Pallivasal
Pallivasal, a small hilly village is about 8 km away from
Munnar town.
There are several scenic spots on the slopes of Pallivasal. The hills here are ideal for short treks.
Pallivasal is also home to the first hydro-electric project in the State. The 37.50-MW power station is
situated in a scenic landscape which travellers can visit with the permission of station authorities.
Pallivasal in
Munnar is really amazing destination with various attractions.
The nature lovers will sure like this place very much as it is quite unique with so many rolling hills
and lots of tea gardens. Pallivasal is a small village with lot to offer to its tourists.
This place is the perfect pick for day excursions, picnics, hiking and the camping.
Eravikulam National Park
The most sought-after destination in
Munnar is the Eravikulam National Park, the first of its kind
in Kerala, where the endangered Nilgiri Thar (Hemitragas hylocres) - an endangered species of mountain goats, is protected.
Spread over 97 sq. km., this park holds the largest viable population of Tahr, several other species
of rare animals,lion-tailed macaque, leopards,tigers and the rare splendor flora and fauna. birds and butterflies.
The park offers a magnificent view of the tea plantations and also of the rolling hills embraced by
layers of mist. The park becomes a hot destination when the hill slopes get covered in a carpet of blue,
resulting from the flowering of Neelakurinji. It is a plant common to this part of the Western Ghats
which blooms once in twelve years.Eravikulam National Park is 13 km from
Munnar.
Mattupetti Dam
Mattupetty is located 13 km away from
Munnar. Here you can enjoy the greenish valleys and feel the
fabulous climate around. The main attraction of Mattupetty is the dam and the lake here.Nestled inside
the hills of
Munnar and very near to the Anamudi peak lays Mattupetty, the hill station at a height of
1,700 m.The Mattupetty dam is a storage concrete gravity dam. The dam was constructed under the Pallivasal
Hydro-electric project in the late 1940s, for the purpose of water conservation and power generation.
Now the dam is a vital source of electricity generation in Munnar and also a haven for many wild animals
and birds due to its constant water availability.The most attractive part of Mattupetty dam is its still
water which reflects the tea garden around. You can engage yourself with water sport activities like speed
boating and enjoy the pretty natural surroundings of this beautiful dam. Adventure lovers also have options
here like trekking in the Shola forest.In the midst of the hills, surrounded by the tea gardens, Shola
forest and hilly woods lays a beautiful lake, just a few miles away from the Mattupetty dam. The serene
ambience of the lake will take you to a world of peace. You have endless options – either you can go for
boating in the lake or you can sit on the shore enjoying the tranquility here. Tourists can go for a speed
boat, pedal boat, motor boat or row boat.Mattupetty is also known as ‘cattle village’, the name which
came from the famous Indo Swiss farm project or Livestock project. You can see hundreds of varieties of
high yielding cattle in this farm. The sight of the cattle grazing freely on the hills of the wide farm
is a unique experience which any tourist can have ever in his life.The farm is around three kilometer
away from the Mattupetty Dam and is dedicated to cattle development and research centre set up by the
Government of Switzerland.
Echo Point
A 15 km travel from
Munnar will take you to Echo Point where you will have to pass to get to The Top Station.
It is called such because of the natural phenomenon of hearing echoes while you are there.
Echo Point is a must-see destination for all travelling to visit the Top Station.
This scenic place gets its name from the natural echo phenomenon here. Echo Point, situated on
the way to Top Station from
Munnar is a stopover for tourists visiting Top Station - the highest
point in
Munnar.The brilliance of clustered tea plantations, spice and coffee gardens gave it an immense
popularity amongst trekkers and tourists. In a wholly serene and refreshing environment, strollers and
trekkers can move along the smooth slopes and selfie moments of serenity and bountiful natural beauty.
It is a popular adventure tourism destination; trekking and nature walks are popular activities in this
scenic destination with beautiful views of the green hills.It is also famous for the rare Neelakurinji
(Strobilanthus) blooms here. Boating Options are also available here.Its green grasslands and adventure
sports make it a hot favorite amongst tourists.
Top Station
Top Station is a tourist destination in the Kannan Devan hills of
Munnar. It is part of Theni District in
the state of Tamil Nadu .This area is popular for the rare Neelakurinji flowers. The Kurinjimala Sanctuary
is nearby. Top Station is the western entrance to the planned Palani Hills National Park.
Top Station, located around 32 km away from
Munnar, is the highest point (1700m) in Munnar,
on the Munnar-Kodaikkanal road. The place falls on the Kerala-Tamil Nadu border. Here you can enjoy the
panoramic view of Western Ghats and the valley of Theni district of Tamil Nadu.
Top Station got its name from the fact that it was the uppermost railway station located in the Kundala
Valley. At this highest point, you may feel that the clouds are just a hand touch away from you.
The destination is famous for the Neelakurinji flowers (Strobilanthus), which used to bloom once in
twelve years. The bloom of these rare flowers will give the destination a different bluish look.
Walk a short but steep walk to the spectacular viewing area at Top Station. The rewards all come at
this summit, where the air is crisp and the views complete and dramatic. The uneven peaks of the Western
Ghats, the rolling plains and immaculately laid-out tea plantations are all around.
Kundala Lake
Kundala is a picturesque place, about 20 km from
Munnar on the way to Top Station. It is at a height of
1700 meters above sea level. It is located at a distance of 20 kilometer from
Munnar. In Kundala,
cherry blossoms appear twice in a year. The famous Neela Kurunji flowers which bloom once in
twelve years bloom in the hills and valleys around Kundala Lake.
There is an artificial dam in Kundala which is another major attraction here.
It is Asia’s first Arch dam. The boating experience at this dam is a wonderful experience
beyond words. Boating facilities namely pedal boats, Kashmiri shikkara boats and row boats
are available on rent to make your trip more enjoyable. A Golf Course is also located here
which belongs to Kundala lake, Munnar Tata Tea Ltd. Aruvikkad Waterfall is also situated
nearby Kundala. The Sethuparvathi dam built in 1946 as a part of Pallivasal hydroelectric
project is a sight to behold.
Munnar is the nearest town to Lake Kundala and is well connected by road transport,
mainly buses and taxis. The nearest railway station is either Ernakulam or Kottayam.
You can get hired vehicles such as private cabs and taxis from the railway station
to reach Lake Kundala.
Kundala is an idyllic place in
Munnar located on the way to Top Station or Top Slip.
Surrounded by rolling hills and valleys of dense forests, Kundala is known for the
Kundala Arch Dam or Sethuparvati Dam and Kundala Lake. Tourists often go to the top
of Kundala Dam to have a panoramic view of the catchment area of the Dam. Tourists
visiting Kundala Lake often go for a ride in Kashmiri – Shikara boats. Pedal boats
are also available at Kundala Lake.
Experience rowing a boat in the middle of this beautiful lake while taking in the magnificence of the
surrounding forest.
Kolukkumalai Tea Estate
Located high on the slopes of Meeshapulimala, Kolukkumalai ,35 km away from
Munnar is perhaps the
estate with the highest grown
tea in the world! Started in the early 1900s the estate produces tea using the conventional method in
the time-tested tea factory. Little has changed here since the colonial planters left leaving behind
their legacy of one of the best quality tea you can get in South India. The factory at the center of
the estate has stood for several generations, having been built more than 70 years ago
At 8,000 feet, the world's highest tea estate draws visitors for both its products and its
panoramic views.
For those hoping to visit an authentic tea estate to see tea processed in the
orthodox method there is no better place to go than the Kolukkumalai Tea Factory.
The tea grown on these slopes are special as the quality of tea improves with altitude
and the orthodox process of manufacture helps retain all it's flavor! The tea produced
at the factory is much sort after for its distinctive flavor and aroma. Kolukkumalai
gets a fair number of day visitors to enjoy the spectacular sunrise over the Palani hills,
the cool climate and obviously, visit to the factory where tea is still made using the orthodox
method. What most day visitors miss is the opportunity to walk the hills above the estate and
maybe a trek up Meeshapulimalai, an imposing peak at an elevation of 2640meters (8661 feet)
above sea level!
On clear nights, you can see Kodaikanal from the estate because of its height. The rejuvenating
fresh air is a blessing in this place.
Go on a guided tour through the factory. Tea lovers will be pleased to sip different varieties
of tea from the tea tasting center here. . Orthodox tea-making is a seven-step process that
includes withering, rolling, sieving, fermenting, drying, fiber extraction, and grading.
All of this work happens in the small factory that has not been changed since the British
constructed it in the 1930s.Those wanting to take home the flavour, can buy fresh packets
from the outlet attached to the factory.
Pothamadu
Pothamedu - a small village inhabited - 6 km far from
Munnar is where you can find intriguing
plantations of tea, coffee and cardamom. Strolling along the plantation and enjoying the natural
scent of the crops will be invigorating.Pothamedu is one of the major plantation hubs of Munnar.
It has wide overlooking site from top view of the place. Even the 60 km view of Idukki Arch Dam from
the Pothamedu can still be perfectly viewed. Pothamedu View Point is one of the magnificent view points,
which gives an excellent panoramic view of the tea, coffee and cardamom plantations in the valley.
The rolling hills, the lush mountain and the breathtaking scenery here is ideal for trekking and
long mountain walks. The cool air and the splendorous mounts filled with tea plantations will take
your breath away. Pothamedu added as the must-view spots in
Munnar.
The panoramic view of greenish tea, coffee and cardamom plantation and the cloud kissing mountain is exciting one.
Manicured tea gardens, lush coffee plantations and wood-shaded cardamom estates, with stretches of 'potha grass'
(from which the name is derived) covered hills all combine to make this place unforgettable.
Also seen are the popular Pallivasal Tea Factory and a hydroelectric power plant. The area offers an excellent
opportunity to connect personally with nature. Trekking, sight-seeing and nature walks along the
mountains are popular activities amongst tourists at Pothamedu View Point.
Attukal waterfalls
Attukal Waterfalls, 9 km away from
Munnar is
an idyllic spot surrounded by verdant rolling hills. This is a favourite
location for trekkers. Attukal Waterfalls gathers its real beauty soon after the monsoon months
of June, July and August.Attukal Waterfalls is a famous spot frequented by both tourists as well
as natives.Prior to the dense forests of
Munnar, on the way to Pallivasal, lays the cascading
Attukal Waterfalls. The cascading fall of the waterfalls can be seen from far off. As you get
closer to the falls you can see the pearly white water streaming and flowing down, twisting,
turning and shooting past, over and under massive smooth, glistening boulders as it makes it
journey downstream.You can approach the Attukal waterfalls through a narrow wooden bridge.
Ice cold, the water gushes around in a steady rhythm with mist rising and at times the entire
region around the waterfall becomes foggy and glowing. The walk up to the waterfalls is a treat
in itself. Towering hills wrapped in green and blooming with seasonal flowers fill the horizon as
far as you can stretch your gaze. If the water level is low you can walk up to the rocks and splash
around in the water. Serene and romantic, Attukal waterfalls are also an excellent site for a spot
of trekking.Be sure to take a picture of this one of kind scenery.
Marayoor
is a little further from
Munnar but it is well worth the trip to see an intricate piece of history
with relics and murals coming from the stone age within the caves
Marayur or Marayoor is a town is located 42 kilometers north of
Munnar connecting
Munnar with Udumalpet,
Tamil Nadu. Marayur is the only place in Kerala that has natural sandalwood forests. Ancient dolmens
and rock paintings in Marayur date back to the Stone Age. Marayur has more than 1000 species of
flowering plants and is a well-known repository of medicinal plants. Chinnar - the wildlife sanctuary
in Marayur - has recorded the largest number of reptilian species, including the mugger crocodile,
in Kerala. With 225 recorded species of birds, it is one of the richest areas of south India in avian
diversity.The phenomenon of butterfly migration occurs in between the monsoons. Marayoor as a pristine,
heavenly and unexplored tourist spot is comparable to Munnar which is one of the most sought after hill
stations in India in every respect. The place is especially an excellent trekking spot for adventure
seekers. Marayoor houses the ‘muniyaras’ or the stone coffins with underground tunnels, which date
back to the Neolithic period. A children's park formed under the canopy of a single Banyan tree spreads
across a hectare of land and is a wonderful sight. Then there is the Thoovanam Waterfalls where one can
spend endless hours romancing with nature.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.If you are lucky enough to reach Marayoor in
the sugarcane harvest season, you can watch how the sarkara balls are made.Another interesting sight
in Marayoor would be a scenic river called Pambar which flows between the villages of Marayoor and
Kanthalloor.
