Karnataka’s coffee country: Inside its most immersive plantation stays

Karnataka, often referred to as India's coffee country, is home to the largest coffee-producing state with plantations contributing nearly 70% of the national output. These plantations are not just about coffee production; they have transformed into immersive experiences for travelers, offering a deeper understanding of the region's history, biodiversity, and agricultural knowledge.

One such estate that offers such an experience is Evolve Back Coorg. Initially established as Orange County Resort in 1994 by the Ramapuram family, the plantation played a central role in the resort's development. Thomas Ramapuram, the director of sales at Evolve Back Resorts, explains that while they were initially focused on coffee and plantations, they later discovered the potential for hospitality within their estate.

The hotel now offers guests several options to explore the plantation, including a coffee museum that traces the history of coffee cultivation and the traditional implements associated with it.

The property offers two plantation tours - a slower-paced plantation walk and the more adventurous Plantation 4×4, which takes guests deeper into the coffee and spice plantations in a specially designed jeep. There's also the Elkhill 4×4, which takes guests on an off-roading experience through the historic 2,500-acre Elkhill Group of estates established in 1870. The cost for Elkhill 4×4 is ₹12,000 per vehicle for up to four people.

Further south, in Chikmagalur, The Serai Chikmagalur offers a unique coffee experience within a 70-acre working coffee plantation. Tourists can enjoy a complimentary coffee plantation walk, led by an in-house naturalist who explains how coffee grows alongside the estate's broader ecosystem. During the harvest season, guests have the opportunity to join estate workers for a one-hour coffee picking experience.

The resort also incorporates freshly ground estate coffee into its spa treatments and coffee bar programs, giving visitors a chance to taste the local coffee blends.