding lawn-facing cottages have wooden flooring, charming fireplaces (though they are mainly decorative -- heaters are handy on request and you'll likely need them), bay windows, baths with tubs, stepped elevation full of potted plants in various states of bloom, and wrought iron garden furniture with a handy barbecue pit. The twin suite has separate bathrooms for both rooms, and the luxury rooms have king-sized four posters though the executive rooms have smaller beds. Upkeep is immaculate, service is genuinely helpful and flexible, and the food sumptuous and tasty.
Tariff INR 4,500 plus taxes (includes breakfast). During season time (April-May), tariff goes up to INR 5,500 plus taxes.
Contact +91 98436 01999, bouganvilla.in
They have lovely villas (good for families), suites and intimate cottages occupying 10 of 200 acres in an undulating coffee estate, their dark wood interiors offset by a pleasingly white paint theme. The food is multi-cuisine but they take special pride in their local dishes (superb fish) and homemade breads. The spa features ice showers apart from two steam baths and the services are competitively priced. The swimming pool is temperature-controlled and comes with views of the rolling hills beyond paddy fields. There's kayaking, cycling and a fully-equipped gym as well. Ask for rooms closer to the small lake on the property -- the main building tends to get noisy.
Tariff INR 13,500 to 17,500 inclusive of all meals.
Contact 090190 20094, flameback.in
The presence of this Jain tharavadu benefits Wayanad's district headquarters. The low-slung, tiled-roof, red-painted abode offers clean if basic rooms, and tireless hospitality that wins the family many new friends. Many visitors swear they'll go back because this kind of hospitality, which treats the guest like a BFF, can hardly be found anymore. There are four rooms in the main building and two in a quasi-outhouse, the latter being better suited for a group. The greenery and tranquillity attracts a variety of birds so keep your camera handy. Food is wholesome, likeable and purely vegetarian.
Tariff Starts from INR 2,500
Contact 09946354511, kudajadridrizzle.com
Old Kent is an old estate that's been operating as a premier coffee plantation sprawled over 200 acres in Suntikoppa, about 20km from Madikeri. The gardens are lush, the food is carefully prepared, the service is courteous and modernised, and there's a spa in which to relax. The Old Kent Lodge is the original home of the estate's erstwhile colonial owners, lovingly maintained and offering fabulous views from its vantage. There's a snooker room and a woodsy library, and a propah English garden with hammocks. The modern chalets honour the vintage theme -- 850 sq ft with private gardens and sequestered bathrooms lavished with lathed marble tubs.
Tariff From Rs 12,500
Contact +91 97898 96454, oldkentestate.com
There are just four suites and a villa in this stately mansion-turned-hotel, which once counted Sir Robert Clive and Charles Dickens amongst its guests. Artist-chef-entrepreneur Vishu Kaliappa says he chose Regent Hill Side for its outstanding location, and sense of history and style, then personally designed its refurbishment to recreate the Brit era. He does this without neglecting any modern convenience, whether the concrete road that leads up to the courtyard reception or the 'non-hotel' interiors of the three suites. The fourth suite, Abiemore, is Mr Kaliappa's private den, and the lone villa is pitched as a honeymooner's paradise with an open-to-sky bathroom and exotic garden. Meals are available whenever you want them, tables can be set anywhere you like, pets are welcome, and there are no restrictions on the number of people in a room.
Tariff From INR 4,800 inclusive of taxes and breakfast.
Contact 09443700000
This plantation retreat, even though it's set in an organic coffee and spice plantation, creates an atypical (read non-colonial) identity with accommodation styled like traditional Kerala homes. The Cardamom Cottage is, in fact, a mini-mansion of two rooms, especially suited for families, and costs nearly double the deluxe rooms. The mod cons are unstinting and the open-to-sky bathrooms are especially pretty. Acupuncture, yoga, dance performances, astrology and Ayurvedic therapies are arranged.
Tariff From INR 16,200
Contact 097462 23366