ACCESSING MUNNAR

Air: Nearest Airports: Kochi: 130 km, Madurai: 142 km, Coimbatore: 156 km, Kozhikode: 287 km, Thiruvananthapuram: 302 km.
Rail: Nearest Railway Station: Kochi: 130 km, Kottayam 142 km, Madurai: 162 km, Thiruvananthapuram: 302 km.
Road: Distance from Munnar to a few major towns: Devikulam: 7 km, Mattupetti: 13 km, Idukki: 60 km, Thekkady: 110 km, Ernakulam: 130 km, Kottayam: 147 km, Kumarakom: 160 km, Alappuzha: 200km.

IN AND AROUND MUNNAR

Pothamedu (6 km from Munnar): Pothamedu offers an excellent view of the tea, coffee and cardamom plantations in Munnar. The rolling hills, the lush mountain and the breathtaking scenery here is ideal for trekking and long mountain walks.
Devikulam (7 km from Munnar): This idyllic hill station with its velvet lawns, exotic flora and faunna and the cool mountainain air is rare experience. The Sita Devi Lake with its mineral waters and picturesque surroundings is a good picnic spot. The lake is also ideal for trout fishing.
Pallivasal (8 km from Munnar): This is the venue of the first Hydro Electric Project in Kerala and a place of immense scenic beauty.
Attukal (9 km from Munnar): A panorama of waterfalls and rolling hills, Attukal, located between Munnar and Pallivasal, is a feast for the eyes. The place is also ideal for long treks.
Nyayamakad (10 km from Munnar): Located between Munnar and Ramayana, Nyayamakad is a land of breathtaking waterfalls. The waters cascade down a hill from a height of about 1600 meters. The enchanting surroundings make and excellent picnic spot and trekking point.
Chithirapuram (10 km from Munnar): With its sleepy little cottages, bungalows, old playgrounds and courts, Chithirapuram still exudes an old world charm. Home of the Pallivasal Hydel Power Project, this hill town is also famous for its picturesque tea plantations.
Mattupetty (13 km from Munnar): Situated at a height of 1700 m, Mattupetty is known for its highly specialized dairy farm - the Indo-Swiss Liver stock Project. Over a 100 varieties of high yielding cattle are reared here. Visitors are allowed into 3 of the 11 cattle sheds at the farm. The Mattupetty lake and dam, just a short distance from the farm, is a very beautiful picnic spot. The sprawling Kundala tea plantations and the Kundala lake are other attractions in the vicinity. DTPC Idukki provides boating facilities on the Mattupetty Dam. speed launch, slow speedboat and motorboats are available on hire.
Lock Heart Gap (13 km from Munnar): This is an ideal place for adventure tourism and trekking. The fresh mountain air, the mist-clad hills and panoramic view make it worthy of a visit.
Rajamala(15 km from Munnar): This is the natural habitat of the Nilgiri Tahr. half the world population of the rare mountain goat (Hemitragas hylocres)which is fast becoming extinct, is now found here. The Nilgiri Tahrs are today reduced to small herds found in the Eravikulam - Rajamala region. The total number of Nilgiri Tahrs in rajamala is estimated at 1317.
Echo point (15 km from Munnar): This scenic place gets its name from the natural echo phenomenon here. Echo point is on the way to Top Station from Munnar.
Eravikulam National Park (15 km from Munnar): The 97 sq. km. park is situated in the Devikulam taluk and is home to the Nilgiri Tahr. The Anamudi peak(2695 m) is located in the southern region of the park.
Sanctuary Visit: The park is divided into three regions - the core area, the buffer area and the tourism area. Visitors are allowed only to the tourism area which is in the Rajamala region. The Nilgiri Tahr can be observed at close quarters here.
Power House Waterfalls(18 km from Munnar): This waterfall on the way to Thekkady from Munnar cascades down a steep rock 2000 m above sea level. The spot is enriched with the scenic western mountain ranges, and is an ideal place for a break on the way to the Periyar Wildlife Sanctuary in Thekkady.
Kundala (20 km from Munnar): Kundala is a picturesque town on the way to Top Station. The Golf Course which belongs to Tata Tea Ltd. is located here. The Kundala artificial dam is another attraction. Aruvikkad Waterfall is also near Kundala.

EXCURSIONS FROM MUNNAR

Anayirankal (22 km from Munnar): It's a lush green carpet of tea plants. a trip on the splendid reservoir is an unforgettable experience. The Anayirankal Dam is surrounded by the Tata Tea Plantation and evergreen forests. It is an ideal picnic spot.
Top Station (32 km from Munnar): 1700 m above sea level, this is the highest point on the Munnar - Kodaikanal road. The rare Neelakurinji (Strobilanthus) belongs to this region. This plant blooms once every twelve years bathing the hillsides in bright blue. Top Station also offers a panoramic view of the neighboring state of Tamil Nadu.
Marayoor(40 km from Munnar): This is the only place in Kerala that has a natural growth of sandalwood trees. The sandalwood factory of the forest Department, the caves(Muniyaras) with murals and relics from the New Stone Age civilization and the children's park spread across a hectare of land under the canopy of a single banyan tree are of great interest to tourists. Thoovanam waterfall and Rajiv Gandhi National Park are also nearby.
Cheeyappara: The Cheeyappara and Valara Waterfalls are located between Neriamangalam and Adimali on the Kochi - Madurai highway. The Cheeyappara waterfalls cascade down in seven steps. It is a real feast for the eyes. This is also a great place for trekking.
Meenuli: It is noted for two acres of evergreen forests upon a huge rock. The rock is more than 500 acres in area and an ideal spot for mountaineering.
Malankara Reservoir (6 km from Thodupuzha): Located on the Thodupuzha - moolamattam road, this artificial lake is accessible by road. The reservoir is ideal for boating and fishing.
Thommankuthu (17 km from Thodupuzha):The seven step waterfall here is a much loved picnic spot. At each step there is a cascade and a pool beneath. Thommankuthu is an ideal place for adventure tourism.
Keezharkuth (25 km from Thodupuzha): The rainbow waterfalls which cascade down a rock from a height of about 1500 mt is a wonderful attraction of this spot. It can be seen throughout the year in full swing. The forest around this spot is home to various medicinal plants. It is an ideal place for rock climbing, mountaineering and camp trekking.
Palkulamedu (12 km from Idukki): Kochi, Alappuzha and other nearby towns can be seen from this peak which is located 3125 m above sea level.
Kalveri Mount: This is famous pilgrim centre on the way to Kattappana.
Ramakalmedu (16 km from Nedumkandam, Thekkady - Munnar road): Rolling green hills and the fresh mountain air make Ramakalmedu an enchanting retreat. The hilltop also offers a panoramic view of the picturesque villages of Bodi and Cumbum on the eastern slope of the Western Ghats. Distance 45 km from Idukki, 40 km from Thekkady and 75 km from Munnar.
Chinnar Wild life Sanctuary (60 km from Munnar): Situated on the Tamil Nadu border, the Chinnar wildlife Sanctuary is spread across 90.44 sq.km.
Animals: Most of the South Indian wild animals can be found in the forest. These include the grizzled giant squirrel, chambal squirrel, elephant, sambar deer, gaur etc.
Birds: Jungle fowl, myna, laughing thrush, black bulbul, peafowl etc.
Valara (10 km from Adimali on the Kochi - Madurai highway): Valara has a chain of waterfalls surrounded by thick green forests.
High Range Club: Charmingly colonial in style, this clubhouse built of wicker and teak a till serves as a social centre for the far-flung farmers of the region around Munnar. The club houses an elegant lounge and dining room, the obligatory gentlemen's bar, a billiards room, a library etc. Entry is limited to members only.
Trekking points in Munnar: Anamudy - Rajamala - Meesapulimala - Top Station - Kundala - Devikulam.
Arranged Sight seeing tours: Sightseeing tours are arranged from the District Tourist Information Office, Thekkady Jn., Kumily. Tours cover spice plantations, herbal gardens, tribal settlements, other places in and around Munnar etc.
Mountain climbing, paragliding & rock climbing: Track finder, Sandal valley tours: Marayoor, Chinnar.

PLANTATIONS OF MUNNAR

Tea (Scientific Name: Camellia sinesis): Tea plantations in South India are located on the Western Ghats, the eastern part of the central Kerala and adjoining parts of Tamil Nadu, Usually at an elevation of 4300 to 6200 ft. above sea level. The high ranges of Munnar were earlier known as Kanan Devan Hills, named after a certain Kanan Devan, who had been a landlord in the Anchanad Valley on the eastern side of the district. The cultivation started on the Nilgiris in 1832 on an experimental basis, and later in 1878 was taken up on the Kanan Devan Hills in Munnar. Today tea is cultivated on 24,000 hectares of land in Munnar, Peermade and Devikulam areas with an annual yield of 47568 metric tones.
Tea Processing: The tender tea leaves collected from the plantations are withered in hot air at the factory and then sent to the rollers. After being rolled into particles and femented, they are fed into driers before they are ready to be packed.
Medicinal value of tea: ◊ Stimulates the central nervous system ◊ leads to increased period of awakening ◊ Prevents drowsiness and dullness & Keeps alert the intellectual faculties.
Coffee: Coffee cultivation in India dates back to 1600 AD when Ba Abadan, a Muslim saint from the holy city of Mecca brought seven precious coffee seeds and sowed them in the Chandragiri Hills near Chikmagalore in Karnataka. The main varieties of coffee cultivated today are Robusta and Arabica. Coffee plantations occupy 15,400 hectares in Devikulm, Peermede, Thodupuzha and Udumbanchola taluks of Idukki. The average yield per hectare is 320 metric tons.
 

◊ Top station: The highest point on the Munnar – Kodaikanal road.
◊ Mattupetti: The Indo-Swiss Dairy Farm.
◊ Devikulam: Hill station.          
◊ Thattekkad: Bird Sanctuary.
◊ Eravikulam: National Park.
◊ Rajamalai: Half the world population of the near extinct Nilgiri Tahr is found here.
◊ Bhoothathankettu; Valar; Cheeyapara; and Thomankuthu Waterfalls.
◊ Marayoor: The only place in Kerala that has a natural growth of sandalwood trees.
◊ Meenuli: Trekking Destination.
◊ Malankara Reservoir: The reservoir is ideal for boating and fishing.
◊ Chithirapuram Hill Station: Home of the Pallivasal Hydel Power Project.