In its essence a town that grew around the sprawling tea plantations in the hills around Munnar during the colonial era, it is even today an important tea producing centre besides being a very popular tourist attraction. Taking its name from the vernacular Tamil, referencing the three rivers that followthrough the area, Munnar was also once a summer retreat for colonial administrators in the plains below. Besides its pleasant climate and very beautiful landscapes, Munnar also attracts trekking enthusiasts, naturalists and birdwatchers to the bio- diversity hotspots in its wildlife parks, stretches of trails through pristine forests, past lakes and streams.
Places to Visit
Eravikulam National Park
The park spreads across the Southern Western Ghats mountains with its name in the local vernacular meaning 'streams and pools'. The predominant feature of the physical geography of the park is comprised of a central rolling plateau crowned by 'Anaimudi' the highest peak in South India. The park contains three distinctive types of vegetation - grasslands, shrub and Shola forests that are home to Dusky Striped Squirrels, Nilgiri Martens, Ruddy Mongooses and Small Clawed Otters among numerous others. More than one hundred and thirty-three species of birds inhabit the park, eleven that are endemic to the area - Jungle Bush Quail, Indian Golden Backed Three-Toed Woodpecker, Small Green Barbet, White Breasted Kingfisher, and Indian Lorikeet and many more that are migratory. A highlight of a safari in the park is to spot the highly endangered and reclusive Nilgiri Tahr, a species of mountain goat endemic to the region.
Munnar Tea Museum
Situated in a tea plantation, the Tea Museum showcases photographs and machinery used in the production of tea from the colonial era when the tea plantations were first established in the hills around Munnar. The historical exhibits showcase the transition of production with rudimentary tea rollers to the machinery used in an automated tea factory today. They also include a sundial made in 1913, a 'Pelton Wheel' used in the generation of electricity in the 1920's and a wheel from an engine of the Kundale Valley Light Railway that transported packaged tea to the plains below. A demonstration room for tea tasting is another attraction where visitors get to taste some very exotic varieties of tea.
Chinnar Wildlife Sanctuary
The Chinnar Wildlife Sanctuary is one among the eighteen wildlife sancutaries in the environmentally protected areas in Kerala. It is also the only rehabilitation centre for the Indian Star Tortise in the country. It is on record that twenty-eight species of mammals and more than two hundred species of endemic and migrating birds make their homes in the sanctuary including Indian Leoopard and Spotted Deer, Indian elephant, Gaur, Bengal Tiger, Sambar, Common Langur and Comment Macaque, Gray Langur, Nilgir That and Yellow Throated Bulbul. Visitors could, on a clear day, view the Pambar Lake in the distance.
Cheeyappara Waterfalls
Cheeyappara Waterfalls rush down in seven tiers and area truly spectacular sight to behold. It is also a very popular trekking location in the area. Naturalists and nature enthusiasts will revel in the dense vegetation that surrounds the waterfalls and several rare species of flora, animals and birds often spotted in the area.
Pothanmedu View Point
A trip to Pothanmedu is worth the views that nature lovers would cherish, spectacular sunrises and sunsets framing the Munthirapuzha River, a perpetual breeze that threaten to blow one off the peak, speculative birds in the sky over lush tea, coffee and cardamom plantations.
Attukal Waterfalls
The waterfall is created after a stream travels on an elongated journey that traverses numerous slopes, dense stretches of vegetation, drops from enormous heights, eventually becoming visible, a vision of beauty displaying itself to visitors, the compelling power of nature's beauty. Simply spectacular, worth a visit.
Nyayamkad
Situated about 10 km from Munnar town, languorous vistas and a sprightly waterfall first greet visitors to Nyayamkad. Some seek delight in a swirling pool created beneath the 1500m waterfall, others, avid anglers could spend a day at 'Gravel Banks', a spot downstream, where schools of trout pass through. The surrounding hills also offer numerous trekking routes to enthusiasts.
Devikulam
A scenic picnic spot located 8 kilometres away from Munnar with rolling grassland slopes and vast range of exotic flora and fauna make it favourite spot for tourists. Visitors could also visit the Sita Devi lake nearby at different times through the year.Streams flowing past the area are also perfect for trout fishing.