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INTRODUCTION

Munnar amidst beautiful landscapes often referred as the Kashmir of South India is more essentially a tea town. Munnar gets its name from the fact that this is the place where the 3 mountain streams join together and they are Madurapuzha, Nallathanni and Kundala.In the tamil language the word 'munnu' means "three" and 'aar' means "river". Hence "Munnar" is a shortened version of 'Munnu Aar'.

Munnar is a commercial centre for tea and it has some of the highest grown tea estates in the world. It also takes the credit of having the world's best tea estates.Munnar is the house of at least 30 tea plantations in and around Munnar, among which majority of them owned by Tata Group's Kannan Devan Tea Estate.Munnar is not only a place for relaxation but also a location for adventure. A trip to Munnar gives the travellers a unique experience with its sprawling tea plantations, picture book towns, winding lanes, trekking and holiday facilities. 

ORIENTATION

Munnar is situated at an altitude of about 1520 meters above sea level and is concentrated more towards the eastern part of Kerala.It also takes the pride of housing the highest peak of Anaimudi. 

HISTORY

Though there are records for the history of Munnar from the 10th century it got more prominent only from the 17th century. Around this period Munnar was inhabited by a group of Tamil origin tribal people namely the Muthuvans.It was also during this period this place was first visited by an European, the Duke of Wellington.

BEST TIME TO VISIT

The best time to visit Munnar is between the months of October to March.

PLACES OF INTERESTS

TOP STATION

The Top Station is a vintage point around Munnar that offers panoramic views of the lovely landscapes and the valley. A trekk to this place is quite adventurous and thrilling.

MATTUPETTY LAKE

Mattupetty lake  is another place of tourist attention at a distance of about 13 kms from Munnar which is famous for its lush green meadows and one should never miss the speed boat drive here in this lake. The views of the mist clad mountains and the hillocks from the Mattupetty Lake are breathtakingly beautiful.

The rains add to the charm or the already captivating Mattupetty Lake. You should never miss the Indo-Swiss cattle-breeding centre cum dairy project here.

CHINNAR WILDLIFE SANCTUARY

This Chinnar Wildlife Sanctuary is situated at a distance of about 40kms away from Devikulam and is the habitat of number of species like elephants, sambars, leopards, and gaurs. You can also spot the highly endangered species of the Grizzled Giant Squirrel and the Star Tortoise.

The added feature of this Wildlife Sanctuary is the Thoovanam Falls on the river Chinnar.

RAJAMALAI WILDLIFE SANCTUARY

Rajamalai Wildlife Sanctuary is at a distance of about seventeen km from Munnar and at an altitude of 2695 Mts above sea level. You can also go for a trekk in this sanctuary.

Nearly half of the total population of the rare mountain goat or tahr which is fast becoming extinct is seen here and the total population here is estimated to be about 1300.This sanctuary also promises a breathtaking view of the valleys here.

ERAVIKULAM NATIONAL PARK

Eravikulam National Park in the Devikulam Taluk is very closely adjoined to the Rajamalai Wildlife Sanctuary and spreads over an area of about 97 sq.km.Though it was declared as a sanctuary in 1975, only in 1978 after considering its ecological, faunal, floral, geo-morphological and zoological significance it got the status of the National park.

This park is famous for elephants, lion-tailed macaque, and the Nilgiri tahr.It is considered to be one among the best mountain ranges in the world.   

CHRIST CHURCH

The Christ Church was built in 1910 by the British and its main features include its stone building and stain glass windows. On your visit to the church you can see a number of brass plaques in memory of the tea planters.

MARAYOOR

Marayoor at a distance of 42kms from Munnar is known for its sandalwood forests. If you want to stay away from the bustling noise of the town then this is the right place to experience a peaceful ambience.

DEVIKULAM

Devikulam is one of the fascinating destinations in the Gods own country with its breathtaking scenic views and is bestowed with the green slopes touching the skies and hushed clusters of willowy red and blue gum trees. A visit to Devikulam will make each one of us realize the many facets of nature’s beauty. The crisp and cool mountain air heavily laden with the fragrance of wild flowers and rare herbs is any nature lover's paradise. It is 7kms away from Munnar.

POTHAMEDU

Pothamedu is situated at a distance of about 6kms from Munnar and offers an excellent view of the tea, coffee and cardamom plantations in Munnar. The rolling hills, the lush mountain and the breathtaking scenery here is ideal for trekking and long mountain walks.

PALLIVASAL

Pallivasal is situated at a distance of about 8kms from Munnar and is noted for its scenic natural beauty. It was here Kerala's first Hydro Electric Project was started.

ATTUKAL

Attukal an ideal place for trekking is about 9kms from Munnar and is located on the way to Pallivasal from Munnar.It gives a panoramic view of rolling hills and silver cascaded waterfalls.

CHITHIRAPURAM

Chithirapuram is 10 kms from Munnar which houses sleepy little cottages, bungalows, old playgrounds and courts.Chithirapuram still exudes an old world charm. Home of the Pallivasal Hydel Power Project, this hill town is also famous for its picturesque tea plantations.

NYAYAMAKAD

Nyayamakad located at a distance of about 10kms from Munnar is on the way to Rajamala.Nyayamakad is a land of breathtaking waterfalls. The waters cascade down a hill from a height of about 1600 meters. The enchanting surroundings make an excellent picnic spot and trekking point.

LOCK HEART GAP

Lock Heart gap at a distance of about 13kms from Munnar is an ideal place for adventure tourism and trekking. The fresh mountain air, the mist-clad hills and panoramic view make it worthy of a visit.

TATA TEA MUSEUM

Tata Tea Museum is situated in the Munnar town on the Nallathany Road. Here there are guides who brief you up on tea production, information on machineries, tea processing and tea tasting. Apart from this you can also see collection of old bits and pieces from the colonial era. It remains closed on Mondays.

SHOPPING

Munnar is famous for its tea and spices plantations. So if you want, you can buy different varieties of spices and different varieties of tea. You can get the spices packed in small transparent pouches and take them home. Apart from that, you can always shop for small handicrafts and other knick-knacks that are easily available in the roadside shacks. You can get utility materials made of wood. There are few people selling these at the Mattupetty Dam.

HOW TO REACH

By Air

The nearest airport is Kochin, 130 km away from Munnar which is connected to all the cities in India.

By Trains

Kochin is the nearest railway station, which is connected to all the major cities in India.

By Road

Munnar is accessible by road from most of the cities and town in Kerala. You can also reach Munnar form Coimbatore (6 hrs away) and Madurai (6 hrs away) in Tamil Nadu.