Haiwatha By The Brook

Description

Transport yourself to a fairytale as you watch the delightful UNESCO World Heritage Blue Mountain Railway make its way along the upper garden of this 150-year-old quintessential English bungalow available as a whole-villa holiday rental. Restored to a high standard of luxury by SPASM Design in Mumbai, Wedgewood-blue Haiwatha with its red-tiled roofs peeks out behind the trees, overlooking a cascading brook that flows into the Lovedale Valley. Perched out on a promontory, the views at Haiwatha stretch out to verdant vegetable farms, surrounded by jungle and nestling a Toda settlement.

Stepping inside this grand family home, comprising a 4-bedroom main house and a 2-bedroom carriage house, stirs up memories of simpler times, visiting grandparents and living on a steady diet of Enid Blyton. Black-and-white images are framed around the main house, highlighting the Nilgiris landscape, and others reflecting the owners’ family business legacy and their passion for wildlife.

Enjoy a lunch picnic by the stream, sit by a bonfire after dusk over a barbecue. Or just a 10-min walk up through the garden takes you along the railway track to Lovedale Station, where you can board the Toy Train to Coonoor just 30 minutes away, armed with a hamper of our house hot-brew and butter cookies!

STORY OF HAIWATHA
Nearly 50 years ago, a dapperly dressed gentleman from Bombay parked his car in Lovedale to watch the sunset. For a better view, he pushed open a nearby gate and walked through. The Nilgiris landscape now before him stunned him. When he turned, he discovered he was in front of an English doctor’s house, with a signboard for sale. Without a second thought, he said, “I love the view. Where can I sign?”

At the time of its acquisition by the current owners, Haiwatha was a large but simple cement-floored house. Summers were spent away from the mugginess of Bombay transported to the delights of the beautiful Nilgiris. The owner’s children spent their days getting lost in the Lovedale landscape. They would collect water from the brook to have their showers, walk along forest trails picking raspberries for sticky tarts, and waved to travellers as the Blue Mountain Train tooted its way at the top of the house garden.

The children loved the house and vowed to always preserve it so they could retain the wonderful memories that could be revisited over generations. Whenever they had the means, they put it into renovations. Over time, the high-ceiling bedrooms were turned into cosy two-floor rooms and the doctor’s horse stables became a grand Carriage House with two bedrooms. Shahabad stone flooring preserved the older feel while modernising the house. Outside, the trees around them grew into a dense jungle and neighbouring Ooty became a sprawling city, leaving Haiwatha and its surroundings lost in a beautiful time-warp.

Haiwatha today retains the original soul that its owners fell in love with, while providing the luxury they knew it could transform into. It has turned into their true fairy tale home.

SPACES
Haiwatha is available as a whole villa in 4-6 bedroom combinations
– Six bedrooms with ensuite baths sleeping a maximum of 16 guests
– 2 bedrooms with 4-poster king beds in the Main House
– 2 loft bedrooms with king-size mattresses in the Main House
– Master Bedroom with 1 king-size bed and a loft with 2 single beds in the Carriage House
– 1 Bedroom with 1 king-size bed in the Carriage House
– Powder room in the Main House
– 2-bed Carriage House with common sun-lounge
– Living room surrounded with conservatory-style windows
– Cosy lounge with large television
– Open dining area
– Large fully equipped kitchen
– Covered verandah with lounge seating
– Lawn with quaint lookout gazebo and gorgeous panoramic view
– BBQ & bonfire area with outdoor seating
– Accommodation for guests’ staff

INCLUDED SERVICES
– Breakfast daily; coffee and tea available throughout the day with our compliments
– Room heaters in all bedrooms
– High-quality bed & bath linen
– High-speed Wi-Fi
– Daily housekeeping
– Luxury bath amenities
– 100% power backup
– OTT-ready TV in the main house lounge and Carriage Suite bedroom
– Board games
– 4-person staff team, including 2 housekeepers, resident chef, and house caretaker
– LUX location host

AVAILABLE SERVICES
– Garden BBQs and authentic local South Indian meals available with suggested menus
– Advance and daily neighbourhood provisioning services of groceries & food delivery
– Bonfire services available
– Laundry with 24-hour turnaround
– Curated experiences of the Nilgiris including train rides, nature walks, food experiences, tea-tasting, dining reservations & golf sessions
– Itinerary planning & organising special occasions
– Airport transfers and local transport, including acting drivers

HOW TO SPEND YOUR TIME
– Take a ride on the Nilgiri Mountain Railway from or to Lovedale Station to Coonoor or Ooty. It is one of the most scenic ways to travel from Coonoor to Ooty and India’s only rack railway.
– Warm up in the lawn with a bonfire and feast on a delicious BBQ
– Play board games together either indoors or outdoors in the gazebo
– Enjoy a coffee and nap in front of the brook by the lower lawn
– Explore Ooty on a heritage walk or e-bike tour to learn about the area
– Visit the village of Lovedale and walk around to take in the breathtaking scenery
– Sample Ooty’s local cuisine and soak in its natural and cultural heritage
– Shop for teak or rosewood furniture at Mohan’s, a 70-year-old antique store where much of the house’s furniture comes from
– Visit one of the colonial clubs nearby to play a round of golf
– Try a unique workshop in Coonoor, such as a chocolate-making or tea-tasting session
– Learn about the local Toda and Irula people through anthropological guided tours with experts
– Keen birders can wake up early in the morning to do some birdwatching

VILLA INSIGHTS
– The entrance road to the home is on a steep gradient with a sudden drop-off. Cars should be cautious when entering the property.
– Haiwatha is a footwear-free zone. Please use the complimentary slippers or your personal socks when indoors.
– Evenings in Lovedale tend to be very cold. Dress warm before you start feeling chilly.
– The Nilgiris faces an acute water shortage, especially during the dry seasons. Guests are requested to use water prudently during their stay.
– Pets are not permitted in the villa.
– Indoor spaces are non-smoking. If you wish to smoke outdoors, please use the ashtrays provided.
– As in most hill stations, electricity supply can be erratic, and exceptionally bad during the monsoons. The home has 100% backup power from a diesel genset with automatic changeover.
– The Nilgiris have a major human-animal conflict issue with the Nilgiri gaur (bison) due to habitat destruction. Do keep the main gate closed at all times. Watch out for wild animals while walking or driving.

GETTING HERE
Haiwatha is located near Lovedale, a small village near Ooty, overlooking a wondrous view of the valleys.
– Ooty: 20 mins
– Coonoor: 40 mins
– Kotagiri: 55 mins
– Mudumalai Tiger Reserve: 2 hrs
– Coimbatore: 3 hrs
– Mysore: 3.5 hrs
– Bangalore: 6.5-7.5 hrs
– Chennai: 10-11 hrs
– Mettupalayam Railway Station: 2 hrs
– Coimbatore Airport: 3 hrs