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Munnar
Recent authors: Manas, Deepa Pai, System Bot, susanmathen, 115.242.238.147
Munnar is a hill station, located about1600 m above sea level and has three gushing mountain streams- Mudrapuzha, Kundala and Nallathanni.The name Munnar is made up of two words- Moonnu (Three) and Aaru(river), obviously referring to the three streams.
It is a magnificent resort destination with copious tea plantations, coiling lanes and picturesque towns and the spellbinding view of the grasslands and forests covered with blue blossoms of neelakurinji.
What to expect at Munnar
- A cool climate, it can get quite chilly during the winters. And rains during the monsoon showers.
- Lots and lots of tea estates. The tea gardens along the winding roads is the characteristic feature of Munnar.
- The locals speak Malayalam, a few speak Tamil and English.
- If you set out on treks, it would be a good idea to wear covered shoes and to carry a tube of toothpaste, which they advise is a good way to get the leeches out.
Places to visit in and around Munnar
Mattupetty:
Located about 12 Kms from Munnar, the place is famous for its Indo-Swiss venture of specialized dairy farming. Also located in the area is Mattupetty Lake and dam which are open daily for boating and short horse rides.
Eravikulam National Park:
15kms away from Munnar, Eravikulam National Park is open from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. The endangered mountain goat species- the Nilgiri Tahr is found here.
Anamudi, the highest peak south of the Himalayas, overlooks the park.
Neelakurinji is a species of flowers that bloom only once in 12 years. These blue flowers are the reason for the name Nilgiris or the blue mountains. Eravikulam experiences this blue spread once in 12 years and at those times, the place is thronging with tourists.
It is possible to drive down to Eravikulam, but once you reach there private vehicles are not allowed inside, they have mini buses that take you around within the park.
Devikulam:
Devikulam is a hill station about 16 kms from Munnar. Devikulam Lake is known for its beauty and also for the curative power of the mineral rich waters. Devi refers to Goddess Sita and Kulam means pond or lake, and Devikulam is believed to be the lake where Sitadevi bathed.
Pallivasal:
Pallivasal is about 8 kms from Munnar. Pallivasal Waterfalls is known to attract visitors. Pallivasal is also home to Kerala's first Hydro Electric Project in Kerala- Pallivasal Power Plant.
Attukal:
Attukal is located between Munnar and Pallivasal, is a great place for long treks, between hills and waterfalls.
Pothamedu:
Pothamedu is also a great place for treks. A great view of the tea, coffee and cardamom plantations is assured if one goes to Pothamedu, about 6 kms from Munnar.
Nyayamakadu:
Nyayamakadu is about 10kms from Munnar and is again a good place for treks, picnics or sightseeing.
Marayoor:
40kms away from Munnar, is a place called Marayoor, which means the land of the trees. This is the only place in Kerala that has the natural growth of Sandalwood trees. There is a sandalwood factory here.
Muniyaras or caves nearby have relics and murals that date back to the New Stone Age.
Places to stay at Munnar
Sterling Resorts and Club Mahindra Resorts are two of the popular options for stay, but the homestays around are quieter, more secluded and worth exploring. See below for a list of hotels and homestays in Munnar, in the Best of the Web section.
Places to eat in Munnar
Rapsy Restaurant serves authentic Kerala parottas and beef. The Greens and the Blues, Gurus are other good restaurants. Mezbaan Hotel for Tandoori food.
Saravana Bhavan for veg food.
Cloud 9 is good for breakfast.
Getting to Munnar
Munnar is well connected by road. It is accessible by road from both Ernakulam and Kottayam. Located in Idukki district, the closest railway station to Munnar is Ernakulam, about 145 kms away, and the closest airport is the Nedumbassery Airport near Ernakulam.
To get to know more about the tea town Munnar, read more
susanmathen said at Jun 1, 2010 Remove
Tata Tea Museum:
Located at the Nallathanni Estate of Tata Tea, this museum houses photographs, curios and different items of interest for the tea lovers and as a tribute to the growth of the Tea estates and the workers. The museum is open from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. all 7 days of the week.