The Wind

Hotel review

If you’re after privacy, seclusion and tranquillity in the tea-blanketed hills of Kerala, this is the place to book. Perched on a clifftop, 23km from Munnar town, this breezy boutique hideaway has a truly magnificent and remote setting, overlooking a verdant valley that stretches out like something out of Lord of the Rings. Opened in 2013, it feels stylish and modern; the eight ‘cottages’ have stark, white walls, televisions and huge windows. Each one has its own balcony, from where you can observe the clouds drifting along the valley or watch the sun sink in the sky, drenching the hills in an orange light. The atmosphere at The Wind is serene – with the only sound is that of the birds chirruping and the whistling of the wind, after which the hotel is named. Although the courteous staff members don’t speak much English, the knowledgeable and jovial managing director Noby Abraham does, and he’s always on hand to help you explore Munnar’s wonders, such as the tea plantations, the Muniyara Dolmens, Powerhouse Waterfalls or Lockhart Gap. The food here – an eclectic menu of Chinese, Keralan and Western dishes – is a little below par, but the minamalist restaurant’s three glass walls and breathtaking vistas make up for it.

Laura Griffith-Jones Review published: 31/10/2018