Choosing the best resort in Munnar comes down to how well a property aligns with the mountain environment and the type of experience guests actually seek. Munnar is not a flatland holiday spot, it’s a terrain-driven destination shaped by altitude, valley exposure, forest cover, and microclimates. A genuinely top resort must work with these conditions rather than hide behind generic luxury tags.
Several factors separate the best from the rest.
The most desirable resorts sit on slopes that offer uninterrupted views of the Western Ghats and deep green valleys. True premium locations also place guests within native vegetation zones rather than isolated concrete campuses.
Munnar is forested and hilly. A top resort should take advantage of this by offering cottages or suites that feel genuinely secluded. Guests value silence, natural soundscapes, and the ability to walk through foliage and pathways without traffic or construction noise.
Not all valley views are equal. The best resorts are positioned to catch the morning light, ridgeline silhouettes, cloud movement, and distance depth without obstruction. Wide-angle openings and multi-layered landscapes outperform small framed viewpoints.
Being among the best isn’t about the number of amenities. It’s about how well the room design responds to the terrain. Large windows, balconies, ventilation patterns, and layouts that allow guests to live with the landscape matter far more than formulaic interiors.
Visitors don’t come here only to sleep in a nice room. They want guided walks, curated trails, tea experiences, village interaction, wildlife exposure, and slow moments in nature. The best resorts offer thoughtful programs instead of touristy checklists.
Munnar sits in a fragile ecosystem. A leading resort must demonstrate real environmental integrity. Waste management, water practices, energy choices, and protection of native flora and fauna contribute directly to guest perception and long-term credibility.
Service in the hills isn’t about formality. It’s about warmth, consistency, and knowledge of the environment. Staff who understand the estate, terrain, trails, and local culture make a noticeable difference.
Blackberry Hills stands out because it offers an experience shaped by terrain, ecology, and thoughtful design rather than by generic resort templates. Most properties in Munnar are built on flattened land parcels or valley-facing edges. Blackberry Hills occupies a mountainside estate that forces a completely different kind of architecture, guest movement, and connection with the landscape. This single fact already puts it in a distinct category before any amenities are even considered.
The resort spans a ten acre slope on the Western Ghats. Instead of altering the land to fit buildings, the cottages were positioned along natural gradients and existing contours. This results in uninterrupted valley openings, layered depth in every direction, and a sense of being suspended in the hills rather than observing them from a distance. Few resorts in Munnar can replicate this spatial character because it requires decades of careful development, not a single construction cycle.
Blackberry Hills operates on a sustainability philosophy that influences daily practice, not just marketing. Waste is composted on site. A portion supports the aquaponics system where fish are reared, contributing directly to the restaurant. Water and energy practices are monitored to minimise impact. The estate protects the biodiversity already present instead of replacing it with decorative landscaping. This creates a form of sustainable luxury rooted in authenticity rather than aesthetic gestures.
Many resorts claim great views. A minority actually deliver them. Blackberry Hills' orientation makes its vistas wide, uninterrupted, and dynamic. Morning mist, cloud drift, sun paths, and ridgeline silhouettes play out across the valley in full scale. This isn’t a view framed through a small opening. It’s the dominant experience of the resort, visible from paths, sit outs, and several categories of rooms.
The room design reflects the terrain. The top category Premium Valley View Jacuzzi Suites offer panoramic openings and private jacuzzis. The Valley Facing Suites with Bathtub rise up to the treetops and are recommended by ornithologists for birdwatching. The Valley View Deluxe Suites provide generous space and second tier valley depth. Garden Suites and Family Villas deliver affordability, privacy, and comfort without compromising the nature experience. This tiering is logical and grounded in actual landscape hierarchy, which is rare in Munnar.
Blackberry Hills offers experiences tied to its location and estate, not outsourced vendors. The guided Shola Trek, often accompanied by Banjo, the estate dog, takes guests through native vegetation. Tea tasting, cooking demos, Letchmi mountain hikes, sunrise and sunset trails, and the in house meditation-oriented spaces create immersion rather than passive tourism. These are not generic activities. They are expressions of the estate’s terrain and culture.
Because vehicles are restricted beyond the zero percent pollution signage, the estate maintains a level of quiet that is increasingly rare. The slope, tree cover, and exposure to valley winds create a microclimate with cooler air, shifting cloud patterns, and natural ventilation. Guests feel the difference immediately.
Blackberry Hills has earned multiple awards including the Metro Expedition Award for Best Nature Retreat and the Booking.com Traveller Review Award 2025 with a rating of 9.0. It has also risen in TripAdvisor’s ranking to position eight across all hotels in Munnar. These signals matter because they come directly from independent travellers and industry bodies.
The resort was built on the belief that staying in Munnar should deepen guests’ connection with the mountains. This informs how the estate is maintained, how the staff interact, how experiences are curated, and how future development is planned. This philosophy is visible in every part of the property, from pathways to planting choices to guest experiences.
This is the highest category and the most exclusive accommodation on the estate. Only two suites exist. They occupy the strongest vantage points on the slope, offering panoramic openings across multiple ridgelines and deep valley layers. The private jacuzzi faces the landscape rather than the bathroom, which makes the view a central element instead of a decorative backdrop. Large balconies and floor to ceiling windows extend the room outward into the hills.
These suites are designed primarily for couples seeking privacy, wide angle views, and premium comfort without detaching from the environment.
These suites rise up to the level of the treetops. The positioning allows guests to observe bird movement at eye level, which is why the category is recommended by ornithologists. The bathtub is placed to take advantage of the treetop vantage and shifting light. Rooms and balconies open into forest textures rather than open sky, creating a quieter and more intimate experience.
This category suits guests who value nature immersion, birdwatching, and a sense of elevation among native vegetation.
The Deluxe Suites sit one tier below the topmost vantage points yet still offer expansive views of the valley. They include large living areas, generous layouts, and the second best view corridors on the estate. These suites are suited for travellers who want comfort, space, and premium visual exposure without moving to the highest price bracket.
This is the most accessible category and demonstrates smart use of the lower estate sections. Garden Suites provide privacy, quiet, and a closer relationship with the foliage. Each suite has a garden sit out and a bathtub, making it suitable for guests who want comfort without needing the highest elevations or extended view corridors.
These villas prioritise space and practicality. The large living room and balcony accommodate families comfortably. The bathrooms are simpler and reflect the design balance needed to create generous communal areas for parents and children. These villas are placed in segments of the property where movement is easier, making them suitable for family dynamics.
Click here to read more about our room types.
Wellness at Blackberry Hills is built around the idea that treatments should deepen the guest’s connection with the mountains rather than exist as isolated indoor services. Sisal Spa operates with that principle and uses a combination of Ayurvedic knowledge, international therapies, and landscape-driven design to create a focused and restorative environment.
Sisal Spa doesn’t function as a luxury display. It was designed to match the pace of the mountains. Therapists are trained to deliver treatments that prioritise slow restoration, muscle relief, and deep relaxation, which is essential in a destination where guests often arrive after long travel or trekking.
The couple’s room is built to maintain privacy while still allowing the presence of natural elements. The design creates a quiet space where the pace slows down, and treatments become a shared experience rather than two parallel sessions.
The spa menu includes Swedish massage, Ayurvedic rejuvenation therapies, deep tissue treatments, herbal compress sessions, and restorative foot therapies. This range allows guests to choose based on physical need rather than aesthetic preference.
One of the defining features of Sisal Spa is the Victorian style copper tub used for rose and milk baths. This is not a decorative addition. The bath is angled to enhance calm and heat retention, helping muscles recover after treks or long travel.
The same experience is also offered in select rooms across the resort for guests who prefer in-suite wellness rituals.
Click here to read more about our spa.
Most resorts offer a list of activities. Blackberry Hills offers experiences shaped by its landscape, ecology, and estate life. These experiences exist because of where the resort is located and how it has been developed over the years. They cannot be replicated in properties that rely on flat land, artificial landscaping, or outsourced adventure vendors.
The Shola forest ecosystem is one of the Western Ghats’ most important and fragile biomes. Blackberry Hills has a guided in-house trek that takes guests through native vegetation, estate pathways, and ridge-side viewpoints. The route is curated for safety and immersion, not speed.
Guests are often accompanied by Banjo, the estate dog, who has become a defining part of the experience. Her presence adds a layer of warmth and familiarity that organised tour operators cannot manufacture.
Tea culture is fundamental to Munnar, but most tastings in the region are generic commercial demonstrations. Blackberry Hills offers a more focused experience. Guests explore tea grades, aromas, and brewing styles with guidance that highlights both craftsmanship and regional identity.
The resort’s cooking demo is not a tourist show. It’s a practical, ingredient-driven session that introduces guests to Kerala’s core flavours and preparation methods. The emphasis is on everyday dishes rather than resort adaptations, giving guests a clear sense of local food philosophy.
These curated trails differ in duration, terrain, and altitude.The Letchmi Mountain Hike covers roughly ten kilometres and provides a wider understanding of the region’s landscape. The Sunrise Hike focuses on early light, temperature shift, and ridgeline silhouettes.The Sunset Hike offers shorter duration with dramatic transitions in light and valley colour.
Each trail is guided and designed for safety, making them accessible even to travellers new to hill trekking.
The Valley Facing Suites with Bathtub are not marketed as birdwatching rooms without basis. Ornithologists have recommended them because the balconies sit at a height that aligns directly with the movement of endemic and migratory species. Treetop level placement makes sightings more natural and frequent.
Blackberry Hills has a dedicated cabana set at a vantage point that opens into the valley. Candlelight dinners here are shaped by silence, altitude, and open sky rather than decorative setups. This experience is aimed at couples looking for privacy and atmosphere without distraction.
Even the simplest walk through the property is an experience. The estate’s restrictions on vehicular movement preserve silence and air quality, allowing guests to observe plants, insects, and small wildlife without disturbance. This kind of unhurried nature engagement is rare in commercial resort zones.
Blackberry Hills is built for guests who prefer to stay, observe, and connect rather than rush through itineraries. This includes sunrise viewing spots, quiet sit outs, reading corners, and pockets of shade with changing valley wind patterns. These understated experiences contribute significantly to the resort’s identity.
Click here to learn more about exciting activities in and around Munnar.
The culinary team relies on ingredients that travel well to hill terrain and retain flavour without excessive processing. Local produce, regional spices, and estate-grown elements appear prominently. This approach keeps dishes honest and avoids the overcomplicated preparations that often mask mediocre ingredients.
Blackberry Hills maintains its own kitchen team rather than outsourcing food operations. This matters because consistency in hill destinations is directly linked to the stability of the kitchen crew. It allows the resort to maintain control over hygiene, preparation methods, and flavour accuracy.
Regional dishes are prepared with a focus on essential flavours. Curries, stews, roasts, and rice preparations are executed in a way that stays true to local culinary logic. Guests receive an authentic introduction to Kerala food rather than a hotel-standard interpretation.
While the menu includes multi cuisine dishes, they are kept within a range that the team can execute reliably. The goal is to serve food that satisfies without pretending to be something it cannot. This discipline results in meals that are consistently balanced, well seasoned, and suited to the climate.
The dining spaces make use of natural light, greenery, and open air exposure. Breakfasts often align with valley mist and shifting light. Dinners are calmer, supported by the quiet created by the estate’s no-vehicle policy. This environmental context becomes part of the dining experience, not just the backdrop.
The dining team operates without unnecessary formality. Service is attentive, steady, and respectful of the resort’s natural rhythm. It avoids rushed transitions or forced theatrics, allowing guests to eat at a pace that matches the surroundings.
Food at Blackberry Hills reflects the same principles that shape the resort’s accommodation and experiences. The emphasis is not on elaborate menus or unnecessary fusion. Instead, the kitchen follows a straightforward philosophy: cook with integrity, use well-sourced ingredients, and deliver flavours that make sense in a mountain environment.
Click here to read more about our award winning restaurant in Munnar.
The pool at Blackberry Hills is designed to complement the terrain rather than compete with it. In hill destinations, a pool only adds value when it respects the altitude, the weather patterns, and the visual logic of the landscape. The resort’s pool area follows this approach and focuses on calm, environment driven enjoyment rather than spectacle.
The pool sits on a level chosen for its openness and consistent light. It is surrounded by the estate’s native vegetation and positioned so that swimmers can enjoy the valley breeze and shifting sky without distraction. This creates a calm, grounded experience rather than a crowded social zone.
The pool environment maintains the same sense of space and silence that defines the rest of the resort. Sunbeds and seating areas are arranged with clear separation, avoiding the hotel-like density that breaks immersion. The focus is on personal comfort and uninterrupted time in the water.
Munnar’s climate changes significantly across seasons and even within a single day. The pool area responds to this with practical design decisions. The open layout allows valley winds to cool the environment while also giving swimmers direct sun exposure when needed. Evening hours remain peaceful, shaped by the estate’s no-vehicle policy.
Water quality, hygiene, and upkeep are priorities. The pool is monitored regularly and maintained to ensure clarity and comfort, especially important in a hill environment where temperature shifts can affect water chemistry.
The pool is not an isolated feature. It fits into the resort’s broader rhythm of slow travel, quiet observation, and landscape-driven relaxation. Guests use it as a place to pause, unwind, and absorb the valley atmosphere before or after treks, experiences, and estate walks.
Click here to read more about the Serentity Pool overlooking the beautiful valleys of Munnar.
The resort received the Traveller Review Award with a rating of 9.0. This score represents large scale, verified guest feedback and confirms the property’s strength in hospitality, cleanliness, service consistency, and overall experience.
The Metro Expedition Award recognised Blackberry Hills as the Best Nature Retreat, a category that evaluates terrain, biodiversity, sustainable practices, and integration with the environment. This aligns directly with the resort’s philosophy and validates its long term development approach.
The resort recently moved up to position seven across all hotels in Munnar. Rankings on TripAdvisor are influenced by guest reviews, recency, frequency, and response patterns. Climbing in a competitive landscape indicates strong guest satisfaction and operational refinement.
Blackberry Hills has been submitted for the ICRT Nature Positive category, reflecting its ongoing work in biodiversity protection, waste management, aquaponics, and low-impact estate operations. This level of environmental responsibility distinguishes the resort in a region where sustainability claims are often superficial.
With over twenty years of presence in Munnar’s hospitality landscape, the resort has earned long term goodwill. This legacy contributes to trust and strengthens its position among the region’s leading properties.
With over twenty years of presence in Munnar’s hospitality landscape, the resort has earned long term goodwill. This legacy contributes to trust and strengthens its position among the region’s leading properties.
Guest feedback offers the clearest measure of whether a resort delivers what it claims. At Blackberry Hills, reviews consistently highlight qualities that are difficult to engineer artificially. These patterns appear across platforms and across years, which makes them more credible than isolated compliments.
Guests frequently describe the views as the defining feature of their stay. They mention the depth of the valley, the movement of clouds, the silence of the mornings, and the sense of elevation that stays constant throughout the property. These comments reinforce that the terrain, not the architecture, sets the tone of the experience.
Guests frequently describe the views as the defining feature of their stay. They mention the depth of the valley, the movement of clouds, the silence of the mornings, and the sense of elevation that stays constant throughout the property. These comments reinforce that the terrain, not the architecture, sets the tone of the experience.
Guests routinely point out the way rooms open into the landscape, the privacy they offer, and the quiet they maintain. Comments highlight the Premium Valley View Jacuzzi Suites for their panoramas, the Valley Facing Suites for treetop immersion, and the Family Villas for their spacious common areas.
Reviews commonly praise the taste and steadiness of the food rather than the complexity of the menu. Guests recognise that dishes are prepared with care and that the dining atmosphere aligns with the pace and silence of the resort.
The Shola Trek, guided hikes, tea tasting, cooking demos, and estate walks receive repeated mentions. Guests describe these experiences in detail, indicating that they are not standard activities but important parts of the stay.
Several reviews reflect appreciation for the resort’s environmental responsibility. Guests notice the lack of vehicle noise, the clarity of the pathways, the presence of birdlife, and the resort’s effort to protect its terrain rather than alter it.
The resort’s Booking.com rating of 9.0, its TripAdvisor ranking progression, and its long-term review consistency show that guest satisfaction is not seasonal or dependent on one strong year. This level of steadiness is rare among hill resorts where service levels often fluctuate.
Click here to read what our guests have to say about the resort on Google.
Click here to read our raving reviews on TripAdvisor.
Many resorts in Munnar sit close to main roads or on flattened land. Blackberry Hills is built along natural gradients, which allows rooms and pathways to retain their relationship with the valley. The slope ensures uninterrupted views and consistent airflow throughout the day.
The estate’s altitude creates cooler temperatures, gentle valley winds, and morning cloud movement that guests experience directly from balconies and walking paths. This microclimate plays a significant role in the resort’s atmosphere and distinguishes it from properties built in denser or lower areas.
Vehicles are not permitted beyond the zero percent pollution signage at the start of the pathways. This policy protects air quality and preserves the natural quiet of the estate. Guests walk along clean, silent pathways surrounded by native vegetation rather than parking areas or construction noise.
While the resort maintains seclusion, it remains close to major viewpoints, tea estates, and trails across the region. Guests can access well-known spots without compromising the calm and privacy of their stay.
Blackberry Hills is within a manageable drive from Kochi International Airport and major transit hubs. The route climbs gradually into the hills, giving guests a clear transition from lowland heat to mountain climate. The resort’s team provides support with directions, local travel information, and arrival coordination.
The location is not chosen for convenience alone. It aligns with the resort’s identity as a nature-positive, terrain-aware property. The land shapes the architecture, the experiences, and the overall pace of the stay, reinforcing why the resort frequently appears in guest recommendations for best nature retreats in Munnar.
A top resort in Munnar must offer strong elevation, uninterrupted valley views, quiet surroundings, thoughtful room design, steady service, and meaningful nature experiences. Properties that work with the terrain rather than against it tend to deliver the strongest guest satisfaction.
Resorts positioned on true slopes with wide exposure have the best views. Blackberry Hills ranks high in this category because its rooms, pathways, and sit outs face layered ridgelines and deep valleys rather than limited framed openings.
Couples generally look for privacy, views, silence, and experiences they can share. The Premium Valley View Jacuzzi Suites and the cabana candlelight dinners at Blackberry Hills make it a strong choice for couples seeking a calm, immersive stay.
The Premium Valley View Jacuzzi Suites at Blackberry Hills include private jacuzzis positioned to face the valley. This creates a direct connection with the landscape rather than a bathroom-contained feature.
Blackberry Hills is designed for guests who want to stay within a natural environment rather than observe it from a distance. The Shola Trek, estate walks, birdwatching opportunities, and treetop-level suites offer genuine nature immersion.
Few properties implement sustainability beyond verbal claims. Blackberry Hills operates composting systems, aquaponics, low-impact estate management, and a no-vehicle zone, making it a credible option for guests who value environmental responsibility.
The Valley Facing Suites with Bathtub at Blackberry Hills sit at a height that aligns directly with bird movement. Ornithologists have recommended these suites for sightings of endemic and migratory species.
Yes. Blackberry Hills offers Family Villas with large living spaces and practical layouts that work well for families who want comfort, easy movement, and access to nature without sacrificing privacy.
Blackberry Hills provides guided hikes, tea tasting, cooking demos, estate walks, and nature interpretation. These experiences are integrated with the land rather than outsourced, making them more meaningful than standard tourist activities.
The resort is reachable by a steady drive from Kochi and other regional hubs. It maintains seclusion without compromising accessibility, and the team supports guests with arrival guidance when needed.
Properties built away from main roads and traffic zones provide the calmest environments. Blackberry Hills benefits from its mountainside position and zero-vehicle policy, creating consistent quiet throughout the day.
Resorts that incorporate local culture, regional ingredients, and terrain-based activities deliver the most authentic experiences. Blackberry Hills integrates local food traditions, tea culture, and guided nature walks into the stay.
Choosing the best resort in Munnar comes down to how well a property aligns with the land and the experience you want from the hills. Blackberry Hills is built for travellers who value elevation, quiet, natural immersion, and steady hospitality. If you are looking for a stay shaped by the terrain rather than a generic luxury template, the resort offers a setting that reflects what Munnar is meant to feel like.
To explore availability, room options, or seasonal experiences, you can connect with the resort’s team. They will help you choose the category and pace of stay that match what you want from the mountains.
