Munnar
Nicknamed as "Kashmir of South India", is one of the reason that Kerala is known as God's own country.
Munnar
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Location : Kerala
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Best Time : October - February
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Railway Station : Ernakulam
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Airport : Cochin
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Days Required : 2 to 3 days
"Kashmir of South India"
Surrounded by the mountain ranges of Western Ghats, Munnar is a tourism hot-spot in Kerala. It is a tiny hill station located at an altitude of 5,200 feet above sea level, in the Idukki district of Kerala.
Munnar town is located at the confluence of three rivers - Mudhirapuzha, Nallathanni and Kundaly. The name "Munnar" is derived from the combination of two malayalam words "Moonnu" and "Ara" which translates to three rivers.
Lush green tea estates, waterfalls, streams flowing from the hillsides, beautiful sunrises and sunsets are the main attractions of Munnar hill station. The beautiful grenery plantations makes it different from the other major hill stations of South India like Ooty or Kodaikanal.
Neelakurinji, a rare species of flora which blooms ones in 12 years is a scenic spectacle in the Munnar hills. During this season, the complete hill will be seen in the purple color which is once in a lifetime experience for sure. Another rare experience in Munnar is the presence of Nilgiri Tahr (a rare species of mountain goat) which is usually found on the cliffs of Rajamalai National Park.
Rajamalai (Eravikulam) National Park, Blossom International Park, Tata Tea Museum, Mattupetty Dam/Lake, Kundala Lake, Top Station, Kolukkumalai are few of the major attractions in Munnar. Munnar is also a perfect place to shop for souvenirs or local produce such as tea and coffee, spices and aromatic oils, with various scents of lemongrass and eucalyptus. Spices such as cardamom, clove and cinnamon can be found in the shops around Munnar.
Recommended budget stay @
Travel Tips
- Sunrise view from Kolukkumalai is awesome. Small hotels are available to stay near the top and trek one hour to Kurushumalai in the morning to view the sunrise.
- Some handicrafts shopping from the small shops near the Mattupetty lake.
- Recommended to purchase online ticket for the Rajamalai (Eravikulam) National Park 2 days in advance. Only 750 online tickets will be issued per day.
- It takes around 3 hours app to complete the round trip of Rajamalai Safari arranged by the forest department. And the waiting period for the bus will be around 1 hour each side. So plan the timings accordingly.
- Rajamalai National Park will be closed during February and March due to calving season.
- Cycling along the winding roads of Munnar will be a once in a lifetime experience.
Traveler's Experience
Trending In Munnar
Kerala Travel Mart, Kochi
The 11th edition of Kerala Travel Mart is planned to take place on March 24th 2022 at the Grand Hyatt in Kochi, while some events will be held in Willington Island. This meet aims to bring the tour companies, tour operators and travellers together in reviving the tourism sector, both locally and globally. Adventure tourism, Medical tourism, Caravan Tourism and Eco tourism will find prominence in this meet.
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Detailed Information
Munnar is a hill station located in the Western Ghats mountain range in Kerala, known as the resort town for the British upper-class in the 19th century. Today, Munnar is one of the most popular tourist place in Kerala because of its beautiful nature. The complete journey to Munnar is full of breathtaking views and scenic spots.
Tea Garden
Munnar is famous for the tea plantations like Letchmi Tea Estate, Kanan Devan etc. These tea gardens even have their own tea factories and these factories are open to visitors and even entertain them by giving them a small industrial tour of the factory. Many of the factories are located very close to the center and are quite popular as tourist places in and around Munnar.
Neelakurinji Hills - Munnar
The Neelakurinji, a rare species of flora that gives a scenic spectacle when it blooms ones in 12 years in the hiils of Munnar. During this season, the complete hills can be seen in the purple colour and its a real magic of the nature. Eravikulam national park is one of the hills where the neelakurinji flowers expected to bloom and also in many other parts of the Munnar ghats like Top Station.
Rajamalai (Eravikulam) National Park
Eravikulam National Park is one of the main attractions in Munnar, located 15 km from the town and it spans over 100 sq kilometres. Anamudi, the highest peak in Kerala is located in this National Park, though trekking up to the peak is not allowed but we can still enjoy the view. This national park is known as the safe home of rare endangered mountain goat, Nilgiri Tahr. We can see these lean and slender animals climb down the cliffs on their hooves without a single miss step.
Mattupetty
Mattupetty is located at an altitude of 1700 m above sea level, a distance of around 13km from the Munnar town. Mattupetty is famous for its Lake and the Dam. The dam was constructed in the year 1953 and still stands strong till date. We can enjoy the view of the serene lake and the speed boat ride in the Mattupetty lake.
Kanthaloor
Kanthaloor is another destination near to Munnar, which is around 50kms towards the Udumalpet route. This place is very silent and less crowded compared to Munnar town and it will be a lovable place for people who loves to stay away from the busy life of a town and enjoys the beauty of nature. One can include this small village in the Munnar trip for a one day stay which will be an unforgettable experience in the western ghats.