The Green Hills Estate was the residence of the
Diwans of Rajas of the Coorg in the South-West
Karnataka. It was built in 1898 by Apparanda Rao
Bhadur Chengappa. He was the son of the Diwan
Bopanna. Designed by Swiss architect this grand
mansion sits on the raised clearing in the rainforest,
among a hundred acres of coffee and cardamon
plantations, paddy fields and the pepper, vines
coconut plams, wild mango, rosewood & a large
Burmese mahogany tree. It suites are named after
prize winning horses with Chengappa, its current
owner, raced on the courses of Banaglore and Madras.
The neighbouring Nagarhole Wildlife Sanctuary
remains the best preserved habitat of the Asian
elephant, the tiger, the spotted deer and the bison.
The interiors are reminiscent of the planters’
bungalows with lazy furniture and rosewood
panelled walls, silver & animal trophies, photographs
and books. |
