There is a quiet stretch of road in Pallivasal, just a short drive from the thundering white curtain of Attukad Waterfalls, where a century-old stone bungalow has been reborn as one of the best five star resorts in Munnar. This is 1924 Clock House — a property that does not simply offer a place to sleep, but a piece of Munnar's own history, restored room by room and handed back to travellers who want more than another hilltop hotel.
Built in 1924 for the British planters who once managed the surrounding tea estates, the bungalow's original stone walls, hand-built chimneys, and its namesake clock tower have all been carefully preserved. Where most five star resorts in Munnar are new constructions dressed up to look luxurious, 1924 Clock House is the genuine article — a structure that has watched over these hills for a hundred years and is only now opening its doors to guests.
Why Location Matters as Much as Luxury
Attukad Waterfalls is one of the most visited natural landmarks near Munnar town, and staying within easy reach of it changes the entire rhythm of a trip. Instead of budgeting half a day for a round trip from central Munnar, guests at 1924 Clock House can visit the falls in the cool of the morning and be back for breakfast on the veranda. The resort's position in Pallivasal also places it closer to working tea plantations than many of the hotels clustered near Munnar's main town, which means the views from every room are of unbroken green rather than rooftops.
This is the kind of detail that separates a resort that is merely five star from one that earns the title of best five star resort in Munnar — proximity to what actually makes Munnar worth visiting, not just distance from the noise of the town centre.
What Makes It a Five Star Experience
Inside, the heritage bungalow has been reimagined without losing its character. The Grand Fireplace, a hundred-year-old centerpiece connected to one of the house's original chimneys, remains the heart of the property, where guests gather on cool evenings for heritage dining and quiet conversation. Rooms named after the bungalow's own history — including the Churchill Bridge and Ladies Bridge suites — pair colonial-era interiors with modern comforts, and several categories include private Jacuzzi cottages for guests seeking a more intimate stay.
The infinity pool is positioned to blend visually with the valley beyond it, so a morning swim comes with an uninterrupted view of the tea-covered hills. Add an Ayurveda wellness offering and curated plantation walks, and the result is a resort that satisfies every expectation a traveller brings to the phrase "best five star resort in Munnar" — heritage architecture, modern luxury, and a setting that most other properties in the region simply cannot replicate.
A Resort Built Around a Landmark, Not Just a City
Most hotel marketing in Munnar anchors itself to the town. 1924 Clock House anchors itself to Attukad Waterfalls, and that distinction matters both for the guest experience and for how the property is discovered. Travellers searching for things to do near the falls, or looking for accommodation within walking distance of Munnar's natural landmarks, are far more likely to find a resort that speaks directly to that location than one that only mentions "Munnar" in general terms.
For a traveller planning their first — or fifth — trip to Munnar, the choice usually comes down to what kind of memory they want to take home. A generic luxury stay blends into the hundreds of similar resorts scattered across the hill station. A restored 1924 planter's bungalow, standing a few minutes from one of Kerala's most photographed waterfalls, does not.
How to Reach 1924 Clock House Munnar?
1924 Clock House is located in Pallivasal, on the approach road from Kochi, making it one of the more accessible five star resorts in Munnar for guests arriving by road, rail, or air via Cochin International Airport. The resort's team can assist with transfers and can also help plan a visit to Attukad Waterfalls as part of a guest's stay itinerary.
For anyone comparing the best five star resorts in Munnar, the combination of a genuine heritage structure, a landmark-adjacent location, and modern five star amenities is difficult to find anywhere else in the region — and it is exactly what 1924 Clock House was restored to offer.
