"Leopard Shoot him&rdquo exploded George, waking me up from my dream-trance in the front seat of the car. I grabbed my camera, springing out into the forest road at 3am with only car headlights and a small torch for visibility, quite the panther myself. Beautiful beyond words, gracefully shy and lit in our lights, the big blot-spotted yellow cat crossed our path before darting through wildflower bushes and into the night. There was nothing dangerous and everything magical about this guy. &ldquoShoot him Shoot&rdquo
A series of public bus rides that day, through three climatic zones and two southern states, in addition to various states of mind, had me passed out on the car seat by midnight. The leopard changed all that I was now unbelievably wide awake. Finally, this was my real welcome to Kerala&rsquos Western Ghats after weeks of travelling. By the looks of it, George&rsquos panther buzz had hit him even harder.
George and I had met only that evening through a common friend. One beer led to another, which in turn eventually led to this impromptu safari through jungles and on to the Downton Estate Bungalow, a well-maintained 1930s colonial house in the middle of a cardamom plantation owned by George&rsquos relatives. Downton is the only privately owned plantation in the massive Periyar Tiger Reserve in Kerala and the only way to enter it is along the forest road. I wasn&rsquot complaining.
A rubber planter who diversified into the plantation tourism business, George Abraham Pottamkulam is also a history enthusiast and has published a book on South Indian colonial plantations called The Path to the Hills.
The plantation experience in the southern hills, George explained, is mostly about being pampered by a battery of loyal attendants and living it up the planter way &mdash a sumptuous colonial existence inherited and somewhat indigenised (including the cuisine, thankfully) by their Indian successors, who continue to regard the early British settlers as important cultural references and the founding fathers of the land.
Naturally, many takers for George&rsquos plantation tours are nostalgic descendants of the original British planters trying to find their Indian &lsquoroots&rsquo. These trips, George explained, are also about luxury, high tariffs and the resulting low tourist numbers per unit of land. Compared to the mass tourism widely promoted in most Indian forests and hill stations, with their unplanned constructions and overcrowding, this option is low-impact and more sustainable, since estate tourism doesn&rsquot require new construction, working instead with old houses and existing plantations.
There&rsquos much truth in this eco-friendly aspect as things stand today, but also a fair dose of irony when seen in the historical context It was for planting tea, coffee, spices and other lucrative cash crops that early colonial &lsquopioneers&rsquo had hacked into the virgin forests in the region to begin with. Their settling activities replacing natural forests with cash-crop monoculture eventually set the stage for the long-term ecological damage in the Western Ghats we see today. But like many things colonial, the bad also came with the good.
The era of plenty brought in a new culture of elegant lifestyle and architecture amid the natural surroundings. Things have come full circle today and, other than the reserve forests, the plantation estates are now among the last remnants of greenery and old-world tranquillity amid our overcrowded and oversold tourist destinations.
And so it was with mixed emotions, as a lover of both nature and tasteful things, that I responded to these bungalows when George asked me if I&rsquod like to photograph some of them for his next book. It was now time for me to switch hats and sample the planter&rsquos life in the comfort of his natural habitat, the estate bungalow, and indulge in some time travel. This was going to be a long ride.
By the time we reached the Abrahams&rsquo Evergreen Estate Bungalow in Kuttikal, near the Mundakayam Valley in Kerala, it was nearly dawn. We were just in time to hit the village meat shop and score what was to turn into a delicious cutlet brunch after an overdue snooze. George&rsquos wife would soon warm up to the foodie in me, sharing her wonderful Syrian Christian meat and fish recipes.
Meanwhile, we were now in rubber country. The relatively moderate altitudes make the climate here more temperate than in the higher ranges we left behind, but still nowhere near as warm as the plains. The immediate surprise, though, was finding myself in this mazy late-Art Deco bungalow, complete with original furniture and fittings, in an inland village of Kerala. A few Syrian Christian touches &mdash like portraits of George&rsquos ancestors on the wall, a Malayalam Bible and a wood-fire kitchen with a red cooking platform &mdash punctuated the décor.
We also visited other properties owned by George&rsquos relatives in the region, such as Hill House &mdash a colourful, curio-filled villa in a cardamom estate owned by an ardent antique collector we met the owner&rsquos parents, who now live in what was once the summer palace of the Queen of Travancore. Then there was Plapalli, a Syrian Christian house on the Mundakayam Valley hillside, with visitor-friendly additions like a tree house and infinity pool overlooking the mountains.
We then moved on to Kanniamalai, a tea estate overlooking the Rajamalai peak. Set up in 1895, Rajamalai Estate began producing one of India&rsquos first high-quality &lsquoorthodox&rsquo black teas in 1902. Resisting an afternoon siesta that was calling after a heavy lunch and an early morning, we set off on an excursion to Gravel Banks, a trout-fishing stream that promised to be a worthwhile way to spend the afternoon. Gravel Banks welcomes only expert anglers. The only access is through the 97 sq km Eravikulam National Park, on the foothills of Rajamalai and Anaimudi (2,690m).
Eravikulam&rsquos shola forests, with its stunted trees, montane grasslands and unique criss-crossing river system, support at least twenty-six animal species, including the largest number of Nilgiri tahrs &mdash some 750 of them. Eravikulam&rsquos lovely, big-eyed tahrs are as unafraid of human beings as common goats, casually going about their rock-climbing business, as chatty tourists surround and stalk them with flashing cameras and cellphones. If you&rsquove never seen a Nilgiri tahr before, this is the easiest place to start.
We drove past the last tourists before crossing the Rajamalai rock face and rolling through the tea estate to reach Gravel Banks, which proved to be a quaint, rather basic set-up. The British-era fishing hut is bounded by a ditch to keep wild animals out. A stream runs through one side, an old wooden suspension bridge swaying over it, still going strong after all these years. Eravikulam and Gravel Banks presented a glimpse of what the Munnar experience might once have been. On our return, our happy clear sky suddenly turned into one big shroud, fluffing up and parting again in suspended woolly animation.
After a stop at the Kallar Bungalow, the next destination on our list of overnighters was Sholamalay, an 1898 property sitting in a meadow. The first Christian mass was conducted here in the High Ranges. This might explain the church-style Gothic arch appearing like a wildcard in a corridor connecting the rooms in an otherwise typical planter&rsquos bungalow. Various owners carrying out restorations over the years probably left the arch untouched for religious and sentimental reasons.
The wet weather continued the following morning. However, it was time to leave Munnar and explore more tea estates and bungalows across the Ghats, in Peermade, Valparai, Kodaikanal and Coonoor.
Among the houses we visited, I found the Red Lynch Bungalow in Kodaikanal particularly impressive. Although not a plantation bungalow, this English country-style home &mdash with a sprawling lawn, superlative food, boutique hotel-style service and modern amenities &mdash is a vision of what a modern planter&rsquos home might feel like were the British still around. In most other colonial bungalows in the region today, you&rsquore mostly on your own in a time capsule, with only a cook for company. But Red Lynch has been subtly modernised in terms of service, bathrooms and heating. The antique furniture may or may not be period- or region-specific, but they go well with the property&rsquos spirit of good taste and sophisticated luxury. This might have something to do with the ownership of Kathleen Vera Vincent, of the Vincent planter family, between 1940 and 1952, after which Tamil cinema superstar Gemini Ganesan bought it. His descendants and the current leasee, George Antony, now offer it sparingly to discerning guests.
Four other properties in Tamil Nadu were also impressive, each differently. The first was the 1930s Stanmore Bungalow in the Anamalai Hills, with its long verandah enveloping nearly its entire façade and overlooking the hills. Then there was the bungalow at Waterfall Estate, also in Valparai, which incorporated local Tamil elements into its otherwise British architecture. The best part of Valparai, though, was a drive to the Akkamalai Estate, after which civilisation ends and the wild sholas and Grass Hill Forest begin. Watching moonrise over Grass Hill was an unforgettable experience, making me want to return as a trekker next time around.
The third distinctive property in Tamil Nadu was Mailoor Estate in Coonoor, on the high slopes of a tea estate in the Nilgiris. Unfortunately, the original façade has been neutered of charm by modern renovations its empty bookshelves and sparse furnishings contrasted with Red Lynch&rsquos comfortably plush feel. The great thing about this place, though, was its location and wildlife. Bison herds, by now somewhat used to people, enter the lawns every evening. A half-eaten bison carcass was found the week before, suggesting that there are big cats around as well. The manager, also named George (I met at least four Georges on this trip), is as fond of these wild bovines as I am. Our morning walk in the hills together was a pleasure.
The most luxurious property of the lot emerged during an unplanned stop in Ooty. Once we landed there, we couldn&rsquot help but stop to photograph it, as it was nothing short of extraordinary. This was neither a plantation bungalow nor a country house, but a lavish English-style country manor bought by the Mysore maharaja and turned into his summer palace. Ferrnhills Royale Palace has what is probably the most ornate and well-maintained décor anywhere in the Western Ghats. The royal family has embellished it to a new level of extravagance, incorporating panelled red Burma teak walls, vaulted Elizabethan and Jacobean ceilings, glass-panelled corridors, Persian rugs, silk drapes, ornate murals and Chesterfield couches.
With so many young bloods now moving away from the estates to the cities for varied career prospects and more cosmopolitan ways, the planters&rsquo lifestyle seems to be facing the threat of obscurity. Nowhere is this more visible than in the reduced crowds at the old planters&rsquo clubs &mdash watering holes that were once the fulcrum of European social life in these parts, with their celebratory lifestyles featuring ballroom dances, live music and sports, now look somewhat abandoned.
When I mentioned this during a conversation over drinks with a regular at the Mundakayam Club in Kerala &mdash also named George &mdash his response was interesting You could label an empty club &lsquoforsaken&rsquo or see entry as a rare privilege that accords exclusivity and intimacy for those who choose to endure.
The information
Apart from their picturesque locations, colonial-era plantation bungalow stays give visitors a taste of the lifestyle that the British planters enjoyed. Be advised that these aren&rsquot for everyone, certainly not the loud and restless. Those who value tranquillity, aesthetics and comfort will be rewarded.
The bungalows
Periyar area
Downton Estate Bungalow & Periyar Reserve BungalowThese are on the only plantation inside the Reserve. Downton is typically English, while the Reserve Bungalow is built in the style of Travancore hunting lodges. Tariff Rs 15,000 for two, all inclusive.
Mundakayam Valley & Peermade
Evergreen Estate Bungalow, Kuttikal A 1950s bungalow set in a rubber plantation. Tariff Rs 8,500 for two, with meals.
Plapalli, Mundakayam Traditional Syrian Christian house with a tree house and infinity pool. Tariff Rs 7,500 for two, with meals.
Hill House, Peermade Set on a cardamom estate owned by an ardent antique collector. Tariff Rs 10,000 for two, with meals.
Munnar
Kanniamalai Bungalow A tea estate bungalow restored in 1912, with views of Eravikulam. Tariff Rs 9,000 per person, with meals.
Sholamalai Bungalow An elegant 1898 tea garden bungalow, located near Munnar, yet tucked away. Tariff see Kanniamalai.
Valparai
Stanmore Bungalow English suburban-style house. Tariff Rs 9,000 for two, with meals.
Ropeway Bungalow A blend of English and Tamil architecture, built in 1927. Tariff Rs 7,500 for two, with meals.
Kodaikanal
Red Lynch Bungalow A 1907 bungalow, near the lake. Tariff Rs 10,000 for two, with meals.
Coonoor
Mailoor Estate bungalow Great location and wildlife. Tariff Rs 12,000 for two, with meals.
Ooty
Ferrnhills Royale Palace A lavish place. Tariff from Rs 18,000 for two days, all inclusive.
Contact
For bungalow bookings, ask George Abraham (9447084310, staygeo@gmail.com, spiceandgreens.com, bungalowsandhomestays.com) for Ferrnhills Palace, see welcomheritagehotels.in.
