Primrose Villas Chikmagalur is a cosy boutique hotel
On a wintry morning, we took off on a road trip towards Chikmagalur, the home of the magnificent Mullayanagiri range. The chilly February weather and the traffic-free roads made it especially ideal for travel. Five hours and 155 miles later we reached a beautiful and cosy boutique hotel to spend a weekend of bliss.
As we entered the lobby, we were greeted with a glass of chilled bubbly and warm smiles. The lobby looks like a work of art; it is aesthetically done up with artifacts collected from all over the world. Every nook and corner of the place has a story to tell. From the red sandstone flooring to brass artifacts and Victorian furniture, the owners – Ravi Ramu and Sumitra have given the place a rustic and earthy feel. It’s modern yet has a homely feel to it.
Once we were done marvelling at the place, we were taken to our honeymoon villa and R and I became quite speechless for a while. Built with glass walls, the high-ceilinged villa opens up to the most stunning mountain view. The interiors are plush with an eccentric mix of ethnic, contemporary and antique furniture. Satinder Singh, the friendly manager at Primrose told us about how much work had gone into making sure we had the best time of our lives. From adding our favourite dishes to the menu to decorating our bed, there was so much attention to detail. Since we were the first honeymooning couple to visit the villa, they had baked us a heart-shaped raspberry cake – a very thoughtful gesture, indeed.
To make our first meal extra special, they set up a table for us in a secluded spot in the property. In the midst of a dense forest with sounds of birds chirping and wind swishing through the trees, we had a meal fit for a king. The food was a revelation; it was cooked and spiced to perfection. I don’t quite remember the names of the dishes but R particularly liked how juicy and tender the meat was. Post the meal and a little celebration (we’ll tell you why, soon) we went up to the terrace to watch the sunset. It was the perfect opportunity for R to bring out his camera and capture the changing shades of the sky.
The day ended with a hearty 7-course barbecue dinner and champagne which was served right outside our villa. We were so full that we could barely move. The in-house chefs at Primrose surely know how to whet one’s appetite. As R and I sat in the portico under a blanket of twinkling stars, we couldn’t help but feel overwhelmed with all the love and warmth.
We woke up the next morning with rays of sunshine pouring into our room and gently nudging us to wake up. After lazing around in bed for a while, we went to have our breakfast. We were ravenously hungry in spite of having had a rather large meal the previous night. R loved the breakfast spread; though it was the standard English fare, everything was done to perfection. The pancakes were fluffy, the bacon crisped just right and the sausages…oooh the sausages were simply delicious. R being a fussy eater ordered two more plates of them, so you can imagine how good they were. Having tamed our grumbling tummies, we went out to explore the property. The newly-opened retreat is housed amidst the 122-year-old, 600-acre ancestral property. During the coffee picking season, they take you on a guided tour around the coffee estate. They also offer a trek up the mountain but we didn’t get to do it due to a wildfire.
What stood out for us was how each and every staff member was so dedicated and friendly. R was impressed with how the owners had carefully handpicked their staff because he felt that’s what distinguished them against other luxury hotels.
There was a personal touch to everything they did, in fact, we were moved by how thoughtful they were when they packed lunch for our drive back home. Like R says, it’s these little things that make a whole lot of difference. We came back with our heart’s content and stomach full (they really do feed you well).
PS: Even though we couldn’t find any reviews on TripAdvisor we went ahead and booked the Honeymoon villa at Primrose Villas Chikmagalur, sometimes you just have to take the leap of faith