Munnar is such a beautiful place in Kerala, which cannot be portrayed on a single canvas. Everything and anything here will make us excited. The hills, the mist, the valleys, the streams, the waterfalls, tea plantations, rare flora, and fauna... It is a beautiful tea town in Idukki district of Kerala easily accessible from Kochi and Coimbatore. The gorgeous hill station is ideally placed in the South Western Ghats of India. With an area of around 557 sq km, Munnar in Devikulam Taluk is the largest panchayat in Kerala.
The beautiful sights of acres and acres of lush green tea plantations will make us realize that we have at last reached Munnar and of course, the place is so much known for its tea estates. It always carries the remnants of the history of tea cultivation in Kerala. Neelakurinji or Strobilanthus has a special status in the tourism map of this fascinating destination. The flower which blooms once in twelve years attracts lots of tourists from all over the world.
Munnar has emerged as an all-season destination. The tourist season at Munnar, like all the other popular tourist destinations in Kerala starts from August and runs up to March. However, unlike other destinations, Munnar has a summer season in April to May when crowds come to this cool hill station to escape the heat in the plains. Munnar is less crowded from June to July during the monsoon season.
The top 10 interesting place to visit in Munnar are:
Chinnar Wildlife Sanctuary:
The Chinnar Wildlife Sanctuary is located in the rain shadow region of Western Ghats and is home to a large number of plants and animals. Due to the significant variation in altitude and rainfall, Chinnar has a wide array of habitat types like deciduous forests, dry thorn scrub, riparian forests, shoals and grassland containing about 1000 species of flowering plants and a repository of medicinal plants. The sanctuary has recorded the largest number of reptilian fauna in Kerala including the mugger crocodile. 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.
Eravikulam National Park:
The park accommodates almost half of the world’s population of a rare species of mountain goat named the Nilgiri Thar. The highest peak in South India, Anaimudi (2695m) is located in the southern part of the park is an ideal spot for trekking. The Annamalai sub-cluster, including all of Eravikulam National Park, is under consideration by the UNESCO as a World Heritage Site.
Mattupetty Dam:
Mattupetty dam and its reservoir are located 13 km away from Munnar. This concrete gravity dam is built between the hill ranges and it is used mainly for water storage for hydroelectric projects. Its reservoir is an idyllic place to enjoy the serene nature. It is also said to be one of the waterholes where the elephants in the region often visit…
Kundala Lake:
Kundala Lake is an artificial reservoir of a minor arch-shaped dam huddled between the mountain ranges. It is about a 20 km drive from Munnar. There is boating facility there…And don’t forget to go for a Shikara boat ride while you are there!
Thattekkad Bird Sanctuary:
The Thattekkad Bird Sanctuary is a birder’s paradise with over 140 species including 11 endemics having been spotted over a visit. The vegetation in the sanctuary best for birding consists of tropical evergreen forest, though the evergreen vegetation can also make spotting difficult. Elevations around Thattekkad are over 1500 meters lower than in Munnar, the local temperatures are higher and birds became more active. The vegetation changes in this area over relatively short distances and with slight changes in elevation. The sanctuary also contains a large marsh where whiskered tern, bronze-winged jacana and noisy flocks of lesser whistling ducks can be spotted. In the dry season, many of the trees drop their leaves, making it relatively easy to spot the birds.
The Periyar Wildlife Sanctuary:
Periyar National Park is a sanctuary famous for its dense evergreen, semi-evergreen, moist deciduous forests and savanna grasslands. The park is home to herds of elephants, sambar deer, tigers, gaur, lion-tailed macaques and Nilgiri langurs. The most attractive feature of Periyar is the herds of wild elephants that gather around the artificial lake formed by the Mullaiperiyar Dam across the Periyar River. The Thekkady region around the park is a heaven for natural spices such as black pepper, cardamom, cinnamon, and clove.
Tea Plantations:
How can one resist a tea garden tour when you are in Munnar? Rolling hillsides covered with tea plantations is a sight to behold. The lush greenery and the soothing cold wind with a mild aroma of tea leave totally rejuvenate you.
Anamudichola:
Anamudi is the highest peak in the Western Ghats and South India and is situated 2695 meters above the sea level and is one of the most enchanting sights in Munnar. The place is ideal for trekking and offers many activities if you love to explore something adventurous as it is the highest point in India outside the Himalayas.
Top Station:
Top Station is a viewpoint at the highest altitude in Munnar and is located at a distance of almost 40+ KM’s from Munnar. If you are visiting Munnar, you need to be very lucky to reach top station when the sky is clear – without fog. It rains in Munnar frequently as a result of which fog covers the beautiful views from Munnar. The drive to the top station is pretty long but the drive has beautiful views, tea gardens and two dams on the way. It is better to visit the Top Station initially and visit the dams etc on the way back if you are planning to start early from Munnar.
Kurinjimala Sanctuary:
The sanctuary ensures the long-term protection of the unique biodiversity of the area, especially Strobilanthes Kunthiana (the Nilakurinji flower) and its habitat around Kottakamboor and Vattavada villages.
Munnar is one of the best tourist places in Kerala. So that it is famous for many luxury resorts and hotels for the tourist accommodation. Plan a trip to Munnar and select the best resort for your comfortable stay and packages to visit the whole Munnar.
For more information: http://www.tanduleisurehotel.com/
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