Destination Anaikatti: Savour Kongu’s quintessential arisi paruppu saadham and murungai malli charu, while elephant motifs greet you at every corner

After an hour’s drive from Coimbatore along winding roads and thick greenery, I am at Tuskers Hill Resort by Poppys in Anaikatti, 1000 metres above sea level, enjoying stunning views. Once inside, elephant-themed decor greets at every corner. While a majestic elephant sculpture vies for attention as I make way for lunch at the restaurant named The White Elephant, gentle-giant themed motifs are everywhere: on wall art, door knobs, cutlery, and lamp shades. “I love the elephant. It’s a majestic beast,” says SM Anand Hari, managing director. Anand Hari and his wife Sangeetha Hari, joint managing director, who come from a textile background, followed their passion for hospitality. Their philosophy, he says, is to offer affordable luxury with the highest level of pampering. “We don’t believe that luxury should always mean expensive. Our aim is to create immersive experiences. A space that serves both destination weddings and individual travellers looking for peace. Anaikatti is still relatively untapped. Accessibility is also easy, from the airport or railway station it takes only about an hour.”

Tusker’s Hill that began operations in January 2020 paused for a while during the pandemic, but restarted in October the same year. Spread across several acres, the property has 95 rooms in the heritage block and the contemporary block together. While the heritage section reflects classic Kerala architecture, it also offers private pool villas with larger living and dining spaces. There are five banquet halls, and the largest Ayiravatham, can accommodate over 700 guests. The team, he says, worked hard to create the landscape. “The contemporary block was once barren land. Every plant you see has been planted and nurtured by us,” he says, referring to the colourful, dense landscaping inspired by the concept of Adar Nadavai, where plants grow thickly together to create a lush, calming effect.