Thirunelly accommodation from NZ$124

The Taj in Wayanad is probably the best resort we’ve stayed at in Kerala. It’s a great location on the Banasura Lake, and serves as a good home base for other locations in the district, including waterfalls and wildlife reserves. The food was spectacular, especially the buffet in the mornings. The traditional Kerala dishes like appam and dosa at the live counter never disappointed. The live flutist who always played added a fantastic ambience. The bar on the third floor has the most fantastic views and really good cocktails. Try their version of an espresso martini. The views of the sunset from their balcony were a highlight (see photo). The amenities like the infinity pool and the gym looked at beautiful views of the lake and we used both quite a bit. We didn’t try the spa because we just came from another location where we did. The price tag seemed a bit steep even by non-Indian standards. The best part of our stay was the wonderful service and hospitality. Special shout out to the F&B manager Shinoy and the pool manager, Harikrishnan. They made our stay really memorable. It always makes us think that the service at the Taj is better than western counterparts like The Four Seasons. We definitely recommend this location and would stay here again in a heartbeat.