About Munnar

Geographical Location

Munnar is a hill station on the Western Ghats, a range of mountains situated in the Idukki district of the Indian state of Kerala.The name Munnar is believed to mean "three rivers",referring to the town's strategic location at the confluence of the Madhurapuzha, Nallathanni and Kundaly rivers. It is pronounced "Moon-aar" short for "moonu aar" meaning 3 rivers. Three rivers - Madupetti, Nallathanni and Periavaru which flow through this town, but join some distance away from Munnar.Munnar town is in Kannan Devan Hills ( KDH ) Village in Devikulam taluk and is the largest panchayat in the Idukki district having an area measuring nearly 557 km². The town is divided into two parts, Old Munnar, where the tourist information office is, and Munnar, where the bus station and most guest houses are located.

The region in and around Munnar varies in height from 1,500 m (4,921 ft) to 2,695 m (8,842 ft) above mean sea level.

Route & Distance

The nearest airport is Cochin International Airport and the nearby railway stations are at Ernakulam and Aluva.

• From Cochin International Airport: 104 Km (By Road)
• From Madhurai Airport: 153 Km (By Road)
• From Ernakulam Bus Station :116 Km (By Road)
• From Ernakulam and Aluva Railway Station: 140 kilometres approximately (By road)

Completely dotted with lakes, reservoirs, mountains streams, rough and scaly rocks, wooded valleys, wavy grass hills, this hill station offers a great variety choices at short intervals. Along the quite drives of Munnar, through the unending sea of tea plantations, signs of human life itself is a rare sight apart from similarly attired plantation workers. Playing mists, soul searching winds, hurling waterfalls, cold monsoons, picturesque town, fragrant cardamom bushes, sprawling tea plantations, shaven silver oaks, indomitable elephant herds, long winding lanes, the bluish tint of the Neelakkurinji mountains, floating tunes of early morning radio, strangely uniform herds of plantation workers are all synonymous landmarks of Munnar. The mist in the valleys around and the floating clouds give a heavenly feeling.

Sightseeing Attractions

Situated about 1600m above sea level, the hill station had been the summer resort of the British Government during the colonial era. Imprints of the colonial past stand tall in the Munnar town in the form of English country cottages. Virgin forests, savannah, rolling hills, scenic valleys, numerous streams, huge splashy waterfalls, sprawling tea plantations and winding walkways are all part of the great holiday experience on offer for a traveler to Munnar. Munnar is also known for Neelakurinji, a rare plant which flowers only once in twelve years. The ‘kurinji season’ in Munnar is a magnificent sight when the hills and valleys get bathed in the blue of the Neelakurinji blooms.

Munnar is famous for its tea plantations, many of them started by the British. The "Kannan Devan" brand of Tea from the Tata is cultivated and processed here.The strobilanthus ("neelakurinji" in Malayalam, the local language), a blue flower which blooms only every 12 years, is found in this region. Munnar also has the highest peak in South India, Anamudi, at 2,695 m.

Eravikulam national park is one of the main tourist attraction, where you can find the endagered species of Nilgiri Tahr (mountain goat called "varayadu" in Malayalam). A treck to Rajamala ("King of hills" in Malayalam), in the morning is sure to spot a few friendly mountain goats. You can also find Gaur, Langur, Lion-tailed macaque, and Elephants depending on the season and time of travel. The altitude is 1,600-1.800 m above sea level. Temperature ranges from a minimum of 0⁰C to a maximum of 28⁰C. Warm clothes and rain gear is recommended. The tourist season is from Aug-Mar.