A holiday at The School Estate, Coorg

The School Estate at Coorg in Karnataka makes for a getaway like no other. We offer you a sneak peek.

An endless expanse of greenery, rolling hills and clouds swooping in to cover treetops and peaks with mist; If that‘s the image of a perfect holiday in your mind then Coorg would make the right destination. Located about 260 kms from Bangalore, Coorg or Kodagu is home to the Kodava community, known as a brave warrior clan. Today Coorg is better known for its coffee plantations, wildlife and for one of the largest Tibetan settlements in South India.

A unique way to savour Coorg is to avoid a hotel and book yourself in a home stay, where you can interact with the family and get a feel of the local culture, traditions and way of living. We loved The School Estate, located near Sidapura. If you are looking for a holiday of serenity and peace, where you wake up to a crisp, fresh morning, surrounded by acres of green and the sounds of silence broken only by the rustling of leaves and birdsong, then The School Estate is the perfect destination for you. The estate, bordered by the Kummae river, makes for one of the most exclusive getaways in Coorg.

Home to Mrs Rani Ayapa and her family over several generations, the School Estate started life as a rector’s home.The Reverend Rictor was one of the earliest British missionaries to Coorg, who at the request of the locals, started the first English language school at Madikeri in Coorg. The school was run by the proceeds from his estate, hence the name School Estate, Mrs Ayapa informs us.

The Schoo earliest British missionaries to Coorg, who at the request of the locals, started the first English language school at Madikeri l Estate has been in Mrs Ayapa’s family for the past 90 years and includes about 200 acres, which include a coffee estate, gardens, abundant flowers and beautiful lawns, all combining to make a picture perfect holiday setting. A sense of history has been maintained by the artifacts strewn around the house with the bell from Reverend Rictor’s time proudly announcing the estate’s heritage.

Most guests at The School Estate visit from overseas, with the majority from UK, Switzerland, Germany and Italy. Mrs Ayapa especially welcomes senior citizens, who she feels, would appreciate a holiday that is peaceful and culturally rich. Among the activities The School Estate offers are plantation visits, walking around the area, golfing, cycling or simply lying on a hammock and soaking in the enchanting ambiance. You could also get a feel of regular farm life in the estate by visiting the dairy farm on the premises or seeing how coffee is picked and processed. Visits to local attractions in Coorg like the Golden Temple in Bylakuppe, Dubare Elephant Camp, Abbi Falls and Rajah’s seat could also be organised.

While Mrs Ayapa welcomes all guests, The School Estate is above all home to her family and as such guests need to maintain a certain amount of peace and decorum, the way they would in their own homes. So yes, put your feet up, relax, soak in the ambiance of this impeccably maintained home, learn all about the flora and fauna that surround it but do keep to the meal times and schedules instead of following your own. Dinner is served here by 8.30 pm and the rest of the meals follow fixed times too. Speaking of meals, The School Estate offers excellent al fresco dining opportunities, with meals served outside in the lawns as well. Dinner is usually served on a century old pool table in a beautiful timber floored sitting room. Like we said earlier, there’s history all around here.

The food served is a mix of continental and local cuisine. If you wish to sample authentic Kodava cuisine that could be arranged as well. The School Estate offers guests five rooms with bathrooms. An ideal holiday destination for senior citizens and families, this is a beautiful heritage home stay with a lot of history that needs to be visited and lived in with love and care.

(Photograph courtesy: The School Estate, Coorg)

To get an exclusive pricing at The School Estate, Coorg, please write to us at info@parentcareindia.com.

For more details visit http://www.schoolestate.in/