Our
first trip this year - and the occasion being our wedding anniversary,
we decided on visiting Ooty. We always had an eye on Destiny Farm Resort
and so we decided on this place.
It was the first time we were taking kids on such a long drive. So we left Bangalore early, at 5.30 am. And we left on a Thursday morning. So the roads were amazing with no traffic. It was dark till 6.30 am, after which the drive was very comfortable and pleasant. We went thru Mysore road and reached Mysore in 2 hours! We continued on Mysore ring road and passed Nanjangud and Gundlupet before stopping at a cafe coffee day for a break. We had a quick bite and tea and got back on the road.
From here we enter the forest area, we passed thru Bandipur forest reserve where we spotted many deer, wild boar, langurs and then entered Tamil Nadu via Madhumalai Tiger reserve. After passing Masinagudi we hit the famous 36 hair-pin bends to reach the top of Ooty.
We followed google maps for directions and it took us direct to the resort.
We reached Destiny Farm Resort exactly at 11.30. We had to park the car at the entrance and take a bus to reach the farm.
The ride to the farm was on a muddy road and the ride was very very bumpy. Our older one enjoyed the journey sitting all by himself and holding on tight. We reached the reception area and checked in.
We went to our room and got refreshed. The room was good, with a nice sit-out area overlooking the mountains.
It was a perfect place with lots of stuff to do and widely spread. We had lunch sitting outside, watching the mountains and birds. The kids were thrilled to run around and be on their own, while A and I enjoyed a peaceful meal :)
After a long lunch, we went to the room so that kids could rest for sometime. The kids were re-energized after a short nap. We had tea outside and went near the horses. The kids rode the horses for sometime.
After that we walked around exploring the place. We went near a pond downhill and the view was beautiful. Kids loved running down the steps and exploring.
We settled near the play area as it was getting cooler and darker, kids played, while we sat and watched the sun set.
The weather was amazing! It was sunny thruout the day, so we spent all our time in the sun. The minute we stepped in to the shade, we used to feel cold. So we just sun bathed from morning till evening
The nights were very cold. We sat near the bon fire and gazed at the stars that lit up the clear black sky!!!
It was the first time we were taking kids on such a long drive. So we left Bangalore early, at 5.30 am. And we left on a Thursday morning. So the roads were amazing with no traffic. It was dark till 6.30 am, after which the drive was very comfortable and pleasant. We went thru Mysore road and reached Mysore in 2 hours! We continued on Mysore ring road and passed Nanjangud and Gundlupet before stopping at a cafe coffee day for a break. We had a quick bite and tea and got back on the road.
From here we enter the forest area, we passed thru Bandipur forest reserve where we spotted many deer, wild boar, langurs and then entered Tamil Nadu via Madhumalai Tiger reserve. After passing Masinagudi we hit the famous 36 hair-pin bends to reach the top of Ooty.
We followed google maps for directions and it took us direct to the resort.
We reached Destiny Farm Resort exactly at 11.30. We had to park the car at the entrance and take a bus to reach the farm.
The ride to the farm was on a muddy road and the ride was very very bumpy. Our older one enjoyed the journey sitting all by himself and holding on tight. We reached the reception area and checked in.
We went to our room and got refreshed. The room was good, with a nice sit-out area overlooking the mountains.
It was a perfect place with lots of stuff to do and widely spread. We had lunch sitting outside, watching the mountains and birds. The kids were thrilled to run around and be on their own, while A and I enjoyed a peaceful meal :)
After a long lunch, we went to the room so that kids could rest for sometime. The kids were re-energized after a short nap. We had tea outside and went near the horses. The kids rode the horses for sometime.
 |
| Where we had all our meals and tea |
 |
| Horse riding area |
After that we walked around exploring the place. We went near a pond downhill and the view was beautiful. Kids loved running down the steps and exploring.
We settled near the play area as it was getting cooler and darker, kids played, while we sat and watched the sun set.
 |
| Play area |
The weather was amazing! It was sunny thruout the day, so we spent all our time in the sun. The minute we stepped in to the shade, we used to feel cold. So we just sun bathed from morning till evening
We had dinner and returned to the room. Food was good, we had a buffet lunch and a buffet dinner. We loved their soup, pastas and noodles during every meal.
Back in our room, we had the fireplace lit up. The kids were super excited to see the fire starting. All of us sat in front of the fire and just watched the flames. The kids were awake till the fire was on. They refused to sleep before that.
Next morning we got up and went straight to the sit-out to watch the birds waking up and to listen to their songs. We also watched the color change in the sky due to sun rise which was beautiful! And of course a cup of hot coffee to accompany us.
We got ready and went to the restaurant to have breakfast. We had omelette and fruits. The poori channa was very good too. We again sat outside and enjoyed our tea, while kids ran around, chasing birds.
We walked around a lot and saw lot more animals and
birds in the property. Our lil one wanted to try fishing. So we spent
about one hour near the fish pond. The farm person caught one big fish
and put it back in the water after the kids saw from a close distance.
We
climbed back up and decided to walk to the beautiful lake that we had
seen on our way to the resort. We walked up a small hill, with our older
one leading the way. We went till the point where we could see the
lake, but did not go upto the lake.
We continued the walk for some more time, enjoying the picturesque views. We found a perfect place to sit, and the kids found a perfect place to play. Within few minutes they were covered in mud. It was so peaceful, with very few people around. Soon it was time for lunch. We went to the restaurant and settled at our favorite table, in the sun. After a sumptuous meal, we headed back to the room.
We found a perfect place to sit, and the kids found a perfect place to play. Within few minutes they were covered in mud. It was so peaceful, with very few people around. Soon it was time for lunch.
We went to the restaurant and settled at our favorite table, in the sun. After a sumptuous meal, we headed back to the room.
We continued the walk for some more time, enjoying the picturesque views. We found a perfect place to sit, and the kids found a perfect place to play. Within few minutes they were covered in mud. It was so peaceful, with very few people around. Soon it was time for lunch. We went to the restaurant and settled at our favorite table, in the sun. After a sumptuous meal, we headed back to the room.
We found a perfect place to sit, and the kids found a perfect place to play. Within few minutes they were covered in mud. It was so peaceful, with very few people around. Soon it was time for lunch.
We went to the restaurant and settled at our favorite table, in the sun. After a sumptuous meal, we headed back to the room.
The resort has a spa, so naturally I had to
try it. I got a facial done at the spa after lunch, while the kids slept.
The facial was done using natural ingredients like different kinds of
fruits, etc. It felt amazing. My skin really looked different after the
facial.
The kids were up by the time I got
back, so we went out near the animals. Kids wanted to try horse riding.
Later we had tea and roamed around. We watched the different shades of sky during the sun-set which was BEAUTIFUL!! And the kids were excited to watch the birds retire for the day.
Later we had tea and roamed around. We watched the different shades of sky during the sun-set which was BEAUTIFUL!! And the kids were excited to watch the birds retire for the day.
We went near
the bon fire place and sat on the stone bench close by to watch the
resort people start the fire. Felt so good to sit by the fire in the
COLD night. Was fun to watch the sparks fly around everywhere. We had a
good dinner, loved the tomato soup, and came down to the gift shop.
Bought a souvenir (I buy one from every place we visit), and walked
back to the room.
Once inside the room, we had the
fire place lit up and we just sat in silence watching the fire and
listening to the crackle sound of the twigs burning.
Got
up the next morning, and sat in the sit-out with coffee to watch
everything nature had to offer. It was fun to spot the birds with kids.
The mountains were covered with fog and it started to drizzle bringing
down the temperature even more.
After a long time, we headed to the restaurant to have breakfast. After a yummy breakfast, we had hot tea and spent sometime outside. Soon it was time for us to pack and we had to bid farewell to the place.
After a long time, we headed to the restaurant to have breakfast. After a yummy breakfast, we had hot tea and spent sometime outside. Soon it was time for us to pack and we had to bid farewell to the place.
We left the place around 11, took the same bumpy ride back to the parking lot and started back. It was a pleasant drive back, kids slept as soon as they sat in the car as they were tired from running around non stop at the resort. We stopped at Bandipur jungle lodges resort for lunch, which was very good. The jungle lodges was on the main road, so it works very well as a pit-stop between Ooty and Bangalore.
It took us 7 hours to get back, with 2 small stops.
It was a PERFECT holiday for us! We had the loveliest of times and enjoyed a lot :)
