Our Story
1947
A Note From the Family
Post independence, our grandfather, Puliyadi Kuppuswami Iyer, a businessman and philanthropist from Madurai, bought Dunnottar from Lord Chamberlain, a Scotsman, in 1947. As the story goes, he and his wife left for the United Kingdom with just two suitcases, leaving behind all their belongings and furniture in their Kodaikanal home.
While much has changed to the interior of the bungalow, there are still many artefacts that remain from the Chamberlain era, which can be found dispersed around the house.
Image: Portrait of Puliyadi Kuppuswami Iyer and his wife Seshammal
From 1947 onwards, ‘The Dunnottar’ has served as the main holiday home in the hills for us. Every year, we would descend upon the lakeside property and spend weeks enjoying the cool summer breeze, long walks, and elaborate family picnics, which often extended outside Dunnottar and into the lake where the kids would have their row boats parked.
For an hour everyday though, we would
find ourselves seeking shelter inside the
house - the afternoon showers forced us to
find other ways to entertain ourselves. The
elderly turned to cards, while the kids
played board games. There were still those
of us, old and young, who preferred
staring out the window listening to the sound of the rain pouring down on the galvanised iron sheet rooftops.
Just as fast as the skies greyed, they would turn blue again. There was also the mist draping the entire valley floor ... but we will let you experience that for yourself!
Just as fast as the skies greyed, they would turn blue again.
There was also the mist draping the entire valley floor ... but we will let you experience that for yourself!
Times were simpler then, but what remains true till today is what the home stood for. It was a place where the family could escape the stress of everyday urban life, a place where we could recharge, but most importantly a place where we could reconnect with family and friends.
Many special memories have been made here and we hope that by opening our doors to you, you will continue this tradition by creating memories of your own at Dunnottar.
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