Blackcherry Munnar

So much fun walking to stay amongst the tea bushes on the hills, with cows browsing them!

The location is stunning, silvy and her family were the most warm and welcoming people I have encountered in a long time. the food is excellent, especially the coconut chicken curry and fish curry. silvy makes you feel at home right away with her kind smile and expansive life experiences. Conversations with her enlightening and humorous. 100/10 recommend to everyone who like to travel for curiosity and unexpected connections

The view and home cooked meal

The location of this homestay is absolutely beautiful. From the main road, the walk to the house is quite steep, but the view on the way there and from the homestay is breathtaking. The pictures don't quite do it justice. The food prepared by the host was quite decent and priced fairly, which is good because there aren't many alternative dining out options around. The view from my room was extremely nice. The bathroom facilities are basic.

Unfortunately, I also experienced the host to be intrusive, pressuring and well...very business oriented. - Already before my arrival I was inundated with pictures of possible activities, among those the Tea Plantations "Trekking", priced at IND 3000 (unsure if per tour or per person). Other travellers warned me that it was not worth it and I could easily do it on my own by renting a scooter....So, when the host asked if I wanted to do the tour, I politely declined saying that I had alternative plans, but was pressured into accepting, because she (the host) was not available on the second day of my stay...The tour definitely featured definitely some stunning views, but unfortunately it was not a "trek" but a long tuktuk ride, where we stopped at different stations. Yes, it was "all-inclusive" including lunch, the tuktuk, and tickets to a waterfall (not of interest to be honest), but I regreted seeing that private operators offer tea plantation tours INCLUDING visits of a plantation and factory for IND 1000. - There was also pressure to eat at the house, which granted makes sense due to the lack of alternatives at the location, but there was definitely an expectation and pressure to eat at the house. The food was OK. - Beware of accepting anything offered to you, it is NOT free. The host goes out of her way to offer you tea, lassis, pineapple juice (very delicious), but all of it will be on the final bill. I was even charged for the tea I was "offered" upon arrival. I didnt even want any tea, but only accepted it to be polite, so I thought it was quite rude to charge me for it. Also charged extra when I took a second tea at breakfast. I was even WOKEN UP during a nap to be asked if I wanted some pineapple juice ($$ for host), so goodbye privacy and autonomy. - The host also seemed to have a problem with me travelling alone (I accidentally indicated two people).