MUNNAR-Tourist center in Kerala,Hill place,Beautiful nature

MUNNAR

Munnar (Malayalamമുന്നാർ) is a town and hill station in the southwestern state of KeralaIndia. Munnar is situated around 1600 m above sea level,[2] in the Western Ghats range of mountains.
The name Munnar is believed to mean "three rivers",[3] referring to the location at the confluence of the Madhurapuzha, Nallathanni and Kundaly rivers.[4] Munnar town is situated on the Kannan Devan Hills village in Devikulam taluk and is the largest panchayat in the Idukki district in Kerala having an area measuring nearly 557 km².[citation needed] The nearest major railway stations are at Ernakulam and Aluva (approximately 140 kilometres (87 mi) by road). The nearest airport is Cochin International Airport, which is 105 kilometres (65 mi) away.
Munnar is a beautiful hill station, and was the summer resort of the British. Tourists come here to see the vast tea plantations of the area. The town itself is typically Indian with the usual shops, guest houses and is really beautiful and traditional. It is a good place to see the surrounding countryside. It is also a popular place for Indian honeymooners.
The town is divided into two parts, Old Munnar, where the tourist information office is, and Munnar, where the bus station and most guest houses are located.
The region in and around Munnar varies in height from 1,500 m (4,921 ft) to 2,695 m (8,842 ft) above mean sea level. It is pronounced "Moon-aar" short for "moonu aar" meaning 3 rivers. Three rivers - Madupetti, Nallathanni and Periavaru which flow through this town, but join some distance away from Munnar.
Munnar is famous for its tea plantations, many of them started by the British. The "Kannan Devan" brand of Tea from the Tata is cultivated and processed here.
The strobilanthus ("neelakurinji" in Malayalam, the local language), a blue flower which blooms only every 12 years, is found in this region. It bloomed last in December 2006. Munnar also has the highest peak in South India, Anamudi, at 2,695 m.
Eravikulam national park is one of the main tourist attraction, where you can find the endangered species of Nilgiri Tahr (mountain goat called "varayadu" in Malayalam). A treck to Rajamala ("King of hills" in Malayalam), in the morning is sure to spot a few friendly mountain goats. You can also find Gaur, Langur, Lion-tailed macaque, and Elephants depending on the season and time of travel. The altitude is 1,600-1.800 m above sea level.

Weather[edit]

The season between October and March (post-monsoon) is considered the best to visit Munnar. It is suggested to take some warm clothes and rain coats along with you. Temperature ranges from 15 to 25 degrees during summer, and 5 to 10 degrees in winter. The atmosphere remains cool and pleasant throughout the year.

Talk[edit]

Malayalam and Tamil are main languages spoken here. Visitors often feel uncomfortable while talking with local people as they only talk in regional language. However, you can manage with English as people are highly educated here and they often communicate in English.
Munnar Hill station
Taken from Munnar , Kerala One of the most popular hill stations in India, Munnar (Kerala) is situated at the confluence of three mountain streams - Mudrapuzha, Nallathanni and Kundala. Located at 1600 M above sea level, this was once the summer resort of the erstwhile British Government in South India. Sprawling tea plantations, picture book towns, winding lanes, trekking and holiday facilities make Munnar a unique experience. Munnar is essentially a tea town.
Climate data for Munnar
Month
Jan
Feb
Mar
Apr
May
Jun
Jul
Aug
Sep
Oct
Nov
Dec
Year
Average high °C (°F)
22.4
(72.3)
23.7
(74.7)
25.3
(77.5)
25.6
(78.1)
25.6
(78.1)
23.7
(74.7)
22.4
(72.3)
22.8
(73)
23.2
(73.8)
22.7
(72.9)
21.8
(71.2)
21.9
(71.4)
23.42
(74.17)
Daily mean °C (°F)
17.6
(63.7)
18.7
(65.7)
20.2
(68.4)
21
(70)
21.4
(70.5)
20.3
(68.5)
19.3
(66.7)
19.5
(67.1)
19.6
(67.3)
19.2
(66.6)
18.3
(64.9)
17.7
(63.9)
19.4
(66.94)
Average low °C (°F)
12.9
(55.2)
13.7
(56.7)
15.1
(59.2)
16.5
(61.7)
17.3
(63.1)
16.9
(62.4)
16.3
(61.3)
16.3
(61.3)
16
(61)
15.7
(60.3)
14.8
(58.6)
13.5
(56.3)
15.42
(59.76)
Precipitation mm (inches)
18
(0.71)
29
(1.14)
47
(1.85)
129
(5.08)
189
(7.44)
420
(16.54)
583
(22.95)
364
(14.33)
210
(8.27)
253
(9.96)
164
(6.46)
64
(2.52)
2,470
(97.25)
Avg. rainy days
2
2
3
6
8
9
10
9
10
12
8
5
84
Mean monthly sunshine hours
248
232
248
240
217
120
124
124
150
155
180
217
2,255
Source #1: Climate-Data.org, altitude: 1461m[10]
Source #2: Weather2Travel for sunshine and rainy days[11]

Flora and fauna

Most of the native flora and fauna of Munnar have disappeared due to severe habitat fragmentation resultant from the creation of the plantations. However, some species continue to survive and thrive in several protected areas nearby, including the new Kurinjimala Sanctuary to the east, the Chinnar Wildlife Sanctuary,Manjampatti Valley and the Amaravati reserve forest of Indira Gandhi Wildlife Sanctuary to the north east, the Eravikulam National Park and Anamudi Shola National Park to the north, the Pampadum Shola National Park to the south and the proposed Palani Hills National Park to the east.

Endemic species

These protected areas are especially known for several threatened and endemic species including Nilgiri Thar, the Grizzled Giant Squirrel, the Nilgiri Wood-pigeon,Elephant, the Gaur, the Nilgiri langur, the Sambar, and the Neelakurinji (that blossoms only once in twelve years). [5][6]

Land ownership

There has been action to address the problems of property takeovers by the land mafia that have, according to successive governments, plagued the area. In 2011, the government estimated that 20,000 hectares of land had been illegally appropriated and it launched a campaign of evictions that had first been mooted in 2007.[7]

Geography and climate

The region in and around Munnar varies in height from 1,450 meters (4,760 ft) to 2,695 meters (8,842 ft) above mean sea level. The temperature ranges between 5 °C (41 °F) and 25 °C (77 °F) in winter and 15 °C (59 °F) and 25 °C (77 °F) in summer.[8] Temperatures as low as −4 °C (25 °F) have been recorded in the Sevenmallay region of Munnar.[9][not in citation given] The mean maximum daily temperature is at its lowest during the monsoon months with the highest temperature being 19 °C (66 °F).
Tea forest

TOURIST GUIDE

Get in[edit]

By air[edit]

Cochin International airport (IATACOK), also known as Nedumbassery Airport. It is approximately 125 km away from the Munnar by road. Taxi services are easily available from airport to Munnar that cost around Rs. 3000. Cochin International airport is nicely connected to metropolitan cities of India and some other cities abroad.
Madurai Airport is more than 175 km from Munnar (by National Highway 49) and second largest terminal in Tamil Nadu after Chennai airport. The airport has direct connectivity with major Indian cities like Hyderabad, New Delhi, Mumbai, Bangalore and Chennai.

By train[edit]

The nearest railway station is Aluva, 110 km. Ernakulam is 130 km and Madurai is 135 km. Angamali Railway Station is another nearest rail-head to reach Munnar.
From all these railway stations, you can get direct regular buses to Munnar. First Bus starts at early morning 6AM and after that those are available at regular intervals. Apart from buses, you can easily get private taxis or cabs from all the railway stations. They charge around Rs 150 per person if you opt for shared taxis.

By car[edit]

  • From Kochi: Munnar is 130 km (3.5 hr) from Kochi. The road is blind in some places and there are a lot of trucks and buses that seem to drive as if they own the road. Although the road is smooth (NH 49), it is narrow, twisty and curvy. Kothamangalam is on the way and is 80 km away from Munnar. Between Kothamangalam and next town "Adimali", you can experience a beautiful cool drive through a natural forest. Alongside, you can see many refreshing waterfalls. Once you reach Adimali, Munnar is just 30 kilometers away - but it will take almost an hour to reach. This is the last place where you can spot a decent restaurant before Munnar. Around 22 km from Adimali, you can start seeing the tea plantations on both sides of the road and a panoramic view of the western ghats. The view is extremely beautiful during the early mornings.
  • From Aluva: Aluva is nearly 110 km from Munnar. Just outside Aluva railway station you can hire a taxi for Munnar for Rs 2000. There is a bus stand nearby as well which operates frequent buses to Munnar; ticket prices start from Rs 70 per person.
  • From Madurai: Munnar is about 135 km from Madurai and 80 km from Theni. MaduraiTheni - Bodi - BodiMettu-Devikulam - Munnar route is the most scenic route by National Highway 49(Via Madurai-Cochin HighWay).
  • From Coimbatore: Munnar is about 160 km from Coimbatore and 120 km from Pollachi. CoimbatorePollachi - Udumalpet - Chinnar - Marayoor - Munnar route is the most scenic route and though it will take bit longer, it is generally considered worth the extra time spent.
  • From Kodaikanal: Kodaikanal is nearly 170 km from Munnar. Kodaikanal - Perumal Malai - Mayiladum Parai - Mooliyaru - Oothu - Falls View - Ganguvarpetty - Ghat Road - Periya Kulam - Theni - Bodi - Bodimettu - Devikulam - Munnar. This route is also scenic.
Distances from Munnar to various cities:
The road to Munnar is narrow with lots of bends and curves. Hire a taxi or a driver with local experience if you are not familiar with similar conditions

By bus[edit]

Munnar bus station is on the main street, Main Bazaar.
  • Kochi - Takes around 6 hours. Buses leave Kochi between 6AM-6PM.
  • Aluva - Nearest bus station to the Cochin International Airport. About 4 hrs uphill to Munnar, and 3-3.5 hrs downhill. Ticket price is around Rs. 70 one-way for a government-operated bus, up to Rs. 150 for a privately operated bus.
Note that most buses have boards in Malayalam and not English. At Aluva, there are no signs, schedules or dedicated bus bays for Munnar-bound buses; many of them briefly stop at Aluva en route from Kochi/ Ernakulam to Munnar. Check with a few locals every 15 minutes, or ask and hang around the bus info office, so they can point you to the right bus when it arrives.
There are also buses from Coimbatore and Pollachi.

Get around[edit]

Free bus services run from bus stand and train station to Golden Temple from 4:30AM to 9:30PM, every 45 minutes. A cycle-rickshaw costs around Rs 20, a taxi Rs 50 and auto-rickshaw around Rs 35 for a journey from train station to Golden Temple.
Renting auto-rickshaw to roam around the city costs Rs 50 per hour. You can also rent a manual or automatic motorbike on a daily basis for Rs 350/day.

See[edit]

Some of these site would be more popular for Indian tourists than Western tourists.

Near Munnar Town[edit]

  • Atukkad Waterfalls (You can find a road leading to Atukkad Waterfalls on Kochi road, just about 5 km from Munnar). This road is very narrow and needs a lot of experience to drive on). A scenic waterfalls amidst hills and jungles.
  • Chithirapuram (located at a distance of around 10 km from Munnar). Chithirapuram has old playgrounds and courts, bungalows and sleepy little cottages which all give this place an old world charm. This town is also famous for its tea plantations
  • Blossom Park (Also known as Hydel Park) (1 km from Munnar).
  • Pothamedu View PointA small village inhabited 1 km away from headworks dam. Coffee and Cardamom plantation are sights to behold.

Towards Mattuppetty[edit]

  • Floriculture CentreRun by the Kerala Forest Development Corporation. An extremely well-kept garden with a large variety of flowers and some herbal/ foliage plants, all against the backdrop of the tea plantations. Definitely worth a visit.
  • Photo Point (2 km from Munnar). It is a small place filled with woods and a small stream. Good location to take photos.
  • Mattupetti Dam (10 km from Munnar). this popular picnic spot activities like boating and horse riding and is a great place to spend the day especially if visiting with children. You could take the speed boat ride which is fantastic. It costs Rs 300 if you have to hire a boat for you alone. The ride is for 15 min. The maximum capacity is 5 persons and you could save some money if you are a group of 4-5.
  • Mattupetti Indo-Swiss FarmBetter known as Mattupetti (cattle village), Tamil migrant labourers had once upon a time reared cattle here. The cool climate and abundance of fodder made it the ideal location for the Indo-Swiss dairy farm. Established in 1961, the Kerala Livestock Development Board (KLDB) manages this highly specialised dairy farm. The dairy farm is a unique one of its kind with more than 100 varieties of high-yielding cattle being reared. Tourists are not allowed to enter the farm.
Echo Point
  • (15 km from Munnar on the way to top station). a small lake set amidst rolling hills. Every loud call made from a spot on the lake embankment is returned manifold by the echo from the surrounding hills. Young tourists throng to this place to listen to the echoes of their friendship calls.
  • Kundala Lake (23 km from Munnar). This lake is very beautiful amidst lush jungles. Hiring a pedal boat and exploring the lake and its surroundings is an awesome experience. Except at the place you hired the boat, don't expect to find humans around the lake as it is surrounded by scenic jungles and hills. Unless you know how to row a boat, prefer a pedal boat, each trip lasts around 30 min and will be closed at 4:30PM
  • Top Station (37 km from Munnar on the Kerala and Tamil Nadu border). Great views of the Western Ghats. Top station is the "top"-tourist attraction. This place gives a real 'above the clouds' experience. Regular buses go to Top Station (1 hr) from Munnar. A jeep costs Rs 400. The area is known for the Neelakurunji plant, which flowers only once every 12 years. The flower is violet.
Towards Marayoor
  • Tata Tea Museum, also known as the KDHP Tea Museum, (Around 2 km on the Nallathany road, from Munnar). Tourists can see a collection of odd bits from the colonial era. Photography is allowed on payment of Rs. 20; videography is strictly prohibited here. A very interesting 30-minute film is screened, and visitors are then taken around the factory to understand how tea is processed. This museum remains open from 10AM-4PM every day, closed on Mon. There is a Rs. 75 ticket fee for adults; lower for children. If you are not a tea connoisseur then you can skip visiting this museum.
  • Naimakkadu Water Falls
  • Eravikulam (Rajamalai) National Park (45 min from Munnar). See Nilgiri Thar (Hemitragas hylocres) - an endangered species of mountain goats, rolling grasslands and sholas, spread over 97² km in the Rajamalai hills, rare flora and fauna, Atlas moth (largest in the world), lion-tailed macaque, leopards, tigers, The Kurichi or Neelakurinji Flowers turn the hills of Rajamalai blue every 12 years. The next bloom will be in 2018. One can actually debate if going to the high peak just to see some goats is worth all the effort or not. However, the walk along the park is very romantic and has some breath taking view. Please be aware that this park remains closed every year around February–March due to the breeding program of the Nilgiri Thar. Before visiting Munnar please check if the park is open or not. Tickets can be bought from the counter for INR 55 per adult. Please be warned that if you do not reach the counter before 8:30AM, the queue can get so long that it may take a couple of hours to get the tickets. The visit to the park is arranged by buses. While coming back after the visit, you'd again have to wait in queue. The entire process of buying tickets, visiting park and coming back may take 4-5 hours.
  • Anamudi Peak inside Eravikulam National Park, The highest peak (2,695 m) south of the Himalayas, towers over the sanctuary in majestic pride. The slopes of the hills abound in all kinds of rare flora and fauna. The Atlas moth, the largest of its kind in the world, is a unique inhabitant of the park. Other rare species of fauna found here are the Nilgiri Langur, the lion-tailed macaque, leopards, tigers. An ideal place for trekking, facilities are provided here and tourists are allowed to go on foot up to 2 km from Anamudi. Going up to the peak is no longer permissible unless you have special permissions from forest department.
  • Lakkam Water Falls. (24 km from Munnar). A small waterfall.
  • Marayoor - (Around 40 km from Munnar). It is the only place in Kerala with natural growth of sandalwood trees, natural caves with murals, and relics from late Stone Age civilisation. There is a sandalwood factory of the Forestry department of Kerala and a children's park extending across one hectare of land under the canopy of a single Banyan tree, all of which attract tourists in large numbers.
  • Chinnar Wildlife SanctuaryChinnar wildlife sanctuary is in the Wester Ghats of Kerala. This wildlife sanctuary has a large number of plants and animals. This wildlife sanctuary is spread in around 90² km of area. This sanctuary is one of the protected areas in the western ghats because of the significance of its flora, geomorphologic features, ecology and local cultural.
Other places to visit:
  • Salim Ali (Thattekkad) Bird SanctuaryThere are woodpeckers, Malabar gray hornbills, Ceylon frogmouths, parakeets, and rose-billed rollers. This sanctuary is located 20 km from Kothamangalam on the road between Ernakulam and Munnar. There are basic and mid-range hotels in Kothamangalam and an Inspection Bungalow in Boothathankettu. You can take a boat cruise from Boothathankettu to Thattekkad. Admission foreigners: Rs 40, Indian Rs 10.
Lukkam waterfalls, Munnar
  • Kolukkumalai Tea Estate, At a height of about 2,175 m (7,130 ft), this orthodox tea factory lays claim to being one of the highest in the world. The view of the Western Ghats is absolutely enchanting.
  • Waterfalls, Check out several natural waterfalls on the way to Munnar. They provide an excellent place for photography.
  • Kalvarimount, Situated at a distance of 5 km from Idukki, it is one of the famous hill station for tourist and one can see the view of Reservoir from Idukki to Ayyappancovil.
  • Mathikettan national park (Poopara) (34 km from Munnar on Munnar Thekkadi route.).
  • Elephant Arrival Spot (18 km from Munnar). Here you can board an elephant for a ride. It costs approximately Rs 350 per person.

Do[edit]

Tea plantations at Munnar Top station
  • Walk in the Clouds, Trek to your heart's content while the clouds slowly descend upon you.
  • Rock Climbing and Rappelling, Munnar has a steep rock face about 30 m (100 ft).
  • Munnar Carmelagiri Elephant Park (Munnar Elephant Safari), Mattupetty Rd (On the way to Mattupetty Dam),  +91 94 4782 7696+91 94 4737 9376, e-mail:The elephant safari takes you through the misty forests, deep valleys and the rugged hill paths of the Munnar forests. One hour package, half day and one day tours. Features are, elephant bath, elephant shower, elephant feeding, timber dragging demonstrations and displays of elephant commands and communication.
  • Boating, There are several places to go out for boating in Munnar. One can choose among paddle boats and speed boats to Kashmiri-Shikara. Young couples who travel to Munnar should not miss out on the beautiful 'Kashmiri-Shikara' boat ride. It is one of the most romantic experiences.
  • BicycleExperience the natural beauty of Munnar by riding a bicycle through beautiful paths of Munnar and pass through a tea state called Madupatty, around 14 km from Munnar.
  • Yoga @Kaivalyam RetreatMoolakada, Pallivasal (7 km from Munnar towards Cochin). "Kaivalyam" a holistic health retreat in midst of natural surrounding of tea valleys of Munnar. Year round destination to indulge in learning experience of holistic lifestyle with traditional form of Yoga and organic way of dining.
  • The Christ Church, in Old Munnar. The exteriors have worn out with time though the charming interiors still have a very nice ambiance. It was consecrated way back in 1910 and still has 14 original rows of pews. The first Catholic Church in the High Ranges was Mount Carmel Roman Catholic Church.
  • The High Range Club, has a charming colonial style. The club house is built of wicker and teak and is the social hub for the tea "Planters" of the region. Members enjoy lounging in the bar over Planter's Punch followed by a good meal, a game of billiards or reading a book in the library.
  • Munnar Supply Association (MSA), Set up in 1900, this is another nostalgic landmark worth visiting in Munnar. It is the oldest department store in the area and has been re-inventing itself to stay relevant and popular after almost 102 years. The store was run by "planters" who still manage its affairs. The MSA is a red brick, red tiled building with gables, buttresses and a porch and is now a heritage site.

Buy[edit]

The best things to buy are tea, coffeespices like cinnamon, cloves, cardamom and pepper and definitely home made chocolates.
  • Abbas & Co. Tea Merchants25, BazaarAbbas &amp Co is wholesaler but also sells to visitors. Really good price for tea, green tea, coffee, cashew - nuts, home made chocolates, spices, aloe vera gel.Budget.
  • Fresh tea from a factory outletKannimallay Estate (On the way to Eravikulam National Park, 5 km from Munnar town). Several varieties of tea fresh from factory.

Banks/Currency Exchange[edit]

  • State Bank of Travancore. ☎ +91 4865 2530274.
  • State Bank of India, Munnar. ☎ +91 4865 2530381.
  • State Bank of Travancore, Devikulam. ☎ +91 4865 2565441.

Eat[edit]

Kerala is famous for Fish Curry. For snacks, one should try local spicy cashew nut, chilly bhaji with hot tea as they are a traditional snack and makes good combination in cold weather.
  • Bamboo Hut, G.H. Road. Wide range of food for reasonable prices, although service can be a bit slow. Also, the place usually has Western music (from Bob Dylan to electronic chill-out sound).
  • Food CourtMunnarinn. Closed as of March 2012.
  • Non-veg food, Eating non-vegetarian food in Kerala is perceived as a pain due to cooking in coconut oil etc. But this is not the case in Munnar's ""Guru's Restaurant"" which cooks delicious tandoori chicken and all things North Indian. Recommended for all those who miss their north-Indian cuisine and cannot put up with idlyappam and all those items.
  • Saravana Bhavan, Right at the heart of town and one of the most inexpensive places to eat. The service here is quick and the food is absolutely delicious. You might have to share your table with others. This place provides South Indian dishes, served on a banana leaf.
  • Silverspoon RestaurantMunnarinn, Main Bazaar (Right beside the bus station). Breakfast until 11AMThis place does a great value buffet breakfast of cornflakes, toast, omelet plus Indian breakfast food for Rs 95.
Munnar has some amazing street food (try the Gobi noodles), so if you are after a cheap and delicious meal check the area around the bus stand in Munnar (not the KSRTC bus stand in Old Munnar).
  • CampNoelPazhathottam (15 km from Top Station),  +91 48 6521 40957AM-10PMMulti cuisine restaurant at 2075 m (6,800 ft) above sea level and possibly the highest altitude restaurant in Kerala. If coming from Top station, turn right at 19 mile. Road is bad so make sure you have a suitably robust vehicle or inform them and they will pick you up. The journey is worth it. Please inform them early if you are going there for only for food.
  • Sri velavan storesG.H.road +91 48 6523 2379All provisions available at reasonable prices.
  • Patel Gujarati Restaurant (Near Post Office). Gujarati and Marwari meals. Under Rs 100.
  • Purohit RestaurantInside Hotel Dhanyasree, Dhanyasree Jn. Chilling Plant Rd (Nr Tea County Resorts),  +91 48 6523 25526AM-10:30PMBombay, Jain, Gujarati, Rajasthani, Punjabi and South Indian food. Good Gujarati, unlimited Thali at Rs 85. Budget.
  • Mahaveer Veg RestaurantKalinivas Building, Main Rd +91 48 6523 1677Provides authentic North-Indian food with style ranging from Gujarati to Punjabi and delicious rotis. Meals start from Rs 105/-. Only vegetarian food served. The downside to the place is cleanliness at the tables. Mahaveer has a branch near Purohit restaurant; this one is larger and cleaner.
  • Kaivalyam RetreatMoolakada, Pallivasal Estate P.O. (7.5 km towards Cochin direction),  +91 48 6523 262824x7Kaivalyam retreat has a 100% pure vegetarian restaurant which serves organic and healthy yogic food. As it is a yoga retreat more emphasis is given to food quality and hygiene. Serves North Indian, South Indian and a few continental dishes. Their desserts are good. Set in the midst of cardamom and pepper plantation. Rs 200.

Drink[edit]

Fresh tea, coffee and milk is available at most places. Hard and soft drink are also available at fair number of shops.
Packed grapes and mixed fruit juice is also available at few places.

Bars[edit]

  • Nalo Bar And Family RestaurantIdukki District.

Sleep[edit]

Budget[edit]

  • Allens Cottageallenscottages@gmail.com (10 km from the town, opposite to the KSRTC bus stand),  +91 97 47268095Upscale and standard cottages away from all the disturbences of the city. Camp fire and inbound trekking can be arranged.
  • Eightlands Holidays (http://www.eightlandsholidays.com)Colony Rd, Munnar-685612, Idukki Dist, Kerala Mob:+91 9495812364, +91 9446561652, Office: 04865 232986A set of cute cottages nestling against the backdrop of mountain ranges cut off from the hubbubs of hospital life. Eight Lands Holidays offers you stands unique and aloof among the other such establishments in and around Munnar.
  • JJ Cottage (close to the KSRTC bus stand in old Munnar),  +91 48 6523 0104, e-mail: Nice rooms, very friendly and helpful staff with surprisingly good cheap food. Double rooms may be negotiated down to Rs 300 during the low season. Feels more like a bed and breakfast than your average guest-house.
  • Theresian Cottages (Homestay)Munnar (near Tea County Resorts),  +91 48 6523 0351+91 94 4739 7720+91 94 9587 9748Check-in: anytime, check-out: 12 noonGood location with nice views. Nearby to many restaurants. Tea and coffee is available. Kerala Tourism Department approved. Room with 2 beds~Rs 700 - Rs 1000.

Mid-range[edit]

  • Pulimoottil Estate Bungalow, (10 km from Munnar Town in Mankulam Road). Offers independent estate bungalows and rooms. Has restaurant, conference hall etc. Enjoy a stroll through a Cardamom Plantation, visit the stream. Offers Camp fire facilities
  • Hotel Anai Mudi (Munnar-Marayoor route).
  • Greenspaces Munnar (10 km from Munnar). Greenspaces is neither a resort nor a hotel; it is a small guest-house/plantation-stay/homestead amid a cardamom plantation, about 10 km away from the crowded Munnar Town. It is one of the Kerala state tourism department approved stays.
  • Camelot (10 km from Munnar). If you are travelling in your own vehicle then this may be a good choice. You need to drive 2 km off road to reach the resort, which is fun. However if you are new to driving, leave your car at the entrance and ask the owner to pick you up from there. Pack your food in town as the choice of food at resort is limited.
  • Deshadan Mountain Resort (5 km from Munnar). The highest resort in Munnar. Views from the valley view room are breathtaking. Excellent breakfast. Road to Deshadan is very narrow and requires an experienced driver to drive a car to the top.
  • Kaivalyam RetreatMoolakada, Pallivasal (7 km from Munnar). Organic living and dining with yoga
  • Marthoma Retreat (on the way to top station, about 2 km from Munnar Town). Has a restaurant, but food is made to order.
  • The Siena Village, Chinnakkanal, (20 km from Munnar Town on the way to Thekkady/Periyar), [1].
  • Spice Garden Resort (Located in the second mile, around 8-10 km from Munnar Bus Stop),  +91 48 6526 3698+91 94 4716 3696, e-mail: Cheap, clean, courteous staff and located on hill slope with a breathtaking view. Multi cuisine restaurant providing breakfast and dinner however food is only made to order. Hot water 24 hr, TV in all rooms, Trekking and travel assistance, laundry. A doctor is on-call, parking spaces and driver accommodation are provided Rs 1,500-2,500 (Indian nationals).
  • Bella Vista ResortChithirapuram Post (20 km from Munnar town). Very scenic with roof top restaurant. Double honeymoon cottage around Rs 1,800.
  • Devadaru Holiday VillaNear Chengulam Dam (15 km from Munnar town). A single villa in a 2 acre spice garden, you rent it in whole, no hotels or resorts can match this privacy.
  •   Blue Berg ResortsRDO office Road,Devikulma (PO) (By auto, taxi or route buses to theni,Madurai & thekkady goes via Blue Berg Resorts),  9447220025, e-mail: The resort's setting is against a breathtaking backdrop of mountains & winding roads. If you prefer to unwind, observe life on working tea estates or explore the lush tea fields & visit a century old factory for a gentle education in the art of tea. The resort offers 23 spacious, well furnished, beautiful guest rooms and suites. A special suite is available for families with picturesque vistas of the Blue hills. Each of the 23 intimate rooms is individually designed. The décor is focused on being naturally bright and airy. Luxe touches of aquatic blue contrast the exposed white walls of the new rooms. The king-size beds, linens and soft fluffy pillows are supremely comfortable. Each room comes with extra lounge space. The ground level rooms have extended patios and those on the first & second floors have private balconies, giving you sparkling views of the Hills. 2000.

Splurge[edit]

  • Ayur County resortMunnar (18 km from Munnar Town),  +91 48 6568 5618fax+91 48 6824 9218, e-mail: Ayurvedic centre, cardamom plantation visit, fishing, trekking, camp fire, multi-cuisine restaurant and coffee shop, childrens play area & activity room, credit card facility, travel desk, site seeing trip 24 hr hot & cold water, STD direct dialing, cable TV in all rooms, pick up and drop off, conference hall, doctor on call. Rs 2,500-12,500.
  • Club Mahindra Lakeview Resort, Chinnakkanal. (20 km from Munnar Town on the way to Thekkady/Periyar), [2].
  • WindermereBison Valley Rd, (outskirts of Munnar).
  • Mountain Club, Chinnakkanal (20 km from Munnar Town on the way to Thekkady/Periyar)

Stay safe[edit]

Apply sunscreen lotion while you leave Munnar because as you descend the hills the weather gets warmer and causes sun burn. Hill stations tend to get dark rather early, so be sure to carry a torch or flashlight.
Though Munnar is safe compared to other big cities, it doesn’t mean that mishaps and accidents don’t occur. Visitors should look after their personal belongings, as theft may occur sometimes.
If you are participating in some outdoor activities, injuries or accidents may happen. In order to avoid any hospital expenses, make sure to cover yourself with adequate travel insurance.
The roads in Munnar are bit risky and accidents may occur frequently. Sometimes, even experienced drivers struggle to ride on these roads. So, if you are novice driver, don't drive on these roads. Also, if you are descending Munnar, make sure that you start early. Otherwise, the misty fog will blind your drive. It is safe to start back by 4 o'clock from Top Station.

Hospitals[edit]

  • Tata General Hospital, Munnar ☎ +91 48 6253 0270
  • Matha Hospital, Munnar ☎ +91 48 6253 0744
  • Arun Hospital, Munnar ☎ +91 48 6253 0410

Connect[edit]

  • Main Post Office. ☎ +91 48 6253 0280.

Emergency numbers[edit]

  • Police control room ☎ 100
  • Fire station ☎ 101
  • Ambulance ☎ 103

Cope[edit]

Ayurvedic treatments, massage[edit]

  • Swatic Ayur Care Centre, ☎ +91 94 4703 1656, +91 48 6523 1656, +91 48 6523 0395.
  • Surya Ayurvedic Health Resorts, Chithirapuram. ☎ +91 48 6256 3204.

Go next[edit]

  • Eravikulam National Park - It is spread over the area of 97 km2 and situated along the crest of Western Ghats in ranges of Idukki district, Kerala. Eravikulam National Park holds the highly dense population of Nilgiri Tahr.
  • Mattupetty - Mattupetty houses plenty of fascinating places to relish. Apart from rolling grasslands and lush green tea plantations, Shola forest of Mattupetty is habitat of range of birds. It is also an ideal spot for trekking.
  • Kodaikanal Munnar - Devikulam - Bodimettu - Bodi - Theni - Periya Kulam - Ghat Road - Ganguvarpetty - Falls View - Oothu - Mooliyaru - Machoor - Mayiladum Parai - Perumal Malai - Kodaikanal - approx 170 km.
  • Thekkady - Well known as a tiger reserve, Thekkady is one of the famous tourist attractions in Kerala. Visitors from different corners of India come here to get a rare view of Tiger.
  • Pollachi - It is nearest town to the very famous ‘Indira Gandhi National Park’. Coconuts are exported to all over India from this small town and hence it is known as ‘Coconut City’.
  • Coimbatore - Being the industrial city of Tamil Nadu, Coimbatore is often called as a Manchester of Southern India. Headquarters of many reputed and big companies are located here.
  • Palani - It hosts the temple of lord Kartikeya which is visited by over 7 million devotees every year. Today, Palani is a major pilgrim centre in South India after Sabarimalai and Tirupathy.
  • Madurai - Located on the bank of Vaigai River, Madurai is temple town of India. The town has mythological history and cultural heritage to be passed on for coming generations.
  • Kovalam - Hawa beach, Kovalam Bech, Light house beach and Samudra Beach are what make Kovalam an amazing place. It is also popular for Ayurvedic massage and possesses multiple yoga resorts


1 comment:

  1. Thanks for the information, it's really helpful to me. If there any details to read or know about Homestays in Munnar-Thekkady, just visit our plantation stay home.

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