The Kashmir of South India,
Munnar

Munnar is one of the most amazing and beautiful hill station in Kerala and is often referred to as the “Kashmir of South India”.

Tea Museum

There’s no visiting Munnar without a trip to the Tea Museum, just 2 km from the town, which finds a spot on every traveller’s checklist to the hill station. It is a walk through the history of tea in India, showcasing memorabilia that show the rise of tea plantations and the processing of the plant over the years. A Tata Tea initiative established in the Nallathanni estate in 2005, it is a tastefully-designed museum which does justice to its purpose. The museum is of relevance as it depicts the story of how a single commodity changed lives, as a means of livelihood to a much coveted commodity, from its early days to the Munnar which is associated with tea plantations today. One can see up close, a variety of tools to modern machinery.

Lockhart Gap

There’s no visiting Munnar without Lockhart Gap is a popular destination frequented by tourists. Located in Mattupetty, it is about 13 km from Munnar on the Munnar – Madurai National Highway. Lockhart Gap View Point is one of the most beautiful and soothing places to visit in Munnar. It is a must-visit for its fresh mountain air, panoramic view and mist-clad hills. It is known also for an ancient natural rock cave. The Lockhart Gap View Point offers a bird’s eye view of Bison Valley, which is named so because of the abundance of gaur, mistakenly called bison, found here earlier and the surrounding hills extending up to Thekkady. It is an ideal location for a picnic with your family and friends, adventure sports and trekking, both easy to tough ones.

Blossom Hydel Park

If flowers make your heart sing, then the Blossom Hydel Park is a sight to behold when in full bloom. Impressively maintained, the floral decoration and statues of animals in the park are worth a visit. Two streams within the hydel park have water sports for those up for an adventure with speed boats, kayaking and water-ball walking. The park, nestled between the two water bodies makes it a pleasant experience. The second stream is a visual treat with sprinklers along its borders

Pothamedu
View Point

Munnar has something for everyone, Pothamedu View Point being one such offering. Located 5 km from Munnar, the breathtaking view point truly is a close experience of nature at its best. Greenery in the form of coffee, tea and cardamom plantations surrounded by the valleys makes it a great spot to trek up to for those who like to include some form of physical activity in their vacations. There’s never a dull moment on this trek with fresh air that is sure to rejuvenate you and is a calming sight for those coming from the bustle of the city

Mattupetty Dam

Mattupetty dam is a nature lover’s delight. One can simply take in the landscape or indulge in water sports organised by District Tourism Promotion Council of Idukki. A sanctuary for flora and fauna in the surrounding forests, Mattupetty Dam shares its borders with a beautiful lake. The dam reflects the beauty of its surroundings, including the lush tea garden. Speed boats can be engaged for a quick ride through the water body. One can also trek through the shola forests. At 160 ft, the Mattupetty Dam is a sight as the reservoir stretches for kilometres into the mountains.

Munnar
Echo Point

Much like its name, Munnar Echo Point gives people the thrill of hearing their own voices from the peak. More precisely, if a person calls out while standing at the reservoir, it resonates through the area, breaking the quiet that prevails through the hill station. There’s Top Station, the most popular attraction on the same route while Echo Station enjoys second place. Echo Point is popular as an adventure tourism destination too, with much to do such as trekking, hiking through nature trails and boating. It is a wildlife and nature photographer’s delight as there are plenty of moments worth capturing.

Kundala Dam

This spot is for the early risers. To catch Kundala Lake in all its beauty, one must be present as the day breaks. What awaits is an ethereal view of the mist rising, the clouds clearing and the sight of the rising sun as its rays touch the surface of the water. Twice a year, the spot also draws people to see the cherry gardens which enhance the charm of the lake. Boating is a popular activity at Kundala Lake. One would have to be very lucky to catch the Neelakurunji flowers in bloom every 12 years. Kundala Lake leads to Kundala Dam, another tourist attraction which was constructed for Pallivasal Hydro Electric Project in 1946 and is said to be Asia’s first arch dam.

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Munnar
Top Station

Top Station is a top preference for tourists who want to soak in the local culture of this quaint destination, supposedly one of Kerala’s most beautiful hill towns. Mind you, Top Station is located 32 km away from Munnar, on the Munnar-Kodaikkanal road and not in Munnar town itself. Top Station stands at 1,700 m above sea level. Based along the Kerala - Tamil Nadu border, it frames the majestic Western Ghats and offers a view unlike any other of Theni, a district in Tamil Nadu. Like the rest of Munnar, it is scenic all through. One can never quite stop staring in childlike wonder at the clouds that seem to graze the surface of the lake or over the tea gardens. But to experience this, it is important that the alarm clock is set for the early morning hours.

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Lakkam
Waterfall

Stunningly beautiful, Lakkam Waterfalls can leave one gaping at its sheer height. Located on the way to Marayoor from Munnar, the waterfall amidst the plantation is a major attraction for tourists including honeymooners. It is also popular among trekkers as they can explore the dense jungle and hillscapes surrounding the area. The Lakkam Waterfall comes cascading down the jagged face of the Eravikulam Plateau, located 7300 ft above sea level. The waterfall is located near Lakkam, close to Vagavurai Estate, on the way to Marayoor from Munnar. Be it to take a break from a long drive or simply to feel the magnificent fall of the waters, Lakkam Waterfalls is a must-visit

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Attukad
Waterfall

A picnic and trekking destination, Attukad Waterfalls is one of the most popular tourist locations in Munnar. Visitors come from far and wide to catch the Attukad Waterfalls in all its glory. It is located between Munnar and Pallivasal in the Idukki district. Encompassed by forests, the only way to reach the waterfall is using a wooden bridge, making the visit all the more adventurous. Pothamedu Viewpoint is also a spot which can be visited from here. Each waterfall is unique, Attukad too.

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Thoovanam
Water Fall

With its origins in the mighty Pambar river, Thoovanam waterfalls is located within the Chinnar Wildlife Sanctuary. Falling from a height of 1,400 ft, it is a spectacular sight for tourists. The location is rich in a variety of flora and is inhabited by many wild animals. It is one of the few spots where one can see tourists sitting to relax and take in the view of the waterfall at its mightiest. Located approximately 60 km away from Munnar town, the fall offers the best view during the monsoons.

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Chokramudi Peak

Every trekker’s favourite, Chokramudi Peak is situated between Bison Valley and Munnar. One of the highest peaks of Munnar, it stands at an altitude of around 7,200 ft in Eravikulam National Park. While the Chokramudi Peak is a loner, standing at a distance from other hill ranges, reaching the peak will not be in vain for it provides an amazing view of the surrounding valleys and mountains. It is also the perfect vantage point for a complete view of Anamudi Peak and Idukki Dam, located nearby. The trails are visible all the way to the top, the initial stretch being something a beginner can handle while the terrain then gets rocky till the top of the first peak, Kurisumala.

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Adventure Park

Munnar is all about fun at a whole new level – 6,000 ft above sea level, to be precise, if adventure sports is your thing. Dreamland Fun and Adventure Park is for those who want to have fun while being physically active. The park is designed with enough to do for all age groups, so no one is going to feel bored even for a moment here. From camel and horse rides to water rollers and trampolines, free fall, a gyro ride, a virtual hunting game, a 3D photo studio, bungee trampoline, commando nets, a mirror house, a 12D theatre, mountain climbing, human slingshot, archery, horror house, ropeway, zip lining, the options are endless. Here, there is something for everyone.

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Eravikulam
National Park

Eravikulam National Park sits along the high ranges of Idduki. Also known as the land of Neelakurinji, a flower that blooms once in 12 years, the park can be compared to the majestic Swiss Alps. It is a place frequented by avid trekkers and wildlife photographers as it is also where the Anamudi, the highest peak south of the Himalayas stands tall. The range of flora and fauna make it a nature lover’s paradise and for the still more adventurous, there is the safari for a peek into the ways of the inhabitants of the wild. The only motorable roads inside the park lie on the Southern end, towards the Rajamalai tea estate and the areas of LakkamMuduvakudy. The park is famous for the endangered Nilgiri Tahr.

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Anakulam

Anakulam is a village locked by forest from all sides. Beauty and serenity meet in this region, nearly 40 km away from Munnar. Elephants move around here in large groups, uninhibited by the presence of human beings, a unique feature of this scenic spot. Anakulam is nourished by the two tributaries of Periyar, namely, Idacholayaar and Nallatanniyaar. Accessibility to Anakulam depends on the availability of jeeps in the area. For the brave, there is the opportunity to come within 50 meters of elephant herds as they go about their business. This herd includes young calves and not just the mighty tuskers. A walk at a leisurely pace and a refreshing bath in the Idacholayaar tributary is sure to make one feel youthful again.

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Carmelagiri
Elephant Safari

Carmelagiri Elephant Park promises an unforgettable experience, if you have what it takes to see the world from a different perspective – quite literally. To enjoy this tourist attraction to its best, you will have to mount an elephant and let the pachyderm do the walking. You can choose how long you want this once-in-alifetime walk around Carmelagiri Elephant Park to last, be it half a day or an hour. Rolling hills, tea plantations, a park full of trees that touch the heavens, there’s everything to love about Carmelagiri Elephant Park.

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Kanthaloor

At 5,000ft above sea level, Kanthalloor is heaven on earth. Apart from tourist attractions such as Anamudi Shola National Park, Chinnar Wildlife Sanctuary, Pattisseri Dam and many more, the landscape of the region is breathtaking enough to provide a fulfilling experience. Terrace farming is practised here to suit the topography of the area. Farming is a means of livelihood thanks to the pleasant climate all year round. From a range of berries to orchards of apples, orange to vegetables like cauliflower and beans, there’s just about everything in Kanthalloor.

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Vattavada

Vattavada is a favourite among trekkers. Those who opt for packages with tour operators too have the options of mountain biking, jeep safari and camping in the jungle. Visible trails and a friendly local population that is ever ready to lend a helping hand in case of emergencies, make the experience all the more charming. Tribal settlements in the area speak of a past that is rich in culture and heritage. For city-dwellers, it is a new perspective on life in itself. Like most places in Idukki, Vattavada is a blanket of terrace farms with flora and fauna that are unique to the region. Vattavada is home to many threatened and endemic species like Nilgiri Thar, Nilgiri Langur and the Sambar.

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Marayoor

There’s more to Marayoor than its hilly ranges. Enroute to Chinnar Wildlife Sanctuary is a sandalwood forest, well protected by the Forest Department and spread over close to 1,460 hectares. Other attractions in Marayoor are its sugarcane farms and two prehistoric sites. Marayoor’s jaggery has a high percentage of sugar content because of the ph value of the soil and the temperature of the region. Lemongrass is another plant that has been grown by tribes in Marayoor. Marayoor’s dolmens or muniyaras are another attraction for tourists. Marayoor is an intersection for many forest parks such as Anamudi, Chinnar, Kurinjimala, Eravikulam and Chinnar.

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Thekkady

Thekkady reminds one of forests and elephants but there is more to this Idukki town located close to Periyar Tiger Reserve, a popular tourist destination. Replete with tropical forests that host diverse flora and fauna, it is a must-visit for those who love a vacation amidst nature. Tea, coffee and cardamom plantations line the hills, making the place a great experience for light treks. Thekkady derives its name from “thekku” which means teak in Malayalam. The place offers boating, bamboo rafting, trekking, border hiking and camping. Nearby areas of interest are Ottakathalamedu, Chellar Kovil, Murikkady, Anakkara and the Mangala Devi Temple apart from Pattumalay or ‘mountain of silk’.

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Peerumedu

Peerumedu, named after Sufi saint Peer Mohammed, is a serene hill station which often draws tourists for its scenic vistas. At nearly 915 m above sea level, its terrain makes it perfect for activities such as cycling, trekking and horse riding. Known as an eco-tourism destination, Peerumedu, apart from its tea, coffee, cardamom and pepper plantations, there are plenty of places to explore close by such as Kuttikanam, Peeru Hills, Karandakapara Hills, Pattumala, Thrissanku Hills and Grampi. Kuttikanam is a favourite among tourists with a penchant for adventure sports such as paragliding. Peerumedu is yet another favourite among trekkers.

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Vagamon

Possibly the most popular adventure sports destination in Idukki, Vagamon is also a charming picnic spot. Situated near Peerumedu, the hills are shrouded in mist in the early mornings. Activities such as trekking, paragliding, mountaineering and rock climbing are popular here. There are three hills here, that tourists visit: Thangal, Murugan and Kurisumala, which are of importance to Hindus, Muslims and Christians, respectively. The meadows, Ulipooni, pine forests, Marmala Waterfall, lake and the dairy farm run by the monks of the Kurisumala Ashram are go-to places for tourists here. The place also has the distinction of hosting Kerala’s first Caravan Park.

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