All the pleasures of a hill station with none of the crowds or the noise. That’s Valparai. And Sinna Dorai’s Bungalow in particular, because the rest of the town does get its share of day-trippers. A throwback to the colonial past, when estate managers lived in regal solitude in mansions ensconced amid their tea-growing hills, the bungalow has been revamped to take guests but loses none of its period charm. You can visit waterfalls and temples; or simply enjoy the views, with endless cups of tea, and step out at dawn and dusk to catch a glimpse of the lion-tailed macaque or the great hornbill. The bungalow’s beautiful balcony has little tables with indoor games like Scrabble or Ludo embedded in them. You can spend hours here, moving only to the adjoining dining room come mealtime. Tariff Rs 8,000 doubles, all-inclusive Contact 04253-222362, sinnadorai.com