SinnaDorai is the perfect name for this collection of bungalows located in functioning tea plantations. The term is a very specific reference to the assistant manager in a South Indian tea plantation and these bungalows are all about recreating that bygone era and the plantation life. The three bungalows- SinnaDorai’s Bungalow, Valparai, Sinna Dorai’s Bungalow Mango range, Nilgiris (both in Tamil Nadu), and Sinna Dorai’s Bungalow in Kadamane, Karnataka are amidst impossibly lush estates and are perfect for those looking for a laidback and indulgent plantation experience. Meals are a wonderful flavor mix of local and general Indian fare.

These self-sustained properties grow their own seasonal specialties in summer and winter, use water from springs that go through RO filtration instead of bottled water and have an impressive no-plastic initiative. Wildlife flourishes in these properties and they collaborate with an NGO called Nature Conservation Foundation to conserve the flora and fauna of the Anamalai hills and Kadamane.

Make the experience even more memorable by taking in the breathtaking beauty of the Western Ghats on drives, treks, and picnics with gushing waterfalls. Come evening, curl up by the fireplace in the reading room with a hot cup of the finest tea.

Don’t miss out on some experiences, unique to the estate. Enjoy an insider’s factory tour of what it takes to manufacture the world’s favorite beverage. Also, don’t forget to bring along a pair of binoculars and make sure to spot the Hornbills.

GETTING THERE: Kadamane is a five-hour drive from Bengaluru, Valparai is two and a half-hour drive from Coimbatore and Mangorange is about a five-hour drive from Coimbatore OR Kochi and two and half hours from Calicut.