Munnar Guide
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 bazaar 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.
Popular List of Accommodations in Munnar
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:
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.
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.
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.
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.
Mattupetty
Located at an altitude of 1700 m. Mattupetty is famous for the Indo- Swiss live stock project under which over 100 varieties of high yielding cattle breeds are reared here. It is one of the largest of such ventures in India. The visitors are allowed into 3 of the 11 cattle sheds in the farm. The Mattupetty lake and dam is only a short distance from the farm. Boating in speed launch and motorboats provided by the District Tourism Promotion Council (DTPC) is a popular activity here. The Kundala tea plantation and the Kundala Lake are the other tourist attractions nearby. There is also a spectacular garden with many flowering plants including dhalias, as many as 64 varieties of dianthus and 250 varieties of roses in all possible hues and colors, which makes it a must see spot in Munnar.
Echo Point
Situated on the way to Top station from Munnar, Echo point is a small lake surrounded by hills. A perfect spot for trekking and adventure tourism, echo point takes its name from the natural echo phenomenon existing here. Every loud call made from the lake bank comes back as echo from the hills surrounding it. It is hugely popular among youngsters who call out their friends' names to listen to the echoes of friendship!
Top Station (32 km from Munnar)
True to its name, Top station has some of the highest tea plantations in India. Located on the border between the states of Kerala and Tamilnadu, it promises a panoramic view of the spectacular scenery of the plantations and the rolling valleys around. The highest point on the Munnar-Kodaikanal road, from the Top station you get a distant view of the Arabian Sea on sunny and clear days. This spot is well known for the fabled flowers of Neelakurinji, which blooms only once in 12 years.
Power House Waterfalls (17 kms from Munnar)
Located on the way to Thekkady from Munnar, Power house waterfalls drops down steep rock 2000 m above sea level, offering a truly spectacular sight. Located at a distance of 18 km from Munnar, these waterfalls originates from the 'Sita Devi Kulam' near Devikulam, believed to have been the bathing place of 'Sita' wife of 'Rama' of Ramayana (the epic story that binds many cultures in South-east Asia). During the monsoon months, the waterfalls will be in its full glory. Many believe that these waters have medicinal properties.
Anayirankal (27 kms from Munnar)
Set amidst sweeping tea gardens and verdant forests on the slopes of high mountain ranges, Anayirankal Lake and Dam is a must see picnic spot in Munnar. Catch the spectacular sight of herds of elephants, which drop in to quench their thirst from a safe distance.
Rajamala (15 km from Munnar)
Home to the near extinct and rare type of mountain goat of The Nilgiri tahr, (Hemitragas bylocres), Rajamala is another popular tourist destination. Over half the world population of this rare goat is seen in and around Rajamala. The kurinji flowers that blooms only once in twelve years is also seen here, which makes it a really special place to be in. A must see spot in any Munnar itinerary.
Eravikulam (17 km from Munnar)
Eravikulam national park, home to the largest surviving population of Nilgiri Tahr is a rocky grassland dotted with dense forests and mountains that are often cloaked in thick mist. A truly spectacular sight, Eravikulam national park is also a haven for some rare near-extinct animals like Gaur, Sambar and Indian Muntjac as well. Anamudi, the highest peak in South India (2695 Mtrs) is also a part of the park.