Utente ospite
11 aprile 2023
This place is a hidden gem. During the holidays, we made a late decision to take some time off. However all the resorts and hotels were booked to the hilt. With some searching we chanced upon this place on the internet. On contacting the owner who was quite friendly and accommodating, he had one last room free (a bamboo tree house). With some trepidation and less expectation we went ahead with the booking. We ended up being quite delighted with our decision. This resort is located at a laid back (aptly called) place called Moonnilavu (moonlight) which is not far from Thodupuzha in Idukki district. The resort is on the way to a tourist attraction called Illikal Kallu ( a scenic rock formation) which is close to this place. In fact, on a less cloudy day, one can actually see the rock from this resort. They even offer to take you on a small trek to a stream on the bottom of their hill where you can have a cool bath in the fresh water. But be aware that its very cold. The route to the resort in itself is quite scenic and the roads are well laid. Our low slung sedan had no fuss reaching there. This is a family owned resort and is located in their own plantation on the side of a hill. Except for the chef (who is a North Indian), almost all the staff are family members. The chef and his wife have magic in their hands. Between them they are able to cook up a buffet breakfast of dosas, idlis, paranthas, appams, omelets, sandwiches etc. for the guests of all the 5 cottages. You can pre-order your menu for lunch, snacks and dinner and they will cook it for you. They also help out in the resort maintenance. The manager of the resort is also a musician. I saw a set of keyboards, drums and guitar with a karaoke speaker in the office-cum-reception. They arrange campfire and music on request The resort itself consists of five individual cottages and a tree house. The tree house has an attached bath with TV just like the rooms. It sits on an elevated platform and is made of bamboos. It is quite rustic but this is what you should book for the views and to be close to nature. Because of this setup, this place is ideal for a group to book the entire resort and enjoy in privacy. The resort hired a jeep for us to travel to nearby attactions of Illikkal kallu, Kattikkayam, Marmala waterfalls and Ilaveezhapoonchira. You need quite a bit of stamina to go to all these places in one day. Reaching each of these places involve small treks. But we were inspired by the energy and vigor of our guide and jeep driver who encouraged us. If you are not very fit, I would recommend splitting these sites to two days for a more comfortable tour. Places like this resort are proof that if you choose the right place, you don't need to spend big money and stay in 5 star resorts to have a memorable time.
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