Sitting high in the Palani Hills near Dindigul, and accessed through an avenue of royal palms and coffee plantations, sits Rajakkad Estate. This 18th century beautifully carved timber building was once the summer palace of the Maharajas of Travancore and is now a stylish seven room retreat. It was discovered by the descendent of Fry’s chocolate family, Jeremy Fry, who broke the building into 20,000 pieces and had it resembled 1000m above sea level in the rolling hills of Tamil Nadu. The property is enveloped by emerald forests and cooled by clean fresh air so is perfect for lovers of the outdoors as the surrounding forests are ideal for walking. The seven beautiful bedrooms are accessed from the main courtyard and all have sliding doors leading out to the garden. They are fairly simple but incredibly tasteful; think airy white walls, black oxide floors, funky Indian fabrics and colourful details. The Deluxe Rooms are the largest, however we think the Standard Rooms are more than sufficient in size and style. All rooms have deep mattresses, soft pillows and fine-brushed cotton sheets. The food is a real highlight here with South Indian and Mediterranean dishes mostly featuring on the daily fixed menus. These are served at a communal table, but if you prefer you can eat separately or in the gardens. We feel Rajakkad is an absolute gem in Tamil Nadu and we advise booking early in order to secure a room in this incredibly popular hotel.
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