This review is about Munnar, one of the prominent hill stations of South India. Having visited the other 3 hill stations of South India, namely Ooty, Kodaikanal and Yercaud, we decided to finish our hill station round with a 3 day visit to Munnar
The State
Munnar is one of the prominent locations in Kerala, which is referred to as God’s own country. Kerala is without doubt endowed with abundant blessing from nature and the greenery, mountains and waterfalls attract thousands of visitors to Kerala.
The Place
Munnar is located in Idukki district in Kerala and is around 138km from Kochi. You can reach Kochi by flight/train/bus from almost all cities of India. From Kochi, you can take a bus or cab (one way charge Rs.1500) to reach Munnar.
The word Munnar is derived from the Malayalam words Munnu (three) and Aru (river) – it is the confluence of three rivers Muthirappuzha, Nallathanni and Kundala. Munnar is around 2000 metres (6500 feet) above sea level and enjoys a cool and pleasant weather throughout the year.
When to Go
You can visit Munnar throughout the year, thanks to the great climate. But summer is peak season, since most people come to the hills to escape the heat of the plains. Munnar weather is cool in the day time and very cold at night. The rainy season can be avoided, because rains in Kerala are heavy and landslides are common in the hill regions. But if you visit at the end of the rainy season, you can see the waterfalls overflowing, which is a great sight.
Reaching There
The route from Kochi to Munnar is via Muttupazha-Kothamangalam-Adimali. The journey takes around 3.5 – 4 hours. Till Kothamangalam, you have to suffer the heat and humidity, but from there on, you climb the hills and can enjoy the cool weather and the greenery. The roads are full of winding curves and it is advisable to travel on an empty stomach. Don’t ever travel with a full tummy!!
What to See
Munnar is a heaven for tourists. Lots of places to see. There are two types of visitors – those who want to spend time visiting verdant locations and the others who just want to relax and enjoy the beauty of nature. Munnar is the best place for both kinds of visitors.
Places to see include:
1) Rose Garden : A well-maintained botanical garden, with plenty of plants, including some rare plants. Great place to take photos. Entry fee : Rs.10/- Rs.20/- for camera
2) Matupetty Dam : Another good spot to take photos and enjoy the river. A major attraction is boating – a speed boat ride (Rs.350/-) on the river is a must. Unfortunately, we missed this as the first time, it was closed for lunch and in our second visit, there was such a rush, that they closed an hour before time!!
3) Kundala Lake : is another pleasant spot and it is a picnic spot. You can opt for row boating or pedal boating here. There is also a Shikara boat, but unfortunately, no boatsmen.
4) Echo point : Tourists scream their lungs out to hear their voice come back at them. There is also a beautiful lake with pedal boating.
5) Top Station : is located on the Kerala-TN border. You need to walk uphill to reach the entry point. From there you take a ticket (Rs.15/-) and walk around ¼ kms downhill to reach a viewing platform, from where you can get a wonderful view of the hills of Tamil Nadu. But once you finish, the climb uphill will sap your energy. Not recommended for those with BP/heart problems.
6) Eravikulam National Park : We skipped this place, because the only animal present here is the the Tahr (mountain goat).
7) Waterfalls : Lots of waterfalls – there are two waterfalls on the way to Munnar, which are a great opportunity for photo shoots. Another waterfall not to miss is the Chinnanakal waterfalls, on the Madurai road. The road is misty and a great pleasure. The sun plays hide and seek and you can see the waterfalls sometimes and sometimes the view is blocked. A real pleasant place. But be careful, if you slip on the rocks, you will plunge downhill!!
Where to Stay
Lots of hotels and homestays. Most of the hotels are located outside the town and hence, you have to depend on them on food. So we decided to stay at a homestay in the heart of the town, called Rheinberg. It is a wonderful place and I will be posting a review on it soon. Prominent hotels include Deshadan resorts, Hotel Dhanyashree, Eastend Edassery, Abad Copper Castle, etc.
Where to Eat
Munnar, like the rest of Kerala is a treat for non-vegetarians, lots of options available. Vegetarians however have fewer options. Saravana Bhavan in the heart of the town offers classic South Indian food, but the place is always crowded, but the taste is excellent. There are a couple of restaurants like Purohit and Mahaveer which offer North Indian/Gujarathi/Rajasthani food. But these places are overpriced and the food is very average.
What to do
Sightseers, of course have a lot of places to visit. Other things to do include:
a) Shopping : Munnar has tea estates everywhere. Wherever you look, you can see tea estates. You can get different types of tea. Spices, home made chocolates are some of the other attractions. Shops are available in the town and also at all tourist spots.
b) Horse riding : is available near most of the lakes.
c) Elephant rides : are another attraction and available near Matupetty. There are also many private places where elephant rides are offered (at exorbitant rates).
d) Trekking : Trekkers can enjoy a trek to the Anaimudi peak (which is the highest peak in South India and its height is next only to Everest).
However, if you have come to relax, book a resort and just enjoy a relaxing time enjoying the beauty of nature.
Negatives
Lots of positives. But a major negative is the language problem. Very few people know English and even Hindi is not all that popular. I don’t know head or tail of Malayalam. But fortunately, I know Tamil and hence I could manage. I spoke so much of Tamil, that even when I came back to Bangalore, I was speaking in Tamil with the cab driver!!!
The local cuisine uses coconut oil for everything. Also, red rice is common here. It may not be palatable to everyone. Also, beef and pork are commonly eaten here, which everyone may not enjoy.
Recommendation
For all those who love nature, Munnar is a must visit. Its mountains, waterfalls and abundant greenery is a sight for sore eyes. Its pleasant weather ensures that you will have a wonderful time here.
Do visit Munnar once, you will carry back the pleasant memories of your visit for a long time.
Photos posted at https://mouthshut.com/gallery/myphoto.php?user=deepak27&catname=Munnar
