7 Best Hotels in Munnar, Kerala

Nestled in a picturesque valley and surrounded by lush green hills, the rooms and villas here sprawl over so many acres that golf carts or buggies remain busy ferrying guests around the property. The ambience is relaxing, the views spectacular from every point, and service excellent. For a luxurious stay, opt for a villa, which come with a large private pool; some rooms also come with a plunge pool and balcony. The restaurant puts out top-quality local and Western dishes.

The hillside views on this cardamom, coffee, and vanilla plantation are stunning. Accommodations, which are behind the planter's home, among a grove of towering trees, are large and homey rooms with exquisite embroidered linen, wall hangings, and curtains. The wooden, chalet-style dining area has a small library upstairs, under the rafters, with breathtaking views.

A seriously steep walk downhill through green environs brings you to a clutter of whitewashed, terra-cotta-roofed cottages, clinging to the slope, where you get a bird's-eye view of tea plantations for miles around, including workers' settlements and a small blue-roofed church. These snug, modest cottage rooms, with parquet floors and interiors done in soothing creams and white, and their verandas, are peaceful and make great spots to catch the valley action.

Built into a steep cliff and in a style similar to the area’s tea plantation bungalows, this luxury hotel offers sweeping views of Munnar Valley; that is, when it’s not engulfed in a thick mist. The bright and colorful rooms all offer mountain views and some have private terraces. There are two restaurants—one of which is completely enclosed in glass—a bar, a gym, a coffee shop, and an ayurvedic spa.

Fluttering eucalyptus trees frame an alluring resort of tile-roofed cobblestone cottages, some of them two stories, offering memorable views of Mattupetty Lake. The cottages are well-spaced in this family-owned property, allowing each privacy. Pine furniture adorns each of the rooms, and the overall decor is a mellow green and white, with eucalyptus trees etched on the walls. The two-bedroom cottages have a living and dining area.

Set in Chinnakanal, in lush green surroundings away from the commotion of Munnar, this fairly ordinary hotel offers rooms that capture the country-lodge feeling quite perfectly. The split-level deluxe rooms feature sitting areas with wood floors, comfortable couches, and working fireplaces, while their balconies offer panoramic views of the Anayirankal Dam. There's a pool and gym as well.

Getting around this hilly property is a workout—especially the hike to the skylight-topped restaurant—but the setting on 66-acre cardamom plantation is phenomenal. The cottages, all ensconced in lush greenery, come in different varieties, with some being single rooms while others occupy multiple floors and have spacious living rooms and balconies. Furnishings are of cane and rubber wood. The main restaurant has a glass roof and great location overlooking tall trees.