Munnar, is a quaint, beautiful and lush Hill Station to visit in Kerala in South India. It beckons thousands of nature lovers and tourists each year.
Located in the Western Ghats in the district of Idukki, Kerala, Munnar is a beautiful hill-station and is a haven of peace and harmony. Munnar was often visited as a summer retreat during the days of the British Raj as a way of escaping the hot Indian summers. The word Munnar is believed to mean 3 rivers, Madhurapuzha, Nallathanni and Kundaly rivers. The town also has strong cultural links with Tamil Nadu, with most of the residents of Munnar speaking Tamil alongside the State Language of Malayalam.
Munnar has lush flora and fauna and has extensive stretches of tea plantations along the mountainside. While travelling, one can see the tea plantations on one side of the mountain and may often find people amongst them plucking the tea leaves. You can visit one of the tea plantation’s factories, where they will take you through the process of making tea and how they dry the tea leaves. Munnar is covered with forests and grasslands on both sides and the nature here is largely unspoiled.
The undulating scenery gives a breath-taking view of the weather-beaten rocks, adding to the picturesque scenery, and the town captivates many tourists with its scenic beauty. Stop on your way to Munnar to take photos of the view or just enjoy it. You could also take leisure walks around Munnar (ensure that you do not lose your way back to the hotel) and the lush forests that are here could prove to be a delight to bird watchers and nature lovers.
Transport
The nearest railway stations are at Ernakulam and Aluva (approximately 120 km by road). The nearest airport is Cochin International Airport, which is approximately 140 km away. One can easily get a taxi at an affordable price with the help of the staff at either the airport or the railway station; if not one could contact the hotel and enquire about the transport from either the airport or the railways.
Food
You might like to eat at any one of the following hotels while sight-seeing in Munnar:
- Saravana Bhavan (0486-5231129)
- Rapsy Restaurant (0486-230456)
- SN Restaurant (0486-2530212)
- Silver Spoon (0486-2531735)
The town may not have many fancy restaurants but the above mentioned restaurants and small eateries offer a scrumptious meal. If you are going for an early morning trek, hike or walk and would like to have breakfast in town, you could look at food stalls in the bazaars that serve breakfast, snacks and cheap meals.
Tourist Attractions
While in Munnar, one must visit some of the places mentioned below:
- Anamudi Peak
- Mattupetti Dam
- Salim Ali Bird Sanctuary (Thattekkad Sanctuary)
- Rajamalai National Park (Eravikulam National Park)
- Idukki Arch Dam
- Hill View Park
- Sita Devi Lake
Weather & When One Could Visit Munnar
The best time to visit Munnar would be during the months of October and March. Munnar and other places across Kerala look beautiful in the cold and as well as during the monsoon season. During the summer, the temperature would vary from 20 to 36°C and during winter it would vary from 16 to 32°C.