The Best Places to Stay in Munnar

Fancy slumbering away up in the whispering shola (high-altitude) forest canopy? Dream Catcher has four secluded, modern, wood-walled treehouses reached by twisting staircase or hanging bridge and set among 20 acres (8ha) of cardamom, orange and tea plantations, 20km (12mi) south of Munnar. There are also private cottages, with terracotta floors and plantation panoramas, and smart, unfussy rooms with balconies overlooking gardens. You can book an off-road excursion and there is an evening bonfire, a mountain-view infinity pool, an ayurvedic spa and more.

You’ll be blown away by the tea-covered hillsides that ripple all around Chithirapuram town, which you’ll spot from this greenery-fringed retreat bordering the Muthirapuzha River, 16km (10m) south of Munnar. Most of the elegant, contemporary and minimalist rooms have four-poster beds, fresh flowers and lots of natural light – and some even include their own hot tub. A teal-tinted pool, yoga classes, hiking excursions and an ayurvedic spa add to the appeal and the whole place is strung around four forested acres that feature a natural pond.

In the tranquil Bison Valley, 20km (12mi) southwest of Munnar, a blissful, boutique, sustainably run hideaway has been crafted amid 10 acres (4ha) of organic vegetable and spice gardens. Natural herb therapies await in the ayurvedic spa and there are yoga and meditation sessions and a sun-warmed pool. The elegant rooms are all about local woods and antique furniture. We love the private pool villa, which has a copper bath. A thatched-roof sister property just across the border in Tamil Nadu makes a tempting add-on at the feet of the wildlife-filled Anamalai hills.

Deep in the valley 7km (4mi) southwest of Munnar, 600 trees create a shady canopy high above these enticing stilted cottages. Cardamom and coffee plantations scent the air of the 66-acre (27ha) property, whose soothing design combines elements of traditional Keralan architecture (such as sloping roofs) with contemporary touches. Flavours from across India fuel the restaurant, while the spa specialises in ayurvedic treatments (including dhara – oil poured on the forehead). Don’t miss the glass-roofed pool or the guided hikes around Chokramudi peak.

Flow into your Munnar escape with an alfresco yoga session overlooking cascading tea estates and shola forest at this relaxed, eco-aware, ayurveda-focused address planted with wildflowers, 5km (3mi) south of town. Delectable home-cooked meals might include sadhya (a feast of Keralan vegetarian dishes), served on a traditional banana leaf, and a full menu of ayurvedic and international therapies awaits in the spa, including rejuvenating sea-salt baths in copper tubs. The Cirrus Cottages have fabulous views and whirlpool baths, but all rooms are warm and inviting, with balconies.

Adventurous souls will be tempted by this collection of African-style safari tents and rustic-charm tree houses, 8km (5mi) southeast of Munnar along a bumpy track. The only way to get here is on the resort’s own off-road vehicles, but when you arrive, you’re greeted by a sprawling view of the Western Ghats. Each tent looks out on the valley below and has a desk, double bed and a shower room. The bamboo houses (with balconies) have been sensitively integrated into the forest and the kitchen grows its own produce.

Set against Chithirapuram’s famed tea-growing plantations, this activity-packed resort is designed with the whole family in mind – whether you fancy a naturalist-led hike, a traditional kathakali (classical dance) performance, splashing about in the pool or jumping in an off-roader to drive to a sunset viewpoint. Bordered by forest, the whitewashed, red-roofed buildings host several multi-room villas, as well as balcony-equipped doubles, all smartly updated. In the spa, ayurvedic tradition meets western treatments (how about a sandalwood body polish?). It’s 15km (9mi) south of Munnar.