One of the most popular hill stations in India, Munnar is situated at the confluence of three mountain streams – Mudrapuzha, Nallathanni and Kundala. Located at 1600 Mts above sea level, this was once the summer resort of the erstwhile British Government in South India.Sprawling tea plantations, picturesque towns, winding lanes, trekking and holiday facilities make Munnar a unique experience. Munnar is essentially a tea town and the tea plantations have now been taken over by the Tata Tea Company. Among the exotic flora found in the forests and grasslands here is the Neelakurinji a flower which carpets the hills in blue once in twelve years. Munnar also has the highest peak in South India – Anamudi – which towers over 2695 Meters and is ideal for trekking.

Mattupetty which is around 13 km from Munnar is situated at a height of 1700 Meters. Mattupetty is famous for its highly specialized dairy farm, the Indo-Swiss live stock project. Over 100 varieties of high yielding cattle are bred here. Visitors are allowed into three of the eleven cattle sheds at the farm

The Mattupetty lake and dam , just a short distance from the farm, make an ideal picnic spot. The sprawling Kundala tea plantations and the Kundala lake are other attractions in the vicinity. DTPC Idukki provides boating facilities on the Mattupetty Dam. Speed Launch and slow speed motor boats are available on hire.

Pothamedu (6 km from Munnar) 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. Another tourist spot is Devikulam (7 km from Munnar) which is an idyllic hill station with its velvet lawns, exotic flora and fauna and the cool mountain air  which offers a rare experience. The Sita Devi Lake with its mineral waters and picturesque surroundings is a good picnic spot. The lake is also ideal for trout fishing.

The venue of the first Hydro Electric Project in Kerala is the Pallivasal (8 km from Munnar) and is a place of immense scenic beauty. Attukal (9 km from Munnar) is a panorama of waterfalls and rolling hills. It’s located between Munnar and Pallivasal, is a feast for the eyes and is also ideal for long treks. Located between Munnar and 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. With its sleepy little cottages, bungalows, old playgrounds and courts, Chithirapuram (10 km from Munnar) still exudes an old world charm. Home of the Pallivasal Hydel Power Project, this hill town is also famous for its picturesque tea plantations.

The natural habitat of the Niligiri tahr , Rajamala is 2695 Mts above sea level. Half the world’s population of the rare mountain goat or tahr which is fast becoming extinct, is now found here.The Niligiri tahr in Rajamala are now to be found in small herds found in Eravikulam-Rajamala region. The total number of Niligiri Tahrs in Rajamala is estimated to be over 1300.

Eravikulam National Park (15 km from Munnar) sprawls over 97 sq. km. park and  is situated in the Devikulam Taluk and is home to the Nilgiri Tahr. The Anamudi peak (2695 Mts) is located in the Southern region of the park. Originally established to protect the Nilgiri tahr (Nilgiri Ibex), the Eravikulam National Park is situated in the Devikulam Taluk of the Idukki District. It was declared as a sanctuary in 1975. Considering the ecological, faunal, floral, geo-morphological and zoological significance, it was declared as a National park in 1978. It covers an area of 97 sq kms of rolling grasslands and high level sholas (evergreen forests). The park is breathtakingly beautiful and is easily comparable to the best mountain ranges found anywhere in the world.

Best time to Visit: October to March

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 Rail: 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.

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