Eden Garden is home to Jose, his charming wife Sindhu, and their three children. Set several thousand feet above the main Coonoor Township, Eden Garden is so named by the family as the property and its surrounds are nothing short of paradise on earth.
Jose is a planter and a landscape artist by profession. Sindhu is a home maker.
A most pleasant 20 minute drive from Coonoor proper will take you through three small villages, amazing natural surrounds and a climb to the breathtakingly beautiful heights of the homestay of Eden Garden homestay.
Truly an antique lover's delight; architect designed Eden Garden nestles within a half acre of fertile land. Its bright white faade, red slated tiled roof and solid wooden doors and windows reflect a combination of Tudor style English as well as Kerala architecture.
Every single piece of furniture is an antique, sourced by Jose and Sindhu from various parts of South India. The solid front doors have been brought in from Jose's family home in Kerala. All windows are made from Burma teak, once again all of them identical. Two identical fireplaces at either end of the living area have been artistically paneled with antique tiles from Chettinad. This beautiful tile work can be seen right through the home. Over 90% of the home is furnished with antique rose wood pieces. The wooden floors and ceiling give this home an imperial finish. Welcome to a home where the grandfather clock actually works.
This spacious but compact and well designed cottage is surrounded by a verandah, so that the family and their guests can enjoy the outdoors even when it rains! A lush lawn around the property leads into a rich cluster of tea bushes. Further on, you will see the rise of magnificent Silver Oak all around. Jose says that Eden Garden was built without the need to cut down a single tree. The tea shrubs existed even before the construction of the property, about four years ago. The house has also been constructed factoring in the 'vastu' style of architecture, with its entrance east facing, to greet the rising sun.
At such an amazing height, affording 360 degree lookout the views are simply spectacular. All around, the home is surrounded by lush foliage, a variety of flora, fauna and trees which blend seamlessly with the majestic heights and spread of the ranges of the Western Ghats. The east face offers views of the picture perfect views of the villages of Bandishola, Yedapalli and Bettiti, which one crosses from Coonoor to get to Eden Garden. The townships of Kotagiri and Mettupalayam can also be seen from here.
This serene and beauteous spot hosts homes which are few and far between. Eden Garden is what it means to be 'far from the maddening crowd'. No traffic, no pollution, just the occasional village folk passing by. Your neighbours here are magnificent creatures like bison, boars, monkeys and rabbits as well as several species of birds, quails, mynas, bulbuls, sparrows and crows, to name a few. In this eucalyptus scented locale, every single being exists in perfect harmony with each other, and with nature.
Jose is well traveled and loves a good conversation; while Sindhu is a wonderful cook and specializes in the varied and delicious forms of Kerala cuisine making the family's hospitality outstanding.