Precious legacy
SABITA RADHAKRISHNA
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Those who appreciate the quaint and the old-world will visit Wellington year after year.
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The name Wellington Gymkhana was adopted in 1916 though 1873 is considered the founding year of the club.
OLD WORLD CHARM: The Gymkhana clubhouse (below) and the golf course. PHOTO: SABITA RADHAKRISHNA
WHEN summer spreads its hot wings over a parched city, it is time for most of us to look elsewhere for a respite from the sweltering heat, however brief. We chose Wellington, rather than Udhagamandalam or Kodaikanal, which are predictable favourites. We used our membership in the Wellington Gymkhana Club to enjoy the salubrious clime for a good two weeks.
Wellington, nestling in the Niligiri hills, is four km from Coonoor and 14 km from Udhagamandalam. A pleasant 24 degrees in the day, you still felt that delicious nip in the evening air. May generally affords sunny days with an occasional drizzle in the evenings, but nothing more to dampen our spirits.
This heritage Club offers accommodation to its members and affiliated members or guests of members at very reasonable rates inclusive of all the meals served. Affiliated to more than 40 elitist clubs, WGC reserves 12 cottages for residential accommodation. Membership was originally restricted to Europeans and only in 1943 was it opened to Indians.
Attractions
The present day amenities cover 18 holes golf course over 5960 yards, four tennis courts, table tennis, billiards, and a polo cum cricket ground. The three bars, dining hall, lounge and party lawn are part of the main clubhouse. The driving range, dance floor and a bridge room, are added attractions.
For golf enthusiasts this is the place to holiday. The vast greens stretch endlessly in front of the clubhouse, the fairways are lush and emerald, and the weekend golfer enjoys the exhilarating round. The golfers invariably stray into the gun bar with its teak panelling to quench their thirst. There is this gleaming collection of weaponry and game trophies... Just by the golf course a brook runs in a deep ravine, fringed with mystical greenery and a musical gurgle which seems to say "I go on forever... ."
Each residential cottage is semi detached, for a couple or a family of four with extra beds. Sipping our morning coffee on the verandah, and watching the birds pick seeds off the cobbled paths, stray puppies gambolling in the sun each morning was perfect and beautiful, with blue skies and fleecy white clouds tossed by a gentle breeze. Recently the Club added on the New Golf Hut which offers a pro shop for golfers, locker room for golf kits, a small private room where you can relax and have your drinks, a gym and a fully furnished bar. There are separate saunas and ayurvedic massage rooms for men and women. The main dining room and the outdoor dining room upstairs serve a la carte food. Three more rooms have been added recently to the existing accommodation.
The food served is wholesome and tasty, with fixed menus for every day of the week. The lunch is mostly Indian and night meals are generally kept light with salads, and delicious soups that warmed us and kept us going. At breakfast you had a choice of desi or continental.
We enjoyed wandering round Beulah Farm nearby with its variety of fresh herbs and we sampled exotic preserves and a variety of wines made here. One could hire a taxi and go into a mist-wrapped Coonoor, to admire the brilliant green tea gardens layered in emerald levels. Roses in all shades of pink, oranges and red, and lilac jacaranda startle you in their contrast with blood red poinsettias, purple morning glory and golden sunflowers. You could walk around Sims Park, laid out in 1874 with its countless varieties of flowering plants, and 1000 species of exotic trees. Lambs Rock eight km from Coonoor offers you a panoramic view of Coimbatore... or you could just go up to Ootacamund and see what this famed hill station has to offer this year.
History
Established in 1873 as a garrison club to offer recreation to the garrison stationed at Wellington, the Wellington Gymkhana Club was later thrown open to the civilians residing in Wellington and Coonoor. The social and economic growth of the Niligiris can be attributed largely to the Governor of Madras, the Marquis of Tweedale, who decided to establish the barracks at Jackatalla. In 1855 Jackatalla was a Convalescent Depot for the British troops and five years later, Jackatalla was renamed Wellington, the grounds were levelled and a wooden pavilion helped to become a recreation ground for the soldiers. A Toda Village once stood on the golf course until the area was acquired and the Todas were removed and given land near Rhalia Reserve.
The name Wellington Gymkhana was adopted in 1916 though 1873 is considered the founding year of the club. Between 1927 and 1931 a host of activities were offered at the Club like racing, Bridge, billiards, cricket, golf and squash. Despite the Staff College students patronising the Club with the block membership, times were hard after the war and with declining membership the Club suffered till it was slowly brought back to its present status by mid 1950s. Major General Manekshaw took over as President of the Club in 1959.
It is heart warming to note that heritage institutions like the WGC have not changed their character or ethics and that the old buildings and the charm are intact and well preserved. The staff is courteous and anxious to please, and house bearers like Thomas and Martin form the pillars of the club and have grown with the Club exuding warmth and friendliness along with personalized service which is hard to find in the best of the five star culture.
These then are part of the prized legacies of the British, and those of us who appreciate the quaint, and the old-world, will visit Wellington, year after year.
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