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[edit] Munnar
South India’s most sought after hill resort and Kerala’s highest-bid hill station. It is the highest peak, at 8841 ft, south of Himalayas. There are three streams around. Two of these, Nallathanni and Kundale are the tributaries of Muthirapuzha River. This river cascades out of the misty hills to embrace Periyar river which succumbs to Arabian sea. Munnar is a tea-queen. 12000 hectres, manicured, lushgreen teafields dotted with quaint old colonial bungalows are paradise to honeymooners and globe-trotters and business community’s rescue home to get their tension de-wound. Gentle eucalyptus plantations sway the breeze. Shola trees, shelter of many wildlife species, hug the mist-clad hillsides. Here the air is filtered by the gentle tea leaves. Munnar enjoys a refreshing climate with crisp mornings and sunny blue skies in the winter- though as with all of Kerala, torrential rains descend during the monsoons.
Munnar town is a typical hill bazar of haphazard buildings and congested market streets. However there are many attractions such as the Tea Museum( Tues-Sun 9am-4pm), which houses various pieces of old machinery and an exhibition of photos of the area's tea industry from the 1880s right into the modern era.( The tea plantations here are the contributions of British. A club established by the British planters, Kundale Club, still retains much its colonial ambience. Tucked away in a picturesque corner of the High Range, at 6000 ft altitude, the Club smartly resembles an English house. The Indian successors maintain the Club in its pristine state without losing any of its ethos and traditions.
Munnar’s major attractions are within 10 to 30 km radius.of the town. The network of roads are excellent. Enough local buses, taxis, jeeps are available for transportation, which takes you across the high ridges and lush tropical forests of the Cardamom hills. There are many heritage and homestay accommodation, much of it in restored British Bungalows, where you can sip High Range tea on lawns against the backdrop of rolling hills and plantations. The DTPC tourist office (9 daily 8.30am to 7pm; 04865 231136,9447190954) has some useful maps and newspaper articles and can arrange transport for excursion. The self appointed tourist officer, immortalized in Dervla Murphy's On a shoestring to Coorg and more recently by booker prize winning God of small things, will provide a handful of useful tips on the area.
[edit] Around Munnar
Munnar town serves as a useful hub for exploring the spectacular mountain region surrounding it. Several of the summits towering above the town may be reached by day treks through the tea gardens or in buses that wind their way up to the aptly names Top station, a hamlet famous for its views and meadows of 'Neelakurunji plants ' to the more distant nature sanctuaries . Some of the attractions and accommodation options near Munnar:
[edit] Marayoor
40 km from town. Marayoor’s fragrance reaches to the toilets all over the world. The largest natural sandal plantation of Kerala is here. During the trip an encounter with a herd of gaurs is a possibility. They frequent to the plantations and venture out to main road to claim its ownership.
[edit] Chinnar Wildlife Sanctuary
60 km from Munnar and 20 km from Marayoor. Taste the wildlife here and compare with elsewhere. Elephants, sambars, spotted deers, gaurs, wild pigs, giant gnizzled squirrels, tigers, panthers, peacocks etc sighted here. If lucky, the legendary ‘white bison of Manjampatti’ may be sighted. Forest Department arranges trekking.
[edit] Neelakurunji
(a species of hill flower)
Munnar is moved by Neelakurunji (a species of hill flower) flowers. It flowers only once in every twelve years. The next flowering is due in Oct/Nov 2016. The entire hillsides get carpeted by the blueflowers. During the blossom period tourist from far and near troop into Munnar to view the extra-ordinary phenomenon of the nature. Seeing this phenomenon is believed to bring prosperity. This belief accelerates the craze for seeing blossomed Neelakurunji. Top station, accessible by bus from Munnar ( starting 5.30am; 1hr 30mts) and jeep taxis, is a great spot to catch the best views of this amazing natural spectacle.
[edit] Kolukkumalai Estate
If you want to sidestep the crowds completely and enjoy breathtaking scenery,the remote Kolukkumalai estate is a great option. Located 23Km out of Munnar at an altitude of 2400m, it is officially India's highest tea plantation, well known for its tea leaves prized for their delicate flavour. The only way to reach it is by jeep, via the Chinnakanal Suryanelly Estate. An old bridle way drops down the east flank of the mountain from here to the Tamil plains- a popular trekking route.
