EkoStay, one of India’s emerging vacation home brands, is strengthening its presence in South India with plans to develop a 40-villa boutique cluster across the Nilgiris region by 2026. Spanning the hill destinations of Ooty, Coonoor and Kotagiri, the expansion represents a significant milestone in the company’s growth strategy and highlights the increasing demand for private, experience-led stays.
The company currently has 11 villas in the pipeline across the region, including a mix of two, three, four and five-bedroom luxury properties. Four villas are already operational, while the remaining are expected to open by the end of June. Among the standout additions are Under the Pines, a five-bedroom retreat surrounded by pine forests and panoramic valley views, along with Dawn Villa and Dusk Villa, two boutique properties overlooking Ooty’s iconic tea estates. The neighbouring properties can be booked together, making them ideal for families and larger travel groups.The Nilgiris project reflects EkoStay’s focus on transforming independent homes into professionally managed hospitality experiences.
The Chief Acquisition Officer & Co-Founder of EkoStay, Zishan Khan says, “The Nilgiris has always held a very timeless and emotional appeal for travellers because the experience here goes far beyond tourism. It is about slowing down, reconnecting with nature and experiencing a kind of old-world mountain charm that is becoming increasingly rare today. For us, this expansion was never just about adding more villas to the portfolio. We wanted to build a carefully curated hospitality cluster that feels experiential, design-led and deeply rooted in the character of the region itself. What makes this project especially exciting is the transformation journey behind every property. We are actively identifying villas with strong architectural character, scenic value and long-term hospitality potential, and then working closely with homeowners to completely redesign, upgrade and operationally standardise these homes while still preserving their original warmth and identity. From interiors and guest flow planning to landscaping, operational logistics and experience design in hill terrains, every detail is being approached very thoughtfully. The targeted 40-villa Nilgiris cluster for 2026 is a very important milestone in EkoStay’s long-term vision of building one of India’s strongest boutique villa hospitality ecosystems across high-demand leisure destinations. We genuinely believe the future of travel is shifting toward more private, immersive and emotionally connected stay experiences, and destinations like Ooty, Coonoor and Kotagiri are perfectly aligned with that evolution.”