Skyfall is one of the most spectacularly located homes in the Palani Hills, set on the edge of a mountain, hidden away from downtown Kodaikanal. Enjoy wrap-around views of lush green mountains and the spellbinding Perumal Peak. If you can pull yourself away from the scenery, then within, you will find a truly charming fully-loaded holiday villa that makes for a perfect vacation in the hills. Pets are welcome! Skyfall is available as a two-bedroom villa. Please check our other Airbnb listing. Skyfall was designed by Bangalore-based Biome Environmental Solutions, known for their focus on the convergence of ecology, architecture and water. The house merges with the steep gradient of the land and has been positioned in such a way that all the spaces take advantage of the jaw-dropping views. By using mud-blocks made with soil that was excavated on-site, Skyfall stays warm in the winter and cool in the summer sun. Sloping roofs and comprehensive rainwater harvesting ensures that the villa has never had to buy or exploit water. Designed on three levels, Skyfall’s uppermost level has the approach driveway leading to a covered garage and entrance to the house. A mud room and foyer leads east to an open-plan space comprising a modern island kitchen, a dining area and a bar area - the perfect way to bond and relax over cooking, drinking and dining. French doors open-up to the house’s most popular gathering area — the expansive covered balcony. Drink in the ever-changing panoramic views of Perumal Peak and the farm-filled plains of Palani and its hill-temple, with nothing to hinder the view. A passageway leads off from the foyer past a small study nook to the upper bedroom and ensuite bath-room. The bedroom has a loft which can sleep two young children. Off the foyer, a wooden staircase leads down to the second level comprising the lower bedroom with its en-suite bathroom and large windows that frame the same beautiful views. On your right is a comfortable living room that is kept warm with a roaring Franklin woodstove. The living room leads to its own covered sit-out and to a large terraced lawn that is ideal for picnic lunches or bonfire dinners. Behind the living room is a media room perfect for movie nights. The lower garden leads to the Third Bedroom or the Gardenside Bedroom. This bedroom is part of the villa and located below the upper two bedrooms, except that it is accessed from the garden. There is a little private sit-out with chairs and a table - your own exclusive space for a morning coffee while you bring in the day. Skyfall is meant for family bonding or for close friends. The open-plan kitchen & dining encourages you to cook and dine together. The fully-equipped house is ideal for the independent traveller, although the presence of a daily housekeeper is a welcome sight. Kodaikanal can be a challenge to get around during the busy season with tourists, traffic and noise. But Skyfall can be the perfect antidote to it. A beautiful vacation home in the mountain wilderness far from the madding crowds but just 15-20 minutes from the lake makes for the best of both worlds. DETAILS - GROUNDS Skyfall is located within a private gated mountain-side estate, about 20 minutes from the Kodaikanal lake. A common use road leads past two other houses, set well-apart, to Skyfall which is at the end. A concrete sloped driveway leads you to the single-car covered garage and front of the house with open parking for 1 more car, and clear parking for 2-3 cars on the common-use road above. There is a two level lawn for gatherings. One is on the lower level east of the house and accessible from the west side driveway via steps or through the lower level living room and sit-out. A larger lawn area lies one level below the lower sit-out for larger groups. Outdoor furniture, a large garden umbrella, and external outdoor speakers are available. The lawn is perfect for bonfires (a bonfire pit is in place) available. A Weber BBQ grill (BYO char-coal) is available in the Storage Room. Firewood available at an extra charge. Behind the kitchen is an open backyard with a long granite-topped table. This is suitable for sun-drying linen, clothes or kitchen utensils. DETAILS - UPPER LEVEL Two entrances to the mud room at the upper level - one conveniently via the garage (for those rainy days) and one regular externally. The mud room has hooks for umbrellas, coats and keys, a shoe cupboard and a little bench to take off and put on your footwear. The foyer leads off to the open plan kitchen and dining area, a staircase leading down to the lower level, and a passageway to the upper bedroom. The upper bedroom with ensuite bathroom comprises a Queen Bed, plenty of wardrobe space (so unpack), portable room heater, and a loft that sleeps an additional two young children or one adult. Beautiful views of Perumal Peak are framed by the large vertical windows that face the bed. What better way to wake up than to a wow view! Leading from the foyer, are a large open plan kitchen, dining area and a bar which leads to the upper balcony. The main kitchen is a home cook’s dream - large with wraparound counters, a high counter, and an island in the centre. Its fully equipped with a microwave, three-gas burner, hob, toaster, oven-grill, UV water purifier, two-bowl washbasin, piped hot water, dishwasher and large refrigerator. There are oodles of storage and cookware, glassware and flatware to cook up almost any meal. A smaller wet kitchen with its own counters, wash basin, 4-burner gas stove and storage racks is designed for the heavier Indian cooking. The dining area and bar separate the main kitchen from the covered balcony, A rectangular dining table with bench-style seating for six makes for casual, communal dining. Behind the dining table, the flue pipe of the living room Franklin woodstove brings radiating warmth to the dining room when its lit-up. Next to it is a cosy bar cabinet set up to welcome your BYOB and two single seaters that invite you to an intimate drink. Large foldable French doors open to the upper balcony and the skyscapes outside. The covered balcony has a 4-seater round table with extra chairs for larger groups. On the open-air extension, there are two low-slung cane chairs for that cup of coffee & book to take in some warm sunshine. A beautiful old Franklin cook stove can heat up your food, bake bread or mini pizzas. The study nook leading to the upper bedroom has art collected from the homeowner’s travel and life in the Orient. An antique wooden bookcase is filled with books on a variety of subjects. In the corner by a large set of glass-paned windows is a flat-topped writing desk and chair, for you to catch up on work. Next to the dining area is the powder washbasin and laundry room. The laundry room has a front loading washing machine and dryer. An ironing station and steam iron are provided. DETAILS - LOWER LEVEL Stairs lead from the foyer lead down to the lower level which contains one bedroom, the living room and sit-out, and the media room. The lower bedroom to the left of the staircase has a Queen Bed, floor-to-ceiling windows with views of the lawn, trees, and Perumal Peak. Bedside tables and heating included. There is a plenty of wardrobe storage, and an ensuite bathroom. The Media Room has comfortable seating with Wi-Fi, flatscreen 4K Android TV with Net-flix and other OTT channels built in. All you have to do is login and catch up on your fa-vourite shows. There is Tata Sky too. For mu-sic, there is an audio system with external Bluetooth, and an acoustic guitar for bonfire nights. A Franklin woodstove in the corner will warm up the room instantly, when lit up. The Living Room has a comfortable 3-seater sofa, two single-seaters, and a rocking chair. Coffee table books on Kodaikanal, antique chests and soft lamps make this a lovely space. There is a nook with a cabinet full of rare old books. A Franklin woodstove really makes the room toasty! French doors lead to a lower sit-out with a picnic table and two benches. Superb views! DETAILS - LOWER GARDEN LEVEL The lower garden leads to the Third Bedroom or the Gardenside Bedroom. This bedroom is part of the villa and located below the upper two bedrooms, except that it is accessed from the garden. The room has beautiful twin antique beds joined together to form a double, A large thick carpet warms up the room, in addition to the portable room heater. There is a small pantry with a tea/coffee station, and its own small LED TV with Tata Sky. A wireless router gives you internet access. The ensuite con-temporary-styled bathroom has its own hot water supply. There is a little private sit-out with chairs and a table - your own exclusive space for a morning coffee while you bring in the day.