ExplorIndya with Aakriti - A FamilyStay
ExplorIndya with Aakriti - A FamilyStay
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#1 of 2 ranches in Coonoor
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A Family Run Homestay with 2 well appointed cottages. We will take care of all your needs and also be happy to show you around our area and give you an insight into South Indian Culture and Lifestyle. Hiking,Trekking, Visits to the Biosphere Reserve as well lots of other off the beaten track activities are on offer.
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Property amenities
Free parking
Free internet
Wifi
Free breakfast
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HOTEL CLASS
Star ratings are intended to indicate the general level of features, amenities, and services to expect. This property is classified according to Giata.
HOTEL STYLE
Business
Romantic
Location
399, Coonoor Road Nilgiris, Coonoor 643217 India
Getting there
85 Restaurants
within 10 kilometers
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Detailed Reviews
Thank you for a very pleasant stay at your Homestay. We were 4 persons living in the “Citidoran” cottage. We enjoyed the beautiful cottage, the excellent cooking, and your great hospitality. We were even invited to lunch and dinner in your private, beautiful house, and we enjoyed your company, so very much. It was nearly like getting a new family! Thank you for 3 wonderful days in March 2007.
We already got the chance to meet Rupa and Lalith 2 days before our arrival at the Homestay, as we met them in Chennai, where they were for a private arrangement, and they suggested, that we met for a cup of coffee, just to say hello and get to know each other, before our stay at their place. That really is good hosting!
Annie, Finn, Anja and Annette from Denmark
We already got the chance to meet Rupa and Lalith 2 days before our arrival at the Homestay, as we met them in Chennai, where they were for a private arrangement, and they suggested, that we met for a cup of coffee, just to say hello and get to know each other, before our stay at their place. That really is good hosting!
Annie, Finn, Anja and Annette from Denmark
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Date of stay: March 2007Trip type: Travelled with friends
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Business service (e.g., internet access)
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Probably the best homestay we have come across in south India. This place was a bit of a mystery before we arrived. We arranged to meet Lalith (the driving force behind Misty Heights [he thinks!!]) in a hotel car park in Ooty. Very mysterious; what had we let ourselves in for? But not to worry, tucked away up a steep driveway about half an hour’s drive from Ooty we received a tremendous Indian welcome from the whole family. They have two guest cottages nestling on the hill side with terrific views over the Nilgiri hills, all mod cons and very comfortable, but it can be a bit cool up here at night; nevertheless the climate is very agreeable, no wonder the Brits loved the area so much. You can either eat with the family (which we did) or in your cottage. The food is first class, every dish cooked to perfection and all explained to you. I even got porridge for breakfast, so 11 out of 10 from me! Nothing was too much trouble for the family. They even helped me get a mobile ‘phone since mine did not work in India (be warned you can buy a SIM card for your home mobile, but some foreign network supplied ‘phones will not work with Indian SIMs,) but for 1000 rupees you get a basic ‘phone (about £12 UK) and calls to the UK are very cheap at around 8 rupees (12 pence) a minute! We even got our first taste of Indian cinema with the family, we went to a very nice cinema in Ooty (an old, converted ball room) and Lalith’s wife Rupa explained the film to us. The family is very much into tree conservation and you can even sponsor some trees (native sholas). The hosts will arrange walking trips for you from the very gentle to some serious trekking. Lots to see and do in the area. PLEASE DO GO and see for yourself, join in with the family (just brush up on your general knowledge and politics) and you are assured of a good time. We arrived as complete strangers and left feeling like lifelong friends.
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Date of stay: February 2007Trip type: Travelled as a couple
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This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
We had a wonderful time from the moment Lalith & Rajat picked us up to the time we said goodbye to Lalith, Rajat, Rupa, Renu & Ravi.
Our stay was completely tailored to our desires & capabilities from hike to walks to quiet time alone to family meals. the familys love for their area and land was evident every time we went out and our image of what India is & could be was changed for the better.
The cottages are beautiful, cosy & comfortable while being built with the environment in mind from solar water heaters to clever design keeping them warm in the chilly winter nights using only the days sun. In keeping with the quality accommodation the food was amazing and abundant, be sure to take advantage of many hikes to compensate!
We found the area beautiful & fun to explore with our dedicated guides and were sad to leave when the time came.
Our stay was completely tailored to our desires & capabilities from hike to walks to quiet time alone to family meals. the familys love for their area and land was evident every time we went out and our image of what India is & could be was changed for the better.
The cottages are beautiful, cosy & comfortable while being built with the environment in mind from solar water heaters to clever design keeping them warm in the chilly winter nights using only the days sun. In keeping with the quality accommodation the food was amazing and abundant, be sure to take advantage of many hikes to compensate!
We found the area beautiful & fun to explore with our dedicated guides and were sad to leave when the time came.
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Date of stay: December 2006Trip type: Travelled as a couple
Value
Rooms
Location
Cleanliness
Check-in / front desk
Service
Business service (e.g., internet access)
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
After 36 hairpin bends up the hillside I was still unprepared for the magnificent view at sunrise from the cottage (well worth getting up for). From the moment you turn the ornate brass key you know you are in for something special, the cottage has a lovely ambience with quirky touches. The whole family made me feel completely comfortable in their home. There is really so much to do & explore in the region I would thoroughly recommend a good few days here. If you love the country air, villages, plants, birds & animals then you are in for a real treat as this family love their area & share their passion. The food was wonderful - even a surprise Western dinner when I was feeling a little homesick. I also travelled extensively with Rajat & Lalith (son & son in law) with their company "explorIndya". My experience with them was simply awesome. The most seamless travelling, great variety of hotels, restaurants & tailored completely to my criteria. I would not hesitate to say put yourself in their hands if you want an unrivaled experience of South India. A class act.
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Date of stay: December 2007Trip type: Travelled solo
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This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Aakriti is a very pleasant homestay in the Nilgiri Hills. Being in the hills, the place is higher and away from the heat and bustle of India's towns and cities, and the climate is more European. The contrast may be very welcome!
The scenery and terrain is somewhat different too, being obviously high level, commanding great views and you are in real tea country. Rajat and Ravi will make sure you are well versed in the intricacies of tea before you go!
A big plus point about staying at Aakriti is the food that Renu makes. It is vegetarian, but the range and quality is amazing: she is a really good cook.
The family will look after you very well, and they are very hospitable, and can show you many interesting sights in the area. Amongst these is the 'toy train', the Nilgiri mountain railway, which is slow, cramped, but worth going on, especially if you are into trains, and enjoy mountain scenery! It is also very cheap.
We stayed at 'home-stays' in India but Aakriti was probably the 'real' homestay.
The scenery and terrain is somewhat different too, being obviously high level, commanding great views and you are in real tea country. Rajat and Ravi will make sure you are well versed in the intricacies of tea before you go!
A big plus point about staying at Aakriti is the food that Renu makes. It is vegetarian, but the range and quality is amazing: she is a really good cook.
The family will look after you very well, and they are very hospitable, and can show you many interesting sights in the area. Amongst these is the 'toy train', the Nilgiri mountain railway, which is slow, cramped, but worth going on, especially if you are into trains, and enjoy mountain scenery! It is also very cheap.
We stayed at 'home-stays' in India but Aakriti was probably the 'real' homestay.
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Date of stay: February 2012Trip type: Travelled with family
Value
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This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
A wonderful way to start our holiday. Collected from Coimbatore airport by Ravi and Rajat, treated to a coffee en route to Aakriti, where we were treated like royalty for three days, taken for interesting walks in the area, including a visit to the Toda tribe, taken shopping in Ooty and learnt a lot about real Indian cuisine with Renu, and enjoyed eating the results! The only place where I've been asked if I prefered my beer cold or at room temperature!
Nothing was too much trouble for our hosts, and Aakriti was a dream.
Nothing was too much trouble for our hosts, and Aakriti was a dream.
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Date of stay: March 2015Trip type: Travelled with friends
Cleanliness
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Room Tip: The lodges are on a sloping hillside - some fitness required if you are at the top one. Good...
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Aakriti wa a very enjoyable experience! Very charming hosts giving a lot of insights in the Indian live, tea production and the region, excellent food and very nice cottages. We also enjoyed the open-minded discussions with the members of the family. Thanks a lot!
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Date of stay: February 2012Trip type: Travelled as a couple
Value
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Location
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Sleep Quality
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
We stayed at Lighthouse beach in Kerala first where everyone was friendly and helpful. Then we went to explorindya’s resort. A horrible contrast.
Unfortunately our money transfer had not arrived when Lalith and Rajat collected us, so we were asked to pay in cash immediately (they took us to a hotel by the station and asked for the money then). A nice welcome. We assumed that the transfer would arrive shortly (we had booked last minute so only organised the payment a few days before our flight) and didn’t have much spare cash so asked to wait a couple of days. We were told that English people had not paid before and as we were English it was expected that we would run off without paying too. We were treated like thieves. There was a horrible atmosphere and we were asked about the money every day, in fact several times a day.
Lalith offered us his phone to ring our bank (we thought this was kind) which we did in his presence and issued another transfer, yet still they treated us like thieves. We also were billed £8 for the phone call…nice. We then started getting bills requiring immediate payment for unexpected ‘extras’ such as the water provided with our meals!
The location is completely isolated. There is no where you can go without being driven (you cannot even go for a walk), so you are completely dependant on the owners. It is situated on a busy road. The accommodation is close to the road and the noise of the road combined with their caged dogs barking will keep you awake all night. It is stuffy and we were told that we couldn’t open the windows as monkeys might get in. They put chemical insecticides in the cottage that made our noses stream and gave us terrible headaches. We were told by Rupa that this hotel is seven star boutique. There is no bath, no proper shower, a plastic toilet ‘fixed’ with a ribbon to stop the seat hitting you in the back, no room service, no housekeeping (not even clean towels or sheets).
Most of the trips they organised were pointless and boring. The cooking classes lasted for thirty minutes and were expensive.
The only highlight was the food, and Rupa’s parents who were kind.
Avoid this place at all costs. Our experience of India could have been ruined by it, but we returned to Kerala for a few days before our return flight and will remember the people there instead.
Unfortunately our money transfer had not arrived when Lalith and Rajat collected us, so we were asked to pay in cash immediately (they took us to a hotel by the station and asked for the money then). A nice welcome. We assumed that the transfer would arrive shortly (we had booked last minute so only organised the payment a few days before our flight) and didn’t have much spare cash so asked to wait a couple of days. We were told that English people had not paid before and as we were English it was expected that we would run off without paying too. We were treated like thieves. There was a horrible atmosphere and we were asked about the money every day, in fact several times a day.
Lalith offered us his phone to ring our bank (we thought this was kind) which we did in his presence and issued another transfer, yet still they treated us like thieves. We also were billed £8 for the phone call…nice. We then started getting bills requiring immediate payment for unexpected ‘extras’ such as the water provided with our meals!
The location is completely isolated. There is no where you can go without being driven (you cannot even go for a walk), so you are completely dependant on the owners. It is situated on a busy road. The accommodation is close to the road and the noise of the road combined with their caged dogs barking will keep you awake all night. It is stuffy and we were told that we couldn’t open the windows as monkeys might get in. They put chemical insecticides in the cottage that made our noses stream and gave us terrible headaches. We were told by Rupa that this hotel is seven star boutique. There is no bath, no proper shower, a plastic toilet ‘fixed’ with a ribbon to stop the seat hitting you in the back, no room service, no housekeeping (not even clean towels or sheets).
Most of the trips they organised were pointless and boring. The cooking classes lasted for thirty minutes and were expensive.
The only highlight was the food, and Rupa’s parents who were kind.
Avoid this place at all costs. Our experience of India could have been ruined by it, but we returned to Kerala for a few days before our return flight and will remember the people there instead.
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Date of stay: April 2009Trip type: Travelled as a couple
Value
Rooms
Location
Cleanliness
Service
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Response from LalithVK, Owner at ExplorIndya with Aakriti - A FamilyStay
Responded 7 Jul 2009
The reviewer has not furnished in detail all the facts regarding the stay here and the issue that has been elucidated. We as a family and as an establishment do not behave as suggested in this review and our other reviews on this very site stand testimony to our dedication to providing the highest level of hospitality.
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This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
We, Anita and Peter from Switzerland stayed 2 nights at Aakriti with the Kumar Family (Rajat, Renu and Mughda) in December 2011. We liked the big and comfortable rooms in a separate cottage only a few meters from the main house. Everything was extremely clean like in Switzerland.
We enjoyed the short stay very much and Renu was cocking excellent food. She is probably one of the best cooks in India and when you stay there you should book a cooking class with her. Unfortunately we didn't have time to do this.
The whole family was very friendly and speaks excellent English. Their hospitality was amazing and we had fantastic conversation during our meals. Furthermore the family has a lot of travel experience and can give a lot of useful tips for travelling in India/Bhutan.
We can recommend this family home stay to everybody.
We enjoyed the short stay very much and Renu was cocking excellent food. She is probably one of the best cooks in India and when you stay there you should book a cooking class with her. Unfortunately we didn't have time to do this.
The whole family was very friendly and speaks excellent English. Their hospitality was amazing and we had fantastic conversation during our meals. Furthermore the family has a lot of travel experience and can give a lot of useful tips for travelling in India/Bhutan.
We can recommend this family home stay to everybody.
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Date of stay: December 2011Trip type: Travelled as a couple
Value
Rooms
Location
Cleanliness
Service
Sleep Quality
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
If you want a truly wonderful experience, go no further than www.explorindya.com and www.mistyheightsindia.com.
I had been to the North of India as a backpacker over 30 years ago, and this time I wanted to be looked after, and as I had less than a month to organise my short stay, my extensive internet search brought me to my best ever find on the net www.explorindya.com. After a few emails then a phone call from Rajat we settled on a modified version of the Tea and Coffee Trails tour which covered my interest in tea production (Orange Pekoe, my favourite). We visited Mysore and its wonderful Palace, which I found better than anything I had seen in the north. At the 12th century temple complex in Belur we stayed after all the tourists had left, and soaked up the most amazing ambiance - had a great sense of wellbeing.
From the moment I met Rajat and his Brother-in-lay Lalith, at my hotel in Bangalore I knew I was going to have a great journey. My stay was full of fun, adventure, and being made to feel part of the family, and if I needed time by myself that was available too. The whole family have this immense passion for what they do and their cultural, eco and historical environment.
It is up to you how you want to enjoy your stay, and Ravi, Renu, Rupa, Lalith and Rajat are there to help you. I now have a greater insight of Southern Indian history, culture, flora and fauna and a desire to learn more and have no hesitation in travelling/staying with the Kumar family again.
If you like to learn, laugh and totally enjoy yourself, go to Misty Heights and spend a bit of time travelling with ExplorIndya.
I had been to the North of India as a backpacker over 30 years ago, and this time I wanted to be looked after, and as I had less than a month to organise my short stay, my extensive internet search brought me to my best ever find on the net www.explorindya.com. After a few emails then a phone call from Rajat we settled on a modified version of the Tea and Coffee Trails tour which covered my interest in tea production (Orange Pekoe, my favourite). We visited Mysore and its wonderful Palace, which I found better than anything I had seen in the north. At the 12th century temple complex in Belur we stayed after all the tourists had left, and soaked up the most amazing ambiance - had a great sense of wellbeing.
From the moment I met Rajat and his Brother-in-lay Lalith, at my hotel in Bangalore I knew I was going to have a great journey. My stay was full of fun, adventure, and being made to feel part of the family, and if I needed time by myself that was available too. The whole family have this immense passion for what they do and their cultural, eco and historical environment.
It is up to you how you want to enjoy your stay, and Ravi, Renu, Rupa, Lalith and Rajat are there to help you. I now have a greater insight of Southern Indian history, culture, flora and fauna and a desire to learn more and have no hesitation in travelling/staying with the Kumar family again.
If you like to learn, laugh and totally enjoy yourself, go to Misty Heights and spend a bit of time travelling with ExplorIndya.
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Date of stay: February 2008Trip type: Travelled solo
Value
Check-in / front desk
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Hi Hiran, my husband and I booked a 3-week tour of South India in February, and part of the itinerary was a 3-night stay at Aakriti Homestay in Conoor. We booked through The Kerala Experience.
I hope this is the information you require.
"Each of the accommodation we experienced had its particular charm. Come bak several times to experience then all"Read full review
"All rooms are in bungalows on the hillside and are beautiful. All are quiet, but the higher units will involve a little more climbing."Read full review
LOCATION
IndiaTamil NaduThe Nilgiris DistrictCoonoor
NUMBER OF ROOMS
2
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Frequently Asked Questions about ExplorIndya with Aakriti - A FamilyStay
Which popular attractions are close to ExplorIndya with Aakriti - A FamilyStay?
Nearby attractions include Sim`s Park (6.9 km), Highfield Tea Factory (6.1 km), and Dolphin's Nose (6.9 km).
What are some of the property amenities at ExplorIndya with Aakriti - A FamilyStay?
Some of the more popular amenities offered include free breakfast, free parking, and free internet access.
What food & drink options are available at ExplorIndya with Aakriti - A FamilyStay?
Guests can enjoy free breakfast during their stay.
Is parking available at ExplorIndya with Aakriti - A FamilyStay?
Yes, free parking is available to guests.
What are some restaurants close to ExplorIndya with Aakriti - A FamilyStay?
Conveniently located restaurants include Café Diem, Open Kitchen, and Cherrie Berry.