About us

Lakeside is run by English couple Peter and Dorinda Balchin. Let them tell you a little about themselves:

We both worked in the UK at pretty stressful jobs; as we reached our 'middle years', we decided that we would continue working at that rate for a few years more before looking for something a little less pressured. We had presumed that we would change our jobs in the UK or even move abroad – probably to Europe. But then fate stepped in and took a hand...

In the summer of 2007, we made our first ever trip to India which included a visit to Lakeside. When we arrived we discovered that the property was for sale; it was one of those life-changing moments which happen in an instant. We decided there and then to give up our lives in England and move to India. It is a decision we have never regretted.

We consider ourselves to have led very fortunate lives in the West, and to see life in rural Tamil Nadu can be humbling at times. We enjoy the people and the community which have welcomed us, and so make every effort to contribute something in return. This ethos permeates everything we do at Lakeside and our aim is to promote Responsible Tourism which is both as environmentally friendly as possible and supportive of the local community.

When travelling ourselves, we like to see something of the local culture as well as major tourist sites, and so we have developed Lakeside to offer this to others. The opportunity to explore rural India in a way that is rarely offered to travellers, whether visiting India for the first time or well-seasoned, is something which is very important to our foreign visitors. This, in conjunction with comfortable accommodation to high European standards, excellent food, good service and friendly staff is something that people enjoy at Lakeside so much that they return again and again. Not only do guests have a chance to meet with us and find out a little more about our lives here in India, but there are usually other travellers with tales to tell too. Our mix of guests from around the world and also people from India seeking a quiet retreat from the big cities is quite unique, and many a new friendship has been forged here around the dinner table!

So if you enjoy meeting new people, experiencing local culture and foods, escaping from the rat-race for a while to relax in the seclusion of a large property bordering a lake, mountains and the reserve forest, then we would love to welcome you to Lakeside!

Best Wishes,