Munnar

Munnar is a small town located in Idukki district, of the southern state of Kerala in India. The name is most often used to refer to the whole tourist area, of which the town forms a part.

It is located at the confluence of the mountain streams Muthirappuzha, Chanduvarai and Kundala. It is surrounded by wild jungles and is wet and cold for most of the season. Though part of Kerala state, Tamil workers brought from Tamilnadu and their successors are now majority in Munnar.

1600 m above sea level, this hill station was once the summer resort of the erstwhile British Government in South India. Sprawling tea plantations, picture-book towns, winding lanes and holiday facilities make this a popular resort town. Among the exotic flora found in the forests and grasslands here is the Neelakurinji. This flower which bathes the hills in blue every twelve years, will bloom next in 2018. Munnar also has the highest peak in South India, Anamudi, which towers over 2695 m. Anamudi is an ideal spot for trekking.

Tourist Attractions

Luxuriating in verdant vistas and fragrant with the delicate aroma of freshly plucked tea leaves, on the eastern border of Kerala lies a lovely little gift of nature to the Western Ghats – Munnar. Across the expanse of thirty sprawling tea estates, discover snippets of the past within the gracious, stone structures of its remote churches, in the quaint tea factories tucked into the hills and hear the stories of yore in the tillness of your surroundings.

At 2200 m above sea level , this is the highest point on the Munnar-Kodiakanal road. The rare flower ‘Neelakurunji’ (strobilanthus) belongs to this region. Top Station (a viewing point) also offers a panoramic view of the neighbouring state of Tamil Nadu. According to a local belief, the place derived its name from Middle Station and Lower Station, both lying down the valley, which were once connected to this place via a ropeway.

The Mattupetty Dam was built in 1953. With a total length of 297 feet and a catchment area of 105 million cubic feet, the lake created by this dam provides a picturesque picnic spot. The Mattupetty lake and dam is just a short distance away from the Indo-Swiss Project dairy farm. DTPC Idukki provides boating facilities on the Mattupetty Dam. Speed launches and slow speed motor boats are available on hire. This dam is the site for one of the many hydel power generating plants in Kerala.

Visitors to the Mattupetty Dam never fail to visit the Indo-Swiss Project on cattle breeding and fodder production. A joint venture between the governments of Kerala and Switzerland, this endeavour is aimed at rearing high milk yielding milch cows. The green carpet of grazing grounds clearly stand apart from the unending rows of undulating tea estates. Over 100 varietes of high yielding cattle are reared here.

Another beautiful sight is the Kundale Dam and reservoir. Also called the Setuparvatipuram dam, this 850 foot long dam was constructed over 100 years ago during the 25th year of the reign of Sri Chithira Thirunal, the Maharaja of the state of Travancore. With a reservoir capacity of over 250 million cubic feet of water, this dam is a symbol of engineering excellence that has endured for more than a century. The Golf Course which belongs to Tata tea Ltd. is located in the picturesque town of Kundale from where the dam gets its name.

An interesting diversion en route to Top Station is Echo Point. This is situated below the Arrivakkad tea processing plant of Tata tea overlooking a thicket of trees. When you face the trees and make a sound, a loud and resounding echo is produced. What is really intriguing about this place is the fact that the echo can be heard only if you face the trees in a perpendicular direction and not if the sounds are directed at the trees in an angular direction.

Kodaikanal located amidst the folds of the verdant Pali hills is one of the most popular hill stations in India. With her wooded slopes, majestic rock formations, gurgling waterfalls and beautiful lake, Kodaikanal is mesmerizing in its charm and allure. Situated at an altitude of about 2133 m and covering an area of 21.45 sq km, this little hill town is renowned for its educational institutions of international repute.

Rajamala, a wildlife sanctuary, is 2695 m above sea level. This sanctuary is home to the Niligiri tahr. Half the world's population of this rare species of mountain goat or tahr, which is fast becoming extinct, is now found here. The total number of Niligiri Tahrs in Rajamala is estimated to be over 1300.

An idyllic hill station, Devikulam is located at a distance of around 7 km from Munnar. Dressed in the finery of exotic flora and fauna and enveloped in the cool embrace of wholesome mountain air Devikulam boasts of picturesque settings against the backdrop of its velvet lawns. The Sita Devi lake situated here is an ideal picnic spot with its pristine surroundings, mineral water, and trout-fishing facilities

This is the highest peak in South India (2695 m above sea level) and is an ideal spot for trekking.

Marayoor is around 40 km from Munnar. It is the one of the only places in Kerala where the natural foliage is the abundant growth of sandalwood trees. It is also home to many natural caves with murals and priceless relics from the latter part of the Stone age civilisation. The Forest Department of Kerala has set up a sandalwood factory. A children’s park extending across one hectare of land under the canopy of a single Banyan tree is another major attraction for tourists.

Getting There

Air : Nearest airport at Kochi (Cochin) at a distance of 130 km.

Rail : Nearest railheads are at Kochi and Kottayam (142 km).

Road : Munnar is well connected to all the major cities of Kerala and south India. Some nearby road destinations are - Idukki 60 km, Kundala 28 km, Thekkady 110 km, Vaiga Dam 105 km, Devikulam 7 km, Mattupetty 13 km.