Abad Copper Castle Resort

HOTEL OVERVIEW

You know what struck me first about Abad Copper Castle Resort? The name actually makes sense once you’re there – there’s something almost fortress-like about how it sits up in the Kannan Devan Hills, with these reddish-brown walls that catch the light just right in the evening. I mean, it’s not going to win any architectural awards, but there’s a solid, unpretentious feel to the place that I honestly appreciated after dealing with some of the more flashy (and overpriced) options closer to Munnar town.

The location is really where this place shines, though you’ll want to factor in the drive up – it’s about 15 minutes from the main Munnar bazaar area, winding through some seriously gorgeous tea estate roads. Actually, that’s half the charm right there. You’re properly in the hills here, not just visiting them, if that makes sense. Morning mist rolls right past your window, and you can hear the tea pickers chatting as they work the slopes below. The staff mentioned that most guests don’t realize how quiet it gets at night up there – no traffic noise, just the occasional night bird and maybe some rustling in the cardamom plants nearby.

What I really liked was how the folks running the place seem to get that people come to Munnar to actually experience the hills, not just Instagram them. The front desk guy (Ravi, I think?) knew exactly which trails were good for morning walks and wasn’t trying to upsell me on expensive tours every five minutes. The restaurant does proper Kerala breakfast – not just continental stuff – and their fish curry was legitimately good, though I’d skip the Chinese dishes if I were you. The rooms are clean and functional, nothing fancy but the beds are comfortable and the hot water actually works consistently, which honestly isn’t always a given at this price point in the hills. Only minor gripe – the WiFi gets pretty spotty when it’s cloudy, but then again, that might not be the worst thing when you’re surrounded by some of the most beautiful tea country in India. For what you’re paying, especially compared to the resort chains down the road, it’s solid value and the kind of place where you’ll actually sleep well and wake up wanting to explore rather than just lounge around the pool all day.