A bird’s eye view of the Blyton Bungalow – an environment-friendly coffee estate stay in Coorg.

Coorg is one of the most popular travel destinations in southern India for nature lovers and adventurers owing to its lush wilderness layered with beautiful hills. It is dotted with several homestays, youth hostels and guest houses for the travellers. Besides these, coffee estates in Coorg are a major attraction as they allow visitors to experience the rich coffee-growing culture of the region. Coffee estate stays in Coorg are perfect for adventurers, coffee lovers, farming and culture enthusiasts. The Blyton Bungalow of the Poomaale Estate is one of the best coffee forest stays in Coorg that offers a key to unlocking unique experiences in this natural paradise.

Nature’s Hospitality at the Blyton Bungalow

Nestled in the heart of the Western Ghats, amidst the 128-acre Poomaale Estate in Coorg, the Blyton Bungalow is an environment-friendly villa with rooms overlooking the coffee forests of the estate. Built with natural and locally-sourced materials, it blends beautifully into the surrounding wilderness. It is part of a landscape teems with several farming, restoration and conservation activities and gives the guests an overview of the same during their stay.

A paradise for nature lovers, this guest house in Coorg offers a variety of activities for visitors, including nature walks, jungle hikes, treks, bonfire nights or simply stargazing! Whether you are looking for a quick weekend getaway, a long rejuvenating work vacation or simply learning about the art of growing coffee, the Blyton Bungalow is the perfect coffee estate stay in Coorg.

Blyton Bungalow – the first look.

The Poomaale Estate

The Poomaale Estate is the first wilderness collective from Beforest located near the town of Kakabe, Coorg amidst the Western Ghats – a Biodiversity Hotspot. Spread across 128 acres, it sits at an elevation of 1040 metres with a landscape full of flowing freshwater streams, rolling Shola grasslands, active elephant corridors, coffee forests and wilderness trails that connect to the larger forest ecosystems of the region. The estate is also home to abundant wildlife including big cats, small-clawed otters, snakes (especially the big four Indian snakes), birds, bat colonies and an amazing array of endemic species.

Approximately half of the estate is left as a low-intervention tropical rainforest. The food production and housing activities are consciously restricted to the other half. This is keeping in mind the sensitive nature of the landscape that we occupy and its importance in terms of water security to the states of Karnataka and Tamil Nadu.

Whether you are a traveller, nature explorer, bird watcher or photographer, the Poomaale Estate is sure to be on your list of must-visit spots when looking for a coffee estate stay experience in Coorg.

The Architecture of the Blyton Bungalow

The design of this guesthouse in Coorg was inspired by the architecture of the traditional Kodava style Ainmanes which are the ancestral homes of the Kodava people (natives of Coorg). Ainmanes are characterised by a common plinth that connects the rest of the building’s living units, leaving the whole built structure free-flowing, well lit and ventilated – something that breathes!

View of the central courtyard as soon as you enter the Blyton Bungalow.

Blyton Bungalow is a 6-bedroom guest house, with 2 family suites and 4 double occupancy rooms. Room 5, which has an internal mezzanine floor, seems to be the favourite of kids! These rooms are tucked in cosily within a bunch of indoor and outdoor common spaces like balconies, sit-outs, courtyards and front yards. The walls of the entire structure are built with locally available laterite stones, an iconic element of the architecture of this region. The roof is typically sloped due to heavy rainfall, and covered with classic Mangalore tiles – another locally sourced material which is functional as well as aesthetically pleasing.

While the rooms offer a personal haven for visitors, common spaces are equally loved. The outdoor activity platform – a multipurpose space for events and gatherings – seems to be the favourite of guests so far. Right next to it is a dedicated space for bonfire nights – a fun way to bond with fellow travellers. All in all, a wholesome stay when you visit Coorg!

Room 5 – one of the two Family Suites at the Blyton Bungalow.

A Coffee Forest Experience

The Poomaale Estate spills the coffee vibe right from the get-go! It is a perfect stay in Coorg not just for nature lovers but also for coffee lovers. This rainforest of the Western Ghats extends into the wilderness zone of The Poomaale Estate and is a great example of a rainforest thriving in tandem with a coffee plantation. This is largely due to the plantation having lots of fruit trees and native plants like peppers (especially the endemic and ancient black pepper), spices, oranges, cardamom, mangoes, figs, and avocadoes, interspersed across the estate.

Coffea Canephora in full bloom in January 2023 at the Poomaale Estate.

Coffee growing is one of the main farming activities at the estate. No matter what time of the year you go, you can experience the growing coffee pass through a new milestone on its way to maturity. And if you go just at the right time you may get a chance to participate in the harvesting activities during your visit too! Visitors can even get a taste of the wildly grown coffee at the stay and learn about how it is grown too. 

Walk the Path of a Naturalist

Nature walks are one of the most common and loved activities at the estate. Once you’ve stepped into Poomaale the naturalist in you automatically takes charge. We have had guests’ fear of unknown creatures turn into curiosity, and kids who scurried away from bugs start to observe them. People also try to recognise the birds with their calls and always connect the newfound pieces of knowledge with their existing ones to understand nature a little better. 

Naturalists spot species from the bridge of the Poomaale Estate.

Our in-house naturalist at Blyton Bungalow, Albin, accompanies guests during nature walks and makes sure they slow down to not miss out on interesting things that unfold in front of us that we often overlook. 

An Explorer’s Delight

Visitors trekking to the Shola grasslands at the Poomaale Estate, Coorg.

Being connected to a diverse landscape, the Blyton Bungalow is the perfect station for the adventurer in you. You can go for numerous hikes and treks around the estate (Tadianmol, Nalaknad Palace, Iguthappa Temple and more), cycle in Naladi village, forage for meals in and around the farm with guidance from Blyton’s cook Ravi, learn how natural farming is applied on large scale, go bird-watching and indulge in some nature photography, trek to the waterfalls and take a dip in the fresh streams – the activities are endless! Your visit to the Blyton Bungalow is as adventurous as you make it.

Events at the Blyton Bungalow

A coffee estate stay in the lush hills of Coorg calls for a variety of events involving time with nature and exploring yourself with it. The Blyton Bungalow recently hosted two beautiful events – A Classical Hatha Yoga Retreat by Usha Murthyneni (a Beforest Member) and Astrophotography Workshop by Prathamesh Jaju. If you are planning to visit the Blyton Bungalow, perhaps syncing it with one of the upcoming events is a good way to make the most of your time here and connect with a diverse group of travellers in the lap of nature.

An outdoor yoga session during the Classical Hatha Yoga Retreat at the Blyton Bungalow (from 7th – 9th April). It was led by Usha Murthyneni, founder of Hatam and member of the Hyderabad Farming Collective of Beforest.

The Blyton Team

Hospitality is personalised for all the guests of the Blyton Bungalow. Right from the meals to the outdoor activities, the team at Blyton makes sure to gauge a visitor’s interest and encourage them to participate in activities that they would remember for a lifetime! 

Blyton Bungalow’s cook Ravi harvests herbs from the vegetable patches of the Poomaale Estate.

The hospitality manager, Swati, ensures all the guests are well taken care of during their stay. The house cook, Ravi, who is an expert in local foraging, prepares meals with utmost love, dedication and simplicity that takes us back home right in the thick of the forests. The caretakers, Brijmohan and Suman, make sure you have a comfortable stay by ensuring you have everything you need. The naturalist, Albin, guides you through the wild side of the Poomaale estate with nature walks.

The entire staff underwent training in terms of planning meals and experiences and maintaining the balance that is needed to run a coffee estate stay in Coorg that is heavily inclined towards sustainable living. Nothing gives them more joy than knowing that the guests had a good time during their stay, and that is what motivates them to keep doing the good work that they do every day.

A Day at a Coffee Estate Stay in Coorg

The day at the Blyton Bungalow undoubtedly starts with the sweet morning call of the Malabar whistling thrush followed by an early bird-watching session with the naturalist. Post the walk, the guests enjoy a hearty breakfast prepared in the common dining area. The guests are then free to go around the estate and explore the landscape or the various farming activities. If you are lucky you can even spot the endangered and endemic Nilgiri marten in the vicinity of the Bungalow, a sighting that a few of our guests were fortunate enough to experience. 

A local Coorg dinner made by Ravi, the cook at Blyton Bungalow.

The exploration is halted by a wholesome lunch, followed by another nature walk or trek, depending on the interests of the guests. Evenings are quite beautiful with guests interacting over barbeque and bonfire, evening coffee or indoor board games at the bungalow. 

Best Time to Visit the Blyton Bungalow

Well, the perfect time is always, and never. There are always mystical things unfolding in the wilderness of the Western Ghats and it is just not possible to soak it all up in a single visit. The best time depends on the activities you are most inclined to be a part of. January & February are perfect to watch the Canephora coffee (Robusta coffee) growing here in full bloom and even take part in harvesting activities. Waterfall views are the best post the heavy Coorg rains – from October onwards. As for bird watching and biodiversity spotting, it is ideal to research the best timings and plan your trip accordingly.

During the peak monsoon (July & August), the activities come to a halt in Coorg. But if you are someone who wants to experience the famed Coorg rains, you can visit the Bungalow during those months. 

The Way Towards a Forest-friendly Stay

We share this Earth with every living creature and it is with gratitude and humility, we carry out our work at each of our Collectives. Beforest Collectives, such as the Poomaale Estate in Coorg, are safe havens for wildlife, with minimal human footprint and we would like to keep it that way. 

Sustainability is at the heart of all the Beforest Collectives and that translates to this unique coffee estate stay experience in the Blyton Bungalow as well. Leaving the place better than you find it is one of the key efforts in the purview of sustainable travel and hospitality and visitors who resonate with this philosophy make our perfect guests. If you are someone trying to move towards a more slow, minimal and sustainable lifestyle, a stay at the Blyton Bungalow can give you a glimpse of it. 

A Giant Wood Spider weaving a golden orb web in the forests of the Poomaale Estate in Coorg.

We would love for you to unwind and experience nature in all its glory here at the Poomaale’s Blyton Bungalow. A few simple rules and things to note during your stay will be communicated to you in detail before your visit, which will ensure that you as well as the forest you will be visiting have a pleasant experience during your stay. 

If you wish to experience a coffee estate stay in Coorg, fill out this form to request a stay and check availability at the Blyton Bungalow at the Poomaale Estate. The team will guide you through the packing list, things to note and how to reach the estate and are always happy to assist you with any other activities or ideas you may have while you are at the estate.

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