Windermere Estate is a small boutique hotel, set within a 60-acre cardamom estate on the Observatory Hill, in the Western Ghats of eastern Kerala. The resort had a humble beginning with only four rooms, but the pristine location combined with unique ambience and charm kept the tourists coming back. Even today, the astounding morning views will have you looking down on the clouds, resting in the valley but when they rise, the Western Ghats open up before you.
Housed within the 19th-century planter’s bungalow Windermere Estate offers just 18 spacious rooms. All are designed in the traditional style with a rustic but comfortable feel. Each room has a veranda or balcony to enjoy the surrounding nature and the two planter’s villas with double bedroom also have a sitting and dining room with a private courtyard. Your host, Dr Simon who lives in the old planter’s bungalow and his friendly staff will ensure that you have a perfect stay.
Munnar is one of the most popular hill stations in Kerala. The town is clogged with traffic but its surrounding hills are studded with resorts like the Windermere Estate and carpeted in emerald-green tea plantations. There are ample opportunities for trekking, mountain biking and rock climbing. The surrounding forest, home to over 100 species of birds pull birdwatchers from around the world and interesting sites include Thoovanam waterfall and Rajiv Gandhi National Park.
Amenities
Bar/PubCoffee ShopConciergeCribs/Infant Beds AvailableGardenLibraryMultilingual StaffOutdoor PoolRestaurantSafety Deposit BoxesStay Windermere Estate features 18 rooms, comprising of garden rooms, cottage rooms and planter’s villas. Garden rooms are located on the ground floor with a veranda and have high ceilings, terracotta floors and teak furniture. Cottage rooms are slightly larger and are located on the upper floors and have sitting rooms or balconies. The two planter’s villas have a double bedroom with a sitting and dining room and a large bathroom opening onto a private courtyard.
ChildCare Families with children are welcome to stay at Windermere Estate, but there are no specific facilities available for children. Babysitting service can be arranged, on request.
Dine The main restaurant at the Windermere Estate serves home-cooked Malayali, oriental and continental meals often using Dr Simon’s own family recipes. The menu features more meat dishes than you’ll usually find in Kerala, including bacon, sausages and locally-raised beef, pork and mutton with locally grown vegetables. There is also a traditional Kerala style ‘thattukada’ - thatched hut where afternoon tea or drinks are served with hot snacks, finger food and barbecues.
Relax There is a beautiful swimming pool backed by the forest and overlooking the tea estate and space for yoga and meditation. In the surrounds are lovely places for leisure walks or just sit and watching the birdlife. There is also a bright, airy library with comfortable sitting area with a fireplace where you can relax with book.
Experience Munnar is a beautiful hill station known for its lush green tea estates, trekking areas and national parks. Experiences on offer at the Windermere Estate include treks to Echo Point and Top Station, providing spellbinding views of the town, valleys and surrounding hills. Eravikulam National Park is famous for the endangered Nilgiri Tahr, Chinnar Wildlife Sanctuary is home to elephants, deer and leopards, and Salim Ali or Thekkady Bird Sanctuary houses local and migratory birds.
Location Windemere Estate is set in Munnar, part of the Kerala Hill Country in southern India, situated at the confluence of three mountain streams - Mudrapuzha, Nallathani and Kundala in the Western Ghats.
Getting there Fly to Cochin International Airport. The drive to Windermere Estate from the airport takes around 3-hours.
When to go Isolated from much of India by the Western Ghats, the climate of Kerala & Karnataka is tropical. The best time to visit is from January through to April. Summer is hot and humid; the monsoon season arrives in early June and lasts till August. While September can be dry and humid. There can be a little rain in October and November, cooling off around December and lasting until February.
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