Sohum Sutras: Vivanta by taj, Coorg, Madikeri

The reception greets you with this vast expanse of nature

They call it Scotland of India and I so agree with this. Coorg is insanely beautiful place. I would like to retire and live here forever. Vivanta by Taj is a 180 acre property on the rainforest. Only 30 acres is built up.

It is at an altitude of 4000 ft. The glory of nature is at its luxurious best here. There are over 250 species of flora, the canopied woods, the natural spring, and among the many creature comfort delights that Vivanta by Taj. It is eco-friendly, which makes nature and luxury co-exist in the 63 cottages, suites, villas and rooms. Don’t lose sight of nature at her best while you find how muted colours, mud paints, displaced soil and re-cycled wood, tiles and natural riverstones contribute to a seamless and undisturbed layout. One which is built around trees and not the other way round. Where no rock was displaced or hill cut, but instead built and evolved on the natural lay of the land as it has existed forever. It showcases the quintessential Coorg landscape - a rainforest canopy covering rolling hills and undulating greens breaking the monotony. Find yourself in the midst of a living and breathing rainforest at different levels of the valley offering expansive views of the landscape.

Find out how inspiration has been drawn from Coorg style houses – sloping roofs, pillars, open-to-sky entrances - mundu mane, the structural veil of kinle work. And the solid platform base of the façade for every cottage which replicates the design of the Madikeri fort. Find the harmony in the lobby façade that is inspired from the Iguthappa and Omkareshwara temples of Coorg. Don’t miss the amphi theatre inspired by the Omkareshwara temple tank. It’s awesome. Lose yourself in the pleasure of the courtyard spaces, the private plunge pools and the Jiva Grande Spa with a host of rejuvenation options: a climate controlled indoor swimming pool and another open-air, in the woods & under the stars. The 30,000 sq ft spa & wellness space sports eight private treatment rooms with their own steam & showers, a relaxation deck, a wellness café and the signature Coorg experience - Gudda bath (wood-fired bath in an outdoor pavilion).

Find a host of ways to seek excitement, which you will find in a natural spring, a strawberry farm, a Buddha garden. Dig in a tent, go bird watching, try pottery, slush sports or even zip line and high rope courses. If it’s a romantic escape that you seek, they’ll help you find it in many times over in amorous locations where you can delightfully dine on their menu.

Seek the nouvelle restaurants, the wellness restaurant, the Coorg speciality fine diner, the relaxed lounge bar, the poolside grill or the evergreen multi-cuisine all day diner. The Chef remains as eager to wow you with specially designed meals.

It is a 5 hr drive from Bangalore and the 8 km drive from the city centre .

Even the smallest villa offers a generous 74 sq. meters of space with large picture windows offering stunning vistas from every corner of the abode. Each villa is well appointed with all the creature comforts a contemporary wanderlust desires, not to forget your own fireplace in most of the rooms.

The 5 Luxury Bliss Villas are spread over 3,300 sq ft each and come with a built-in indoor pool and a retractable sunroof.

The Presidential Nirvana Suite is a stunning 9,000 sq ft with 3 bedrooms, a swimming pool, a living pavilion by the pool, a large separate Jacuzzi, a central courtyard and is fully equipped for in-house bespoke dining.