March 28, 2024
I drive down the winding roads of Tamil Nadu into Kerala, bordering the Mudumalai Tiger Reserve and through the picturesque Needle Pine Forest. Tucked away amidst the bamboo clad hills of Northern Kerala, Déjà View by Lux Unlock beckoned—a sun lit sanctuary of serenity and luxury nestled within a 14-acre coffee and cardamom plantation. As I drove up the path to this private community of six homes, I felt a warm sense of home.
Perched atop a hill, Déjà View exudes an air of exclusivity and luxury. The plantation-style villa, with its locally-inspired design and contemporary interiors, instantly captured my heart. From the verandah, I was treated to sweeping vistas of rainforest-clad hills, stretching as far as the eye could see—a sight that filled me with a profound sense of awe and calmness.
Stepping indoors, I was enveloped by the warm embrace of the open-plan design, which seamlessly blended two tastefully furnished bedrooms and a charming loft. The master bedroom, adorned with a romantic four-poster king bed, exuded an air of luxury and refinement, while the spacious ensuite bathroom promised moments of indulgent relaxation. The second bedroom, equally inviting with its king bed and original art, provided a haven of comfort and serenity. There’s a TV corner for binge watchers like me who love to sink into an evening show to wind down. The loft is a great place to sprawl and read, write or just be.
I loved the attention to detail that had gone into crafting every corner like the textures of the walls, the variation in the Mangalorean roof tiling, the curated art and artifacts and the comprehensive use of bamboo courtesy Uravu - a bamboo-based developmental organization that strives for rural empowerment through sustainable solutions. From the fully equipped open kitchen to the rear sit-out and long east-facing verandah, each space invited me to slow down and savor the beauty of my surroundings. The intentional utilization of indigenous materials in constructing the house ensures its natural cooling properties during summer, rendering the absence of air conditioning negligible.
The Lux Unlock team is on point with their hospitality. The house comes with the assistance of Sindhu who is a warm, friendly and enthusiastic cook and is available at the house from 8.30am to 4pm. She’ll cook you up some mean Kerala fare. Nikhil, the local host, is extremely helpful and on our first day he brought us a bag of local Calicut banana chips which I prefer over the slightly thicker Wayanad banana chips. He also brought us fresh toddy in the morning on request. In the evening, the gardener tapped on the door, offering freshly harvested coconuts filled with sweet, sugary water and tender coconut flesh.
The concierge at Lux Unlock recommended a meal at 1980’s A Nostalgic Restaurant, a local restaurant which is a 30-minute drive from the house. They serve a Sadhya (a vegetarian meal served on a banana leaf) or a Biryani meal which you can top up with daily specials from the blackboard. The staff is warm and friendly, even if you don’t speak Malayalam. The restaurant has a small shop run by Indu who is shy when I ask to photograph her but super friendly when it comes to explaining the various pickles and spices she has on display. I picked up a haul of Thoramanga, Wayanad style dry raw mango pickle best eaten with curd and rice. The next stop was Calicut Chips for salty and sweet banana chips.
Déjà View is the ideal place to spend an entire monsoon, atop a hill and right in the lap of nature.
Book exclusively on www.luxunlock.com
Best way to get there: Fly to Mysore and drive for two and a half hours or fly to Kannur or Calicut which is three hours away.
