Munnar, a beautiful locale in the Western Ghats is a part of the landlocked Idukki district inKerala. It is the abode of tea and spice plantations. The lush hill station boasts a cool climate and offers relief during the hot summer months from March to May.
Access
Munnar can be accessed only by road, but the hilly area is scenic and breath-taking and hence the journey is a fascinating experience
Accommodation
At Munnar there are a variety of resorts, hotels and home stays. Some of the resorts include Sterling Resorts, Mahindra Resorts, Chancellor Resorts, Bella Vista Resorts, Fort Munnar, Tea and Country owned by Kerala State Development Corporation (KTDC). Some of the hotels include Royal Retreat, Oaks fields, Isaac’s Residency, West Wood and Sun Mount View. The home stays include Munnar Retreat, Rose Garden, The Shade and Rapsy Home stay
Main Attractions
Take a tour of Mattupetti to see Kundala Lake; Hydroelectric Dam; the Highly Specialized Diary Farm, an Indo-Swiss live stock project; and Tea plantations. Visit Eravikulam National Park and on its southern side there is Anamudi, which is the highest peak at 2694 metres to the south of Himalayas. On its slope there are rare flowers like Neelakurinji that bloom once in twelve years and animals like tigers, sloth bears, Nilgiri langurs, panthers, and civet cats. Although ideal for trekking, it is one of the wettest areas of the world. Another attraction is Rajmalai, part of Eravikulam Wildlife Sanctuary for viewing the Nilgiri tahrs, the rare mountain goats that abide there. Lock Heart gap is ideal for trekking and adventure.
For more sightseeing visit Nyayamakad for the beauteous waterfalls; Devikulam in Sita Devi Lake for trout fishing; and Chithirapuram to view the Pallivasal Hydel Power Project. The Nilgiri region boasts of the Top Station that offers panoramic landscapes; Echo Point on the route to the Top Stations is a place where the natural phenomenon “echo” occurs; Anayirankal for seeing the reservoir and dam; Marayoor to visit the sandalwood factory; Children’s Park under a single banyan tree and Natural caves having relics from Later Stone Age Civilization and murals. Other tourist spots are Rajiv Gandhi National Park; Thoovanam; Cheeyappara and Vallara Waterfalls that cascade down in seven steps; Nadukani with lush hills, valley, fields, lilting streams, lake, murmuring grooves and animals like elephants, spotted samba deer, hornbill, and jungle mainah. Also visit Meenuli for trekking and viewing Bhoothathankettu and Lower Periyar Area.
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