Arriving guests descend into a valley, covered with a quilt of paddy fields, banana, cardamom and peppers, areca nut and coffee plantations. The journey to Hanchikad Resort meanders through this stretch before it enters a reserve forest. The air gets cooler as the journey moves on, climbing higher into the mountains.
Situated atop a hill, guests at the Hanchikad Resort are welcomed at a patio designed in a fashion reminiscent of Kerala’s vernacular architecture. Inside, there is a profusion of wood pillars, elegant and functional furniture. A paved pathway fringed by plants leads to the resort’s dining area and an adjacent lobby topped by a hall equipped to conduct banquets.
Coorg
Coorg, nicknamed as the Scotland of India, is located in the Western Ghats of southwestern Karnataka. The land’s enticing landscape and lush greenery makes it a sight to behold. It homes different communities of diverse ethnicities, with the Kodavas being the main ethnic group. The place is a prominent travel destination in India drawing in tourists from all over the world. The economy of Coorg is based on agriculture, forestry and plantations. Coffee and major cash crops such as cardamom and black pepper comprise greater portion of the contributors. The climate in here is moderate throughout the year with an average temperatures ranging from 15 to 29 degree Celsius, making it an ideal tourist destination.
Eco Tourism
Ecotourism has become popular in Coorg among visitors interested in environmental conservation. The main essence of eco-friendly tourism is to ensure that minimum or no damage is done to the ecosystem. Hanchikad Resort believes in sustainable living, thus the whole property is built around abundant and bountiful hills without disrupting the natural resources and lives of the people involved. Practicing the ‘give and take’ policy, Hanchikad Resort gives back its share to nature by helping the ecosystem grow by planting more trees, while preserving and conserving its already existing flora. This gives rise to economic opportunities that make the protection of natural resources advantageous to the local people.
Accommodation
The range of accommodations at Hanchikad Resort are set along on the ridge line of a hill slope – cottages with different configuration set across two floors and designed with indigenous architectural influences, sloping tiled roofs, a color palette that emerges from the surrounding nature, tones of green and brown, elegantly furnished and extensively equipped with a range of amenities.
Valley View Cottage
The valley view cottages offer a sense of expansive luxury, furnished in wood, natural fabrics and subtle shades of colour. Large windows let in the late morning light and the sounds of birds in the surrounding trees. The sit outs in all cottages look out through the tree tops, at scenic views of the valley below and the line of mountains on the horizon.
Mountain View Cottage
The mountain view cottages are similar to the valley view cottages in most aspects, except that they are set higher above the tree line and offer uninterrupted views of the valley floor extending towards the range of mountains on the horizon. Weather permitting, the sunset hour in the mountain view cottages is indeed special. Sit back and listen to the birds voice a last serenade for the day.
Valley View Wooden Cottage
Of special interest is the resort’s plantation view wooden cottage that bears distinctive structural attributes of Kerala’s ancient tradition of building exquisite habitations entirely in wood. With a sit out wrapped by the plantation, the cottage is exquisitely furnished and equipped with all requisite amenities, a delightful throwback that combines poignant history with contemporary hospitality.
Plantation Cottage
Identically configured like the mountain and valley view cottages, the sit outs and windows here contemplate the lush embrace of the plantation. Through the day watch as the shifting lights casts dappled shadows and dancing shadows serenaded by vociferous birds in the trees overhead and insects in the undergrowth. The air is redolent with the aroma of spices mingling with freshly brewed coffee.
Tree House – Mountain/Plantation View
Hanchikad Resort’s crowning glory, a pair of tree houses that soar high above the plantation and forest, one that offers superlative views of the valley below and the mountains on the horizon, the other, situated below, looking out the plantation. The tree houses are elegantly furnished and equipped with all requisite amenities.
Dining
The Drongo is a songbird with a distinctive black plumage, endemic to farm lands, the fringes of forests, meadows, wetlands, and fields Hanchikad Resort’s restaurant named ‘Drongo offers stunning views through a large expanse of glass facing west. An outdoor deck, an extension of the restaurant is special with its breathtaking view of the mountains and the valley below.
Facilities
Infinity Pool
Surround by clumps of bamboo and a stunning panoramic view of the valley and mountains, the magic in the infinity pool at Hanchikad Resort is best experienced late afternoon as the sun dips towards the hills to the west.
A very special experience, once guests have experienced the many charms that the plantation and forest offer, exploring the places of interest nearby, to be embraced by the cool water in the pool and watch the unfolding splendour of a tropical sunset.
Events & Meetings
Think corporate get togethers, a meeting of groups of business associates, think memorable destination weddings, think birthday parties, all in a setting that combines stunningly beautiful natural surroundings, ample space, functionality, and unstinting service, think of the banquet hall at Hanchikad Resort connected to the world with the state of art infrastructure.
Conference Hall: Maximum Capacity – 50 PAX
Types of Setup: Cluster and Theatrical
Events: Conferences, Banquets, Parties, Weddings etc.
Activities
Indoor/Outdoor Games
We offer a range of indoor games that include – Carrom board, table tennis and foosball. Fancy sweating and letting off steam? Get on our shuttle badminton court. And we have not forgotten the restless kids that stay with us, our play area for kids includes a swing, trampoline and a seesaw.
Nature Walk
The highlight of a stay at Hanchikad Resort is often the daily nature walk conducted by an experienced naturalist with an intimate knowledge of the forest and plantation. Starting early in the morning, the excursion will wind through thickly forested trails giving guests an opportunities to spot numerous species of animals, exotic birds in the branches of teak, rosewood and timber trees in the moist areas of the plantation and forest. Shorter species of trees grow in the relatively drier areas – flame of the forest, laburnum, yellow and Burma bamboo, jackfruit and medicinal trees like neem.
The forest is also home to four-horned antelopes, wild boar, crested porcupines and the black-napped hare that often wander into the plantation. Sprightly bands of primates (common langur and bonnet macaque for most part) are spotted foraging for food. Guests may even spot sloth bear, pangolin, giant and flying squirrels, giant fruit bat and the elusive slender loris besides wild civet cats foraging in the coffee bushes for coffee berries. The Travancore wolf, Ceylon cat eye, green vine and common trinket snakes may be also be encountered on the excursion.
Explore
The plantation and surrounding forest is also home to four-horned antelopes, wild boar, crested porcupines and the black-napped hare that often wander into the plantation. Sprightly bands of primates (common langur and bonnet macaque for most part) are spotted foraging for food. Guests may even spot sloth bear, pangolin, giant and flying squirrels, giant fruit bat and the elusive slender loris besides wild civet cats foraging in the coffee bushes for coffee berries. The Travancore wolf, Ceylon cat eye, green vine and common trinket snakes may be also be encountered on the excursion.
Bonfire
Post sunset, we have a bonfire going for our guests as the echoes of a day soften mist floats past and moon casts seductive shafts of light through the shifting clouds.
