BHPian cefiljoseph recently shared this with other enthusiasts: I had earlier stayed at a hostel there called K Mansion and had loved the experience there. Courteous staff who go out of their way to keep you happy, insanely beautiful views, breakfast included in the stay, so one less meal to worry about while working. Plus, Munnar has now become a favourite place owing to the drive on the Gap Road, early morning treks, and the pleasant weather. Started from my place late in the evening to Munnar and reached there by almost midnight. In between, I took a stop to have a lemon tea in the chilly weather. It was just me in the hostel that night when I checked in. The next morning, a fellow traveller from England, Callum, also checked in. I worked during the day, and in the evenings and early mornings, we hung out, went for treks, and explored nearby places. The first trek we went for was to Pettimudi, a good two-hour trek and a view to match the effort. On the way, we missed a turn on Google Maps, resulting in us taking a narrow, steep road that had been made extra slippery owing to fallen leaves which had rotted in the mist and rain. Not exactly the ideal environment for a Front Wheel Drive sedan. At one point, Coco scrambled for grip and rolled back, hitting a small tree branch in the rear corner, which resulted in a dent and a crack on the taillight. The taillight was anyway due for a replacement due to a previous hit on the bumper, but it still hurt. I am planning for a factory restoration in the coming months. The view from Pettimudi was worth the hassle of driving through the narrow roads. Post the trek, there was a shop where we had refreshments. I had a lime soda, and Callum had a black tea. He was pleasantly surprised and shocked that it cost under a pound in total, and he loved this about India whenever he had to pay any bills I also spent a lot of time birdwatching from the amazing hill the hostel overlooked. Spotted quite a few birds, many of which I was seeing for the first time. Indian White-eye Yellow-browed Bulbul Asian Tit Black-throated Munia Vernal Hanging-Parrot (the only parrot species in India, the rest are parakeets) Malabar Parakeet A few days later, another traveller, Aaron from Goa, also joined us, and the three of us went to the iconic jeep ride via Suryanelli and Kolukkumalai to see the sunrise. It was truly an adventurous ride, and the trek further up was also worth it. On the way back, we stopped to click pictures, explored the places, and ended our trip with it. This hostel has truly spoiled me and set a benchmark in terms of hostels. For 999 a night, including breakfast, the service is closer to a 4-star hotel but at the price of a hostel. There was also a short trek down the resort where you could walk through the cardamom fields and see small streams of water. On the last day of the trip, Aaron and I went for a trek down there in the morning, and I left for home. Aaron wanted to get to Kochi, so he too joined, and I dropped him off on the way to Angamaly. Here is a picture of the beautiful hills that the hostel overlooks. Check out BHPian comments for more insights and information.
