One of the most interesting aspects of the many erstwhile palaces and royal abodes now converted in to hotels, is the rich legacy that permeates every inch of these properties. I found myself mesmerized by the spectacular Fernhills Palace in Ooty, the summer residence of the erstwhile Prince of Mysore, who had bought this property in 1873 from a British captain.Situated at an altitude of 2,240 meters above sea level in the magnificent Nilgiri(meaning the blue mountains) hills, Ooty is aptly called the “queen of hill stations”.Nestled in the pristine valleys of the blue mountains is the Fernhills Palace.
I reached Ooty travelling via Chennai, from where I boarded a direct flight to Coimbatore which is about 100 kms from Ooty and is the closest airport. Coimbatore has flights from all the major cities of India and is also connected by trains from all major rail,stations. From Coimbatore, while there are excellent luxury buses available for Ooty, I chose to board a passenger train that took me to Mettupalayam railway station from Coimbatore. From Mettupalayam I boarded the “Nilgiri” toy train that took me to Ooty after the most enchanting 4 hour train journey I had ever undertaken, as the train slowly climbs up the Nilgiri hills meandering through the lovely tea gardens, forests and gurgling streams.
It is impossible not to be awestruck by the sheer luxury of the Palace resort spread over 40 acres of green lawns, stylized gardens and dense woods with spectacular views of terraced tea gardens and lush verdant valleys. From the moment I entered the resort, the treatment every step of the way was befitting a Maharajah. I had chosen a deluxe suite and as was to be expected, the room is resplendent in its royal heritage with teak wood paneling, a separate living room with large bay windows, bedroom and sit-out that open into the courtyard. The bathroom boasts of a private Jacuzzi! The period furniture and the rich ornate furnishings have the potential to transport you to the era gone by. The room had a electronic safe, high speed internet access, fax machine, coffee maker, LCD TV, DVD players, fully stocked refreshment bar and also a fridge bar.Wow!, these guys are determined to make every stay a "royal” experience. Nothing less.
Dining at the Fernhills Palace resort was by far the most delightful of all that you get to experience here. While dining options include Chinese, Continental, North and South Indian cuisine with Nilgiri specialties, I was floored by the 600 year old, highly secret recipes from the royal kitchen of the erstwhile Wadiyar family.
There are a variety of activities to choose from at the resort to keep you active through the day such as cycling, horse riding, fishing, nature walks, billiards and snooker, tennis and so on. The guided nature walks through the nearby woods and the early mornings jogs when the mist is still shimmering on the flower petals and green leaves, the experience is sublime.
And not to be missed out are exciting excursions to the nearby Doddabetta Peak, the highest peak in this region with a magnificent view of the verdant valleys, the ride on the elephant back through the Mudumalai wildlife sanctuary and the terraced and exotic tea gardens in the quaint town of Coonoor.
In the evening, I savored my favorite scotch sitting in the Fox Hunt Bar of the resort. Its pompous, rich interiors reflective of the Fox hunting meets, the walls hung with accoutrements of hunting; saddles, harness, hunting horns, prints and photographs, the red Mahogany panels and the conversations laced with hunting stories of the past, is an experience in itself.
To stay at the magical Fernhill Palace is to savour the blended companionship of history and legacy where royalty is your true host.
