The long drive up to Green Hills Estate, past huge iron gates and lush coffee plantations, sets the tone for what to expect here: a getaway to an old family Kodagu (Coorg) home, little changed over the century since it was built. It promises a wholesome Neemrana experience, this being one of their latest ventures. The heritage of this building is its selling point, complete with the trappings of a wooden hunting lodge and plenty of evidence of the owners’ love for horses. Designed by a Swiss architect, this is a place for a laid-back change of pace.

There is an interesting reception area and a wooden stairway to the main rooms on top. A grand drawing room upstairs, complete with a tiger-skin on the floor, will draw you in to soak in the history of the place, with hunting guns and ancestor’s portraits, very well displayed all round. Gleaming cupboards display many riding trophies.

There are 4 suites of rooms — with huge sitting rooms in between, decorated with the spoils of hunting and horse-racing, ensuring that each set of rooms enjoy their privacy. More suites are housed in the annexe to the main house. Vast acres of plantations surround the mansion.

This is a good bet for couples or singles taking a break to simply do nothing except read, sleep and eat. Young families seeking total quiet and peace, and perhaps writers too, would like a holiday in Green Hills.

There is little by way of organised activity here.  The library has many historical books on the heritage of Kodagu (Coorg) with everything in between from horses down to Jeffrey Archer bestsellers.

The board leading up to the property says Green Hills is a ‘non hotel’ hotel – Neemrana’s famous one-liner! The sustainable tourism effort here has been to preserve the heritage of this place, making you feel like you are here on a family holiday to discover your roots, rather than the professionally run hotel that it actually is!