Munnar- A heaven of peace and tranquility!!

 

Munnar - breathtakingly beautiful - the idyllic tourist destination in God's own country. 

Awake to a refreshing experience

Its five past five in the morning. Atop a scenic hill in Munnar, surrounded by wild blooms in the brilliant shades of yellow and blue, a young couple is awaiting the sight of a lifetime. In the gentle silence a cool breeze came tousling their hairs and a little bird lazily flew out of the nearby woods to the swirling clouds… and finally…the magical moments arrived.

Out in the horizon, the sun peeped through the clouds slowly revealing a vast landscape radiating in the golden rays. Everything around them, the mist-clad hills, valleys and the woods are enlivening up… the couple savors an amazing sight of nature at its very best mood.

Every year thousands of travellers from around the world reach Munnar, the famed South Indian hill station, to enjoy their holidays in a magnificence called nature. Right from a glorious sunrise, holidaying is a refreshing experience in Munnar which would live in their memories for ever.

Photo: Devikulam Lake , Munnar

Munnar is situated at the confluence of three mountain streams - Mudrapuzha, Nallathanni and Kundala. 1,600 m above sea level, this hill station was once the summer resort of the erstwhile British Government in South India. Sprawling tea plantations, picture-book towns, winding lanes and holiday facilities make this a popular resort town. Among the exotic flora found in the forests and grasslands here is the Neelakurinji. This flower which bathes the hills in blue once in every twelve years, will bloom next in 2018. Munnar also has the highest peak in South India, Anamudi, which towers over 2,695 m. Anamudi is an ideal spot for trekking.

 Explore some of the options in and around Munnar that would provide you ample opportunities to enjoy the captivating hill station of Munnar.

Eravikulam National Park- A Home for Nilgiri Thhr!!

Eravikulam National Park and the Nilgiri Tahr is considered to be the icon of tourism in Munnar. The national park is also famous for its Neelakurinji population. In 2006, the place witnessed the rush of tourist both domestic and international to sight the rare flowers. Now we have to wait till 2018, to watch the same rush, to see the gorgeous blooming of the flowers after long 12 years. At this place, you can witness the highest peak in South India, Anamudi. A trekking to this peak will no doubt energise you. When you stand yourself on the top of this peak, you will feel that you are standing very close to the sky and very soon you can touch the sky.

 

 Photo: Anaimudi Peak

Mattupetty

A 13-km drive from Munnar on a winding road cutting through lush greenery would take you to the Mattupetty hills. The hills are situated at about 1,700 m above sea level. Besides the green rolling hills, the attractions here include a dam, lake and a dairy farm of international standards. About 7 km from Mattupetty is Kundala, another beautiful picnic spot where large green tea plantations and a dam with a scenic reservoir await travellers.

Mattupetty dam and lake
Boating on the calm serene Mattupetty lake is a not-to-miss affair. The lake is on the border of a forest and if the travellers are lucky they could have the sight of elephant herds strolling on the grass land. The District Tourism Promotion Council (DTPC) of Idukki operates boat services in the lake. You could hire a speed launch, slow speedboat or an ordinary motorboat to explore the lake.

Kundala
A short drive from Mattupetty would take you to Kundala, a small town amidst the wild and greenery. A stroll through the sprawling tea plantations would be one among the joyous moments of your travel. Kundala is situated about 20 km away from Munnar.

Another attraction here is the Kundala dam and a scenic lake where boating facilities are available. Row boats, pedal boats and shikara-style boats floating on the lake would be temptations to any traveller.

Kundala Club
The Kundala Club, which boasts of a proud past dating back to the colonial era, is another interesting place to visit. The Club has a golf course and you can have a game with the permission of the Club Secretary. The clubhouse and premises are worth a visit.

Marayoor

It’s not just sights that make Marayoor, a scenic locale situated around 40 km away from Munnar, special. Besides two pre-historic sites, a sandalwood forest and vast sugarcane farms known for a tasty variety of solid molasses (sarkara in Malayalam) are among the attractions of Marayoor.

Muniyara (dolmenoid)
An impressive pre-historic site at Marayoor is a must-see recommendation for those with an interest in history, archaeology or anthropology. The 2000-year-old megalithic monuments and the scenic location of the site would win the hearts of ordinary travellers too.

 Photo:Muniyara in Marayur Forest

Travellers can see here ‘Muniyara’ or dolmenoid cists which are burial chambers belonging to the megalithic age. The chamber is a simple one made of four granites slabs on edges and capped by another slab. Some dolmenoids consist of more than one burial chamber.

Ezhuthupara
Ezhuthupara, located inside the Marayoor Forest Range is a prehistoric site where cave paintings can be seen. Such cave paintings have not yet been discovered in any other part of the state and the site has been declared as a protected monument by the State Archaeological Department.

The paintings here are of two types – those drawn with reddish brown soil having iron minerals in different colours and those drawn with white clay soil. 

Sandalwood forest
Marayoor has a natural sandalwood forest with around 65,000 trees. The sandalwood of Marayoor is said to be of high quality.

 Photo: Maryur Sandalwood Forest

 There is a ‘Sandalwood Regeneration Experimental Plot’ here from where one can learn more on the fragrant tree. The State Forest Department runs a sandalwood depot here where travellers can see the processing of sandalwood. Those who still haven’t got enough to satisfy their curiosity can take a refreshing stroll in the forest, but only after taking permission from the Forest Department.

Marayoor sarkara
Marayoor and the nearby Kanthalloor are famous for a special variety of solid molasses produced here. The ‘Marayoor sarkara’, as it is known in the market, is of high quality with 97 percent sugar content. Marayoor falls in the rain shadow region and the quality of the molasses is attributed to the specialty in temperature and the ph value of the earth.

Though earlier sugarcane was cultivated in around 2,500 acres, today it has shrunk to around 1,500 acres. Molasses production is a cottage industry here. Don’t forget to taste it travellers, if you have planned a visit to Marayoor. And also, if you are lucky enough to reach Marayoor in the sugarcane harvest season, you can watch how the sarkara balls are made. If you want to take home some sweet balls, there are several local outlets here.

Pambar River
Another interesting sight in Marayoor would be a scenic river called Pambar which flows between the villages of Marayoor and Kanthalloor. Kerala has 44 rivers and the Pambar is one of the three rivers which flow towards the east.  Pambar originates in the Anamudi hills.

Chinnar Wildlife Sanctuary

The Chinnar Wildlife Sanctuary is a well-guarded treasure trove of nearly a thousand species of flowering plants. Its not just flora, the Chinnar forest is also home to a thriving animal life. From birds and butterflies to mammals and moths, the 90.44-sq km sanctuary is home to a wide variety of species. It is also credited with having the largest number of reptilian fauna among other sanctuaries in the state, including a celebrated inhabitant - the mugger crocodile.

 Photo: A stream In Chinnar Wildlife Santuary

 The Thoovanam waterfall, a spectacular waterfall located in the sanctuary, is also an attraction for travellers. A watchtower in the sanctuary offers an unbelievably beautiful view of the sanctuary, vast expanses of green forests extending to the nearby state of Tamil Nadu and far away mountains. The sanctuary, a trekker’s paradise, is situated about 60 km away from Munnar and the Munnar-Udumalpet road passes through the sanctuary. 

Neelakurinji

Floral paradise
Munnar is what you could imagine a dream destination to look like. And it turns a real fairytale land during the flowering season of Neelakurinji, when the sprawling hills drape themselves in a blue blanket of Neelakurinji blooms. Neelakurinji (Strobilanthes kunthiana) flowers once in every twelve years and thousands of travellers visit Munnar during this time to watch the rolling hills and the seemingly endless valleys bathed in the purplish blue. The last time Neelakurinji bloomed in Munnar was in 2006. Now it will again blossom in 2018.

Photo: Neelakurinji Flower

Neelakurinji or Stobilanthes kunthiana is a shrub found in the Western Ghats of south India. The plant which falls in the genus kunthiana was first studied and described by German botanist Christian Gottfried Daniel Nees von Esenbeck. About 250 species belong to the genus Strobilanthes and nearly 46 are found in India.  Like the Neelakurinji, most of the species show unusual flowering behaviour which range from annual to 16 years. The plant grows 30 to 60 cm high in normal conditions and up to 180 cm in congenial conditions.

Terminology

• Kingdom  - Plantae
• Division   - Magnoliophyta
• Class      - Magnoliopsida
• Order      - Lamiales
• Family     - Acanthaceae
• Genus     - Strobilanthes
• Species   - S. Kunthiana

Habitat
The habitat of Neelakurinji is confined to the shola grasslands of Western Ghats - the Nilgiri hills, Palani hills and the Eravikulam hills of Munnar.  Apart from the Western Ghats, Neelakurinji is also found on the Shevaroy hills in the Eastern Ghats.

In literature
The beauty and rarity of Neelakurinji has inspired many a poet in the states of Kerala and Tamil Nadu. Neelakurinji, for the poets, is a symbol of yearning, love and happiness.

Kuruntokai
Of the several poetic references, the Kuruntokai, a Tamil classic poetic work, stands out for its comparison of the blossoming with the eternal union of lovers. Interestingly, the classic doesn’t have any direct mention of the flower though an understandable imagery is beautifully described in it.

In the poem, Neelakurinji represents the self-awakening of a woman. In the Tamil tradition, a girl is considered to attain sexual maturity at the age of 12. The poet wonderfully uses the imagery of Neelakurinji to represent the self-awakening of womanhood.

Kuruntokai is the second book in Ettuthokai, a Sangam literature anthology. The Kuruntokai poems are based on the themes of love and separation. The work has contributions from numerous authors and Nachinarkiniyar, a scholar believed to have lived in the sixth or the seventh century, has annotated the work.    

Ideal spots
The grasslands at Top Station and Eravikulam National Park offer a spectacular view of the Neelakurinji blooms during the flowering season. Vattavada, Kovilur, Kadavari and Rajamala are other must-see spots. Tour operators and adventure clubs in Munnar coordinate special trekking programmes during the flowering season. The District Tourism Promotion Council of Idukki also helps travellers to explore the hills.

TATA Tea Museum

The Tata Tea Museum in the Nallathanni Estate tells the eventful story of Munnar; its transformation from an uninhabited stretch of forest land to a plantation town. The highlights of the museum include old machineries used for tea processing, photographs and some other curious displays that throw light on the efforts of some adventurous planters who dared to conquer the wild with minimal equipment and little resource.

Photo :Tea Museam

Rotorvane, an old tea roller used in the CTC type tea processing, would be a wonder for even those associated with modern tea industry. There is a CTC tea manufacturing unit in the museum where visitors can get to now the old method of tea processing. However, the real treat here would be the tea tasting unit where one can savour a variety of flavours.
   
And if you think that the displays are confined to just tea-making, you’re wrong. Like the ‘Pelton Wheel’, used at a power generation plant set up at the Kanniamallay Estate in 1920s, a variety of exhibits show the infrastructure development activities which have happened in Munnar in its journey towards becoming a major tea producing centre in the country.

Another proud display of the museum is a large sundial made in 1913. Placed on a granite block, the sundial was made by Art Industrial School, Nazareth, Tamil Nadu.

There is also a section featuring classic furniture belonging to colonial bungalows. The exhibits include wooden chairs, tables, decorative displays, magneto phone, iron ovens and a wooden bath tub. Office furniture of tea estates like typewriters, manual calculators and an EPABX dating from 1909 are also exhibited.

A burial urn discovered from the Periakanal tea estate in Munnar is also displayed at the museum. The urn dates back to second century BC.

The museum is open from 10.00 a.m. to 5.00 p.m. on all days. Travellers are advised to contact the museum authorities prior to the visit.

Kundala Valley Railway- An Unheard Truth!!

Behind the sprawling tea plantations of Munnar, lies an eventful story of some ambitious planters and the victory of their determination over challenges and adversities. There were ups and downs in the story and it wasn’t short of real downers. The Kundala Valley Railway, set up by the Kannan Devan Company for the transportation of tea, is one of them which was devastated in a deluge in 1924. Though stories of reconstruction are not rare in this hill country, this monorail goods carriage line was never rebuilt.  Photo: Main Railway Station  Now Regional Office of TATA Tea Munnar is one of the first places to have a railway line in the country. Ironically, the hill station and the Idukki the district to which it belongs do not have rail connection even today. Travellers to Munnar can even today see its scattered remains. The building that acted as the main railway station is today the regional office of Kannan Devan Hills Plantations Company Private Limited (KDHP) (formerly Tata Tea).        The beginning By 1920s Tata Tea became a solely tea producing company with around 16 fully equipped factories. A major chunk of the produce was exported to UK via the Tuticorin port in the nearby State of Tamil Nadu. Quicker modes of transportation became inevitable and Mr. W. Mime, the then general manager of the company, set up a mono rail cart road connecting Munnar and Mattupetty with Top Station. Five-hundred bullocks were brought to the hill station and a veterinary surgeon and two assistants from England were assigned with the task of attending to the animals. The goods carriage consisted of a simple platform running on a small wheel over the rail and a larger one pulled by bullocks. From Top Station, where the mono rail ends, tea was carried on ropeway to Kottagudi, which is also called the Bottom Station.  From Bottom Station it was transported to the lower country and then to Tuticorin. The containers used for packing were ‘Imperial Chests’ imported from the UK. In 1908, the monorail gave way to a light railway. Starting from the Munnar station, the service had two stations en route, at Mattupetty and Palaar, before ending the journey at Top Station.      In 1924, Munnar was hit by the worst flooding ever seen in the area. Besides causing extensive damages to plantations, roads and dwellings, the rains and the flood washed away the lifeline of Tata Tea, the Kundala Railway. The rail was virtually washed away in most parts making reconstruction unthinkable. Soon afterwards Tata Tea opted for ropeways for the transportation between Munnar and Top Station. The remains of the railway and the ropeway still exist on the Kundala - Top Station route. Interested travellers can go on a trail into a significant past of Munnar which chugged out into oblivion. First among them is the main railway station building, which now serves as the regional office of Tata Tea. The platform in front of the building has been converted as a road. And you could have some unexpected sightings of the old rails like the one used as a support beam on the main gate. Next on the trail is the Aluminum Bridge near the Munnar town. The bridge, originally set up for the railway track, has been converted as a road. However, one can spot its similarity to a railway bridge at the very first sight. The Tea Museum in the Nallathanni Estate also has a memorabilia of the Kundala Railway. Displayed here is a rail engine wheel of the first and only railway in Munnar.    The ropeway station in Munnar, which was once a hub of activities, is today a quaint location. The building here which was the starting point of the ropeway is today the store of Tata Tea. At Top Station, about 40 km away from Munnar town, the end point of the Kundala railway line, travellers can see the remains of the old railway station and the ropeway in the form of wheels, tracks, signboard etc.

 Things to do in munnar

1. Stroll past the estates

 

A walk through the aromatic tea gardens, scenic hills covered with green foliage and a camera in hand; there cannot be a better way to spend your evening!

2. Admire the splashing water streams

 

Munnar is dotted with majestic waterfalls that are surrounded by beautiful mountains of Western Gats

3. Go trout fishing amidst tea estates

 

A pleasant hill station replete with soothing greenery, Devikulam, quit close to Munnar has many tea gardens. Trout anglers may dip their fishing rods in the shimmering waters of Sita Devi Lake and enjoy abarbeque.

4. Meet the Nilgiri Tahr

 

The Eravikulam National Park shelters the rare Nilgiri Tahr, which is very near to extinction. They are friendly, docile and naturally tamed. Pat them or pose for pictures with them; you'll surely have plenty to brag about back home after meeting them!

5. Talk to yourself

 

Stand at the eco point, shout at your highest pitch and hear your voice coming back to you. The natural echo phenomenon here gives the place its name.

6. Learn the art of tae making

 

Visit the century-old tea factories where you can taste and pick up the finest tea in the country. Of most interest is the Tata Tea Museum where you can witness tea-processing.

7. Visit the Top Station Viewpoint

 

Top Station is the highest point on Munnar-Kodaikanal Road. Home to the rare Neelakurunji (Strobilanthud) flower that blooms every 12 years, it offers a panoramic view of Tamil Nadu.

8. Turn on the adventurer in you

 

Choose from an array of adventure sports that range from rock climbing, rappelling to paragliding and even cycling. Due to its natural beauty, Munnar is even more exciting for such activities.

9. Click at the photo point

 

This small place near the Mattupetty Dam is surrounded with woods and has a small stream that make for a picture perfect location.

10. Indulge at the Blossom International Park

 

The park with its meticulously planned garden, blooming flower-beds and beautiful surroundings is a popular hangout for nature lovers..

Best time to visit Munnar

The Winter Chill: December to February (ideal for honeymooners and adventure enthusiasts)
The Summer Breeze & Lush Tea Gardens: March to May

How to reach Munnar

By Air: Take a flight to Cochin International Airport, and get to Munnar by cab services available at the airport that usually cost INR 3,000 per person. Munnar is 125 km away from the airport.
By Train: The nearest railway station from Munnar is Kochi or Ernakulum. The stations are well connected to major cities like Delhi, Mumbai, Trivandrum, Chennai, & Bangalore.
By Road: Munnar is well connected to cities of Kerala and Tamil Nadu with Government run public transport buses plying from both places to Munnar.

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