The Whole Bungalow, North or South: Which Dunnottar Booking Is Right for You?
A practical guide to the three ways of staying at The Dunnottar—including bedrooms, guest capacity, privacy and the character of each bungalow.
The Dunnottar can be booked as the Whole Bungalow, North Bungalow or South Bungalow.
This is not a choice between three room categories. North and South are separate, self-contained bungalows, each with its own bedrooms, living spaces, dining area, kitchen and entrance.
The right choice depends on four things:
How many people are travelling
How many bedrooms you need
Whether you want the full grounds privately
Whether your group prefers a quieter, more divided layout or a more open, social one
The simplest answer is this:
Book the Whole Bungalow when you want all five bedrooms and the full property privately for one group.
Book North Bungalow when you need two bedrooms and prefer several distinct rooms for reading, working and spending time quietly.
Book South Bungalow when you need three bedrooms and want an open living and dining room with the garden terrace and pizza oven close by.
Here is the full comparison.
The Three Booking Options at a Glance
The Whole Bungalow — 5 ensuite bedrooms · up to 15 guests · both bungalows private indoors · the full property and grounds private outdoors.
North Bungalow — 2 ensuite bedrooms · up to 7 guests · North interiors private · outdoor grounds may be shared if South is occupied.
South Bungalow — 3 ensuite bedrooms · up to 8 guests · South interiors private · outdoor grounds may be shared if North is occupied.
BookingBedroomsMaximum GuestsIndoor PrivacyOutdoor GroundsThe Whole Bungalow515Both bungalows privateFull property and grounds privateNorth Bungalow27North interiors privateMay be shared if South is occupiedSouth Bungalow38South interiors privateMay be shared if North is occupied
Breakfast is included with every booking. Lunch, dinner, tiffin, grills and wood-fired pizzas can be arranged from the bungalow kitchen and are charged separately.
All five bedrooms have ensuite bathrooms. The house also has room heaters, hot water, Wi-Fi and staff on site.
The Whole Bungalow
Five bedrooms · Up to 15 guests · Full house and grounds private
The Whole Bungalow combines North and South for one group.
You have five ensuite bedrooms:
The Dunnottar Suite
Master Bedroom
The Rose Library
The Boiler Room
The Old Study
You also have the living, dining and study spaces of both bungalows, including the Sun Room, North living room with fireplace, North dining room, South open living and dining room, South Patio and South Garden Terrace.
When the Whole Bungalow is booked, no other guests stay on the property. The two bungalows, lawns, garden paths, patios, bonfire areas and outdoor spaces are for your group.
This is the clearest choice for a large family, reunion or group of friends who want to spend the stay together without coordinating the grounds with another booking.
It also gives the group flexibility.
People can gather around one long table while still having enough rooms for smaller conversations. Children can use one living space while adults sit in another. Someone can read in the Sun Room, work from one of the studies or step outside without the entire group having to do the same thing.
The two bungalows are connected through the outdoor property rather than by an internal corridor. This gives the group a useful degree of separation while keeping everyone within the same private estate.
Choose the Whole Bungalow when:
Your group needs more than three bedrooms
You are travelling with several generations
Full-property privacy matters
You want both indoor and outdoor spaces entirely for your group
Different members of the group need separate living and working areas
You expect the house itself to be the centre of the stay
North Bungalow
Two bedrooms · Up to 7 guests · Private interiors
North Bungalow is the older part of the house.
Its two bedrooms are The Dunnottar Suite and the Master Bedroom, both with ensuite bathrooms.
The Dunnottar Suite was originally the main living room of the Chamberlain house. It is now the largest bedroom at The Dunnottar, with high wooden ceilings, a separate sitting area, fireplace, dressing room and private entrance.
The Master Bedroom sits beside the North living room, with large windows and views towards the eucalyptus.
North also includes:
The Sun Room
A living room with fireplace
A study with books and a natural skylight
A separate dining room overlooking the garden
Its own kitchen and pantry
Access to the main lawn and grounds
The layout is divided into several individual rooms rather than one open communal space. This makes North particularly useful when members of the group have different routines.
One person can work in the study. Someone else can read in the Sun Room. Children can sit in the living room while the adults remain at the dining table.
The interiors of North Bungalow are private to your group. If South Bungalow is occupied at the same time, the outdoor grounds may be shared with that group.
There are no shared bedrooms, internal corridors or indoor living spaces.
Choose North Bungalow when:
Your group needs two bedrooms
You prefer several smaller living spaces
You want a fireplace living room and a separate study
Members of the group may work, read or rest at different times
You do not require the entire outdoor property privately
A quieter, more compartmentalised layout suits your stay
South Bungalow
Three bedrooms · Up to 8 guests · Private interiors
South Bungalow has three ensuite bedrooms:
The Rose Library
The Boiler Room
The Old Study
Each carries a part of the history of the house.
The Rose Library takes its name from the shelves that remain along one wall.
The Boiler Room used to be exactly that. The boilers once heated the Chamberlain bath water. It is now a bedroom—with the best lake view in the house.
The Old Study retains the quieter proportions and window light that gave the room its original purpose.
South is organised around a large open living and dining room with high ceilings. Rather than separating the sitting and dining spaces, the room brings the group together.
It also has:
A separate study
Its own kitchen and pantry
The South Patio
Direct access towards the South Garden Terrace
A long outdoor table
A hammock
A wood-fired pizza oven set into the stone wall
A nearby bonfire area
South is the more open and social of the two bungalows. The living room, dining table, patio and terrace are closely connected, allowing the group to move easily between meals, conversation and the garden.
The interiors of South Bungalow are private to your group. If North Bungalow is also occupied, the wider outdoor grounds may be shared with the guests staying there.
Choose South Bungalow when:
Your group needs three bedrooms
You prefer an open living and dining space
Meals and time around one table will be central to the stay
You want to be close to the garden terrace and pizza oven
Your group is likely to spend evenings together
You do not require the full outdoor estate privately
How Private Are North and South?
This is the most important distinction to understand before booking.
When you book North Bungalow, all North interiors are private to your group.
When you book South Bungalow, all South interiors are private to your group.
The other bungalow is not entered or used by your group, and its guests do not enter yours.
However, North and South sit within the same one-acre property. If both are occupied, outdoor areas such as the lawns and garden paths may be shared between the two bungalow groups.
This is still different from staying in a hotel. You are not sharing a lobby, restaurant, corridor or pool with dozens of guests. But you should not book North or South expecting complete control of the entire property.
When full outdoor privacy is important, book the Whole Bungalow.
What Is Included with Every Configuration?
Whichever bungalow you choose, the practical structure of the stay remains consistent.
Every bedroom is ensuite. Hot water, room heaters and Wi-Fi are available. The bungalow team looks after the house, housekeeping and the practical arrangements of the stay.
Breakfast is included for every guest.
Lunch, dinner, snacks, tiffin, grills and wood-fired pizzas can be prepared from the bungalow kitchen on request and are charged separately.
The house has been in the Puliyadi family since 1947 and was carefully restored by Shalini Biswajit. Original furniture, named rooms and parts of the Chamberlain-era house remain, alongside updated bathrooms, kitchens and the practical comforts needed in Kodaikanal.
The choice between Whole, North and South is therefore not a choice between different standards of stay.
It is a choice of scale, layout and privacy.
For the full breakdown, read What Is Included in a Stay at The Dunnottar?, or see how food works in Dining at The Dunnottar.
Which One Should You Book?
Choose The Whole Bungalow when you need five bedrooms or want the full property and grounds entirely for your group.
Choose North Bungalow when you need two bedrooms and prefer a quieter arrangement with several separate rooms.
Choose South Bungalow when you need three bedrooms and want a more open, social layout close to the garden terrace.
A group of six could comfortably consider any of the three. The right decision would depend less on the maximum capacity and more on how the group wants to use the house.
That is the useful question to ask:
How do you want your days together to work?
Frequently Asked Questions
Are North and South individual rooms?
No. North and South are separate, self-contained bungalows. Each has its own bedrooms, living and dining spaces, kitchen and entrance.
Is the entire property private when I book North or South?
The interiors of the bungalow you book are private. Outdoor grounds may be shared if the other bungalow is occupied.
Which booking gives complete privacy?
The Whole Bungalow. When it is booked, both bungalows and the full grounds are private to one group.
Is breakfast included in all three options?
Yes. Breakfast is included for every guest. Other meals are available on request and charged separately.
Are all bedrooms ensuite?
Yes. All five bedrooms have ensuite bathrooms.
Can a smaller group book the Whole Bungalow?
Yes, subject to availability and the applicable rate. Some smaller groups choose the Whole Bungalow because full-property privacy is more important to them than maximum occupancy.
Choose the Bungalow That Fits Your Group
View availability for The Whole Bungalow, North Bungalow and South Bungalow, or contact us if you would like help deciding which arrangement suits your stay.
