A place of great luxury and beauty, Xanadu is exactly that break you are looking for

You badly need a break but two days is all you have. What do you do? You pack your bags and leave to Xanadu where you can drown the chaos of the city amidst the lush green tea estates.
Xanadu at Coonoor
Xanadu at Coonoor

You badly need a break but two days is all you have. What do you do? You pack your bags and leave to Xanadu where you can drown the chaos of the city amidst the lush green tea estates 

A place of great luxury and beauty, Xanadu at Coonoor is a mere 70km drive from the city and it promises a room with a view. What makes a trip to Xanadu a truly unique experience is the unparalleled view of the sunrise, without having to step away from the warmth of your beds. After the ascent across the winding roads, one look at the property and you know that is not your average homestay. The 2,500 sq ft bungalow perched upon the cliff looks like a holiday home that you are coming back to for the summers.

Home of the rising sun

The cosy little homestay located inside the Drummela Estate is small yet inviting with a warm living room and three bedrooms, named Akira, Aurora and Alba after spectacular sunrises. Each room varies in size with Alba, the smallest of the rooms with twin beds, Akira, in the centre has a magnificent view with its full-length glass windows and king-sized bed and Aurora, with a built-in Jacuzzi for those who love an added bit of luxury, The Victorian-style, contemporary bungalow has walls lined with interesting reads and French doors which open into a sprawling garden. “What sets our property apart is the breathtaking view of the sunrise every morning. All the bedrooms are designed in such a way that anyone visiting us gets an unparalleled view of the rising sun, right from their beds,” says Aparna Bharathan, who co-owns the property.

Exteriors of Xanadu
Exteriors of Xanadu

Lap of luxury

We took Aparna’s word for it and landed at Xanadu one night and were offered Akira, a Japanese word meaning ‘light from the sun’. The 250 sq ft room looks spacious with a large king-size bed and some select pieces of furniture that are traditional yet have a contemporary twist to them. The wing chair though having a retro touch to it has some quirky geometrical prints that look modern. Lamps with warm lighting add a touch of cosiness to the room and little things like handwritten welcome notes and home-made chocolates left on the bed add a personal touch to the stay. But what really catches our attention is the full-length window in front of the bed which makes us eager for the day-time view. We turned in early in anticipation of not wanting to miss the early morning sunrise. Boasting of the best sunrise in the Nilgiris is a tall claim to live upto and Xanadu delivers it in a lap of luxury.

Cosy rooms
Cosy rooms

View to die for

At around 6 am, one wakes up without the help of a blaring alarm, as the room, which has tall glass doors, is bathed in a warm glow of the rising sun. As we quickly head to the lawn that is designed specifically for those wanting to enjoy the sunrise, we are greeted with a magnificent view of the hills covered in rolling mist and a sun that is still playing hide and seek among the clouds. However, within seconds, the sharp cold weather becomes warm as the sun rises and the golden hour takes over. For someone who was born in the hills, it was a unique experience, watching such a spectacular sunrise from 2,000 feet above sea level while the little town below slept. The view is so serene and scenic that it feels like an ode to the Nilgiris.

View of the sunrise
View of the sunrise

Food for body & soul

Apart from the view to die for, Xanadu offers mouth-watering home-cooked meals on order, which could give any local restaurant a run for its money. Gulping several cups of freshly brewed tea helps take the edge off and enhances the entire waking up experience. “We just want our guests to check in, breathe out and enjoy the crisp mountain air as long as they are here. It is also one of the reasons why we designed the space to look just like a home instead of the regular cookie-cutter hotel rooms,” says Aparna.

Netflix and chill

The ever helpful caretakers at Xanadu also arrange activities around the town on guests’ request and one can enjoy nature walks and tea tasting sessions at leisure. “For those who are focused on some “me time” for rejuvenation, you could just curl up with a book and a cuppa or Netflix to your heart’s content,” laughs Aparna. This stay takes pride in offering sound internet connectivity and in-house Netflix subscription so that you don’t miss out on the latest season of Narcos. The rooms, which are ideal for a bunch of friends looking to have a good time or a family that wants to enjoy a get-together, is priced at Rs 5,500 onwards.

The foyer
The foyer

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