Windermere Estate

“Atmospheric estate surrounded by nature”

I had hesitated to book this hotel as the reviews are somewhat mixed but , in the end, it was one of the most memorable places of our 3.5 week trip to India. The entire atmosphere is very relaxing. You are surrounded by nature, with the mountains, tea and cardamom plantations all around the propert… more

I had hesitated to book this hotel as the reviews are somewhat mixed but , in the end, it was one of the most memorable places of our 3.5 week trip to India. The entire atmosphere is very relaxing. You are surrounded by nature, with the mountains, tea and cardamom plantations all around the property. Our room was simple and spacious, evoking the atmosphere of the old plantation. I took the early morning bird watching walk and my husband and I did the afternoon plantation walk as well. Both were excellent, led by their very charming and informative in house naturalist. The set meals were very enjoyable too. I loved the Munnar area and the Windemere Estate enhanced the experience.

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“Charming accommodation and wonderful hospitality in two complimentary properties”

We had originally planned to spend 5 nights at WIndermere Estate but when we learned about their sister property called Windermere River House we decided to allocate two of those 5 to the River House. This turned out to be an excellent decision as the two properties are highly complimentary. Winder… more

We had originally planned to spend 5 nights at WIndermere Estate but when we learned about their sister property called Windermere River House we decided to allocate two of those 5 to the River House. This turned out to be an excellent decision as the two properties are highly complimentary. Windermere Estate provides a charming escape from the heat and humidity of Kochi while the River House provides more of a jungle/nature experience where an early morning walk in the Thattehad Bird Sanctuary and pre-dusk kayaking were notable highlights. What doesn’t change across the two properties is the gracious Indian hospitality conveyed by the owner Simon and his son John and which flows through into the excellent manner and service of the staff.

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“An absolute delight”

This is a beautifully maintained heritage property in the middle of cardomom plantations, There were no A/Cs, but we didn’t mind despite the fact that we were visiting on one of the hottest days of the year. The staff was polite and super friendly. We also got a chance to meet the owner Mr. Simon a… more

This is a beautifully maintained heritage property in the middle of cardomom plantations, There were no A/Cs, but we didn’t mind despite the fact that we were visiting on one of the hottest days of the year. The staff was polite and super friendly. We also got a chance to meet the owner Mr. Simon and had a delightful conversation. The food was delicious, prepared using fresh local ingredients. The place had a vibe and you can feel the calmness and serenity when you are there. The plantation walk in the evening was lovely and not to be missed. If you are looking for a place where you can be with the nature, this is it.

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“Lovely peaceful resort with excellent staff and service.”

We spent 3 nights recently up at the Windermere Estate and had a really lovely stay. We were aware that no alcohol was served but that you were welcome to enjoy your own in your room; we stopped at a 'foreign liquor' store on the way and brought wine and beer with us. There was plenty of room in yo… more

We spent 3 nights recently up at the Windermere Estate and had a really lovely stay. We were aware that no alcohol was served but that you were welcome to enjoy your own in your room; we stopped at a 'foreign liquor' store on the way and brought wine and beer with us. There was plenty of room in your room fridge to store this. Our room had a lovely balcony overlooking the pool, and we enjoyed sitting out there with a pre dinner drink. The dinner is a set meal, for the extremely reasonable price of £9. We were asked if we had any food requirements - my husband mentioned that he loved cardamon spiced rice pudding. The chef didn't usually have this on the menu. but he made it specially for my husband one night! And it was superb! We happened to be there for BBQ night. The BBQ is set up at the bottom of a big rock, beautifully lit as the sun went down, and pre dinner appetisers were served, whilst you had an opportunity to chat with other guests and the staff. If you're lucky enough to be there on BBQ night, DO go along! There are dawn and early evening free walks available with Ansel, the resort naturalist (and many other jobs!). These were both wonderful opportunities to see both the bird life around the hills, and the cardamon plantations. A dog has adopted the hotel, and every walk, chooses to accompany everyone which is lovely. The pool is a little cool, but fine for a refreshing dip after a day of hiking and exploring. We were extremely well looked after by all the staff; sorry I can't remember everyones names, but a particular shout out to Jacob. We really enjoyed chatting with John, the manager, who is the son of the owner. He's growing coffee beans and was keen to get feedback on his different brews. We loved tasting and discussing this with him. To be honest, it was like staying with a very welcoming family. It's a family friendly resort - and that brings us to the only negative. There was a large family group staying with several extremely noisy and active young boys. Whilst enjoying lunch outside, or relaxing by the pool, they were running around the tables and climbing over the rocks right outside whilst shouting loudly. I totally understand that families are very welcome, but would have appreciated the group recognising how disruptive this constantly was, in such a peaceful environment. We had a wonderful stay, and wouldn't hesitate to return here if we were back in the area.

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