Plantation Escapes - The Radcliffe Bungalow

26/09/2018

These adorable angels, born on September 15th, are looking for loving homes and kind families. Please help them get settled.

21/03/2018

https://www.facebook.com/birchwoodretreat/

You now have two choices - the Radcliffe Bungalow on Ossoor Estate, Sakleshpur and the Birchwood Retreat on Koorgahalli Estate in Coorg.

The summer is upon on, the monsoon will follow. Great times to be on a coffee estate.

400 acres of rain forest, 33 rooms, utter peace and tranquility, located just off the highway, the b

30/01/2018

The Birchwood Retreat awaits you, the Robusta harvest in full swing, early spring a great time to be in Coorg, another long weekend coming up, thanks to the Feb 4th bundh.

And here's a coffee bush that decided to bloom late!

24/01/2018

Two day to go at the Birchwood! January 26th launch looming large. Fingers crossed!

23/01/2018

Long weekend coming up! Completely sold out at the Radcliffe Bungalow in Sakleshpur, Mist Valley in Chikmagalur and the Birchwood Retreat in Coorg!

The Birchwood Retreat opens to the public on Jan 26th and frantic activity all round. Last minute touch ups, hard to find ingredients being sought, excitement all round!

Wish you were here!

16/01/2018

A new year has dawned and the Radcliffe Bungalow has company! We are pleased to launch the Birchwood Retreat in Sunticoppa, Coorg. 30 acres, 33 rooms, speciality restaurant, coffee shop, fitness centre, indoor and outdoor games, amphitheatre and more.

Soft launch on January 26th. Call 98805 14446 for details.

Book now!

14/05/2015

Remember Yajman Gowda? The wealthy farmer who built himself a wooden palace in Udevara village? I am glad to report that his fascination with the Mysore royal family was so great that he not only built a palace which was a clone of the main Mysore palace that he decided to worship the same goddess as the Wodeyars!

We all know that the ruling deity of the Wodeyar dynasty is the goddess Chamundeshwari, an avatar of the goddess Durga, who comes down from her abode atop Chamundi Hill to reside in the Mysore Palace during the fabled Dussera festival. Yajman Gowda built a small temple near his palace, and true to his royal aspirations, he dedicated it to Deviramma, who, unsurprisingly, is an avatar of the goddess Durga! And yes, he celebrated Dussera here in grand style.

The years passed, in fact it was a whole century, and it was now 1771. Elsewhere in the world, Spain cedes the Falkland Islands to Great Britain, Captain James Cook completes his round the world voyage started in 1768, the Industrial Revolution begins in the UK, and closer home, Warren Hastings becomes the Governor of Bengal. But in the little village of Udevara, the descendants of Yajman Gowda are in turmoil. Bad management, leading to a succession of poor harvests, has led to a shrinking of the family fortunes. The then family patriarch decides to appease the family goddess, Deviramma, by building her a larger home. Craftsmen from Kerala laboured for 3 years to complete the temple, including the main idol, carved from a single block of rosewood. Sad to report, Deviramma remained unappeased and the family fortunes continued to dwindle, leading to the vast land holdings being sold to the pioneering coffee planters.

Today, 240 years later, the temple still stands, in relative obscurity, in the middle of a coffee estate. The temple today is the main temple of Udevara, and the faithful come in droves to worship the goddess, praying for good harvests and overflowing granaries. Something she denied to the family of Yajman Gowda.

When staying at the Radcliffe Bungalow, you may conveniently visit both the wooden palace and the Udevara temple and be back for lunch!

06/05/2015

History buffs would know that the fabled Hoyasala Empire had its origins in the Malnad region. They would also know that the Hoyasala kings were famous for their temple architecture and built over 100 significant temples in the Karnataka region, the most famous of which are still to be seen at Halebid and Belur. No surprise then that the Hoyasala capital was first at Belur before moving to Halebid.

Somewhere between the 10th and 11th centuries A.D, a Hoyasala king was out inspecting his immediate kingdom. As he rode along the banks of the Hemavathi river, he came upon a little hamlet of outstanding beauty – cradled by the hills of the Sayadhri range, verdant because of the bounty of the river. Entranced, the king and his party stopped to rest at a grove of trees near the river side and peace of the location convinced him to build a temple at the very spot, perhaps to mark his visit.

The temple still stands today, not as imposing as the other Hoyasala temples of the region, but quietly serene with its own beauty. It is especially lovely during the rains when the raging waters of the Hemavathi cascade over its steps.

When staying at the Radcliffe Bungalow, a visit to Sakleshpur town, 6 kms away, is definitely recommended. Especially on a Thursday, when local farmers and tradesmen bring their wares to the weekly shandy and transform the riverside, in the shadow of the Sakleshpur temple, into a riot of colour and local flavour. Stock up on coffee, spices, fresh fruit, local vegetables, pottery, colorful fabric, junk jewelry and so much more! Of course, the temple will beckon you, let your imagination run riot to a time 1000 years ago, when a king happened to be riding by.

29/04/2015

It was early 1665, the crops had been harvested and a wealthy farmer from Udevara village near Sakleshpur decided to take his family on a visit to the imperial city of Mysore. The 120 km journey by bullock cart took over 2 weeks, following the course of the Hemavathi river, with frequent stops to rest the oxen, camping under the stars and exploring the nearby countryside. It was a magical time.

Once in Mysore, the city of palaces, the young farmer - Yajman Gowda by name – was entranced by the main palace, the residence of His Highness Dodda Devaraj Wodeyar. It was an imposing structure in wood, with arches and carved pillars. So taken was he with the palace, that Yajman Gowda decided to build his own palace, modeled on the Mysore Palace, back home in Udevara.

He started building his dream home immediately on his return, and his labour of love took 4 years. This was the most magnificent building in the entire district and the Gowda clan, blessed with a succession of good harvests, became leading landowners and the most powerful family in the area. The centuries passed, the family’s fortune waned, as did their power and prestige. Mired in debt, the vast land holdings were sold to British coffee planters, till all that remained was their beloved palace. With no money for maintenance, the palace crumbled, the large garden slowly overtaken by the jungle.

The lands of Yajman Gowda now form the nucleus of our Udevara Estate, with the wooden palace just outside our gates. Yes, it still stands! And the descendants of Yajman Gowda still live there to this day. Vastly reduced in size, the façade is weather beaten and the carved wooden pillars, still beautiful, show the effect of 350 monsoons. It is a private residence, not open to the public, but we at Plantation Escapes can organize a private visit.

Interested? Call us!

21/04/2015

Greetings from the Plantation Escapes team and here’s another suggestion for your summer holidays!

Bisle Ghat is 60 kms by road from the Radcliffe Bungalow – a road less travelled which meanders over hills and down valleys, crossing streams and rivers. We did the drive in the monsoons, with rain drumming on the car roof and the road a river itself. Awesome! Bisle Ghat is part of the Bisle Reserve Forest, containing most of Karnataka’s virgin rain forests. The forest teems with wildlife – the elusive tigers, leopards, wild dogs and every manner of herbivore. The trees are alive with birds of every description, and watch for the graceful Malabar Flying Squirrel, gliding from tree top to tree top. Very recently, the extremely rare Nilgiri Marten was spotted at Bisle.

The Forest Department has built a View Point by the road side from where you can see the mountain ranges of three districts – Kodagu, Dakshin Kannada and Hassan – converge at a single point. On a clear day, the Pushpa Giri peak in Kodagu, standing tall at 1712 metres, can be clearly seen.

Bisle is a great day excursion from the Radcliffe Bungalow, but if you decide on spending the night there, the Forest Department has a guest house and a few basic dormitories at Addahole bridge.


The Radcliffe Bungalow and Bisle Ghat beckon. Are you ready?

08/04/2015

Every day, at 1130 hours, a train chugs out of the tiny railway station at Sakleshpur and 150 minutes later, arrives at the well known temple town of Kukke Subramanya. These are the cold facts, in itself very boring, but herein lies a tale! A tale of an extraordinary train ride.

Famously known as the “Green Route”, this journey, Sakleshpur to Kukke, is one of the most enchanted railway journeys in the land. A must do! Should be everyone’s bucket list!

While the distance covered is just 55 kms, the journey itself takes about 2 ½ hours, but rest assured, this will be the most magical 150 minutes of your life! The train puffs its way through dense rain forests, over 109 viaducts and through 55 tunnels. You will pass over many roaring rivers and see over 25 waterfalls, stopping at tiny stations defying gravity by clinging to the mountain sides seemingly by faith alone. Any time is a good time to make this journey, but clearly, the monsoons will make it very special.

We recommend that you add a day to your Radcliffe stay just to make this journey. The team at the Radcliffe Bungalow will pack a picnic lunch to be eaten on the train and will be waiting with a hot dinner on your return. The best way is to send your car on ahead to wait for your arrival at Kukke at about 1400 hours. This will give you a couple of hours to visit the temple and then drive back through Bisle Ghat to Sakleshpur. Bisle Ghat? That’s a story for another day! :)

01/04/2015

A short distance from Ossoor Estate, on the banks of the Hemavathi River, lies the sleepy little town of Sakleshpur, visited several times by none other than Tippu Sultan, Tiger of Mysore! Wanting to make sure that his mortal enemies, the British, did not send an army across the Ghats, Tippu personally supervised the construction of a defensive fort, just outside Sakleshpur, the little known Manzerabad Fort.

Constructed on an entire mountain top, the fort commanded the only road through the mountains, coming up from the coast. Learning from his allies the French, Tippu designed the fort in the classic “star” shape – easy to defend with angled walls to deflect cannon fire. Tippu started construction in 1785, completing the fort in 1792.

It’s remote location and relative anonymity has saved the Manzerabad Fort from the ravages of time and vandals. Now under the care of the Archeology Society of India, you can visit the Fort, provided you have the legs to climb a steep flight of 300 steps, the only access to the Fort. Once there, after catching your breath, you can stand on the ramparts, enjoying a panoramic view of the rolling mountains, just as Tippu must have, two centuries ago. Stroll around, visit the armory, the stables, the barracks, the many bricked up doorways – some leading, they say, to escape tunnels leading deep into the heart of the mountain. All forts have their legends, and the Manzerabad Fort is no exception. Legend has it that there is a secret tunnel, leading all the way underground to the Fortress of Srirangapatna. Maybe, maybe not.

The team at the Radcliffe Bungalow would be happy to pack you a picnic lunch. Eat it sitting on the ramparts of the Fort, gazing westward over the mountains. And as the sun sets, and the dusk gives way to darkness, you may, if you strain your eyes, a ghostly figure emerge the tunnel leading to Srirangapatna! You never know, it just could the shade of Tippu Sultan, restlessly keeping watch for the enemy!