Hillside-facing 3-bedroom unit in a century-old revival villa set within a 10-acre private forest reserve. Just 10 minutes from the lake in the heart of Kodaikanal and set in a 10-acre private forest reserve, it is a destination in itself. In contrast to Woodside, the connected unit, Sunnyside follows a more modern design language with large, open common spaces and a grand deck where you can eat meals as you are warmed by enveloping sunlight. BREAKFAST is included. The space REFUNDABLE SECURITY DEPOSIT Please note that a refundable security deposit of INR 25,000 will be collected immediately after booking confirmation. This can be paid via NEFT or UPI. The security deposit will be returned within 5 working days after checkout, minus any claims for damages, if applicable. Entry to the property will not be permitted unless the Security Deposit is paid. SIGNED BOOKING CONTRACT A booking contract form will be sent to you. Please fill-it, sign-it and send it back to us along with soft copies of photo IDs of all guests. PROPERTY DESCRIPTION Just 10 minutes from the lake in the heart of Kodaikanal, the Sunny Woodlands Estate is more than a luxury vacation home. Set in a 10-acre private forest reserve, it is a destination in itself. This 3-bedroom unit lies in a 90-year-old home that has evolved from a colonial Kodaikanal bungalow to a minimalist luxury villa, designed for guests to engage with the outdoors. In contrast to Woodside, the connected unit, Sunnyside follows a more modern design language with large, open common spaces and a grand deck where you can eat meals as you are warmed by enveloping sunlight. The estate invites you down its walking trail to the lily pond, shrouded in eucalyptus, pear, and shola trees. On returning, refresh yourself in the spa with a Scandinavian sauna experience and a dip in the Jacuzzi. If you want to host a small-group corporate retreat, you can separate business from leisure by holding meetings in the Conference Cottage. STORY Sunnyside is set in a home built by Tamilian freedom fighter Srinivasa Iyengar in 1932, renowned even back then for its 10-acre estate, populated by pear and eucalyptus trees. The home became a site for Kodaikanal’s socialites when its next owner, Sylvia Lord Bhagat, started running it as a boarding house and hosted tea parties on the estate’s little lake, where guests would drift lazily in paddleboats under the afternoon sun. As time went on, however, the home stopped accepting guests. And slowly, its status started to wane. The current homeowner determined that the property, Sunny Woodlands Estate, would need a new face to recapture what it once stood for. And thus began the home’s redesign. Formerly a typical Kodaikanal bungalow, the part of the home that became Woodside was difficult to work with. While its counterpart, Sunnyside, could be opened out without changing the structure significantly, rooms in Woodside were on slightly different elevations that meant they could not be joined or modified. So, rather than trying to fit the new design to the unit, the decision was made to instead build partially on top of the original home. This offered more flexibility, allowing for an entrance foyer leading to two new bedrooms and a magnificent deck attached to the living room, with sweeping views of the Palani Hills landscape. Skylights in the living and dining rooms’ ceilings usher in natural light. Its transformation complete, Sunnyside has been reborn as a haven welcoming guests to make merry, becoming socialites’ place-to-be once more. SPACES Sunnyside East Bedroom In the mornings, step out into the private garden of this bedroom and take in the soft sunlight shimmering off the dewy canopy around you. Sunnyside North Bedroom This large bedroom welcomes you inside when you want some time to yourself, whether to nap or to sit out in its adjoining deck. Sunnyside Forest View Bedroom This is the sole room in Sunnyside that comes from the home’s previous avatar. The large four-poster bed in this room comes from the homeowner’s house in Goa, reinforcing the heritage of this bedroom. Sunnyside Living Room The Sunnyside living room takes on a more contemporary design, with a high ceiling, an entrance lobby that leads to two of the bedrooms and an adjoining deck where your family and friends can sit for meals or just to enjoy the outside on a warm day. Sink into the sofa, warmed by the electric fireplace, for drinks and laughter while you munch on pakodas or masala peanuts prepared by the in-house chef. Sunnyside Dining Room The skylit dining room is a warm space to sit inside for dinner on a chilly night, treated to delicious traditional South Indian food. Double doors open into Woodside if you have booked the whole villa. Rooftop Terrace Accessible from the garden, the terrace sprawls across the top of the home, a beautiful location for drinks or a rooftop meal on a warm day. Conference Cottage The Conference Cottage lies within the estate, just a few steps from the home’s entrance. Use this space to focus completely on business meetings that you want to host during a company retreat, while treated to the backdrop of the Palani Hills. Then, once meetings are done, you can focus just on leisure as soon as you’ve stepped back into the home. Spa Centre The spa room is kitted with two dry saunas, a Jacuzzi, loungers facing the forest, and showers and changing rooms. We welcome you to try out a traditional Scandinavian sauna experience, where you spend 5-10 minutes opening your pores in the sauna, then head outside for an outdoor shower that flash-cools you, preparing you to get back into the sauna again. A few cycles of this creates a sense of bliss that is unrivalled. When you’ve finished, take a dip in the Jacuzzi for a water massage that relaxes any aching muscles. By the time you head back inside, you’ll feel like a new person. Garden The wraparound garden spans two levels, with the lower level leading you to the BBQ and bonfire pit, spa, terrace, and the forest reserve beyond. In the mornings, walk out onto the dewy lawn that envelops the house and watch the clouds roll over the hills as birds chirp in the distance. Other things to note REFUNDABLE SECURITY DEPOSIT Please note that a refundable security deposit of INR 25,000 will be collected immediately after booking confirmation. This can be paid via NEFT or UPI. The security deposit will be returned within 5 working days after checkout, minus any claims for damages, if applicable. Entry to the property will not be permitted unless the Security Deposit is paid. SIGNED BOOKING CONTRACT A booking contract form will be sent to you. Please fill-it, sign-it and send it back to us along with soft copies of photo IDs of all guests. HOME TRUTHS - Sunnyside and its partner unit, Woodside, can be rented individually. Booking one does not permit access to the other. A whole-villa booking is needed to access both units. - Pets are not permitted in the villa. - Due to the entrance stairs, Sunnyside is not accessible for those with difficulty walking. - The grounds in the estate can get slippery when wet. Please exercise caution if it has rained. - At least 12 hours’ notice is needed for the Jacuzzi, as the water takes a long time to heat up. - Drink at least one full glass of water before and after using the sauna to avoid dehydration. Due to the high heat, we recommend spending no more than 10-15 minutes in the sauna at a stretch. - Sunnyside is a footwear-free zone. Please carry personal slippers if you wish to wear them inside the house. - Indoor spaces are non-smoking. If you wish to smoke outdoors, please use the ashtrays provided. - As in most hill stations, electricity supply can be erratic, and exceptionally bad during the monsoons. The home has a genset backup with automatic changeover in case of power cuts. - Water is scarce in Kodaikanal. Please use water prudently. - Kodaikanal has a major human-animal conflict problem with Indian bison. They are often in residential and public areas, and occasionally in our estate. Please be careful when walking outside. - Please shut all windows and doors to prevent monkeys from raiding indoor spaces looking for food.