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Built in 1829 as a school for European children seeking to escape the lowland summer heat in the cool, leafy high country, it is now a heritage hotel infused with the grandeur of the colonial-era lifestyle. Surrounded by tea estates and the famed ‘blue mountains’ of the Nilgiri Hills, the hotel has hosted generations of notable guests from film maker David Lean, who shot some of his film Passage to India here, to American author Harold Robbins.
Set in six acres, the hotel has 40 rooms, split between the main house and independent cottages on the estate. Neutral décor and an abundance of natural light are offset with vintage teak beams and furniture. Many of the rooms have open fires, giving a warm glow on a cold mountain evening. Food here introduces guests to the regional Badaga cuisine while also offering signature Anglo-Indian dishes. Outside, the hotel’s grounds are a feature of the estate, with multitudes of flowers bordered by pine and eucalyptus trees. There is a well-equipped fitness centre, spa and yoga studio available to guests, together with a nostalgic collection of traditional family games from croquet to marbles.
What we love
- For an additional fee, the hotel can organise cycling, pony trekking and nature trails around its estate and beyond, a wonderful way to get your bearings.
- We love dipping out of the hotel to ride Ooty’s toy train, the Nilgiri Mountain Railway, which is UNESCO listed and an absolute delight.
- The hotel celebrates the best heritage of the colonial-era lifestyle, from scones and jam served on the immaculate lawn with organic Nilgiri tea, to impeccable service with an old-world charm.
Ooty is high in the Nilgiri Hills (part of the Western Ghats mountain range) and can get cold in the evenings or early mornings, particularly in the winter months, so we recommend bringing a warmer layer.
Children are very welcome here with the suites able to accommodate up to four people and extra beds or cots available. Bicycles, ponies, board games and lawn games among the vast amount on offer for younger guests. The hotel’s restaurant offers children’s menus and high chairs.
Ooty is 85km (53 miles) from Coimbatore with its international airport and train station. Sitting centrally in Ooty, the hotel benefits from easy access to this ‘queen of Indian hill stations’, so called because of its captivating beauty, cool climate and serene atmosphere. Guests can easily access the Nilgiri Hills to trek, visit a tea plantation or ride on the toy train.
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