Munnar Tourism

Munnar is located in Idukki District, of the Southern State of Kerala in India, is greatly known for its splendid green mountains, Valleys and streams. Munnar is a peaceful hill station. This place is often frequented as a tourist spot. Munnar boasts of unending tea estates covering the hill station. Munnar offers not only the laid-back atmosphere of a quiet little tea town, but also plenty of opportunities to savour nature at its best. Beyond the estates are rich tropical forests which contain wildlife like the Nilgiri tahrs (ibex), sambars, gaurs, elephants and lion-tailed macaques .Munnar is located at the confluence of the mountain streams Mudrapuzha, Nallathanni and Kundala and is surrounded by the wild jungles and is rainy and cold for most of the season. The south India's highest peak Anamudi which is 2695 metres high is situated in Munnar. Among the exotic flora found in the forests and grasslands here is the "Neelakurinji". This flower that bathes the hills in blue once in twelve years will bloom this year 2006. While in Munnar, one can take part in the conducted tour of a tea factory to witness the process of tea dust being manufacturing, i.e. how a tea leaf is transformed to a cup of tea. Munnar is 133 km from Cochin and 148 km from Kottayam. The hill resort of Munnar is one of the most popular tourist destinations in India. Munnar lies in the God's Own Country of Kerala. Besides being a hill resort Munnar is known a center for tea trade too. There are over thirty teagardens in and around Munnar. Get going on a bicycle at your own pace and unwind. Let the magic of Munnar bewitch you! The hill resort of Munnar derives its name from the fact that it lays at the confluence of three mountain streams. Literally in Tamil Munnar means "three rivers". The culture of Munnar is a cosmopolitan culture. People from varied cultural backgrounds have added to the culture of Munnar. Numerous people and races have made their momentous contributions to the culture of Munnar. Hinduism is the principal religion in the city. Then there is a small percentage of Muslims and Christians as well.

Area 26.2 sq km
Altitude 1520 meters
Religion Hinduism, Islam, Christianity
Languages Malayalam, Tamil, English
Annual Mean Rainfall 2750 mm
Maximum Temperature 20°C
Minimum Temperature 5°C

Munnar is located at the Idukki district of Kerala State in South India. Munnar's mesmerising greenery, mountain scenery, calmness and cool refreshing air attracts honeymooners and tourists throughout the year. It is a weekend hideout location for domestic tourists during summer season. Foreign travellers likes watching the natural beauty of Kerala while the journey from Thekkady to Munnar. Munnar is at the confluence of three rivers. In Tamil, the word 'munnu' means "three" and 'aar' means "river". Hence "Munnar" is a shortened version of 'Munnu Aar'. The 3 mountain streams joining together here are Madurapuzha, Nallathanni and Kundala. Munnar is a commercial centre with one of the world's best tea estates. There are about 30 tea plantations in and around Munnar. Among these, majority of the plantations are owned by Tata Group's Kannan Devan Tea Estate. A visit to Munnar can witness the nurturing of tea in plantation to the process of manufacturing and packing. The tea estates, hills, lakes and forests inside Munnar area exposes it's beauty. The tea plants covered Munnar hills makes the feeling of seeing a wide green carpet.

Getting There

By Air -The nearest Airport from Munnar is at Cochin, which is roughly 121 km away. Near by airports are at Kochi (130 kms) and Madurai (142 kms)
By Rail - The nearest railway station from Munnar is Ernakulam junction at a distance of 127 km. Taxis are available for Munnar.
By Road - Munnar is accessible by road from most of the towns in Kerala. Munnar can also be reached from Madurai (6 hours) and Coimbatore (6 hours), which are located in the state of Tamil Nadu. The place is well connected by a well-developed network of road transport. 135 kms from Ernakulam, 100 kms from Thekkady, 300 kms from Thiruvananthapuram, 120 kms from Palani and 150 kms from Coimbatore.

Places to See

Munnar can be aptly called as a tourist paradise. It is a place where the tourists love to come but hate to leave. There are many attractions in the city, which the tourists love to visit. The major attractions are:
Anaimudi Peak - This is the highest peak in south India. You can have wonderful views from this peak, which are in a way a breathtaking holiday experience. This peak is a hub for various adventure sports like trekking, rock climbing and camping.
Echo Point - This place is located at a distance of approximately 15 kms from Munnar. This place has got its name from the natural echo phenomenon. The place is a major attraction of Munnar city. Its scenic beauty and mesmerizing charm is one of its kinds. Nyayamakad - This place is situated at a distance of approximately 10 kms from Munnar. This place is famous for the wonderful waterfalls.
Kuthumkal Waterfalls - The murky waterfall provides a scenic view of the water, cascading down from dazzling heights. The utter beauty of the place allures thousands of visitors every year.
Observatory Hills - This is a gorgeous hill located at Nedumkandam. It's an ideal location for people who are fascinated in watching the divine bodies, as the sky here is free from pollution.
Tea plantations - Munnar has an endless belt of tea plantations. People from all over the world come to seat these aromatic tea gardens.