Munnar - Kerala Series #2🗻
Time to witness the Kashmir (of South India)!
Yeah, its been a long time since the last Kerala Series (Just one year🫣 xD)
Okay, enough of getting away from Delhi and the snow-capped mountains of the Northern India.
Let’s tone it down to the pleasant Western Ghats during the blooming monsoon😍
Even, I got back from Delhi and settled down in my house for sometime, that’s when I kinda revisited my olden trip diaries, and even a drive to Munnar.
Now, let’s actually drive to the Kashmir (of South India)!🥰
History
The region has been inhabited by hunter-gatherer tribals like the Malayarayan and Muthuvan for thousands of years. In the early days, only Tamils & Malayalis lived there.
They were brought as workers in the tea plantations. Tradition states that Colonel Arthur Wellesley, later the Duke of Wellington, was the first British person to pass through Munnar during Tipu Sultan's campaign.
John Daniel Munro noted that much of Munnar's land was suitable for coffee plantations. Munro, Henry Turn and his half-brother AW Turner obtained ownership of the Cardamom Hills from the Raja of Travancore and began clearing forest around Devikulam in 1879.
The former Kunda Valley Railway in Munnar was destroyed by a flood in 1924, but tourism officials are considering reconstructing the railway line to attract tourists.
Places to Visit
Eravikulam National Park
Located a 45-minute drive away from Munnar, the Eravikulam National Park (also known as Rajamalai Wildlife Sanctuary) is a UNESCO world heritage site.
Elephant, Nilgiri langur, Nilgiri marten, Atlas moth (largest in the world), lion-tailed macaque, small-clawed otter, and a rare tiger or leopard are some of the main animal species that can be spotted here.
Kolukkumalai Sunrise Point
Located 35 km off Munnar is the Kolukkumalai Tea Estate, perched at an altitude of 7000 ft. above sea level. This orthodox tea factory lays claim to being one of the highest in the world and is famous for its flavoursome tea.
It takes about an hour to reach here by jeep from Munnar. There are local service providers who can take you for the sunrise. There is also an option to go one night before, and camp there overnight
Mattupetty Dam
Mattupetty Dam, situated 13 km off Munnar at 1700m above the sea level, is highly famous for the Indo-Swiss live stock projects.
This picnic spot is also popular among its visitors for various activities like speed boating and horse riding.
Top Station
Top Station is the highest point in Munnar at 6276 ft. It is the top place to visit in Munnar to enjoy the panoramic view of the majestic Western Ghats and valley of Theni District of Tamil Nadu.
Every 12 years, the rare Neelarkunji flowers bloom here.
Marayoor
Located just 40 kilometres away from Munnar is Marayoor, which is famous for its naturally growing sandalwood forest and dolmens from the Stone Age Civilisation. Wrapped in a wispy blanket of glorious clouds, Marayoor has hamlets, sugarcane fields, waterfalls, and bamboo forests making it an enchanting landscape of exquisite green beauty.
Waterfalls in Munnar
There are pretty much many waterfalls in and there at Munnar -
Attukaad Waterfalls
Cheeyapara Waterfalls
Periyakanal Waterfalls
Lakkom Waterfalls
There are still a lot of waterfalls inside private estates, which you can access if you have local contacts.
Monsoon at Munnar
If you are visiting Munnar in the months of June-July, be ready to drive amidst heavy rains or fog. The monsoons is pretty harsh on Kerala and Western Ghats, so winds are very heavy and can even push your car aside.
Particularly, if you are planning some estate or treks, opt for jeep rides, instead of taking any risk of driving there.
If you opt for the route via Theni-Bodi, then you just have to drive 12-14 kms in a two lane, till you cross the Tamil Nadu-Kerala border. After crossing the Kerala border, the roads are excellent, and there is no worry of driving even in heavy rains.
Remember not to litter around or use plastic in any tourist location you visit. There are hardly a few places like Kerala that have been maintained so well, with nature at its best.
Stay tuned to witness more of the Western Ghats and Backwaters of Kerala.
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