Windermere Estate is made for those who holiday with some discretion, carefully avoiding tourist hotspots and must-do lists. Munnar’s charms are intriguing for many travellers, making the destination one of the most popular hill stations in South India. But not always do you want to be in the middle of the action. The plantation stay is meant for travellers who want to explore the estate life of the hills, rife with a palette of green and oxygen. Where hours can be spent watching clouds fill and spill out of valleys and the colours in the sky change from one enchanting colour to the next.

Coffee, cardamom and tea laden hills rise and dip around the main estate house. While the entire home is great to sit back and watch nature’s showcase, the library, gazebo, pool area and the estate’s barbeque boulder are where most traveller’s like to set camp in the day. Whether it’s reading a book, swimming, taking a stroll in the plantations or just gorging on the cuisine made from local ingredients, this is a perfect antidote to city life.

Amongst the Garden rooms, Estate rooms and Planter’s rooms, it’s hard to make a pick as each one is distinct and atmospheric, overlooking one green patch or another. In earshot of birdsong and perfect to welcome the first rays of the suns, each room is designed to be closest to nature and extremely comfortable. 

Fresh produce and availability dictate the menu for the day, which is consistently delicious. You can even visit the kitchen for a peek or get a recipe you love. 

For those who’d rather explore than sit still, there is a plantation trek led by a naturalist. It wends along the muddy trails and is a quick orientation to what planters do in the day. There are other hikes to vantage points, which award views and rendezvous with the amazing birdlife of Munnar.