An assistant managers bungalow, redone to look like it was run and used decades ago... atop a small hill, lush green tea gardens on 3 sides and slight dip to a stream and rain forest on the fourth.... so big deal, someone says.... top this then... Valparai is a tea valley so what you see from Sinna Dorai is all at the hill, and in nicely nested amongst the clouds, the rain forest brings wild life into the tea gardens - Indian Gaur, barking deer, Sambar, elephants, wild dogs, and leopards (get in the jeep at night and just drive around and you'll see a different world), a bevvy of birds - the flameback woodpecker, and whooshing winged great hornbill (a respectable pleasure), hummingbirds even... the sun pours into the valley each morning from behind the bungalow and lights up the rising cooking fire smoke from several villagelets where the 100s of tea-workers live.... this may have been how parts of heaven would be imagined.
the bungalow itself is dated outside with modern bathrooms and wonderfully hosted by the caretakers. Excellent food was served with each meal. they even have a conference room for the perfect business retreat. take in a visit to Sholayar Dam, the Tea Factory, stop at 9th hair-pin to see the rare Nilgiri Ibex, or just read a book, listen to music and walk....
being just a few hours from Coimbatore, its with reach for a weekend trip even from Bangalore...
we have made plans to go back for sure...