Looking For Paradise? Head to Meriyanda Nature Lodge In Coorg

Mountains, gurgling brooks and log cabins this place brings every fantasy forest cottage you’ve ever read about to life.

A dramatic and delightful change from the cityscape, Meriyanda Nature Lodge is a secret Shangri-La which we would have rather not shared with anyone! But as we can’t contain our love for it, here you go.

Hidden in the Hattihole area, not too far from Madikeri, this oasis of calm is all about harmonising with nature. So you’ll find that the cottages are made from wood with a hint of western architecture. Think sloped roofs and an American Craftman style building with a hint of the contemporary.

Each cottage has a different design and is made for a different purpose. If you want an incredible view, pick King’s Villa. Set atop a hill, it has got two massive bedrooms, each with ceiling-to-floor picture windows for that stellar view of the Kote Betta mountain peak, the valley below and the sparkling Hattihole river rushing past. Queen’s Villa is similar but cosier. And with a dressing room, living area and a charming veranda, it’s the apartment we’d  readily rent for life.

The Valley View cottages are a marvellous experience. Perched on stilts about 20 feet above the ground, the rooms are comfy and quaint. But then again, if all you want to do is sit out on the deck with a beer {or strong coffee} in hand, the beds don’t matter as much! Planter’s Cottages, too, are built on stilts; for those who like to laze about in bed instead of being up and about.

Make sure you hop on a bicycle and ride to the nearby waterfalls for a picnic. It really brings back Enid Blyton-esque memories, and you won’t regret it. Don’t like action? Fear not. Simply pick up the basket and waddle to the Hatti river {it’s genuinely in your backyard} for a riverside meal.

They’ll happily organise a bonfire and barbecue, so do ask and sit back under the canopy of stars. And don’t stress about the food; you’ll be loaded up with authentic Coorg cuisine throughout your visit.

While it’s great to go when it’s not raining, we really suggest you make a trip here in the monsoon. It’s a whole different kind of beautiful.

Best Time To Visit: Oct – Mar

Where: Meriyanda Estate, Avandi Village, Hattihole, Madikeri Taluk, Coorg District

Price: INR 11,000 upwards

Contact: +91 9483787978

Check out their website here, and follow them on Facebook here.