Skyfall 3 Bedroom Villa

Description

Skyfall is one of the most spectacularly located homes in the Palani Hills, set on the edge of a mountain, hidden away from downtown Kodaikanal. Enjoy wrap-around views of lush green mountains and the spellbinding Perumal Peak. If you can pull yourself away from the scenery, then within, you will find a truly charming fully-loaded holiday villa that makes for a perfect vacation in the hills. Pets are welcome! Skyfall is also available as a two-bedroom villa.

Skyfall was designed by Bangalore-based Biome Environmental Solutions, known for its focus on the convergence of ecology, architecture and water. The house merges with the steep gradient of the land and has been positioned in such a way that all the spaces take advantage of the jaw-dropping views. By using mud blocks made with soil that was excavated on-site, Skyfall stays warm in the winter and cool in the summer sun. Sloping roofs and comprehensive rainwater harvesting ensures that the villa has never had to buy or exploit water.

Designed on three levels, Skyfall’s uppermost level has the approach driveway leading to a covered garage and entrance to the house. A mud room and foyer lead east to an open-plan space comprising a modern island kitchen, a dining area and a bar area – the perfect way to bond and relax over cooking, drinking and dining. French doors open up to the house’s most popular gathering area — the expansive covered balcony. Drink in the ever-changing panoramic views of Perumal Peak and the farm-filled plains of Palani and its hill temple, with nothing to hinder the view. A passageway leads off from the foyer past a small study nook to the upper bedroom and ensuite bathroom. The bedroom has a loft which can sleep two young children.

Off the foyer, a wooden staircase leads down to the second level comprising the lower bedroom with its en-suite bathroom and large windows that frame the same beautiful views. On your right is a comfortable living room that is kept warm with a roaring Franklin woodstove. The living room leads to its own covered sit-out and to a large terraced lawn that is ideal for picnic lunches or bonfire dinners. Behind the living room is a media room perfect for movie nights.

The lower garden leads to the Third Bedroom or the Gardenside Bedroom. This bedroom is part of the villa and is located below the upper two bedrooms, except that it is accessed from the garden. There is a little private sit-out with chairs and a table – your own exclusive space for a morning coffee while you bring in the day.

Skyfall is meant for family bonding or for close friends. The open-plan kitchen & dining encourages you to cook and dine together. The fully-equipped house is ideal for the independent traveller, although the presence of a daily housekeeper is a welcome sight.

Kodaikanal can be a challenge to get around during the busy season with tourists, traffic and noise. But Skyfall can be the perfect antidote to it. A beautiful vacation home in the mountain wilderness far from the madding crowds but just 15-20 minutes from the lake makes for the best of both worlds.

DETAILS – GROUNDS

Skyfall is located within a private gated mountain-side estate, about 20 minutes from the Kodaikanal lake. A common-use road leads past two other houses, set well apart, to Skyfall which is at the end. A concrete sloped driveway leads you to the single-car covered garage and front of the house with open parking for 1 more car and clear parking for 2-3 cars on the common-use road above.

There is a two-level lawn for gatherings. One is on the lower level east of the house and accessible from the west side driveway via steps or through the lower level living room and sit-out. A larger lawn area lies one level below the lower sit-out for larger groups. Outdoor furniture, a large garden umbrella, and external outdoor speakers are available. The lawn is perfect for bonfires (a bonfire pit is in place) available. A Weber BBQ grill (BYO charcoal) is available in the Storage Room. Firewood is available at an extra charge.

Behind the kitchen is an open backyard with a long granite-topped table. This is suitable for sun-drying linen, clothes or kitchen utensils.

DETAILS – UPPER LEVEL

Two entrances to the mud room at the upper level – one conveniently via the garage (for those rainy days) and one regularly externally. The mud room has hooks for umbrellas, coats and keys, a shoe cupboard and a little bench to take off and put on your footwear. The foyer leads off to the open-plan kitchen and dining area, a staircase leading down to the lower level, and a passageway to the upper bedroom.

The upper bedroom with an ensuite bathroom comprises a Queen Bed, plenty of wardrobe space (so unpack), a portable room heater, and a loft that sleeps an additional two young children or one adult. Beautiful views of Perumal Peak are framed by the large vertical windows that face the bed. What better way to wake up than to a wow view!

Leading from the foyer, are a large open-plan kitchen, dining area and a bar which leads to the upper balcony. The main kitchen is a home cook’s dream – large with wraparound counters, a high counter, and an island in the centre. It’s fully equipped with a microwave, three-gas burner, hob, toaster, oven-grill, UV water purifier, two-bowl washbasin, piped hot water, dishwasher and large refrigerator. There are oodles of storage and cookware, glassware and flatware to cook up almost any meal. A smaller wet kitchen with its own counters, wash basin, 4-burner gas stove and storage racks is designed for heavier Indian cooking.

The dining area and bar separate the main kitchen from the covered balcony, A rectangular dining table with bench-style seating for six makes for casual, communal dining. Behind the dining table, the flue pipe of the living room Franklin woodstove brings radiating warmth to the dining room when it’s lit up. Next to it is a cosy bar cabinet set up to welcome your BYOB and two single-seaters that invite you to an intimate drink.

Large foldable French doors open to the upper balcony and the skyscapes outside. The covered balcony has a 4-seater round table with extra chairs for larger groups. On the open-air extension, there are two low-slung cane chairs for that cup of coffee & book to take in some warm sunshine. A beautiful old Franklin cook stove can heat up your food, and bake bread or mini pizzas.

The study nook leading to the upper bedroom has art collected from the homeowner’s travel and life in the Orient. An antique wooden bookcase is filled with books on a variety of subjects. In the corner by a large set of glass-paned windows is a flat-topped writing desk and chair, for you to catch up on work.

Next to the dining area are the powder washbasin and laundry room. The laundry room has a front-loading washing machine and dryer. An ironing station and steam iron are provided.

DETAILS – LOWER LEVEL

Stairs lead from the foyer lead down to the lower level which contains one bedroom, the living room and sit-out, and the media room. The lower bedroom to the left of the staircase has a Queen Bed, and floor-to-ceiling windows with views of the lawn, trees, and Perumal Peak. Bedside tables and heating included. There is plenty of wardrobe storage and an ensuite bathroom.

The Media Room has comfortable seating with Wi-Fi, flatscreen 4K Android TV with Net-flix and other OTT channels built-in. All you have to do is log in and catch up on your favourite shows. There is Tata Sky too. For music, there is an audio system with external Bluetooth and an acoustic guitar for bonfire nights. A Franklin woodstove in the corner will warm up the room instantly when lit up.

The Living Room has a comfortable 3-seater sofa, two single-seaters, and a rocking chair. Coffee table books on Kodaikanal, antique chests and soft lamps make this a lovely space. There is a nook with a cabinet full of rare old books. A Franklin woodstove really makes the room toasty!

French doors lead to a lower sit-out with a picnic table and two benches. Superb views!

DETAILS – LOWER GARDEN LEVEL

The lower garden leads to the Third Bedroom or the Gardenside Bedroom. This bedroom is part of the villa and is located below the upper two bedrooms, except that it is accessed from the garden. The room has beautiful twin antique beds joined together to form a double, A large thick carpet warms up the room, in addition to the portable room heater.

There is a small pantry with a tea/coffee station, and its own small LED TV with Tata Sky. A wireless router gives you internet access. The ensuite con-temporary-styled bathroom has its own hot water supply. There is a little private sit-out with chairs and a table – your own exclusive space for a morning coffee while you bring in the day.
There is also one attic adjacent to the upper bedroom loft which is kept locked.

As hosts, we are available 24 x 7 for you by phone. We have a dedicated Location Host who lives in Kodaikanal and he will welcome you on arrival or on the evening of your arrival. He will introduce you to the house and will bid you farewell either the day before departure or at departure. He is available on phone between 5 pm and 9 am on weekdays and 24×7 weekends. At all other times, our Reservations and Ops Team members are available 24 x 7. In addition, our housekeeper-cook will always take care of you during the day. You have this exclusive home all to yourself.

Set within a secure, private hillside estate and located just 20 minutes northeast of the Kodaikanal Lake, Skyfall literally feels like “the last house standing”. Your drive through a warren of homes, takes you along a seemingly precipitous road, with beautiful terraced farms and deep valleys on either side. The end of the road leads you into a gated estate with just 3 homes set well apart from each other. Skyfall is at the end of the estate, and you can be guaranteed that there is nothing but sky & mountain before you.

The closest railhead is Kodai Road Station 2 hours away. The closest airport is Madurai about 3 hour drive. There are interesting day outings for you – Poombarai (scenic drive, terraced villages, temple) 40-50 minutes; Mannavanur (scenic drive, sheep & rabbit farms, picnics) 60-70 minutes; Palani (temple on the rock) 2 hours; Dindigul (fort, cigars, and flower market) 2.5 hours and Madurai (temples, street food, architecture) 3 hours.

Skyfall is largely a self-catering luxury villa. There is no permanent presence of a caretaker on-site. However, there is a daily housekeeping service from 0930-1300 hrs, except on holidays and Sundays. Should you need extra hours, laundry assistance, or cooking services, charges will apply, subject to the availability of the housekeeper. In addition, your dedicated LuxUnlock Location Manager is available on-call or WA for any assistance.

Electricity supply by the government is both erratic and of poor quality throughout the year in Kodaikanal. Do expect frequent power cuts throughout the day. The house comes with an automatic partial-back up inverter and batteries that run most lights and electrical points throughout the house, except for the heavy loads. Wi-Fi is uninterrupted.

Water is highly scarce in Kodaikanal and the house does not have a municipal water connection. It depends upon rainwater storage and a rarely used borewell. Water is pumped to the overhead tanks automatically and nothing needs to be done. Please use water prudently.

Heating is available in all rooms with portable heaters in both rooms. There are three Franklin wood stoves – in the Upper Balcony, Living Room and Media Room. Please ask your LUL Concierge to show you how to light them or refer to the House-book. Both bedrooms share a hot water geyser. Please keep it switched on throughout your stay. There is a hot water geyser for the powder wash basin and main kitchen and one for the wet kitchen.

Guests have access to the washing machine, dryer and ironing facility for self-use. Sun-dry your clothes in the backyard.

There are two kitchens – a main western-style kitchen for light cooking and western food, and one adjacent wet kitchen for heavy Indian cooking. Please comply with this to avoid Indian cooking vapours from spreading through the house.

Staff accommodation is available only for a professional caregiver, female cook, valet or governess. There is one staff room with an ensuite bathroom on the lower level and accessible from outside the house. Staff accommodation charges apply. A common-use toilet at the top of the driveway for external staff. Should your male cooks or drivers need their own accommodation, it must be sought outside the premises.

Kodaikanal has a major human-animal conflict problem with Indian bison. Due to habitat destruction and lack of predators, bison numbers have increased and they often are found in residential and public areas, and occasionally in our estate. Please be careful when walking. Increasingly, monkeys have also become a menace and be careful as they do raid indoor spaces looking for food.

The location of the house makes it feel like it’s hours away from civilization during your first few trips in and out of town. Once you are familiar with the route, you will realise you are only 20 minutes from the Lake!