Munnar ‘Kashmir of the south’

Munnar ‘Kashmir of the south’

Munnar - breathtakingly beautiful - a haven of peace and tranquility - the idyllic tourist destination in God's own country. 

Set at an altitude of 6000 ft in Idukki district, Munnar was the favored summer resort of the erstwhile British rulers in the colonial days. Unending expanse of tea plantations ­ pristine valleys and mountains­ exotic species of flora and fauna in its wild sanctuaries and forests ­ aroma of spice scented cool air ­ yes! This beautiful destination has all these and more. It's the place you would love to visit ­ it's the place you would wish never to leave.

Munnar is such a beautiful place in Kerala, which cannot be portrayed in a single canvas. Everything and anything here will make us excited. The hills, the mist, the valleys, the streams, the waterfalls, tea plantations, rare flora and fauna.... It is a beautiful tea town in Idukki district of Kerala easily accessible from Kochi and Coimbatore. The gorgeous hill station is ideally placed in the South Western Ghats of India

Munnar got its name from its strategic location at the confluence of three rivers – Muthirapuzha, Nallathanni and Kundala Rivers. 'Moonu' means 'three' and 'Aru' means 'river'

THINGS TO DO IN MUNNAR

Walk through the tea estates

A walk through the aromatic tea gardens, scenic hills covered with green foliage and a camera in hand; there cannot be a better way to spend your evening!

Explore the splashing water streams : Munnar is dotted with majestic waterfalls that are surrounded by beautiful mountains of Western Gats

Main waterfalls in Munnar : Munnar in Kerala is blessed with several destinations which are capable enough to make your journey most memmorable. Among them, the majestic waterfalls of Munnar stand unique with its pristine beauty and attractiveness. 

Lakkam waterfalls :

A five minutes’ drive from the Munnar town will take you to the closest waterfall to the Munnar town, Lakkam waterfalls. Located in the Munnar-Marayoor route, the waterfall is surrounded by ‘Vaga trees’

Attukal waterfalls :

The waterfall lays 9 km away from the Munnar town, on the way to Pallivasal. It is one of the most attractive destinations, which you should not miss while planning a trip to Munnar. Attukal offers the beauty of water falling from the top of the mountain

Chinnakanal Waterfalls

Chinnakanal or Power House waterfall is located 18 km away from Munnar. The origin of this beautiful waterfall, surrounded by green mountain ranges, is from the River Devikulam. The river got its name from the legend that Sita Devi, wife of Lord Rama has taken a dip in this river.

Cheeyappara waterfalls

Cheeyappara waterfalls lie on the Kochi­ Madurai highway between Neriamangalam and Adimali in Idukki district. It is around 40 km away from Munnar. The water here cascades down in seven steps, which is a delightful sight. This place is also famous for trekking.    

Devikulam

Devikulam boasts of a breathtakingly beautiful Sita Devi Lake veiled in the hills. As the name indicates the lake is associated with goddess Sita. Tourists flock to the Lake owing to the splendid surroundings, many believe in the curative powers of the mineral water of the lake. It is believed that goddess Sita had bathed in the waters of this lake making it sacred for the pilgrims that visit Devikulam. Even the adventure seekers throng the waters of the Lake, as they are ideal for trout fishing. The scenic beauty, adventure sports, beliefs and religion come together to make the Sita Devi Lake a major tourist attraction. Prior permission from Tata Tea is required in order to visit the lake or catch the fresh water fish.

The nature lovers can experience Heaven on earth at Devikulam with the wild flowers and rare herbs that grow in bounty on the Devikulam Hills. In close proximity to the Devikulam Lake is the Pallivasal Waterfalls that make excellent site for picnics owing to the beauty of nature in the spectacular sights, sounds and smells in the surroundings.There are several tea plantations in and around Devikulam that add to the charm of the hill resort. The gum trees in red and blue are the other major highlights of the natural vegetation at Devikulam. For those tourists interested in visiting the tea estates, tea plantations or the factories conducted tours are available.

Meet the Nilgiri Tahr

The Eravikulam National Park shelters the rare Nilgiri Tahr, which is very near to extinction. They are friendly, docile and naturally tamed. Pat them or pose for pictures with them; you'll surely have plenty to brag about back home after meeting them!         

Talk to yourself

Stand at the eco point, shout at your highest pitch and hear your voice coming back to you. The natural echo phenomenon here gives the place its name.

Visit the Top Station Viewpoint

The top station is the top most point of Munnar from where the township of Munnar lay below to present a panoramic beauty.This view, accompanied by the rare flora and fauna, is so gorgeous that tourists are compelled to visit this place at least once in their life time.The rare flower  neelakurinji blooms here once in 12 years

Click from Photo point

Photo point is also known as shooting point. Its very close to Mattupetty Dam and its surrounded with woods and has a small stream that make for a picture perfect location. The sight of greenish unique well rolled tea garden is memorable one. One of the best place for shooting photo graphs.

Visit to Blossom international park

People visiting Blossom International Park can take part of various activities such as roller-skating, boating and cycling. Take a leisure walk, soak-in the serenity and treat your eyes to the verdant greenery, spread all around. Munnar Hydel Park, on the banks of River Muthirappuzha, is another close attraction. Do not forget to click photographs of this meticulously manicured park with lush patches, water body and colorful parks.

There is a huge playground for kids that consists of tree houses, swings and ropeways.

Getting there

By Air : The nearest airport is the Cochin International Airport, which is 110 kilometres away by road. From Cochin, you can hire a cab to get to Munnar. The Madurai International Airport is 140 kilometres away from Munnar. In case you de-board at the Madurai International Airport, you can hire a cab or board the state transport or private buses to get to Munnar.

By Bus : State-run or private buses, plying from various towns in Kerala and Tamil Nadu, are the best way to get to Munnar by road. Kerala State Road Transport Corporation provides bus services to Munnar from all major cities in Kerala.

By Train : The nearest railway station from Munnar is at Aluva, which is at a distance of 110 kilometres from Munnar. The Ernakulam Railway Station is 130 kilometres away while the Madurai Railway Station is at a distance of 135 kilometres. From these points, you can either hire a cab or board the state transport or private buses wherever available.

Road/Self Drive

Driving to Munnar can be a lot of fun. Here is a distance chart to help you plan your road trip better.

Munnar-Ernakulam:(135kilometres)4.5hours
Munnar - Thekkady: (110 kilometres) 4 hours
Munnar - Thiruvananthapuram: (300 kilometres) 9 hours
Munnar - Palani: (120 kilometres) 2.5 hours
Munnar - Coimbatore (150 kilometres) 6 hours
Munnar - Madurai (135 kilometres) 6 hours

Travel tips 

Munnar Warnings and Dangers

Munnar is well known for its many tea plantations. However, like any other town, there are some warnings and dangers that need to be considered when visiting Munnar.

Driving in Munnar

There are many beautiful curvy roads in Munnar, especially the Adimali-Neriamangalam Forest Road. However, the roads can become dangerous, especially if you are driving them for the first time. On the Adimali-Neriamangalam road there are no streetlights so it can become very dark. At times the road becomes covered in fog, which makes it impossible to see even with your fog lamps on. In addition, while you are driving on this road you need to watch out for wild elephants crossing.

When it comes to driving anywhere in Munnar it is best to do it during the daylight hours. Plan your trips early so that you are safe somewhere during nightfall.

Visiting National Parks

The national parks located in Munnar are relatively safe to visit. However, while you are there it is important to make sure that you follow the rules of the park. You need to make sure that you stay on the marked paths while you are hiking as straying off of the paths is forbidden and is not safe. There are rangers posted throughout the parks that will help you with directions and make sure that you are staying on the paths provided.

Weather Tips

Munnar is refreshingly cooler than the coast and other towns. If you are visiting in January it is relatively warm other places in Munnar the temperatures drop considerably after the sun goes down. You will want to make sure that you pack a warm jacket. While the weather is cooler in Munnar than it is in other places in India, it is still important to make sure that you wear sunblock at all times as the sun is still just as powerful.

When you are walking it is important to pay attention as clouds can appear quite suddenly. If you are traveling during monsoon season you can expect rainy weather on many days. When it rains the mosquitos will come swarming. It is important to make sure that you always have bug spray with you to use when you are out hiking in Munnar.

Timings and season

December to February: The winter months are by far the best time to visit Munnar since the weather is pleasant. The minimum temperature during this time of the year drops to ten degrees Celsius and is perfect for a vacation or a honeymoon. This is also a great time for adventure enthusiasts who can enjoy adventure activities such as rock climbing, trekking and rappelling. Do carry woollens along as the evenings can get quite cold.

March to May: March marks the beginning of summer in Munnar. The weather remains pleasant and temperatures range between 19 degrees Celsius and 35 degrees Celsius. Summer in Munnar is a perfect time to enjoy sightseeing and visiting tea estates and the Tata Tea Museum. Carry light cottons, though also carry an umbrella as rain showers are common during the summer months.

June to September : This is the monsoon season in Munnar and even though many tourists avoid Munnar during the monsoons, this is a great time to visit the hill station if you’re looking for a quiet vacation. Covered with lush green foliage, monsoons in Munnar have a charm of their own. This is also a great time to enjoy discounts on hotel tariffs and enjoy Munnar all to yourself, without swarms of tourists. Also do remember to carry an umbrella or raincoat along.