Balur Estate is a 400 acre coffee plantation since the 1840s - one of the oldest plantations on record! The Planter’s Bungalow has stood testimony to the changing seasons and centuries at Balur since 1853. The River Hemavathy originates just above the Estate. Its truly a pretty, fascinating piece of India’s Coffee Heritage, with 26 kms of internal roads, and earthen dam and 2 lakes inside, records of rainfall maintain for over a century and plantation operations that marry traditional management of estate blocks with modern processes and even specialized coffee! We welcome you to spend a few days and soak in the place, its history, and its solitude. We could describe it but it can only be experienced.
Accommodations & Tariff
Accommodation
Rate (1st Night)
Extra Guests / Notes
Heritage Bungalow (Planter's Room / Guest Suite)
₹9,800 for a couple
Extra person: ₹3,185
Cardamom Suites (3 rooms)
₹9,800 for a couple
Extra person: ₹3,185
The Coffee Cottage (private dining & service)
₹11,600 for a couple
Extra person: ₹3,770
Child Policy: Up to 2 kids under 5 complimentary, 5–12 at 50%.
Long Stay Benefit: After the 2nd night, 10%, 15%, 20% discount.
The Heritage Bungalow has two options
The Planter’s Room : This can accommodate 2 guests comfortably, and additionally 2 kids as well.
The Guest Suite : This hosts 4 people in 2 rooms.
The Coffee Cottage : A large premium cottage renovated recently with a huge bedroom with a fireplace, a tall ceiling, large windows with lovely views, a sunroom with furniture that goes perfectly with the era this place is from. The bathroom here holds a nice surprise or two! The room has in room service in a an annexe dedicated for this purpose.
The Cardamom Suites have 3 rooms renovated to match the spec of the Heritage Building, bathrooms that make you want to take a shower, and a common hall with a fireplace and a very loungeworthy setting. One of the rooms has a sitout overlooking the coffee on the far side, and one opens into the lawns and the bonfire.
If you’re planning a long vacation of over 3 days at Balur, or coming as a large family, talk to us for options.
The Planter’s Room, 2 Room Suite (Heritage Bungalow)
The Heritage Bungalow was built in 1853, and has a gorgeous common verandah, 2 dining areas. There’s a Planter’s Room and a Two Room Suite (under renovation for now), both very private and with their own attached bathrooms.
Cardamom Suites (3 Rooms)
3 rooms in what used to be cardamom storage in the older era of the estate, now renovated in the same style as the Heritage Bungalow and with grand, private bathrooms. One of the rooms has a private sitout, one opens into the lawns and the other into the common hall. Our guests just love these!
(This pricing is for all the options above and includes the accommodation, meals, activities. We will detail the same on the invoice.)
Rs.9800/- for the 1st night’s stay for a couple
(upto 2 kids under 5 years of age complimentary, kids 5-12 at 50%)
After the 2nd night, subsequent nights at 10%, 15%, 20% long stay benefit.
Extra Person : 3185/-
(Pricing valid upto March 31st, except over Dec 15th – Jan 2nd)
The Coffee Cottage (with private dining and service)
This a luxurious, super private option
(This pricing includes the accommodation, meals, activities. We will detail the same on the invoice.)
Rs.11600/- for the 1st night’s stay for a couple
(upto 2 kids under 5 years of age complimentary, kids 5-12 at 50%)
After the 2nd night, subsequent nights at 10%, 15%, 20% long stay benefit.
Extra Person : 3770/-
(Pricing valid upto March 31st, except over Dec 15th – Jan 2nd)
Pricing is per couple, seriously all inclusive, including taxes. This includes everything at the property : all the meals, unlimited tea/coffee/non-packaged juices and snacks, walks and treks around the property, bonfire, use of the library etc.
Checkin/checkout is at 11am. Feel free to stay with us longer – we might ask for the room in case there’s a guest coming in after you the same day.
Kids upto 5 years of age are our guests at no charge. Pets are welcome (for a small charge) provided they stay off the linen/furniture, and you can ensure their safety and that of other guests around.
We offer long stay discounts and special pricing for multi-week stays.Do write in for more.
Getting to Balur
Balur Estate is about 300 kms from Bangalore.
From Bangalore – take Magadi Road and then Kunigal just after Magadi town (right fork) to join the Mangalore Highway. Take a turn into Hassan, and ask for Belur.
There’s a couple of Coffee Days before Hassan – one at Belur Cross and the other a little after Chennarayapatna. There’s also a Kamat a little after Chennarayapatna. Numerous other food options have popped up all along the road, upto Hassan.
Go from Hassan to Belur and just as you start to enter the town, there’s a circle with a left towards Mudigere. Just a little after you cross a bridge is a Y-fork (with a 3rd road going left). BOTH roads go to Mudigere but take the main road that goes straight.
Its a nice road and easily doable in any car. Budget about 4.5hrs of a drive time. In case you start early, you can do a quick stopover at the Belur Temple.
At Mudigere you turn left towards a small town called “Handpost” a couple of kms beyond. Here, at the circle, you need to take a right at the circle (you cross a rice mill on your left) – towards Kottegehara. At this town, take the road going towards Kalasa, and just after Balur Village, take the left “U” hairpin – still towards Kalasa/Kudremukh.
Exactly 2 kms from this hairpin turn (and 9kms from Kottegehara) there’s a small fork going left towards a gate and a bungalow (behind trees) – this is Balur Estate. We’ll try having someone wait at this fork – give us a call as you start from Handpost.
If you get to Javalli, or even a place where the road to the origin of River Hemavathi is marked, you’ve gone too far.
Kitchen
Balur Estate has an accomplished staff that strives to present to you the various local styles of cooking that are prevalent in the region. Pramila and her team strive hard to keep you happy, and well fed, with a variety of vegetarian and non vegetarian options from the region.
Our kitchen is open all day, so feel free to ask for coffee or tea to go with the weather, or a book you settle down with. Do talk to the caretaker and cooks to get them to accommodate your preferences in spiciness, or even the menu – which of course is predominantly local and yummy.
If you have any special needs, or restrictions, do write in early to us.
Around There
You can spend days at Balur Estate itself exploring the waterfalls, spotting birds, and just walking amidst absolute tranquility along its 26kms of estate roads. But should you wish to get around a little – the area is just pretty to explore in a car, or on a cycle, or even by foot!
The source of the Hemavathi : The river originates a couple of kilometres from the bungalow, just above the estate. There’s a quiet temple there you can spend some time at.
Huge pretty tea estates, and a visit to the Tea Factory (if permissions come through).
Kudremukh – about 60kms away. The drive is pretty, and goes through Kalasa – a historically important temple town.
Horanadu – another centre of pilgrimage at the end of a very scenic drive.
Its basically the setting Balur is in – bang in the middle of a huge expanse of green hills that receive a lot of rainfall, that make it a charming place you can spend a week exploring and not run out of options.
But, of course, we recommend the hammock, long walks, cups of tea/coffee and a few books for a relaxed do-nothing time ….
Balur can ordinarily sleep upto 18 people in the luxurious 6 rooms, and accommodations for more can be managed for single, close knit groups travelling together.
What kind of food is served at Balur Estate?
We serve authentic Malnad cuisine including seasonal delicacies including pork, fish and chicken recipes. The coffee, of course is one of the best you'll come across, and we can accommodate special meal requests with prior notice.
How much time does it take to reach Balur Estate from Bangalore?
Bangalore is about 300kms and thanks to fantastic roads it takes about 5 hours at a leisurely pace, with a quick coffee break, to get there.
Is Balur Estate a 5 star property? What are the amenities?
Balur Estate is a heritage coffee estate and we have kept the old world charm intact. There are no TVs, sports activities outside of board games and the focus is on an experience that gives you the taste of a planter's life. Long walks in the estate, a tour of the plantation and processing facilities, a hike to the source of the Hemavathi and top notch hospitality have earned Balur the reputation of one the best, top rated homestays in Chikmagalur.
Explore walks and cycling around Linger locations, even when you're not staying with us. More at "Experiences"
