Jul 15, 2008 05:41 PM
9573 Views
(Updated Feb 18, 2010 03:05 PM)
Destiny farmstay belongs to The Little Earth Group, the same group which owns the Kings Cliff and Sherlock’s End in Ooty. The unique concept, the picturesque landscape, the luxurious rooms, the great food and service makes Destiny an ideal weekend getaway.
Destiny is located in the outskirts of Ooty in a place called Avalanche or Avalanchi, as known by the locals. Ooty is a very popular tourist destination and thus has become way too commercialized, but Avalanche which is approximately 28 kilometres off Ooty is almost untouched. After arriving in Ooty you can take a cab from Kings Cliff to Avalanche. The last two kilometres stretch to Destiny is perhaps the most exciting part of the journey, because that is where you have to leave the cab and take a truck. There is no proper road, thus only trucks or heavy 4WD would make the last 2km drive. For those 20 minutes on the dirt road, there is only one thought that strikes your mind “how did they manage to build the farmstay here?” In fact it took the management four years to build the farmstay, and they are still not finished.
Destiny FarmStay is situated right beside the Avalanche Lake and is spread over almost an entire hill. The landscaping has been done beautifully and they have for most parts let nature work its magic. The main two blocks in Destiny consists of 18 rooms and a dining cum living room. The rest of the area consists of acres of vegetable farm, stables, geese pond and some areas are left untouched for guests to explore. Owing to its spectacular location, the entire area is so serene that the management has kept telephones and televisions out of the rooms. There is a possibility that you might not even have cell phone reception here.
The rooms here are named after the robbers in the West, such as Jesse James, Buffalo and Bill. The rooms are nothing like the rustic outdoors, they are very plush and luxurious. Destiny offers buffet breakfast, lunch, evening tea and dinner to its guests. The food is mostly Indian, if you want something specially cooked that is not in the buffet, then that can be arranged too, of course at an extra cost. As of August 2007, the bar in Destiny was being constructed, but one can always carry their own liquor.
Go for a trek in the virgin woods, try your hands in fishing, take a horse ride or an agricultural tour. Just pack some food and drinks and hike to the untouched meadows near the lake and feast your eyes on the panoramic view. Take a stroll in the huge campus of Destiny, which is safeguarded with electrical fencing because the place is home to many wild animals, including leopards. The staff in Destiny arranges for a barbeque and bonfire in the evenings.
Destiny farmstay charges approximately Rs 1500-2000 per day, per person, depending on the season. October to April is peak season. The price includes the stay and all meals.
If you want to catch the glimpse of any animal, then winters(Oct-Jan) is the best time to visit Destiny. However, I feel Destiny is an ideal weekend getaway anytime of the year. Although it is very close to Ooty, Destiny is a piece of paradise hidden in the Nilgiris.
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