Munnar the Evergreen Hill Station of Kerala
Best owed by bounties of nature Kerala is truly named as “God’s own country”. The houseboat ride along the emerald backwaters, lush green hills, ancient temples, the serene beaches with swaying palm trees and clear blue sea reflects the natural beauty of Kerala which attracts millions of international as well as domestic tourists to its bosom.
Munnar in Kerala is a beautiful hill station on the elevation of sixteen hundred meters in the confluence of three mountain streams Mudrapuzha, Nallthanni and Kundala. The hill station is about one hundred and thirty five kilometres from the harbour of Kochi. The nearest railway station is Aluva and the nearest airport is Cochin. The summer retreat of the British in the Colonial era is now a popular holiday destination for honeymooners and visitors. Munnar is small strip of paradise which can be explored on foot.
The first attraction on your Munnar tour is the tea gardens and the tea estates. Take a walk on the unending miles of tea bushes and click candid photos with your loved ones. There are about thirty tea gardens in Munnar which produce the finest blend of tea in South India. An early morning rise can give you the splendid view of the sun rise; the sun is visible over the horizon like the hot metal the sun slowly moving upwards to the sky. The ladies picking the tea leaves and the men maintaining the gardens is a common site.
Mattupetty Dam located at a distance of ten kilometres from Munnar is a popular picnic spot with speed boating and horse riding activities. The town is also famous for its specialised Indo- Swiss dairy farms and high yielding cattles. The farm was established in the year 1961 and is unique of its kind.
The Echo Point on the way to top station from Munnar is a small lake set amidst rolling hills. Yell out your name and hear the sound of your own voice returned manifold by the echo from the adjoining hills. Echo point is famous for its wood market so catch a souvenir from the shop.
Eravikulam National Park along the ridge of the Western Ghats is a home of rare collection of flora and fauna of the region. The park has the holds the highest number of endangered Nilgiri Thar. Other rearing species of the park are tigers, leopards, macaque, atlas moth etc. The highest peak of the south is the Anamudi gallantly towers the sanctuary. The place is also ideal for trekking, rock climbing and rappelling. So, explore the delights of nature and have a wonderful time.
About 32 kilometres away there is a Top Station believed to be the highest point in Munnar. On the way there is a beautiful town of Kundala with a golf course. You can reach Top Station on bus or on a jeep to view the downward rolling of the hills. The feeling of living above the cloud comes true in this part of Munnar. It’s in the Top Station you can witness the blooming of the Neelakurinji flowers which blossoms after every twelve years.
Other attractions of Munnar tour packages are Salim Ali Bird Sanctuary, Marayoor, Naimakkadu Waterfalls and Muniyara Dolmens. The silent verdant green hills of Munnar, the evergreen forests, mesmerizing tea garden and beautiful cascades of waterfalls are of scenic beauty and should be visited in a lifespan.
