Zari is soon set to expand its portfolio of intimate luxury stays to Coonoor, Kochi and Coorg, marking the next chapter in the brand’s growing collection. Across the three properties, Zari’s focus on privacy and personal service will remain consistent, with each stay shaped by the people and character of its destination.
From the cool, green hills of Coonoor and Kochi’s layered coastal character to the forests and coffee country of Coorg, each setting brings a different rhythm to the collection. Rather than applying a single template, Zari’s approach is to let the architecture, landscape, culture and pace of each place inform how the stay takes shape.
A Collection Shaped by Place
What will connect the properties is not sameness, but a shared measure of luxury: the quality of the time, space and experiences offered to guests. Privacy, personalised hospitality and thoughtful encounters with the destination will remain central, with each property interpreting those ideas in its own way.
The expansion allows Zari to introduce its approach across three very different locations without losing what makes each one distinctive. Guests will be invited to experience Coonoor, Kochi and Coorg on their own terms, with the destination remaining at the centre of the stay.
Jawai, at Its Own Pace
This philosophy is already taking shape at Bijapur Lodge by Zari in Jawai, where six suites create a highly personal and private way of experiencing the destination. Here, the region’s dramatic leopard landscape, rugged terrain and the enduring relationship between the Rabari community and its surroundings are all integral to the stay.
Surrounded by Jawai’s granite hills and expansive landscape, Bijapur Lodge by Zari offers a more personal interpretation of luxury, thoughtfully removed from the conventional resort experience. Its small scale allows for greater privacy, attentive service and experiences that can be shaped around each guest. Slow mornings, secluded spaces and thoughtfully curated encounters give guests the freedom to discover Jawai at their own pace, with days unfolding through spontaneous discoveries, quiet moments and the natural rhythm of the landscape.
Beyond the Leopard Sighting
One of the defining experiences at Bijapur Lodge by Zari is the opportunity to explore Jawai’s renowned leopard habitat. The region’s dramatic granite formations provide a natural home for leopards, while pastoral communities continue their traditional way of life within the same landscape.
A leopard experience in Jawai is about more than the sighting itself. Travelling through the rocky terrain offers guests a closer understanding of an ecosystem where wildlife and human communities have lived alongside one another for generations. The anticipation of spotting a leopard, the changing skies and the wider landscape make every experience feel spontaneous and deeply connected to Jawai.
The focus is not simply on seeing a leopard, but on discovering the wider story of the region – its landscapes, its people and the distinctive coexistence that defines it.
Connected to the Rabari Community
The lodge’s connection with the Rabari community extends beyond the experiences offered to guests. Zari actively engages members of the community in the property’s day-to-day operations, creating opportunities for training, employment and professional growth.
Many members of the team come from the surrounding community and are trained to work across different areas of the property. This allows them to build hospitality skills while continuing to live close to their families and communities. Guests will also have opportunities for thoughtfully facilitated interactions with members of the Rabari community, offering a closer understanding of their traditions, pastoral way of life and longstanding relationship with the landscape.
For Zari, this relationship is part of creating hospitality that feels genuinely connected to its destination, rather than a separate addition to the stay. The people who know the region best help shape the way guests experience and understand Jawai.
A member of Zari’s management said, “For us, a smaller property is only one part of what makes a stay personal. What matters is how closely guests are able to connect with the destination. Jawai is a natural expression of that philosophy because its leopard landscape, the Rabari community and the surrounding wilderness are all integral to the experience. As the collection expands, each new property will carry the same philosophy forward in a way that belongs to its own destination.”
The Collection Grows
As Zari expands to Coonoor, Kochi and Coorg, each property will bring a new expression of the brand’s approach. The destinations will be introduced in greater detail over the coming months, while the principles of privacy, personalised hospitality and a deeper connection with place continue to shape the collection as a whole.
