Why You Will Love A Weekend at Kadkani Riverside Resort | Coorg | Karnataka

Originally from Kerala, my love for nature and greenery has never diminished and though I have been living in Bangalore for the last 14 years the urbanisation of this city has made me look for other places to relax and unwind somewhere amidst the peace and serenity of untouched nature. 

One of my favourite weekend getaways has always been Coorg and I still remember my first visit to this beautiful town a few years ago left me mesmerised. Coorg is well known for its coffee plantations and nature. The endless plantations, picture perfect locations, peace and quiet of the forests, amazing weather with the neighbouring river Cauvery sums up the “Scotland of India” – COORG! Coorg is the anglicised name for Kodagu,a district in Karnataka located on the Western Ghats. Kodagu is one of the richest districts in Karnataka thanks to the revenue from its coffee plantations but is also known to be one of the best hill stations and tourist destinations in India. Kodagu has three wildlife sanctuaries and one national park.  

While Coorg is a popular destination for many from South India, there are many options from the luxurious to the home-stays in this district. However one resort which caught my attention which offers a getaway like no other was Kadkani River Resort. [click_to_tweet tweet=”Kadkani is a premium plantation resort located in Hachinad, Coorg on the banks of the Cauvery River surrounded by coffee plantations. It seemed like a place where one can leave the world and all its burdening cacophony behind. ” quote=”Kadkani is a premium plantation resort located in Hachinad, Coorg on the banks of the Cauvery River surrounded by coffee plantations. It seemed like a place where one can leave the world and all its burdening cacophony behind. ” theme=”style1″]

We were a group of women heading for a weekend stay here from Bangalore and for a change I decided to be passenger than to drive by myself. Our driver, a well mannered chappie was a regular to this area and knew the route which I assumed was the route mentioned on the resort website.

The resort is located about 253 kms from Bangalore, 120 kms from Mysore and 562 kms from Chennai, all within easy access by road. Once we got off the highway the immediate change was noticeable in the atmosphere, the smell of fresh air and the coolness of the coffee and pepper plantations all around us. For someone who hates to breathe in all the pollution on our Indian roads, I was more than happy to roll down the car windows for the last 20 kms and take in the fresh, crisp and unpolluted air through the remainder of the drive to the resort. 

I knew the never ending scenic estates was the beginning of whats to come but I couldn’t contain my happiness when we reached the resort as we drove into the entrance. Kadkani resort is surrounded by coffee plantations on all sides except for the Cauvery River on one side making it an a picture perfect setting. 

On arrival, we were received the traditional way one of the staff dressed in the ethnic wear of Coorg. We were welcomed with a cold beverage and hot towel to rid of us of the initial weariness of the journey before being whisked away to our respective accommodations for the weekend. 

I stayed in their Deluxe Cottage and the first thing that caught my eye was the surrounding lush greenery. The cottage was an independent cottage traditionally designed with a sit out portico, one large bedroom with sitting area, a large sun-lit bathroom and a walk in closet with a full length mirror. These deluxe cottages can accommodate 2 adults and a child with ease. 

They have a total of 36 cottages including other cottage options such as include Den AC and Premium AC cottages which I got a chance to explore and fell in love with their vintage feel. 

Our first of many visits to their only restaurant ” Pride of Pachat” was for lunch on the first day and though their buffet spread may not huge, it definitely has the appropriate courses needed for a good meal. 

Though we had endured quite a long drive getting here, we decided to not waste any time especially since the weather was looking murky. On the recommendation of our activity coordinator, we decided to go for a river rafting activity across the adjacent Cauvery river. This was my first experience at such an activity and though it was not exactly river rafting, the preparations to get us on the raft was done with ease and all necessary precautions were taken. After a short brief of the activity we headed out on the raft along with two professional water sport experts. There is something magical about being amidst the soothing flow of the majestic Cauvery with the calm and tranquil surroundings.

The gentlemen on our raft did inform us that we are going to be getting into the water and appropriately prepared us for the bone chilling cold water with splashes of water on us while we were rowing. Once in the water, the fear and excitement all seem to be one with nature with the currents taking us towards our starting point. There is no doubt this was an experience I will cherish for a long time to come.

Once back to resort, we decided that since we already felt like drowned rats it was the perfect time to make use of the outdoor swimming pool we had seen on arrival. While my friends frolicked in the pool, I decided to take in a few laps in the pool to make up for all the idleness of the car journey.

After a nice hot shower in our cottages, we headed to the open area near the front desk to unwind over a cup of hot tea and snacks. I guess we still had quite a bit of adrenaline pumping inside us as we headed to the resort indoor activity centre for a few games of table tennis and carrom.

Our day ended with a pleasant dinner at their restaurant, followed by lounging around the lobby to use their wifi which is available only at the public areas. A wise decision so that we are not distracted by modern technology except for the Flat screen television in the room. 

After a blissful sleep, I started the day with an a cup of coffee at the sit out portico and there is nothing better than the sounds of the chirping birds and surrounding greenery especially for a nature lover like me. There is something refreshing about this resort which makes you feel at home inspite of being in the middle of nowhere. 

Our second day was already chalked out by the activity coordinator and began with a 7 am plantation tour of the property which I was looking forward to since I arrived through the gates of the resort. Mr.Lohith, our activity in charge for that day was a professional naturalist and wildlife photographer. As we proceeded for our walk, there is no doubt about his in depth knowledge and love for his job which made the trek an amazing experience. While the idea of a plantation walk at 7 am in the morning on a holiday may sound torturous, I recommend you do not miss it. More details on the plantation tour to follow soon. 

For a person like me, this was a perfect way to start the day and the walk made me quite ravenous leading to a well deserved breakfast which included some Coorgi delicacies.  

Post breakfast we prepared ourselves for half a day of nature centric adventure outdoor activities which included Burma bridge, Lake Zip lining and River Zip lining. I have always been into adventurous activities all my life and my excitement grew no bounds at the day ahead of me. 

We had a group of 3 men of which two were the experts in the outdoor activities. They were absolute gentlemen and took excellent care of us especially during the more dangerous activities such as lake and river zip lining, for which I am utterly grateful. 

Kadkani is the first resort in Coorg to have its own 9 hole Golf Course and at first glance you wouldn’t think that somewhere among all the plantations there is a golf course hidden in there. The golf course is picturesque and since it was the beginning of monsoon season the course was lush green. The resort’s golf coach was an affable gentleman keen to show us the ropes since none of play the sport. I understand that golfing lessons are provided to learn the game here at Kadkani with use of their golf gear. Even an amateur like me can understand the appeal of playing golf surrounded by arecanut trees and coffee plantations. 

We did get a chance to have a go at Air Rifle shooting though our target was just KF cans strung on the trees. Our instructor was very patient and helped us understand the nuances of holding and using a rifle to the extent that all of us hit the target after a few tries. 

The resort also has other fun activities such as paddle boating, bird watching, fishing which includes game fishing like Golden mahsee as well as a volleyball and badminton court and a trampoline for the little ones. They also have the facility to make a bonfire in the garden area which unfortunately could not enjoy due to continuous drizzle post 6 pm. Whether you are an adventurer or a  nature lover, you can’t choose a better destination than Kadkani. 

Being a person who loves a good meal, I must mention their in-house restaurant Pride of Pachat which serves Indian, Continental and Coorgi cuisine were we had all our meals during the course of the stay. Some of the memorable dishes I had were – Koli Curry, Kutu Curry, Kadambuttu among others all served with the Coorgi hospitality which comes straight from the heart. I specially enjoyed the Kadambuttu otherwise known as steamed rice balls which is one of the healthiest,gluten free and local dishes in Kodagu. Though we had our kadambuttu with a veg curry, it is supposed to taste best with their Pandi curry (Pork) which is a spicy, tangy curry and one of the most popular dishes in this district. 

The resort also promotes sustainable tourism which is a pressing matter which needs commitment from such well established resorts. The travel desk at Kadkani also organises sightseeing trips of the surrounding areas such as Abbi Falls,Madikeri Fort,Omkareshwara Temple and Namdroling Monastery. They also sell Coorg specialties of coffee and honey of which I purchased their honey and coffee for my personal use.  

If you prefer the peace and serenity mother nature provides and Coorg is your destination for a holiday then Kadkani River Resort is the place to be. 

Kadkani River Resort without a doubt captures the magic of Coorg and offers truly a memorable stay. 

Address: Kadkani Riverside Resort, Coorg, Hachinad, Pachat, Ammathi, Kodagu, Coorg – 571211 Karnataka.

For Reservations : sales@kadkani.com  
Phone : 94808 33780 | +91 94808 33781 

NOTE:

• Drivers will be provided with free veg food in the cafeteria and accommodation. 
• Outside Liquor, food, beverages are not allowed.
• Some of the above mentioned activities are available at an additional cost excluding a tax amount of 12%.