Fragrant Nature Munnar - A Classified Five Star H

The views of the misty hills were breathtaking, and waking up to them was pure bliss. Fragrant Nature Munnar also served delicious meals, beautifully presented and full of flavour, with plenty of variety and quality. Anikha and the team really made the stay. They were warm, attentive and professional, and went out of their way to make us comfortable and cared for. Their hospitality made us feel right at home. Fragrant Nature Munnar brings together lovely scenery, great food and heartfelt service. Highly recommended for a peaceful, luxurious getaway in Munnar.

The staff were very courteous and always ready with a smile. Room service was lightning fast, and the balcony views were excellent. That said, this is not a five star hotel. At best, I'd call it three star, and management should correct that misleading information as soon as possible. They don't serve alcohol and have no alcohol permit, which made me wonder how to have a hill station holiday without it. The 5th floor lawns have a row of manhole covers that keep giving off a foul sewage smell. Games room equipment is outdated, and the table tennis bats and balls were damaged. They weren't replaced even after I asked. Non vegetarian food was excellent, but vegetarian options were quite limited.

We booked three moonlight bliss rooms and the wild orchid suite, after staying at their Fort Kochi property the previous year. The rooms were decorated much like the ones in kochi and all had spacious balconies. The suite was huge and had all the amenities we needed for family time in the evenings before dinner. It was also kind of the hotel to provide a wheelchair and an easy access bathroom for my dad while he was recovering from a fall. Breakfast had a scrumptious spread of Western and Indian options. We tried the spa and enjoyed the complimentary 15 minute massage. Across our three nights, we had lunch once and dinner twice, and chef Alex's food was consistently delicious. Mr Mishra, the restaurant manager, deserves a special mention for working tirelessly to make sure everyone was looked after. We also played table tennis and carrom on the entertainment floor. A bar would have been nice, but we knew about that and brought our own drinks. The service, ambience and location left us with fond memories and wanting to return.

If peace and quiet are what you want, this resort is worth considering, though it's a bit pricey. The food tastes great and service is good, but the selection is limited. I'd save money and skip the balcony room. The view from ours was obstructed, and there are plenty of shared spaces inside the resort where you can enjoy the scenery.