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As soon as we stepped out of our taxi, we gasped at the pristine beauty of the bluish-silver Emerald Lake overlooking the B&B. It was surrounded by the rolling hills of the Nilgiris and tea plantations on all four sides.
The tea leaves glimmered as the sun’s rays illuminated one half of the untouched landscape, while the birds’ chirps filled the air with melodious tunes. It sounded like they were welcoming us to their picturesque abode.
Inside the gate, the soft green and white-colored cottage stood against a hill, flanked by lush green lawns and flowering plants in hues of purple, white, pink and red.
A white hammock hung on one corner of the lawn, while sprawling beetroot and carrot fields next to the property instantly tempted me to indulge in their farm-to-plate experience. We’ll talk more about that in some time. But, if you are planning an Ooty trip, and wish to enjoy an offbeat stay away from the crowded town, this place is for you.
Emerald is an intimate 2-roomed B&B, located around 20 km from Ooty’s main town. Owned by Nature Resorts, the homestay is sure to transport you into a magical world. Let me take you through the entire experience of our stay here.
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Top 4 Highlights Of Our Stay At Emerald by Nature Resorts
# Dining On The Porch
Sipping on the morning coffee and relishing piping hot breakfast from the porch, while enjoying the breathtaking views of the Nilgiris and Emerald Lake, was one of the most unforgettable memories of our stay here.
Luckily, we could also enjoy outdoor lunch on our second day as the sun was shining bright, making the weather more bearable. You could try candle-light dinners too on one of their 2 porch tables, if you’re able to tolerate the chilly weather at nights.
# Trek To The Emerald Lake
Honestly, we were not sure if we would be able to complete the 2-hour trek (up & down) to Emerald Lake. But the assistant manager, Mr. Prem Kumar, who doubles up as the local tour guide for guests, made it very exciting for us!
Having grown up and lived in the neighborhood all his life, he had the most intriguing and fun stories to share, including his sightings of tigers and leopards in the nearby mountains. He even showed us photos on his phone to prove his stories, and confirmed that they didn’t try to attack him, putting us further in awe of wildlife and the beautiful creatures we share our planet with.
We also spent some quiet and peaceful time once we reached the lake bed, simply staring at the expansive water body and its beauty.
# Authentic Thai Food & Farm-To-Fork Experience
While Emerald offers a multi-cuisine menu, you must try Thai food for at least one meal here. It is the chef Mr.Prem’s specialty and a cuisine he speaks about with a lot of passion.
Plus, the fact that a lot of their vegetables come from the surrounding farms makes the food all the more fresh and delicious. I will share more details about the dishes we tried in a bit.
# Free Netflix In The Room
As frequent travelers, we have stayed at many hotels and resorts of various budgets over the past few years. Either none of them had smart TVs, or they were not subscribed to OTT platforms. That’s why I found the Netflix subscription on their large flat screen TV to be another USP of our stay here.
Though I don’t prefer watching television at such gorgeous locations, the subscription turned out to be handy for those few hours after sunset, when the region becomes pitch dark. This particular side of Ooty has not been spoiled by human construction yet.
The Room At Emerald by Nature Resorts
Emerald by Nature Resorts is built like a vintage home, with 2 rooms, a dining space with an antique table, a kitchen, porch, garden and a sitting area with a little library that features a collection of old cameras and books.
Both rooms exude a minimalistic appeal, with a blend of modern and vintage accents. The earthy brick-hued floor and wooden ceiling offer a pleasing contrast to the otherwise muted white and cream shades of the room.
Our room was ornamented with antique side tables, a dressing table and wardrobe that added an old-world charm to the space. Warm lamp shades lit up the room softly, while a large glass window overlooked a part of the garden, adding a green dimension to the cozy space.
A little table on another corner was neatly arranged with a kettle, vibrant cups from India Circus, 2 glass water bottles and a wooden box with a variety of teas and coffees.
The bathroom was done in a cooler shade of gray with bluish-green undertones. There was a glass-partition in the shower area, while the essential toiletries like wooden toothbrushes, vanity kits and shaving kits were placed in brown paper boxes featuring Nature Resorts’ logo.
They also had fragrant spice-flavored soaps in the bath area. However, they don’t offer shampoo and conditioner. So, you might want to bring your own bottles.
The wardrobe stacked wooden hangers, bathroom slip-ons and a hair dryer, which turned out to be so handy to beat the chilly weather post hair wash.
However, the main savior of our stay was the room heater. Without it, I probably would’ve been shivering all the time!
TWT Tip: Owing to the chilly weather of Ooty, it takes quite some time for the geyser to heat the water. So, you might want to switch it on at least an hour before your shower to avoid unnecessary cold surprises.
The Food At Emerald by Nature Resorts
As established earlier in the highlights, the food here was truly delectable and added another layer of excitement to our stay. We tried both Indian and Thai food for our various meals, some being the chef’s specials and some that we requested him to create with vegetables from the neighboring farms.
Both vegetarian and non-vegetarian food is served here. Since I am a vegan, we only tried the vegetarian options, customized to be dairy-free. Here are some of the most delicious and memorable dishes we had:
# Thai Coriander, Sweet Corn & Aromatic Clear Soup – We started almost every meal with a soup to beat the chilly weather and all the soups tasted divine, with the subtle flavors encasing our palates with their warmth and comfort.
# Chef’s Special Noodles – This was a surprise on the table, as the bowl was topped with crisp fried noodles, but inside, there were layers of soft noodles marinated in yummy Thai sauces and stir-fried veggies.
# Thai Chilli Baby Corn – Sweet, tang, crisp, spice and all things nice — these adjectives perfectly describe the delectable starter.
# Thai Green Curry with Steamed Rice – I wasn’t expecting it to taste as authentic as it did. But the coconut milk-based curry was perfectly flavored with lemongrass, kaffir lime, Thai basil and the works! The veggies in the curry, such as broccoli, zucchini, bell peppers and carrots, were crunchy and cooked just right, offering a nice bite.
# Kurkure Bhindi Jaipuri & Dal Tadka with Steamed Rice – Just when I thought Thai cuisine was the chef’s main forte, he surprised us with his comforting dal and super crisp batter-fried ladies fingers. It turned out to be a killer combination.
# Beetroot Chutney with Idlis – One of our most unforgettable dishes here, the fresh chutney made from the neighborhood farm’s beetroots, was a delightful combination of spices and natural sweetness of the vegetable. It teamed beautifully with their amazingly soft and fluffy idlis.
# Poori Bhaji – The pooris came piping hot and puffed up on our table. It paired well with the gram flour-based potato-pea stew. But secretly, I saved some of the beetroot chutney and dipped the pooris in it too!
# Thai Salad – I have never been into salads, but this particular dish created with fresh and crunchy vegetables dressed in a dash of olive oil, lemon zest and salt was delicious and refreshing.
# Mixed Veg Bhajis with Carrot Chutney – Another of my favorite memories from the stay, we were served these piping hot bhajis as soon as we returned from our 2-hour-long trek. Our tired and hungry souls dipped the crisp brinjal, onion, carrot and potato bhajis in the smooth carrot chutney and devoured them within seconds! If you were there, you’d probably think we hadn’t eaten for days! 😂
# Pepper Mushrooms – Another sweet, spicy, tangy, soft yet crisp-on-the-outside starter, the mushrooms were scrumptious.
# Carrot Halwa – This is something I had requested the chef to make with the oat milk I had carried along with me from home. Though he was hesitant initially, it turned out to be delicious!
Activities & Other Services At Emerald by Nature Resorts
Emerald offers several activities, both within its premises and outside. So when you have had enough of just staring at the stunning vistas, here are some activities you can indulge in:
- Trekking – The area offers multiple trek options, including Emerald Lake, Avalanche Lake and the highest hill point from where you can get a bird’s eye view of the entire landscape.
TWT Tip: You might want to return from your treks before sunset, as one of the property managers has sighted tigers and leopards in these forests on multiple occasions in the nights.
- Local farm visits – Emerald is surrounded by a plethora of farms such as beetroots, carrots, potatoes and of course, the tea plantations. So, you could visit them with the assistant manager or chef to understand how they are grown. Bring back some with the owner’s permission and request the chef to prepare your favorite dishes with them.
- Swinging on the hammock – This is one of the best ways to simply relax and enjoy the surroundings, read a book or just enjoy the art of doing nothing.
- Little library – The sitting area has a little shelf with books from both fiction and non-fiction genres, offering the perfect past-time for a bibliophile.
- Indoor Games – You will find carrom boards and chess boards that you can enjoy with your company, either inside or in their beautiful lawn.
- Avalanche jeep safari – This is a paid activity they offer for interested guests. They will arrange for the jeep, and you will need to pay INR 350 per person.
- Arrangement of cabs for sightseeing – Even if you want to visit more tourist spots, they can arrange a cab for you, with the applicable charges.
Cleanliness At Emerald by Nature Resorts
The property is a newly constructed one and we couldn’t spot any speck of dust, rodents or dirt anywhere. Their local housekeeping staff clean the rooms and common areas everyday and ensure that you have a comfortable stay.
Location Of Emerald by Nature Resorts
The location is one of the biggest USPs of this stay, with the pristine Emerald Lake and Avalanche Lake just a few kilometers away, and virgin mountains and tea gardens making for the backdrop. The major tourist spots of Ooty can be reached within 1-2 hours from here.
If you have more time, you can also easily cover the nearby hill stations of Coonoor, Aruvankadu and come back the same day. If you’re looking to stay at any of the other tourist destinations, you can check out our reviews of Nature Resorts’ other magical properties — Willow Hill Ooty and Sleeping Beauty Aruvankadu.
TWT Experience Summary Of Emerald by Nature Resorts
Would I come back again to relive my experience here? I certainly would rather enjoy the serenity, peace and quiet of this place, than staying at the overcrowded main town of Ooty. We had a rejuvenating time enjoying the lush views of the Nilgiris from their hammock, outdoor sit-outs and lawns.
Some of our most memorable experiences were eating the delicious and fresh Thai delicacies, and going on a long-yet-refreshing trek to the Emerald Lake. Evenings spent inside the room were also extremely comfortable and cozy, thanks to the availability of room heater and Netflix on their large TV.
Inclusivity checklist:
✅Kid-friendly
✅Vegan-friendly
✅Family-friendly
✅Couple-friendly
✅Eco-friendly
✅LGBTQ+ friendly
✅Room heater
✅Netflix
✅Outdoor dining
✅Games
✅Farm-to-fork
Price of room: INR 7728 on weekdays & INR 7952 on weekends (inclusive of GST); INR 1400 for extra adult & INR 850 for child aged above 5 years
Contact: +91-8088855855
Address: 12/525, Indra Nagar, Red Hills, Ooty, Tamil Nadu
Booking link: Booking.com
Frequently Asked Questions About Emerald by Nature Resorts
1. Do Emerald’s rooms have room heaters?
Yes, the room heaters at Emerald saved us from the biting cold of Ooty. Especially if you’re visiting in the Winter or Monsoon seasons, switching on the room heater would be essential.
2. What cuisine does Emerald’s restaurant offer?
Emerald’s restaurant offers a multi-cuisine menu. However, the chef specializes in both Thai and Indian cuisines. You can also request him to cook your favorite dishes or let him know about your diet preferences and he’d be happy to customize them for you.
3. What is the price of staying at Emerald by Nature Resorts?
A room at Emerald by Nature Resorts per night costs INR 7728 on weekdays & INR 7952 on weekends (inclusive of GST); INR 1400 for extra adult & INR 850 for child aged above 5 years.
4. Is Emerald Lake worth visiting?
Yes! Emerald Lake is one of the most pristine, untouched and gigantic lakes in South India. It is surrounded by the lush green tea plantations and rolling hills of Nilgiris, offering the most tranquil and serene vistas to gaze at.
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One thought on “Emerald by Nature Resorts: Pristine Lake View Stay In The Untouched Ooty ”
Wow. Wonderful place. Beautifully written with minute details. Well done.