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Coffee Routes Resort
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Overview
Situated on the crown of a knoll, Coffee Routes Resorts with 4 star facilities is serene nature getaway that draws inspiration from the dictum that less is more and that nature must be allowed to thrive unfettered. The predominant theme is that of coffee with the names of the rooms and facilities named after different species of coffee plants and varieties of coffee. A tarmac road winds up the slope. An open to the air lobby is situated beside the road. Inside the seats are hewn from rock found in the area. Above the lobby is the resorts multi cuisine restaurant with a splendid view of the surrounding vegetation, a plain stretching up to the mountains in the distance. The path climbs further on to a block of rooms built over two floors. Inside the decor and furnishings are subtle with cotton fabrics, bamboo, wood and cane. All the rooms have balconies with views of the landscaped slope, the trees in a neighboring plantation and on one end views of a swimming pool and a stone paved tank fed by a natural spring. Outside, adjacent to the main block, on one edge of the knoll is a cluster of twin floored cottages overlooking the swimming pool and tank below. The view from the balconies in the cottages is truly stunning, looking down at the pool on one end and across a stretch of fields, the distant mountains on the other.
Coffee Routes Resorts is located in an area that has been exclusively zoned for plantations and nature reserves ensuring that the surroundings remain pristine. The 4 acre property has been designed so that only 1.5 acres is built up space with the landscape contain a fascinating variety of trees, flowering and medicinal plants adhering to the ‘Star Forest’ concept that defines a tree for every star in the astrological constellations. Coffee Routes is indeed an authentic experience of nature the way nature meant it to be
The Promoters
The promoters of Coffee Routes Resorts are both from fourth generation families settled in Kumily. They bear childhood memories of a time before the reduction of forest cover, a certain degree of urbanization and the subsequent diminishing species of flora and fauna. Intimately familiar with forests and culture of the area, both Mr.Bala and Mr.Murali are passionate advocates of environment conservation and sustainable lifestyles. The profusion of trees and plants in Coffee Routes Resorts is a result of their labor of love.
More about this tour
Nature Walk and Green Walk
It is an interpretive sandal wood protection and trekking program offering excellent opportunities for watching birds, butterflies and other wildlife through a range of habitats during the 4-5 km 3-hours walk. These treks go through different nature trails inside the Park. A maximum of 5 persons are allowed on each trek accompanied by a trained tribal guide.
Cloud Walk
On this trek, from the vantage point, guests will get to see a panorama of grasslands, evergreen, deciduous and riverine forests and the expanses of land irrigated by the Periyar River besides the Cumbam Valley, the heights of Mangaladevi, Kumarikulam, the escarpments of the Fort of Periyar and the Palani hills in the distance. There are chances of sighting some habitat specialist birds and butterflies including endemics like Nilgiri pipit, broad-tailed grass bird, tree nymph. Guests can also experience the rich cultural heritage of the Mannan Tribe that has been preserved in the form of the artifacts in the Tribal Heritage Museum.
Jungle Patrol
This is a night trek in the fringes of the eco development zone of the Tiger Reserve in the company of armed guards. A trek ideal for younger visitors fit and disciplined enough to walk in the silence of the night.
Border Hiking
It is day-long range hike along the borders of Periyar Tiger Reserve. The route passes through undulating terrain and altitudes ranging from 900 m to 1300 m where the trekkers can glimpse the lofty escarpments bordering the park, watersheds and the vast stretches of Cumbam Valley below. Gaur, sloth bear, elephants are often sighted apart from birds and butterflies. Groups of 10 guests in two batches accompanied by guides and armed guards go on the hike groups which starts early in the morning.
Thekkady/Kumily
Kumily is small town in close proximity to Thekkady, on the outskirts of the Periyar Wildlife Sanctuary and a thriving center for trading in spices. From the Periyar Valley, the Western Ghat mountains drop dramatically onto the Deccan Plateau. The town was once known as Kuzhumoor and used to be the capital of the Thekkumkoor Kings. It was with the advent of the British in the region that it underwent drastic changes. The British either bought or obtained on lease, vast stretches of land and hilly areas from the feudal land lords or from the princely state of Travancore and converted the forests to plantationsof tea, coffee, cardamom, ginger, cinnamon and other spices and labor from Tamil Nadu and Kerala were brought to work in the plantations.
The tribal communities of Kumily today have a population of around 2000 people and live in perfect harmony with nature. Five ethnically different communities -- the Mannans, the Paliyas, the Uralis, the Mala-arayas and the Malampandarams -- have settled in Kumilypanchayat, mainly on the outskirts of the Periyar Tiger Reserve. In the remote forests, there are tribes who still carry out their age-old practices such as building small dolmens for honouring the dead.
Though they used to earn their living through traditional occupations like fishing and agriculture, with the advent of eco-tourism initiatives, they have found alternative jobs. They actively take part in the tourism-related programs and serve as guides for tourists or as forest guards to prevent poaching and other illegal activities.
The Periyar Tiger Reserve
The Periyar Tiger Reserve is South India's most popular wildlife sanctuary . Covering an area 777 sq. km. in size with a 26sq. km artificial lake, the sanctuary is home to about 1000 elephants, about 35 tigers, bison, wild boars, langurs and deer besides a bewildering array of other species. The vegetation of the reserve is made of evergreen and semi evergreen rainforests with the canopy at times reaching a height of 40 to 50 metres. The Periyar and Pamba rivers flow through the forest and a large artificial lake has been created where animals come to drink. People oriented community based ecotourism is the hallmark of PeriyarTiger Reserve. These programs are conducted by locals who, by taking tourists along not only interpret the values of Periyar and enhance the visitor experience but also add to the protection of the park and earn a livelihood out of it. Hence, when visitors participate in these programs they are directly contributing to the cause of conservation and community welfare.