Here are three popular resorts in The Nilgiris promising a holiday filled with mystery and drama

From rooms named after exciting adventures from your favourite author’s books to walls lined with rare reads, these hotels promise a holiday filled with mystery, drama and literary fun Talk about a vacation and the bookworms quickly picture themselves packing up a few good reads and curling up at a hotel with a novel and a cup of tea. However, taking this love for books to the next level, three popular resorts in The Nilgiris are giving room to pages of your story—literally. 

Sherlock

Once you get past the mist-covered roads of Ooty and reach Sherlock, a beautiful heritage property located at Tiger Hills, it is drama from the word go, with its ancient architecture, to the rooms that are loaded with history. The hotel, which used to be a summer mansion for the British a century ago, still retains its old-worldly charm as minimal renovations have been undertaken to keep the essence of the yesteryears alive.

Sherlocked

The Victorian elevation with its old-school brick chimneys rising out of every room and the square glass panes overlooking the sprawling lawns outside are an ode to the architectural splendour and give a brief peek into what London would've looked like in the late 1800s. However, what makes the mansion quintessentially Sherlock Holmes-esque are its nine spacious rooms, each named Baskerville, Dancing Men, Gloria Scott, Lion’s Mane etc. after an adventure from the Sherlock Holmes series. A leisurely walk around the mansion will take you on an exciting journey of the quirky yet beloved detective Holmes through photographs and excerpts from his books.

London Diaries

With each room boasting its own fireplace, wooden mantelpieces and elegant armchairs, each piece of furniture carries the drama of Old London and bring the characters from the series alive. The well-lit reading room is the cynosure of all eyes at Sherlock as it has comfortable spaces one can simply sink into with a good book and tune out the rest of the world. And when you have satiated your hunger for literature, you can always walk into Irene Adler, the restaurant named after Sherlock’s lady love, for a sumptuous meal. Rs 3,375 onwards.

the Storyteller

While every traveller is entitled to expect an exciting and fun-filled experience from the hotels they stay in, there is a small group of people who go away to hotels in search of peace and a creative shot in the arm. If you are the latter kind and all things books is your cup of tea, then quickly pack your bags and head to The Storyteller, located in Coonoor, a picturesque town that is a half an hour’s drive from Ooty. With its perfect little manicured gardens and sit-outs designed especially for people who want to lounge around and read or write, the plush boutique stay is every book lover’s dream come true.

Read your mind

While the architecture is contemporary, each of the six spacious rooms at the Storyteller is sure to evoke memories of your childhood as each room is named after famous authors like PG Wodehouse, Danielle Steele and Enid Blyton. The rooms reflect the personality of the authors and have popular quotes and a small library of books by them lining the walls. Choose your pick and settle down for a wonderful date with the author of your choice as each room has a story to tell.

Stay a‘loft’

The Enid Blyton room is a big hit among the guests, especially those with teenage children, as it comes with a cute little loft tucked above. The room brings back memories from the author’s books like Famous Five and Secret Seven where secret meetings are held on lofts. You can pick your favourite book and settle down for hours on the loft as you watch yourself get whisked away from the woes of adulthood. The resort also has a lot of puzzles and games that can keep you entertained throughout your stay. 

Rs 4,000 onwards.

Gravityville

It wouldn’t be hard to pass by this otherwise seemingly ordinary building if it weren’t for the adorable exteriors that catch your eye. Painted in pastel shades, this 2,500 sq ft house brings to mind the image of a house straight out of a fairytale book.

In times past 

Dedicated to prompting travellers to discover their own stories in The Nilgiris, Gravityville is leased out to a single group at a time. “We would like to promote the concept of slow living—allow people to explore the surroundings at their own pace,” begins Karthik Vivekanandan, who manages the property. Built in 1936 for the personal physician of the Maharaja of Mysore, the homestay has maintained its old facade with new design details affording elements of quirk. Equipped with queen-sized beds, it is the themed rooms painted with bright hues and adorned with upcycled furniture and decoupage that make Gravityville truly magical. 

Colour-coded

Stroll into the Neelankurinji room and you are transported to the sprawling fields of blue-purple kurinji flowers that bloom once in 12 years. The Sullivan’s Oak room dons a yellow and black theme with wooden frames and an oak nameplate, while The Nilgiri Mountain Railway room is a panorama of colour and comes with bunk beds—bringing to mind the sleeper berths in trains. “The colour palette and furnishing in each of the rooms help tell the story of The Nilgiris. Popular accounts say that Sullivan was the first to ‘discover’ Neilgherry and one of the rooms is a homage to the man,” says Karthik.

Impossible is nothing

On its name, Karthik tells us that Gravityville defined a place where anything fantastic was possible. “My wife and I are pharmacists, the tag signified something that was beyond the realm of the ordinary and we have tried to portray our understanding of the whimsical through the colours and the decor.” A South Indian menu with other specials made on order, the meals and snacks are traditional and goes perfectly with the relaxed locale.Rs 9,000 for the entire house.