The hill resort of Munnar is one of the most popular tourist destinations in India. Munnar lies in the God's Own Country of Kerala. Besides being a hill resort Munnar is known a center for tea trade too. There are over thirty teagardens in and around Munnar. Get going on a bicycle at your own pace and unwind. Let the magic of Munnar bewitch you! The hill resort of Munnar derives its name from the fact that it lays at the confluence of three mountain streams. Literally in Tamil Munnar means "three rivers".

Location

The marvelous hill resort of Munnar lays at the confluence of three mountain streams namely Mudrapuzha, Nallathanni and Kundala, Since the British rule Munnar has been thronged by tourists. The lovely landscape, the teagardens and the pleasant weather make it a picture perfect destination. The hill resort is situated at an altitude of 1520 meters, in the eastern part of Kerala. The Western Ghats of Kerala stand close to Munnar. The highest peak of Anaimudi is quiet close to the hill resort. The hills neighboring Munnar present a spectacular sight only once in every twelve years. The Neelakurunji plant grows on the hills and bloom to cover the entire mountain range. You may check out the flowered plants in the year 2006.

The hill resort has been the place for summer retreat and tea plantations since long. Digging the past of Munnar reveals the list of tea planters that visited Munnar. With the passage of time the forested and home of wildlife- Munnar has become perfect for tea plantations. Sites to Visit.

In the hill resort of Munnar you get to bask in the beauty of nature. There are the gorgeous greens that rejuvenate all the senses.

Amongst the must visits in Munnar are the lavish and splendid tea gardens. The tea producing Munnar is the right place to know the tea processing best. Right from picking of the tealeaves in the estates and the gardens to the packing in the factories, you may see it all. There are guided tours to the factories at the hill resort of Munnar. You may even pick up freshly packed tealeaves as souvenirs from the factory itself.

The Christ Church of Munnar is another landmark of the hill resort. The church has been since the pre-independence days. Now the Sunday services are held here. The Christ church is the place to be at in case you are celebrating Christmas in Munnar.

Close to the marvelous hill resort of Munnar is the Devikulam Lake. The cool environs attract tourists to this lake. You may even try angling in the waters of the Lake. It is an ideal spot to unwind and relax. You may even be at the picturesque island in the lake with prior permission from the authorities.

Sites Near By

The hill resort of Munnar has several spots of tourist interest. Being in the lap of nature, the pristine and marvelous Munnar is an experience to be enjoyed.

The Mattupeety Lake is one of the major tourists attractions around Munnar. The Lake at a distance of thirteen km from Munnar, was created by a small hydro electricity dam is flanked by steep hills and woods all around. You may also check out the Indo-Swiss cattle-breeding centre cum dairy project here.

The Top Station is a vintage point around Munnar that offers panoramic views of the lovely landscapes and the valley.

At a distance of seventeen km from Munnar is the Rajamalai Wildlife Sanctuary. While in the sanctuary you can spot a variety of animals including the tahrs. The sanctuary also offers wondrous vistas of the valley. For adventurous activity seekers trekking is an option in the sanctuary.

The animal lovers at Munnar must visit the Ernakulum National Park. The park is nineteen km away from Munnar. The sanctuary is renowned as home to the mountain goat of the Nilgiri tahr. The two sanctuaries are just two kms from each other.

What to Buy

There are no special local handicrafts items of souvenirs that you may look forward to buying from Munnar. The hill resort is renowned for its tea gardens. Thus, you may pick up tealeaves from Munnar. The hill resorts has several shops, factories and outlets from where you may buy the tealeaves. The single item is known to please many with its flavor and taste. A must buy for the tea connoisseurs.

Adventure Sports

For the adventure seekers the hill resort of Munnar is fun. You may try fishing in the Devikulam Lake or indulge in sports like paragliding too.

One of the best options to explore the beauty of the Munnar is a bicycle ride. You can easily hire bicycles in the hill resort. In fact there are several bicycle riding routes that are popular with the tourists. At you're your pace you get to enjoy the lovely landscape of Munnar. Ride the bicycle and feast your eyes on the gorgeous greens that pass by. There are the wondrous valleys, ravishing rivers, tea estates and cardamom and sandalwood plantations that offer spectacular sights.

How to Reach

Local transportation in and around Munnar is easily available. You may opt for Taxis, auto rickshaws, bicycles or buses for commuting in Munnar. Hired cycles are a popular way of exploring the hill resort. There are several buses run by the state transport corporation that offer a guided tour of places in and around Munnar.

The airport at Cochin/Kochi caters to the air transportation to Munnar. It is the nearest airport at a distance of 130 km from Munnar. The railway station nearest to Munnar also happens to be that of Cochin-Kochi. The excellent road network links the hill resort of Munnar with the other important places of Kerala. It is well connected with places in Tamil Nadu also like Madurai and Coimbatore.

Best Time to Visit

The hill resort of Munnar, experiences cool weather all through the year. In the summer months you will need to carry some light woolens for protection against the chill. Whereas in winters, you should be, completely covered in woolens. The temperature drops down to as low as five degree Celsius. Thus you may visit Munnar anytime of the year besides the monsoons that last from June to September.