Munnar Travel Guide

Munnar Set amid dramatic mountain scenery in what was once known as the High Range of Travancore the hill town of Munnar is the commercial centre of some of the world’s highest tea-growing estates. The combination of the craggy peaks manicured tea estates and crisp mountain air makes Munnar an ideal retreat.

Munnar is quite rightly the queen of hill stations at least in South India. A major centre of Kerala’s tea industry it is quite close to Anaimudi which at 2695 mts. is the highest peak in South India. Munnar itself is at an altitude of 1520 mts. and its mist laden mountains slopes have terraced tea estates which are amongst the highest in the world.

Munnar gets its name for ‘Moon Arva’ meaning three streams. In fact Munnar is right at the confluence of three mountain rivers-Muthirapuzha Nallathami and Kumdala.

Sprawling tea plantations verdant greenery pleasant climate makes it a popular resort town. Among the flora found in the lush green forests are the reticent ‘Nellakurunji’ which blooms only once in 12 years. And when this happens the entire hillsides are covered with an exotic shade of blue. This will happen now in 2003 AD.

Places of attractions

Top Station (32 kms. from Munnar) 1700 mts. above sea level on Kerala’s border with Tamilnadu has spectacular views over the Western Ghats. This is the highest point on the Munnar-Kodaikanal road. The rare Neelakurunji (Strobilanthus) belongs to this region. Top Station also offers a panoramic view of the neighbouring state of Tamil Nadu.

Sandalwood Forest : At Maraiyur northeast of the Eravikulam National Park and 42 kms from Munnar one can experience the peace and beauty of a Sandalwood Forest.

Mattupetty (13 kms. from Munnar): Situated at a height of 1700m Mattupetty is famous for its highly specialized dairy farm-the Swiss Livestock Project. Over a 100 varieties of high yielding cattle are reared here. Visitors are allowed into three of the 11 cattle sheds at the farm. Visit time 9.00am -11am and 2.00 pm-3.30 pm.

The Mattupetty Lake and dam are just a short distance from the farm. The sprawling Kundala tea Plantations and the Kundala Lake are the other attractions in the vicinity.

Rajamala (17kms.from Munnar): Rajamala at 2695 mts. above sea level is the residential address of half the world’s population of the rare Nigeria Tar (Nilgiri Ibex).

Marayoor (40 kms. from Munnar): This is the only place in Kerala that has a natural growth of sandalwood trees. The sandalwood factory of the Forest Department the caves (Muniyaras) with murals and relics from the New Stone Age and the children’s park spread across a hectare of lands under the canopy of a single Banyan tree are of great interest to tourists.

Devikulam (15 kms. from Munnar Devikulam ):
 This idyllic hill station with its velvet lawn exotic flora and fauna and the cool mountain air offers a rare experience to visitors. The Sita Devi Lake with its mineral water springs and picturesque surrounding are a good picnic spot. The lake is also ideal for trout fishing.

Peerumedu
Situated 915 mts. above sea level, Peerumedu falls on the way to Periyar Wildlife Sanctuary. This pleasant hill station was once the summer retreat of the Maharajas of Travancore. Here you will find sprawling tea coffee cardamom rubber and eucalyptus plantations sharing space with natural grasslands pine forests and waterfalls.

Trekking areas
Kalthotti Karandakapara  Hills Peeru Hills. Kalthotti Karandakapara Hills Peeru Hills