Overview
Chingaara is an estate guest house nestled within one of the most diverse and luxuriant landscapes in the world - the Kodagu region of The Western Ghats in South Western India. Situated within the grounds of a 12 acre family-owned coffee estate, with working plantations of coffee, pepper and cardamom amidst lush green tropical forests, Chingaara offers its guests a sojourn into the wildest nature with the comforts of a beautiful estate home.
Chingaara estate is a microcosm of the surrounding Kodagu region. With waterfalls and streams flowing down from old majestic hills steeped in mist, virgin forest teeming with a wide assortment of birds and wildlife, and the calm beauty of the shade grown coffee plantations just outside your window, Chingaara provides ample nourishment to the soul as well as the senses.
The Kodagu region is home to more than 300 species of birds with keystone species such as the Malabar Trogon, Nilgiri Laughing-Thrush, Great Black woodpecker and the Malabar Whistling-Thrush inhabiting the plantations and forests of this region. It is virtues such as these that makes Chingaara any naturalist's delight.
The Stay
The guest house is tastefully designed & elegantly furnished, providing adequate comfort & luxury to their guests without seeming at odds with the natural surroundings. The main building houses seven of the rooms with two rooms located in the annexe. The rooms in the main building are on the first floor & open out into a spacious common balcony which overlooks the valley & provides an ideal space for just relaxing with a book from their library or star gazing in the evenings.
All the rooms come well equipped with essential amenities & have attached bathrooms with solar heated water. The main building also houses a well furnished dining hall on the ground floor where delicious meals are served.
Room Type 1
Type 1 is a spacious split level room accommodating four people with a double & two singles on the mezzanine. These type of rooms offer nice views of the surrounding Kabbinakadu valley.
Room Type 2
Type 2 is a split level room that accommodates three people with a double bed & a single bed on the mezzanine. These rooms face the plantations to the west of the guest house.
Room Type 3
Type 3 is a spacious room accommodating three people with a double bed & a single bed. Type 3 rooms line the south face of the Estate House & offer nice views of the surrounding coffee plantations.
Smaller Room
A smaller room in comparison to other rooms, situated on the second floor of the Estate House. It accommodates two people comfortably.
Activities
The geography and climate out there makes it an ideal place for trekking, mountain biking and bird watching. Opportunities abound for both the serious outdoor enthusiast looking to conquer the nearby peak, Tadiyandamol, and the casual hiker who can enjoy a spectacular waterfall and gorgeous views all within the estate grounds.
Nature Walks: What better to way to experience nature than to venture out into her blossom and imbibe her in all her pristine glory, up close & personal. Go wandering on one of the many well thought out and charted nature trails. Take in waterfalls, streams, hills and expansive vistas of the Kodagu region that are sure to take your breath away
Bird Watching: The Kodagu region being located in the Western Ghats, boasts of being an environmental hotspot with rich biodiversity. With nearly 25% of India's Bird species, this region is a haven for birds. The rhythmic drumming of the Great Black Woodpecker will keep beat to your bird watching adventures in these forests.
Bicycle Trails: Cycle through coffee plantations across the jungle, up and down rolling hills on one of our dirt tracks to sparkling streams or delightful natural pools and cool yourself off with a splash. There is a state of art geared bicycles that make conquering steep inclines a breeze. Though there are challenging enough climbs that satisfy the adventurer in you too.
Star Gazing: Reacquaint yourself with the wonders of the night sky that are so often kept shrouded from urban dwellers by concrete curtains & clouds of pollution. With immaculate, crystal clear skies and no mam-made barriers to obstruct your view, this mind blogging tapestry of far away luminous worlds is sure to humble you into a state of awe and wonder at creation.
Bonfire: Huddle around the warmth of the cracking fire in the cool night air, sip a drink, exchange stories and banter, laugh, sing and the while the night away in good hearted bonhomie. All this to the background score of crickets and cicadas chirping away with unbridled fervor in celebration of the night. What better way to end a day ?
Table Tennis/Badminton: There are indoor and outdoor sports such as Table Tennis & Badminton. The large open space adjoining the estate house makes itself an ideal playing field for any outdoor game or sport that you can come up with.
Getting there
The closest bus stop to Chingaara is Kabinakkad Junction. There are private buses from Madikeri and Virajpet to Kabbinakad Junction at regular intervals.
Chingaara is about 2.5Kms uphill from Kabbinakad Junction. The road is steep and laden with rocks and it is not advisable to try and navigate it in your own car.
Call in advance and notify them of your arrival and they will pick you up from Kabbinakad Junction in a 4 wheel drive Jeep.