Munnar

Munnar is beautiful hill town situated at a height of 1,700 meter above sea level in the Idukki district of Kerala. Munnar is situated at the confluence of three mountain streams namely Mudrapuzha, Nallathanni and Kundala, hence the name, as the word 'munnu' means "three" and 'aar' means "river" in Tamil. It was discovered by Scottish planters and now it is a leading tourist spot of Kerala. With the growth of tourism in this sector, the transportation facilities have greatly improved and now reaching Munnar is quite convenient. Munnar can be reached by air, rail, or road transport from the ious important cities of India. Anamudi Peak, Tata Tea Museum, Indo Swiss Dairy Farm, Eravikulam National Park, Chinnar Wildlife Sanctuary, Salim Ali Bird Sanctuary, Lock Heart Gap etc. are the major tourist places in Munnar.

Munnar experiences a moderate climate throughout the year. But the best time to visit is from August to May. Winters December to February are cool and temperature comes down to 10 C during this period. This time is perfect for exploring and honeymooning. Moreover, winter period is also ideal for taking up trekking, rock climbing and rappelling at Anamudi Peak which is the highest peak in Southern India. Summers March to May are pleasant and the temperature ranges a maximum of 35 C to minimum of 19 C, making it ideal for visiting tea estates. While monsoon months should be preferably avoided as the area receives heavy rainfall, bringing an abrupt halt to normal life.

Munnar has a beautiful landscape of a beautiful green spread of tea plantations amidst the high mountains and the lush green valleys, sparkling streams and brooks meandering through the valley, green forests, exotic species of flora and fauna and the aroma of spice in the air. Some of the trees found in the region are teak, red sandalwood, rose wood, jungle jack, etc. Munnar is also paradise for bird watchers as rare species of birds are found in abundance.

The foremost tourist attractions in Munnar are the tea gardens. It is a unique experience to watch the entire process of tea making, from picking of the tea leaves in the estates to the packing in the factories. You can visit the Kundale tea plantation is Munnar's best tea plantation area surrounding a lake or the Tata Tea factory where prior permission is required from Tata's regional office. You should definitely visit Eravikulam National Park which has the rare species of mountain goat Nilgiri Tahr. Chinnar Wildlife sanctuary has wide iety of plants, animals, like giant grizzle squirrel etc. For adventure enthusiast, the must visit places are Attukal surrounded by waterfalls and Mattupetty which are ideal for boating, trekking, sight seeing, bird watching.

Munnar also houses Marayoor which is the only place in Kerala with naturally growing sandalwood trees. It is also famous for the wild orchids locally called Neelakurinchi which blooms once in 12 years. During this time the entire valley turns violet. Plantation visits, treks, tea factory visits, cycling, boating, paragliding, day tours to the Periyar Wildlife Sanctuary etc. add to the excitement of visiting Munnar. The waterfalls of Cheeyappara and Valara beautiful surrounded by lush green forests is really going to spell bound you. The lofty mountain ranges with misty peaks, sprawling tea estates and serene climate makes Munnar - a perfect destination for adventure enthusiasts, honeymoon couples, wildlife and nature lovers.
 

Fast Facts

Temperature

Summer 19 to 35 C
Winter 11 to 32 C

Best Season

Aug - May

Getting to Munnar

AIR

Nearest major airport is Cochin International airport which is about 125 km away. Taxi services are available from airport to Munnar which cost about Rs 3000. Cochin airport is well connected to all major cities in India and many cities abroad.

RAIL

Nearest rail head is at Angamaly or Alwaye, both are nearly 120 km away from Munnar. Angamaly is an important rail junction in Ernakulam - Trissur route and is well connected to all cities in India. Taxi from Angamali to Munnar costs about a minimum charge of Rs 2,500.

ROAD

Munnar is well connected by road with different places and cities in South India.
Munnar is
200 km from Alappuzha
163 km from Coimbatore
135 km from Ernakulam
252 km from Kollam
148 km from Kottayam
167 km from Madurai
158 km from Thrissur
310 km from Thiruvananthapuram