Thinking about holidaying in Kerala or "Gods Own Country" the best place is Munnar the Hillstation of Kerala. Here one could find the calm and beautiful nature covered with tea plantations, coffee, cardamom, an exotic species of flora and faund and wild sanctuaries.
Munnar is situated at an altitude of 1600 mts to 1800 mts above sea level and is covered with green carpet every where which gives a warm and a special coolness to mind and body. It can also be calle the 'Pearl of Kerala" In this present world full of tensions Munnar is one of the best holiday spots in the world for an outing with your family, friends, relatives, etc.
Munnar is situated at an altitude of 1600 mts to 1800 mts above sea level and is covered with green carpet every where which gives a warm and a special coolness to mind and body. It can also be calle the 'Pearl of Kerala" In this present world full of tensions Munnar is one of the best holiday spots in the world for an outing with your family, friends, relatives, etc.
This wonderful hill station of Idukki istrict in Kerala was once the summer resort of the erstwhile British government in South India. It is believed that the name "Munnar" is derived from two Malayalam (local language of Kerala) words Muunu (three) and Aaru (river). The three rivers are Muthirappuzha, Chanduvarai and Kundali. The famous Anamudi peak is in Munnar, which is the highest peak of peninsular India at 2695 m. Besides it’s tea and cardamom plantations, the old-world charm of Colonial establishments is another point of attraction for the tourists.
Main tourist attractions of Munnar are:
Mattupetty: Situated at a distance of 13 kms. from Munnar main town, this Mattupetty Lake and dam is famous for its highly specialised dairy farm, where more then 100 varieties of high yielding cattle can be seen. The main attraction of the vicinity is its Kundala tea plantations and the Kundala Lake. Boating facilities is also available in the Mattupetty dam.
Pothamedu View Point is one of the magnificent view points, which gives an excellent view of the tea, coffee and cardamom plantations in the valley. It is a small village inhabited by the local people. It is also an ideal place for trekking and hiking.
Devikulam Lake: Also called as Sita Devi Lake, situated at about 7 km from Munnar, is famous for its crystal clean water. This famous picnic spot will give you an out-of-the-world experience with its velvet lawns of greenish tea gardens and the cool mountain air. Regarding its name, it is believed that Devi Sita, the wife of Lord Rama bathed in this lake and so it is called as Sita Devi Lake.
Rajamala Park: If you want to see the combination of beautiful meadow and gorgeous exotic valleys, then you should visit Rajamala Park, situated just about 12 km from Munnar main town. This park is very famous for Nilgiri Tahrs (’Varai aadu’-local name), a rare species of mountain goat. It is one of the three species of Tahr and almost half of the world’s population of this rare mountain goat is found here. Here one can enjoy the natural movements of Nilgiri Tahrs in this precious but little-known place. Another reason to visit this virgin beauty is for its Neelakurinji flower; one of the rarest flowers in the world, which is famous for its beauty and medicinal value. This flower blooms once in 12 years and at that time it cover the entire region with a touch of violet carpet.
Pallivasal: Rich in scenic beauty, Pallivasal is situated at a distance of 8 km from Munnar main town; this is the place of first hydropower project in Kerala. It is full of dazzlingly beautiful scenic beauty.
Attukal: Munnar will not discourage the spirit of trekking lovers. Attukal is located just at a distance of about 9 km from Munnar, a vista of glittering waterfalls and rolling hills. It is one of the ideal places for long trekking.
Nyayamakad: When you proceed towards Rajamala, you can enjoy the panoramic view of the land of breathtaking waterfalls at Nyayamakad. Situated at a height of 1600 metres; this spot is ideal for picnic and trekking.
Eravikulam National Park: The home of world famous Nilgiri Tahr, was made to protect the rare and almost extinct species of Nilgiri Tahr. It covers an area of 97 sq kms of high level evergreen forests. In 1975, it was declared as a sanctuary and declared as a National Park in 1978. It can be counted among one of the best mountain ranges found anywhere in India. Though this park is divided in to three parts, like the core area, the buffer area and the tourism area, tourists are allowed only to the tourism area where they can observe the free movements of Nilgiri Tahr, Nilgiri Langur and Sambar etc.
Chithirapuram: Another destination famous for its tea gardens as well as sleepy little cottages and old playgrounds. It lures the travelers with its irresistible grace and beauty. This is also the home of a hydel project called as Pallivasal Hydel Power Project.
Attukal: Munnar will not discourage the spirit of trekking lovers. Attukal is located just at a distance of about 9 km from Munnar, a vista of glittering waterfalls and rolling hills. It is one of the ideal places for long trekking.
Nyayamakad: When you proceed towards Rajamala, you can enjoy the panoramic view of the land of breathtaking waterfalls at Nyayamakad. Situated at a height of 1600 metres; this spot is ideal for picnic and trekking.
Eravikulam National Park: The home of world famous Nilgiri Tahr, was made to protect the rare and almost extinct species of Nilgiri Tahr. It covers an area of 97 sq kms of high level evergreen forests. In 1975, it was declared as a sanctuary and declared as a National Park in 1978. It can be counted among one of the best mountain ranges found anywhere in India. Though this park is divided in to three parts, like the core area, the buffer area and the tourism area, tourists are allowed only to the tourism area where they can observe the free movements of Nilgiri Tahr, Nilgiri Langur and Sambar etc.
Chithirapuram: Another destination famous for its tea gardens as well as sleepy little cottages and old playgrounds. It lures the travelers with its irresistible grace and beauty. This is also the home of a hydel project called as Pallivasal Hydel Power Project.
Echo Point: Just at a distance of 15 km, another view point known as Eco point, is situated in the thick forest. Here nature responds to the human calls. As the name suggests, this place is popular for its natural eco phenomenon. This place attracts the young tourists a lot for its lake view and specially to hear the echoes of their friendship calls.
Marayoor: This sandalwood forest is situated just at a short distance from the Munnar town. It is a thick forest with full of sweet religious fragrance of sandalwood. It is on the way to the Chinnar Wildlife Sanctuary-a tiny reserve forest which is a perfect place to spend a little time with your near and dear ones with its calmness and comfort.
Muniyara Cave is located just at a kilometer’s distance from Marayoor. The most interesting part of this cave is its structure. Made of huge rocky slabs, one can get to enter by seeing its arrangement of slabs. It is believed that this was the ideal place for the ancient sages for meditation.
Rock cave is another cave situated at the distance of 13 kms. from the main town. It is the cave of ancient tribal people of Stone Age.
UNPACKING YOUR LUGGAGE:
UNPACKING YOUR LUGGAGE:
Here in Munnar you could find a large number of cottages, resorts, hotels etc for your comfortable stay. There are also a number of budget and luxury hotels and lodges in Munnar. But if you are planning to stay in budget hotel or lodge then first check up the availability of hot water system in the bathrooms, otherwise you may have to suffer.
To enjoy the aesthetic beauty of Munnar, it is better roam in the town by foot or you can even hire a bicycle to explore the place.
For shopping purpose, there are two markets, Old Bazaar and another is New Bazaar. In Old Bazaar you will get all the local handicraft items and to buy all other thing New Bazaar will be a better option.
You can get to Munnar by:
By Rail: The nearest railway station is at Cochin/Kochi. Lots of trains are there to connect Kochi with important cities and tourist destinations in the country like Trivandrum Express, Kerala Express, Trivandrum Rajdhani Express etc.
By Road: Munnar is just a 4 hours journey from Kochi/Cochin by National Highway - 49. The road is very smooth and scenic view is very charming. So, to enjoy the ride to a great extent it is better to take the journey by road. You can hire taxi or can take buses of KSRTC to reach Munnar from Kochi. This place is also well connected by a well developed network of road transport to all major town of south India. It takes 5 hours journey from Kottayam, 6 hours from Madurai and 6 hours to from Coimbatore to reach Munnar.
The best time to visit this beautiful destination is between October to March. Though monsoon brings invigorating beauty to the hill stations, it is better to avoid monsoon season to visit Munnar. And don’t forget to carry woolen cloths and umbrella with you as the weather is unpredictable always.
By Air: The International Airport at Cochin/Kochi (130 km.) is the nearest Airport of Munnar, just 4 hours journey, next nearest is Madurai (142km).