Tamara Kodai is the most Luxurious resort in Kodaikanal, Tamilnadu. Situated at a height of 6500 ft above sea level, this heritage property is not only luxurious, but it also embodies a rich heritage and history. Sprawling across 7.8 acres of greenery and beautiful landscape, Tamara Kodai is a perfect destination to unwind and reconnect with yourself, your loved ones and ofcourse nature!
Standing at the patio, sipping my coffee while soaking in the morning sun and witnessing the lush green mountains in front was a blissful moment. A moment when I had no thoughts, things to do to lists or anything to blur my mind.. but just the silence & calmness. Is this not the tranquillity all of us crave for?
Recently we spent three blissful days at Tamara Kodai. It was our second visit to Kodaikanal, but this time we were so busy exploring the property that we hardly stepped out of the resort. I want to thank the resort for their hospitality and warmth. In this article, I am sharing our honest experience at Tamara Kodai.
Kodaikanal, the Princess of Hill stations
Before I tell you more about the property, let me tell you about Kodaikanal. Popularly known as the Princes of Hill stations, Kodaikanal is a quaint hill station in the Tamilnadu state of India. With its lush green mountains, mist-covered valleys and scenic vistas, Kodaikanal makes for a perfect destination to unwind and connect the nature. This hill station is popular amongst honeymooners, probably because of its misty weather throughout the year.
Situated in Palani hills, at an elevation of 7200 ft above sea level, the history of Kodaikanal dates back to the 1800s. It served as the location for administrative offices during the summer. The earliest residents of Kodaikanal were the Paliyan tribe.
Today Kodaikanal still exudes colonial vibes and is a popular destination amongst tourists across India.
The Tamara Kodai, Kodaikanal
A beautiful colonial-style heritage property surrounded by colourful beds of flowers, greenery and tall trees, overlooking the lush green mountains and the Kodai Lake. The Tamara Kodai is a perfect combination of old and new blending perfectly to offer modern days luxury with the warmth of the old world.
The moment you enter the property you can feel the colonial vibes and the old world charm in the form of a building made of stones, a high ceiling entrance with wooden work, a cosy fireplace, a piano and much more.
The Tamara Kodai: An Interesting History
Spread across sprawling 7.8 acres,Tamara Kodai has 53 chalet-style suits. The history of this Heritage property dates back to the 1840s. Before becoming a resort, this property was originally called Baynes Bungalow and built by the district Judge of Kodaikanal named Byanes in 1847. Later the Bungalow was sold to Father Louis Cyr and was renamed La Providence. The Bungalow served as the restroom for the sick priests to rest and recover from diseases.
From there, it was bought and renovated by the Tamara group. The resort came into existence in May 2018.
Looking at the unique three monk statues at the property entrance , we wondered about their significance and how they make sense. Until the resort manager explained their importance in context with the resort’s history
Reminiscing the bye-gone era
The best part is that the property still preserves the part of the old Bungalow. You are teleported to the olden times while walking through these rustic corridors. As a mark of respect & to seek their blessings, the idol of 3 monks is placed at the entrance.
Rooms
This resort offers only suits! No deluxe or standard rooms. Welcome to the world of luxury. They have two types of suits
1. Luxury suit
2. Superior Luxury suit
3. Neelakurinji: Single luxury suit built in a 900 sq ft area with two bedrooms suitable for a family of 4 adults.
Each suit has a living room, a bedroom, a washroom and a balcony. The rooms are spacious and aesthetically designed, with opulent solid wood furniture, including two large almirahs, a divan, a working desk and chair etc. The king-size bed was quite cosy and comfortable. The large wall-sized window in the living room makes you feel like you are a part of nature. Even the washroom is quite spacious. I liked the fact they offered wooden toothbrushes and other toiletries in the cloth pouch. Our room did not have a bathtub ( I am not sure if another category of a suit has one) But the best part of the room patio/ balcony overlooking the hills.
Amenities
The property offers all the amenities offered by any five-star property, including the buggy, spa, outdoor games for children, indoor games like pool, table tennis etc, gym, yoga room, library, play area for young kids, car parking and dorms for the drivers ( on first come first serve basis)
Temperature-controlled pool
One thing that differentiates this place is the temperature-controlled pool. They maintain the water water temperature at 30 degrees.It’s pure bliss to swim in the warm water while outside is so misty and cold. We especially loved spending most of our time in this pool.
Swimming in the temperature-controlled pool with steam coming from the water in a misty surrounding felt like we are in a hot water spring in Iceland.
Restaurants
The property has two restaurants
La Providence
Named after the former name of the building, the restaurant serves buffets including breakfast, lunch and dinner. With a magnificent chandelier at the centre, this space exudes luxury. They do have indoor and outdoor sitting area. The outdoor sitting area overlooks the beautiful lawn lined by tall trees. The restaurant also has live counters. Recommendation : This is the only place I saw that served ripped tamarind in their fruit assortment. Don’t forget to try their Khichdi, it’s simply out of the world.
The buffet offered at the restaurant combines dishes from different parts of India and the world. Its sumptuous and delicious
Bistro 1845
It’s a French style a la carte bistro and bar that serves European, Asian and Indian cuisine. We tried their pasta, pizza and khao suey ( made on special request).
Activities
The resort organises different activities every day for the guests. Some of these activities are chargeable whereas others are free of cost. Mixology, cupcake decoration, pizza making, karaoke, cycling, trekking, farm visit and sightseeing to name a few.
Pricing
The pricing starts from INR 18,000 for a day and night. Do check the website for the exact price based on your requirement.
How to reach The Tamara Kodai
Kodaikanal is around 460 km from Bangalore. You can either hire a cab or self-drive ( if you love driving) In our case, we found the sleeper bus to be the most convenient option. We boarded the bus in the night and reached Kodai early morning. The resort is just 2 km away from the bus stop. So it was very convenient and cost-effective for us.
Nearest Railway station: Kodaikanal Road railway station, 80 km away from the resort
Nearest Airport: Madurai Airport is located at a distance of 79 km from the resort.
The overall experience at the Tamara Kodaikanal
Our stay at Tamara Kodai was a fantastic one. The moment we reached the resort, we could feel the warmth and connection with the property. The ever-smiling and helpful staff made us feel at home. We could connect and bond as a family thanks to the peaceful and vibrant surroundings, full of nature and happiness.
To summarise, this was one of the most memorable luxury getaways for us. I am looking forward to visit The Tamara Kodai again. I highly recommend this property to anyone looking for a relaxing weekend getaway.
For more details checkout their website
The Tamara Kodai – Official Website | Luxury Resort in Kodaikanal
Five reasons to visit Tamara Kodai
1. Beautiful property surrounded by nature
2. Closely located to the bus stations and other tourist spots
3. Only temperature-controlled pool in Kodaikanal
4. Warm & Hospitable staff
5. World-class cuisine
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