Ooty or Udhagamandalam in the southern state of Tamil Nadu is one of the most picturesque hill stations of India. 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 these idyllic setting is the luxurious WelcomHeritage Regency Villas resort, where I spent a delightful weekend during my southern sojourn.
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. The journey was simply awesome!
The Regency Villas is barely a kilometer from the Ooty station and is built in the fern hills palace premises. It is spread over almost 15 acres of colorful gardens and lush green lawns with a splendid view of the pristine valleys of Ooty.
A cottage for 2night/3 day stay cost me around 7000 Rs inclusive of all meal charges. The price is worth the accommodation;the rooms are huge with modern furnishings and have well appointed bathrooms with modern toiletries. The room decoration is mild but tasteful and there’s a cozy fireplace to warm up the evenings. The rooms have color television with cable connection and intercom with national/international dialing facility. The Regency Villas has a old world charm to it because of its subtle colonial architectural hues.
Dining is a pleasurable experience here as the Regency Villas offer a multi cuisine dining experience with rich delicacies to choose from the Chinese/continental/North and south Indian cuisines. While the continental fare served here can catch you by surprise by its delightful taste, the south Indian delicacies can leave you asking for more. And what tops all of this is the experience of feasting on your favorite food in the dining hall that is sunlit and its large windows offering a glorious view of the garden and the beautiful lawns. Going by the way, my orders were taken, the service and the food quality, it was apparent that the staff here was well-trained and groomed in hospitality.
I sought the help of the resort manager who immediately put at my disposal their travel desk executive who chalked out a complete sightseeing plan for me for my two day stay based on my personal preferences and tour distance. Notable among the places that I visited were the boating trips in the scenic Ooty lake, the idyllic botanical gardens, the Pykara lake and the intriguing Lambs rock – a huge granite boulder on which mother nature has etched the most beautiful intricate patterns.
However, what I liked the most is the trip to the Doddabetta peak which is the highest peak in the Nilgiri hills here and I was captivated by the breathtaking view from the peak of the gorgeous hills,valleys and forests. This area is still safe from the commercialization that has taken the charm out of the many places in the main town.Equally memorable was the trip to the Kotagiri village with its lovely tea gardens and the Kalhatty waterfalls, about 13 kms from the town.
Evenings at the Regency Villas have a misty, romantic feel to them and I found it a sublime experience to sit by the log fire in the room with a drink and to lose myself in the “sounds of silence”. Candle-lit dinners at the resort are an experience to cherish too.
For those who wish to rekindle the romance in their lives, I think the place definitely exudes an undeniable charm and holds a lot of promise.
