Munnar is a town and hill station located in the Idukki district of the southwestern Indian state of Kerala. Munnar is situated at around 1,600 metres (5,200 ft) above mean sea level, in the Western Ghats range of mountain. Munnar is an idyllic hill station, famous for its tea estates, exotic scenery, abundance of flora and fauna and craggy peaks.
One of the biggest tea-plantation area of South India, Munnar is one of the most beautiful and popular hill-stations of Kerala. Situated on the three mountain streams merge - Mudrapuzha, Nallathanni
and Kundala. 1,600 m above sea level, this hill station was once the
summer resort of the erstwhile British Government in South India blessed with natural view-points apart from the tea-plantations. Munnar is divided into Old Munnar, where the tourist information office is, and Munnar, where the bus station and most guest houses are located. The Eravikulam National Park, Salim Ali Bird Sanctuary and tea plantations are its major attractions.
Sprawling tea plantations, picturesque 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 once in every twelve years, will bloom next in 2018. Munnar also has the highest peak in South India, Anamudi, which towers over 2,695 m. Anamudi is an ideal spot for trekking.
Eravikulam National Park
One of the main attractions near Munnar is the Eravikulam National
Park. This park is famous for its endangered inhabitant - the Nilgiri
Tahr. Spread over an area of 97 sq. km., this park is also home to
several species of rare butterflies, animals and birds. A great place
for trekking, the park offers a magnificent view of the tea plantations
caressed by blankets of mists. The park becomes a hot destination when
the hill slopes here get covered in a carpet of blue, resulting from the
flowering of the Neelakurinji. It is a plant endemic to this part of
the Western Ghats which blooms once in twelve years.
Anamudi Peak
Located inside the Eravikulam National Park is the Anamudi Peak. This
is the highest peak in South India, standing at a height of over 2700
m. Treks to the peak are allowed with permission from the Forest and
Wildlife authorities at Eravikulam.
Mattupetty
Another prime draw for visitors, located about 13 km from Munnar
Town, is Mattupetty. Situated at a height of 1700 m above sea level,
Mattupetty is known for its storage masonry dam and the beautiful lake,
which offers pleasurable boat rides, enabling one to enjoy the
surrounding hills and landscape. Mattupetty's fame is also attributed to
the dairy farm run by the Indo-Swiss Livestock Project, where one can
encounter different high yielding breeds of cows.
Pallivasal
Pallivasal, located at about 3 km from Chithirapuram in Munnar is the
venue of the first hydro-electric project in Kerala. It is a place of
immense scenic beauty and is often favoured by visitors as a picnic
spot.
Chinnakanal & Anayirangal
Near Munnar Town lie Chinnakanal and its waterfalls, popularly known
as the Power House Waterfalls, which cascade down a steep rock 2000 m
above sea level. The spot is enriched with a scenic view of the Western
Ghat ranges. When you have traveled about seven kilometers from
Chinnakanal, you reach Anayirangal. Anayirangal, 22 km from Munnar, is a
lush green carpet of tea plants. A trip on the splendid reservoir is an
unforgettable experience. The Anayirangal dam is surrounded by tea
plantations and evergreen forests.
Top Station
Top Station, which is about 32 km from Munnar is at a height of 1700 m
above sea level. It is the highest point on the Munnar-Kodaikanal road.
Travellers to Munnar make it a point to visit Top Station to enjoy the
panoramic view it offers of the neighbouring state of Tamil Nadu. It is
among the prime spots in Munnar to enjoy the Neelakurinji flowers
blooming over a vast area.
Tea Museum
Munnar has a legacy of its own when it comes to the origins and
evolution of tea plantations. Taking account of this legacy and to
preserve and showcase some of the exquisite and interesting aspects of
the genesis and growth of tea plantations in Kerala's high ranges, a
museum exclusively for tea was opened some years ago by Tata Tea in
Munnar. This Tea Museum houses artifacts, photographs and machinery;
all of which have a story to tell about the origins and growth of tea
plantations in Munnar. The museum is located at the Nallathanni Estate
of Tata Tea in Munnar and is worth a visit.
