There are holidays you remember for the places you visited, and then there are the ones you remember for how they made you feel. My stay at The WGH Tall Trees in Munnar belongs firmly to the latter.
Munnar has a way of slowing everything down. Set high in Kerala’s Western Ghats, the hill station is surrounded by rolling tea plantations, misty mountains and that unmistakable coolness in the air. The Tall Trees takes that feeling a little further, placing you right in the middle of the landscape rather than simply giving you a view of it.
The name is quite literal. Spread across 66 acres of forest, the property is home to 26 cottages nestled among towering trees, with the landscape becoming an effortless part of the stay.
My first impression was exactly what the name promised: trees everywhere. Stepping outside the cottage, there were no crowds or city sounds to break the view, just tall trees, open skies and the kind of chilly, rainy Munnar weather that makes you want to stay wrapped up a little longer. The cottages themselves feel wonderfully suited to their surroundings, with private balconies that open out into the forest.
The property is large enough to feel like its own little world. We were welcomed with a soothing drink before taking a buggy ride through the grounds to our cottage. By the end of the stay, though, we had stopped using it. Walking from the restaurant back to the cottage became one of those unexpectedly enjoyable parts of the day. There were plantations, winding paths, a small trek route and constantly changing views to discover along the way.
The Tall Trees also has dedicated nature trails, including the Shola Trail, which takes guests through its forest landscape and past streams, native flora and birdlife. It is the sort of place where even a walk without an agenda becomes an experience.
The same connection to nature carries into the dining experience. Hill Spice, the property's restaurant, is surrounded by the forest, making even a simple meal feel wonderfully removed from everyday life. Its menu spans Kerala, South Indian, North Indian and Continental cuisine, with an emphasis on fresh, locally sourced ingredients.
For me, the Kerala food was the highlight. There is something especially comforting about sitting down to a warm, generous meal while the weather outside is cold and rainy. Breakfast was just as satisfying, with idlis, Kerala curries and Continental options. And then there was the coffee. Somewhere between the trees, the weather and that first cup of the morning, I genuinely forgot about everything else for a while.
We were also celebrating my parents’ birthday and anniversary during the stay, and the team arranged a beautiful setup for them at the restaurant. It was thoughtful without feeling overdone, and reflected the warmth we experienced from the staff throughout the stay. Everyone was incredibly kind and helpful, adding a personal touch to a property that is otherwise wonderfully expansive.
Of course, Munnar deserves time beyond the hotel too. Tea is inseparable from the destination, and we spent part of our stay visiting the plantations, learning about how tea is made and tasting different varieties. We even brought some back for friends and family. Munnar’s tea estates have shaped the region’s identity for generations and remain one of its most recognisable landscapes.
Yet what stayed with me most was how little I felt the need to rush. The Tall Trees has an Ayurvedic spa, swimming pool, recreational spaces and a host of nature-led experiences, but its greatest luxury, for me, was simply having the time to wander.
There is something beautifully uncomplicated about spending a day walking between your cottage and the restaurant, stopping to look at the trees, watching the weather change, eating something warm and letting the afternoon stretch out.
Munnar gives you the mountains, the tea gardens and the winding roads. The Tall Trees gives you somewhere to pause within them.
I left wondering how easily I could have stayed for a week. Not because there was more left to tick off, but because the atmosphere had made me forget everything I usually feel the need to keep up with. And perhaps that is the rarest kind of holiday: one where, for a little while, you don't feel like you are away from life. You simply feel beautifully removed from it.
