Mountain Serenity

Getting to the property is a bit tight, and the lack of nearby shops meant we had to drive 2-3 km back to town for drinking water. The owner hadn't mentioned that no water was provided, either when we called on arrival or when we got there, and the caretaker didn't bring it up. The owner said they drink the tap water, but also said the water source hadn't been cleaned in over three months and couldn't guarantee its quality. That was a basic necessity we expected to have. The villa looks sleek and modern outside, but the construction issues became clear once we went in. There's no proper ventilation, and the afternoon heat made it feel like a sauna. We arrived then and were hit by a wave of hot air as soon as we opened the doors. Keeping the balcony open is the only way to let the room cool, but monkeys can come in and take your things. So we had to sit on the balcony with the door open, watching the entrance while waiting for the hot air to leave. There wasn't another way to cool the room.

The best part was the view from the house. The bathrooms were very clean, the bedrooms were spacious, and the property looked like the photos. But we didn't find the stay comfortable overall. Shaniyas was the biggest problem. Communication was very difficult if you didn't speak the common language, and I found him rude and inconsiderate. He said he lived 100 km away and offered no local help, so once we arrived we had to deal with problems ourselves. The listing says four bedrooms can accommodate 14 guests. I expected beds for at least eight and mattresses for the others, but there were no proper sleeping arrangements. The host expected everyone to fit into the four rooms. The kitchen wasn't practical for cooking either: it had an induction stove, two utensils, two meal plates, and six quarter plates. We also struggled with vehicle access. A larger vehicle such as an Urbania or Tempo Traveller can't turn around there, and the only way out is reversing down a very steep connecting road. We were lucky to have a highly skilled driver. Grocery stores are 2-3 km away, about 10 minutes, and although the area has many villas, there was no one around during our stay, no house help, and it felt like we were alone in the whole neighbourhood. The geysers kept malfunctioning, so hot water wasn't reliable. The bed linen wasn't fresh or properly cleaned, which affected our comfort. With the lack of support, misleading capacity details, limited facilities, difficult access, and unclean linen, I wouldn't recommend it for an easy, hassle-free stay. Better maintenance and a more responsible host could make the house great.

The rooftop was a highlight, with a wonderful view of the stars and mountains and the sound of a waterfall throughout the day. The stay itself was really comfortable, and the caretaker was sweet and even came by at 7 pm. Mr. shaniyas stayed in touch and helped me plan an itinerary, which I appreciated since it was my first time in Kerala. We only had to sort out our food, and the kitchen had everything we needed. Keep the windows shut, though, because monkeys can come in at any time and get at the food. Still, what a fantastic place, with a killer view from the window!

We were four families staying for one night and left very happy. The rooms were neat and clean, the service was good, and the view from our room was lovely. It was budget-friendly, too.