tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-52674337642657784142024-03-27T12:50:30.831+05:30Time Out in IndiaThe place to find the best resorts, holidays homes and Villa's for a memorable experience in India. Enjoy the scenic beauty of these lesser known beautiful vacation homes.Lakshhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16534899321331962557noreply@blogger.comBlogger38125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5267433764265778414.post-13666733237349487372010-12-20T13:05:00.005+05:302010-12-20T13:14:51.772+05:30VIJAY VIHAR RESORT - NAGARJUNA SAGARVIJAY VIHAR RESORTNAGARJUNA SAGARUSP: In communion with NatureI magine waking-up to the view of the rising sun from amidst a cluster of hills. The sight of the sun rays casting an orange spell on the waters readies you to jump out of bed and gear up for an exciting day. If you are at theVijay Vihar Resort on the banks of the Nagarjuna Sagar lake, a couple of kilometres before the Nagarjuna Sagar Lakshhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16534899321331962557noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5267433764265778414.post-41300311314933997452010-12-20T12:50:00.000+05:302010-12-20T13:03:00.861+05:30ACRES WILD - NEAR COONOORACRES WILDNEAR COONOORUSP: Invigorating farm staySome goats, a cow and a labrador watch solemnly as we holler out for the Acres Wild people — Mansur and Tina Khan. Already well-known for the cheese they make, they have now opened up their farm to people who want to share their love for the good earth, especially the 22 acres that they own.Acres Wild Coonoor is so accessible and protected at the Lakshhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16534899321331962557noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5267433764265778414.post-85955709894780300572010-12-19T23:35:00.004+05:302010-12-19T23:39:52.335+05:30LAKESIDE -ATHOOR,DINDIGULLAKESIDEATHOOR Post, DINDIGUL TalukUSP: Where memories are madeThey came as tourists in the summer of 2007 and fell so much in love with the place that their week-long visit was extended to three months. By the time they returned to their home in England, they'd already made up their minds to own ‘Lakeside' in the Palani foothills.Dorinda Anne (a teacher by profession) and Peter William Balchin (Lakshhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16534899321331962557noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5267433764265778414.post-51824767805339410972010-12-19T23:24:00.004+05:302010-12-19T23:28:15.308+05:30VIJAYSHREE HERITAGE VILLAGE - HOSPETVIJAYSHREE RESORT AND HERITAGE VILLAGEHAMPI ROAD, HOSPETUSP: A luxurious stop over to explore HampiHospet station in the morning is like every other station in a small town — bustling with porters and impatient vehicles. We get into the dazzling white car and sail forth to Vijayshree Resort. We leave the town behind and bowl along this dusty road. Suddenly in the middle of all that brown is a Lakshhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16534899321331962557noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5267433764265778414.post-39049621687831466932010-12-19T22:59:00.005+05:302010-12-19T23:13:01.831+05:30SURYA SAMUDRA PRIVATE RETREATS - THIRUVANANTHAPURAMSURYA SAMUDRA PRIVATE RETREATSPULINKUDI, THIRUVANANTHAPURAMUSP: R&R by the seaThere is something captivating about the endless blue sea; the thunderous rhythm of the waves crashing on the cliff below prompting you to curl up on the ‘charu kasara' (the traditional planter's chair) and stare at nature's splendour to your heart's content. This is my idea of paradise.The spectacular Surya SamudraLakshhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16534899321331962557noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5267433764265778414.post-32363131149434026732010-12-19T22:43:00.009+05:302010-12-20T11:45:36.294+05:30THE WILD ROCK COUNTRY HOUSE - DINDIGULTHE WILD ROCK COUNTRY HOUSEATHOOR, DINDIGUL DISTRICTUSP: Commune with NatureI magine your private room, done in a combination of rugged rocks, granite and marble, nestling comfortably on the emerald slopes of the Western Ghats. And, looking out to a well-manicured garden. Beyond the trees and colourful blooms are the vistas of distant mountains. Somewhere in-between is a verdant valley Lakshhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16534899321331962557noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5267433764265778414.post-18777825001266991472010-12-19T20:37:00.003+05:302010-12-19T22:28:15.578+05:30MAITREYI – THE VEDIC VILLAGE (NEAR POLLACHI)NEAR POLLACHIUSP: Rejuvenating the mind, body and soulI t is like looking through absinthe — everything is awash in green. Undulating swatches of lawns, coconut plantations, vegetable patches, tulsi in brindavans in front of every cottage — just green, green and then some more. The eyes feel rested. The quiet is heady.The unwinding begins even before we reach Maitreyi Vedic Resort. In fact, a Lakshhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16534899321331962557noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5267433764265778414.post-59905701779657845672010-12-19T13:48:00.004+05:302010-12-19T23:51:12.267+05:30MADHUBAN HIGHLANDS - MussoorieHOTEL MADHUBAN HIGHLANDSCharleville Road,Mussoorie, UttarakhandUSP: An impressive blend of utility and luxuryAs you negotiate a hairpin bend and catch the first view of Hotel Madhuban Highlands, it seems like a huge lump of concrete stuck on a soaring hill. When you stand at the porch, you realise it is sprawling, layered with rooms at varied heights that offer different views.The best part, of Lakshhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16534899321331962557noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5267433764265778414.post-49665013659045002352010-12-19T12:31:00.000+05:302010-12-20T12:49:21.089+05:30HILLSBOROUGH - KOTAGIRI ROADHILLSBOROUGHKOTAGIRI ROADUSP: Silences and scenic viewsSitting in a pool of darkness and silence can be addictive. I have just watched the sun disappear spectacularly behind a hill. For a split second before that, it looks remarkably like one of Raza's paintings.Hillsborough does that to you — fills you up with artistic thoughts, creative impulses and, if nothing else, immense zeal to finish Lakshhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16534899321331962557noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5267433764265778414.post-2050098149681555432010-12-18T23:42:00.004+05:302010-12-19T23:46:08.808+05:30McIver Villa - CoonoorMcIver Villa - CoonoorUSP: A 180-degree view of CoonoorI t's a misty evening at McIver Villa, a heritage bungalow built in the early 1900s. And, what a way to start a holiday — with a 180-degree view of Coonoor. Across the manicured lawns, the beautiful blue hills unfold.Run by Junaid Ali Sait, the seventh generation of the family that originally owned the property, the villa is promoted as a Lakshhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16534899321331962557noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5267433764265778414.post-91286691763912004222010-12-18T23:29:00.003+05:302010-12-19T23:32:06.877+05:30CAMBAY GOLF RESORT - JAIPURCAMBAY GOLF RESORTJAMDOLI, JAIPURThe golf enthusiasts had risen early and were trying their skills on the sprawling green lawns. The nine-hole Cambay Golf Resort at Jamdoli, near Jaipur, draws eager novices, professionals and coaches. Being neither we wandered off to the pool and then the gaming room for some chess.The small but well-equipped spa offers a wide range of therapies from classic Lakshhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16534899321331962557noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5267433764265778414.post-77245185176806456052010-12-18T12:13:00.000+05:302010-12-20T12:19:18.379+05:30HOTEL SATHYA PARK & RESORTS - TUTICORINHOTEL SATHYA PARK & RESORTSTUTICORINUSP: Rural rhapsodyI was convinced I was on the wrong road while driving down a dry, brown patch on the Tirunelveli-Tuticorin Highway, with a merciless sun beating down hard. And, almost like a mirage it appeared suddenly — the resort set amid seven acres bursting with ornamental ferns and tall toddy palm trees.The very setting of the hotel in such an arid Lakshhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16534899321331962557noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5267433764265778414.post-54855323292505716882010-12-17T11:50:00.000+05:302010-12-20T12:11:17.627+05:30Radisson GRT Temple Bay, MahabalipuramAlong the shores of the Bay of Bengal, The GRT Temple Bay looks out over sandy beaches. Based in the seaside city of Chennai filled with historic monuments and beautiful temples, the hotel exudes a luxurious, welcoming air.ROOMS:144AIRPORT TRANSFER TIME:90 minutesLOCATION:Covelong BeachPin -603104GRT Temple Bay, Mamallapuram, launches Summer Chillers 2010 packages. The 46-acre resort has 144 Lakshhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16534899321331962557noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5267433764265778414.post-84824538691925567432010-09-02T23:39:00.007+05:302010-09-02T23:44:19.936+05:30AAMOD - SHOGHIAAMODSHOGHI at ShimlaUSP: Hear the sound of silence‘Delhi 349 km away. Chandigarh 49 km away. Stress far, far away.' That is the signage at Aamod in Shoghi, a place so still that birds usher in the dawn with an orchestra of their own.Sitting by the window, I watch tiny drops of gentle rain fall off the leaves of walnut trees outside my cottage, slant across the pathways, rough and untampered withLakshhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16534899321331962557noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5267433764265778414.post-81368669523670686422010-09-02T23:28:00.007+05:302010-09-02T23:34:26.108+05:30THE ZURI SPA RESORT - KUMARAKOMTHE ZURI SPA RESORTKUMARAKOMUSP: Therapy for the mind and bodyThe Zuri glows green and golden in the early morning light, and as trees turn to shadows, a bottle-blue at dusk, broken only by lemon-yellow lamps. So yes, the resort spa, voted the best in Asia for two consecutive years, can be good for the soul. The impeccable service, barring a mildly confused reception desk, eases from your Lakshhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16534899321331962557noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5267433764265778414.post-3114254265127453332010-09-02T23:23:00.004+05:302010-09-02T23:26:43.757+05:30THE BANYAN TREE - SETHUMADAITHE BANYAN TREESETHUMADAIUSP: Luxury in NatureDriving away from the hustle and bustle of Coimbatore towards Pollachi, we take in the scenic beauty of the countryside — picture postcard perfect with endless greenery, streams and unpaved roads. Entering Sethumadai, a village located in the foothills of the forests of the Western Ghats, the gates of the resort emerge amidst the greenery.The cottagesLakshhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16534899321331962557noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5267433764265778414.post-50560212172130193652010-09-02T23:16:00.005+05:302010-09-02T23:22:10.143+05:30Mayapott Bungalow - ThekkadyEver been to a home built, literally, on a rock? If you haven't, check out Mayapott Bungalow near Thekkady. If you're looking to give the outside world a miss and commune with Nature, then this trendy property, set amidst 100 acres of cardamom plantation, and belonging to the Pottamkulam family of Kerala, is the place for you.Mayapott is almost like an illusion, much like its name. The three-roomLakshhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16534899321331962557noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5267433764265778414.post-79248850351984245772010-09-02T23:13:00.002+05:302010-09-02T23:15:38.514+05:30RAMADA RESORT - KUMBALAMRAMADA RESORT, KUMBALAMUSP: So close to citylights, yet so rural in ambienceAt Ramada Resort, just half-an-hour from the hustle and bustle of Kochi, it's serenity, food, and a good swim any time you please. Bordering the Kumbalam Lake, this eight-acre resort has a long pool which is accessible to every waterfront cottage. There are 24 cottages that face the Kumbalam backwaters. In fact, the idea Lakshhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16534899321331962557noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5267433764265778414.post-83829518341006830052010-09-02T23:08:00.003+05:302010-09-02T23:12:11.863+05:30COTTABETTA BUNGALOWCOTTABETTA BUNGALOWSOUTH KODAGU, KARNATAKAUSP: Live the planter's lifeThere is freshness in the crisp air caressing your face. Picture-postcard greenery fills your senses. Add to it a welcome shower. There is magic in Coorg, the coffee country.The escape to the Tata plantation coffee trails in Coorg during the monsoon turns out to be a bonanza. After a six-hour drive from Bangalore, past the Lakshhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16534899321331962557noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5267433764265778414.post-84892790070712489582010-09-02T23:02:00.004+05:302010-09-02T23:05:53.294+05:30Orange County - CoorgSituated amidst coffee and spice plantations, Orange County in Coorg is just the place to unwindMisty and majestic hills, lush green valleys, vast acres of coffee and tea plantations and orange groves… Coorg offers an endless expanse of picturesque beauty. The Orange County — situated at an elevation of 900 meters, at Karadigodu, four km away from Siddapur — is one of the best holiday resorts in Lakshhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16534899321331962557noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5267433764265778414.post-60044535386912034452010-09-02T22:54:00.005+05:302010-09-02T23:00:06.648+05:30Kairali Ayurvedic Resorts - KeralaWith massages that de-stress, food that detoxifies, and an ambience that soothes you Kairali Health Resorts simply offers you bliss!I was in the land of fish and chips; in the land of lanky coconut trees and pristine backwaters. I was in the land where the science of Ayurveda has transcended time; in the land where this ancient practice is a prided legacy. I was in God's own country to experienceLakshhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16534899321331962557noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5267433764265778414.post-10117677170809535602010-08-21T20:28:00.004+05:302010-08-21T20:32:34.986+05:30Koder House Hotel - Fort KochiKODER HOUSE BOUTIQUE HOTELFORT KOCHIUSP: The spacious interiors which look out yonder to the seaThe quaint, red-and-white Koder House has history lurking behind every brick. Not surprisingly, this beach-side, three-storeyed building is on INTACH's list of heritage sites.Owned by the Jewish Koder family, it was constructed in 1808. Sabatai Samuel Koder was the last in the family to own the place, Lakshhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16534899321331962557noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5267433764265778414.post-16966860222791864682010-08-21T20:22:00.004+05:302010-08-21T20:27:11.697+05:30Paradise Isle - MalpePARADISE ISLEMALPE - UDUPINestled among the lush green flora of coastal Udupi and set in a rustic ambience, the Paradise Isle Beach Resort at Malpe beckoned us after a weary journey from Mangalore. The resort, which boasts ethnic architecture with a touch of modernity, offers a plethora of facilities. Once in the cottages, hear the gentle whooshing of the sea, and be greeted by great views of Lakshhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16534899321331962557noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5267433764265778414.post-84888915685170770462010-08-21T20:16:00.004+05:302010-08-21T20:21:17.089+05:30Hill Country Resort - LovedaleHILL COUNTRY RESORTLOVEDALEUSP: A wonderland with misty hills and toy trainsWith the heat of Bengaluru becoming oppressive, a holiday in the hills seems a good way to beat the heat. So we head for Lovedale, a few kilometres from Ooty, that is still untouched by the milling crowds.The resort is 12 years old and has wonderful views of the vast expanse of Lovedale Valley, with the Nilgiris in the Lakshhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16534899321331962557noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5267433764265778414.post-19690607703918327572010-08-21T19:39:00.006+05:302010-08-21T19:52:07.984+05:30La Maison - KotagiriLA MAISONKOTAGIRI -Nilgiris DistrictUSP: Tryst with NatureH e stood at the door of the colonial villa. Some three feet from the ground, pristine white feathers plumped. This red-necked turkey gobbled at us, till our hostess Anne-Helene rushed out of the homestead, La Maison. In some trepidation, we asked if the turkey was being threatening. No, our hostess assured us, he gobbled to welcome Lakshhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16534899321331962557noreply@blogger.com2