~ Vintage Stay ~
PRESERVING THE PAST : A TRUE TASTE OF KODAVA HOSPITALITY
Located within a coffee estate along a picturesque ridge of the Brahmagiri range of the Western Ghats, The Bungalow 1934 in Yavakapadi village lies in the shadow of Thadiyandamol - the highest peak in Kodagu (Coorg) and the third highest in Karnataka. Steeped in history, our ancestral bungalow offers six spacious rooms, fabulous misty mountain views, authentic Kodava cuisine, homemade chocolates and more.
The inspiration behind our logo is attributed to the bygone days when deer would gather under wild fig trees around The Bungalow to feed on the fermented fig. Stags, antlers and hooves form a recurrent theme in the design. True to its colonial heritage, The Bungalow 1934 has hosted nobles and high-ranking officials of the British empire. Since its inception, it has nurtured four generations within its hallowed walls. As custodians of the honorable heritage of The Bungalow, my family and I, would like everyone to experience its inimitable charm as we continue to build its legacy for future generations.
Nestled on a picturesque ridge of the Brahmagiri range in the Western Ghats, The Bungalow 1934 overlooks rolling hills and misty mountains that shape our days in ways both beautiful and unpredictable.
This heritage homestay is an integral part of our life as coffee growers and planters. For generations, our family has sustained itself through these estates, and welcoming guests here is a natural extension of our traditional Kodava lifestyle and values. It is a living family home where we welcome you into our world with the same warmth and passion that has guided us for generations. Our staff, many from the third generation of families who have walked these coffee estates with us, bring a deep respect for native traditions and the quiet rhythms of Kodava life. In return, we simply ask that you embrace the same spirit of mutual respect and cultural warmth that has sustained our clan and our land for centuries.
Here, in this heavily wooded terrain of winding roads and coffee plantations, everything travels a little farther—groceries and daily essentials make the 56-kilometre [ to and fro ] journey from the nearest town so that we may offer you an experience that feels truly authentic rather than convenient. Nature is our constant companion: the gentle shift of temperatures, the occasional moth or insect that finds its way indoors, and the local animals that have co-existed peacefully with us since long before the bungalow was built. These are not inconveniences to be solved, but part of the living legacy of a home in the hills.
We devote ourselves fully to your comfort and to creating memories that linger long after you leave. Yet because we are a homestay and not a large resort, we gently ask you to understand the limits that geography and our chosen way of life place upon us. Last-minute demands that lie beyond our control may not always be possible, but what we can promise is heartfelt hospitality, genuine care, and an immersion into the real Coorg.
When visiting the temples and shrines that are woven into the fabric of this land, we warmly encourage you to honour local customs—particularly in matters of dress and conduct. Should you wish to know more about these traditions, we are always delighted to guide you so your visit becomes even more meaningful.
We share these thoughts not as rules, but so that you may arrive with an open heart, fully prepared to savour the inimitable charm of The Bungalow 1934. Only then can we truly welcome you as part of our extended family.
~ Amrith Thimmaiah, your host