Romantic Getaway in Thekkady, Kerala

Myself and my husband planned this short (3 day) trip to Thekkady, Kerala in April 2019. Though it was peak summer, we were lucky to experience pleasant weather and even some evening showers in Thekkady. Two weeks ahead of our travel, I pre-booked the accommodation at "Hills and Hues" boutique stay (reserve here) for 2 nights. I had the option of reserving my stay on booking.com as well but I made the reservations online directly on their hotel website.

Valley view from the terrace at Hills and Hues, Thekkady, Kerala

We drove to Hills and Hues from Madurai, which was a 3.5 hour scenic drive. It is preferred to have your own vehicle to reach the resort or you can ask the hotel to arrange for a car pick up from the nearest airport or bus station. We followed the route suggested by Google Maps which was pretty much accurate. From the main road, the path leading to the resort was narrow and it was not an easy drive up the hill. The resort is located on the top on a hills and each cottage offers a stunning view of the valley below. As soon as we entered the gate, we were greeted by the staff and they helped us check-in quickly. The reception area is very beautifully decorated with vintage farm style decor and the staff made us feel welcome.

Dining and Reception area at Hills and Hues

After check-in, we were led to our cottage through small stoned pathways surrounded by trees, flowers and bees. I instantly fell in love with this place. The cottage was huge and thoughtfully decorated with elegant decor. A glass wall beside the bed offers the best view. I loved the bathroom with a huge glass window showcasing the valley view and also very private. We enjoyed lounging on the huge terrace space and sipping coffee to the beautiful view.

Bed, sitting area and terrace space. It was really amazing to wake up to this view!

We opted for an all meal plan which included breakfast, lunch, dinner, snacks and other non-alcoholic beverages. We even had the option of availing room service or we could just walk to the dining hall located few meters away from our cottage. Though we had limited options on the menu, the food was prepared well according to our requirements. The only downside was the waiting time. We had to place the order at least an hour before. The dining hall has both indoor and outdoor seating options overlooking the valley. I really enjoyed the french toast and scrambled eggs for breakfast!

Dining area with indoor and outdoor seating options

We stayed at the property for most of our time except one morning we went on the boat safari on the Periyar river which was a truly magical experience. We purchased the boat safari tickets online (here) well ahead as the 7 AM slot gets filled up fast. The ticket for Indian citizens cost INR 700 each for an adult. Extra charges apply for carrying DSLR camera. The Periyar boarding point is a 20 minute drive from our stay. We had to park the car in a designated parking space, about 1 km away from the national park. Free shuttles operate from the parking lot to the boarding point. Though, we reached an hour early, it was super crowded and we had to wait in queues. But once we boarded the boat with life jackets on, we forgot how tired we were and just enjoyed the next 1 hour spotting several birds and some wild elephants. I highly recommend choosing the early morning slot for the boat ride.

Boating safari on the Periyar river

We felt two-night stay at Hills and Hues was a perfect, rejuvenating short getaway. The cost for two people was about INR 23,000, including food and taxes. The pricing is slightly expensive as this is not a five-star resort, but I felt the whole experience was worth the money. The resort staff are very polite and welcoming. They even arranged a surprise candle light dinner for us on the last day of our stay as we were the only guests on the property. I would highly recommend this boutique stay if you are looking for a relaxing holiday to just sit back and enjoy the view. Hills and Hues is a perfect stay if you are on your honeymoon, looking for a romantic setting with a lot of privacy. If you are an adventurous couple or family with kids looking for recreational activities, this place is not for you.

Beautiful sunrise from the terrace at Hills and Hues

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