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GRAMERCY HOUSE Kodaikanal

Kodaikanal, Tamil Nadu | 2-7 Guests | 3 Bedrooms | 3 Baths | 2-night minimum stay

Timeless elegance and luxury personify this classical colonial-style bungalow set amongst one acre of greenery in Kodaikanal’s most premium residential neighbourhood. Gramercy House is a 3-bedroom rental villa created from century-old timber and stone, salvaged from a British-era textile mill by its owners. This three-level home is adorned with local art, silk rugs, and antique furniture and equipped with all the entertainment and wellness that makes for a perfect family vacation. At your service are a dedicated team of chef and villa staff and our LUX concierge, where we anticipate all your needs.

Overview
Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Grounds

  • Gramercy House is located within its own private 1 acre compound, about 5 minutes drive from the Kodaikanal lake. Its is accessible from the Lake Road behind the Sterling Lake View Resort. The main gates are manned with security and a sloped driveway leads you to the single-car covered portico with open parking for 2 more cars.
     

  • There is a large front sloping lawn from the main gate to the house. The hard surfaced courtyard adjacent to the portico has a BBQ grill and live cooking counter. A bonfire pit with permanent seating and outdoor furniture make it perfect for lunch cookouts or dinner parties. Firewood available at an extra charge.
     

  • On the lower side of the house is the staff accommodation for villa staff as well as any guests' staff. 
     

  • A pathway leads down to the bottom of the garden where there is a large and engaging wooden treehouse with play equipment which will delight children and adults alike.

Ground Floor - Shared Spaces

  • Gramercy House is set midway along the natural slope of this hillside property. At the top, a winding driveway leads you past landscaped garden to a covered portico. Entrance doors open into a large open-format space with a high vaulted wooden cathedral ceiling enclosing the ground floor and mezzanine. Silk tapestry rugs and glass chandeliers line the high walls and focus points of the roof.
     

  • The ground floor has two indoor lounge areas on either side of the entrance foyer. The lounge is lined with old-style glass paned windows that stretch the entire front width of the house, bringing in wonderful light and the garden views. Inside, on your left is a small seating area which is ideal for welcoming visitors. On your right is a small four-seater marble-topped table suitable for a cup of tea or a place to work.
     

  • Leading past the front lounge, you enter the living and dining spaces set on either side of the central staircase leading up to the mezzanine. On your left is a formal living space with high backed sofas and a coffee table with brass artefacts. Above glass chandeliers hang from the low wooden roof of the mezzanine floor. An antique grandfather clock stands in one corner. The centrepiece of the living area is the working fireplace with a beautiful, polished brass hearth.
     

  • On the right of the staircase is the dining space. A stunning 8-seater antique rosewood dining table dominates the room. Mirroring the living room fireplace, is its twin. The experience of having a wood fire accompanying dinner is quite unique. On one corner of the dining area is a buffet console for tableware. At the rear of the dining room is a tea and coffee station with a Coffeeza Espresso-Pod machine and a little two seater coffee table. Two doors lead from the dining area into the Pink and Green bedrooms.
     

  • Leading off from the living room is the Bar and the Blue Bedroom. The Bar has a Marshall Bluetooth speaker, a fully equipped bar with glassware and accessories, and a nice seating arrangement. It’s a good place to get away from the rest of the family for a quiet drink with adults and friends.

Ground Floor - Sleeping Spaces

  • Gramercy House has three bedrooms making up four sleeping spaces. One bedroom has a king bed, one has two single beds, and one is a duplex with a mini queen bed on the upper level and two single beds on the lower level. The three bedrooms have comfortable spring mattress beds, gorgeous bed décor, and matching dhurries.
     

  • The Blue Bedroom is a compact sleeping space with a four poster antique bed, huge wardrobes, a little dressing area and a small ensuite bathroom. A lovely bay window looks out onto the garden.
     

  • The Pink Bedroom is a mid-sized room with two single beds, a lovely console, and wardrobes. The bathroom is smart and spacious. A bay window provides a lovely feature.
     

  • The Green Bedroom is a Duplex. On the upper level is a mini queen bed with wardrobe and seating and a large ensuite bathroom. Stairs take you past a wall filled with water-colour art prints, down to a lower room with two single beds, wardrobe and seating space.

Recreational Spaces - Basement, Mezzanine & Hot Tub

  • The central staircase leads up to the fully carpeted mezzanine floor which is the indoor games area. One side of the mezzanine has a chess table for two, and a carrom table for four. Yoga mats are placed here. On the other side of the mezzanine is a large floor seating arrangement with a collection of international award-winning board games. Double doors on both sides lead onto wraparound balconies that overlook the front and rear gardens and landscape.
     

  • The central staircase also leads downwards into the basement level of Gramercy House which houses the entertainment and indoor sports area. On one side is the TV room with a large 55” 4K LED Smart TV, a large electric fireplace, and a bar counter with a popcorn machine. There is a collection of books and high back chairs
    for some quiet reading. On the other side is a full-size table tennis table with gear, to burn calories when its too cold or rainy to step outside.

     

  • Stairs go down from the living and dining area to a gazebo which houses the divine 5-seater Jaquar Jacuzzi Hot Tub which is complete pampering for the body and soul. This is a marvellous way to enjoy the company of your spouse, family or with close friends. There are towels placed here, along with water and refreshments.

Insights

DETAILED VILLA INSIGHTS

  • Gramercy House is serviced with daytime housekeepers, a groundskeeper and gardener, and 24 x 7 staffed security. There is also a full-time resident chef who can do South Indian, North Indian, Chinese, and Indian street-food snacks. In addition, your dedicated LuxUnlock Location Manager is available on-call or WA for any assistance.
     

  • Electricity supply by the government is both erratic and of poor quality throughout the year in Kodaikanal. Do expect frequent power cuts through-out the day. The house comes with an incoming servo-stabiliser and 100% automatic power back up with diesel genset.
     

  • Water is highly scarce in Kodaikanal and the house does not have a municipal water connection. It depends upon rainwater storage, and open well and  borewell. Water is pumped to the overhead tanks automatically and nothing needs to be done. Please use water prudently.
     

  • Heating is available in all rooms with portable heaters in all three rooms and all shared spaces. There are two working fireplaces in the living and dining area and an electric fireplace in the TV room. All bedrooms have individual hot water geysers. 
     

  • Access to the washing machine & dryer is restricted to the housekeeper. Please handover your laundry and she will have it done. Charges apply for washing and folding only. Ironing facility is for self-use. Clothes are sun-dried in the back yard.
     

  • There are two kitchens - a main kitchen for vegetarian food at the back of the house on the ground floor, and one separate non-vegetarian kitchen at the bottom of the rear building. Please do comply with the rules of cooking, if you are using your own accompanying cook or cooking for yourself.
     

  • Accompanying staff accommodation is available on the premises with beds, room heating, and clean bathrooms with hot water.
     

  • Kodaikanal has a major human animal conflict problem with Indian bison. Due to habitat destruction and lack of predators, bison numbers have increased and they often are found in residential and public areas, and occasionally in our estate. Please be careful when walking. Increasingly, monkeys have also become a menace and be careful as they do raid indoor spaces looking for food.
     

  • As this is a house using antique and salvaged furniture and woodwork, doors and cupboards may be a bit quirky. Due to its age, some electrical switches may behave inconsistently. Floorboards creak. 

Each LuxUnlock Villa Experience includes the incredible domain expertise of our team, and supported by our LUX Concierge. We work closely with you to develop a Trip Itinerary that reflects your personal interests. From the moment you book a LUX Villa until you return home, you have continuous access to our curated circle of tour guides and domain experts and a host of wonderful, authentic, and unique experiences.

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