Places to visit in Munnar When we think of Munnar hill station, the picturesque valleys and lakes, exotic velvety greenery over the sky kissing mountains, thick forests, stunning wildlife, spectacular trekking routes and the endless tea plantation that can be poetic inspiration for many are the things that come to mind.
Munnar obtained its name from the Malayalam language, which says moonnu and aar as three and river respectively. Mudhirapuzha, Nallathanni and Kundaly rivers are the three rivers that Munnar hosts. Some of the highly endangered animals, such as the Nilgiri Tahr and the Neelakurinji, are blessed by Munnar. In the past few years, Munnar has emerged as the preference of tourist destination. It offers the ideal place for those seeking a honeymoon spot, a family picnic, a gateway with friends or those seeking to experience trekking. Once you are here, there are numerous sites to see and explore, but here I am sorting out the best places for you to cover in a day trip.
Pothamedu View Point
A viewpoint located just 3 Kms away from Munnar, Pothamedu Viewpoint a must visit place in Munnar. Whether you are planning a holiday in Kerala with your family or friends, Pothamedu should definitely be a part Kerala tour package.
Pothamedu viewpoint provides supreme blissful isolation, Misty hills adorned with tea, coffee and cardamom plantations. You’d also be able to see the Muthirapuzha River and Idukki Arch Dam in the distance on a clear day.
TATA Tea Museum
The Tea Museum is a wonderful place to visit in Munnar city, 3.5 km away from Munnar Bus Station. Kannan Devan Hills Plantations Limited, owned by the Tata Group, owns the museum. One of the best things to do in Munnar is to visit the Tea Museum.
The museum displays numerous instruments used in the processing of tea from the early 20th century to the late 20th century. The tea leave cutting machines, power making devices, etc., are some of the items displayed in the museum. The process of tea manufacturing is also explained in the museum.
Chokramudi Peak
This is an isolated hill in Munnar that can end up keeping you hooked for hours. The Chokramudi peak is situated 7,200 feet above sea level, within the popular Eravikulam National Park, and is a must-see spot in Munnar. A quick and easy trek can be completed in one day. It is one of the best places in Munnar to visit. Trekking is easy and fairly simple on this peak in Munnar, and can be completed in a day. The entire trek is roughly 10 km long and will be completed in three to five hours. You will also need to weigh the distance and length depending on the degree of experience you have in trekking. For even amateur trekkers wanting to begin trekking, Chokramudi is the perfect place in Munnar.
The beauty and atmosphere that is seen from this peak is excellent in Munnar. It has winters of ravishing elegance. If you are travelling between December and February in Munnar, you will feel cold. During the winters, the best time to visit Munnar is. It has a dark atmosphere and a cool breeze that will bring a lot of visitors to the summit. Visit this peak in Munnar if you want to see natural beauty at its finest. It is ideal for a weekend getaway, and you can start with this remarkable peak in Munnar even if you have never trekked in the past. This is going to make you memories of a lifetime.
Kundala Lake
The beauty of this lake in Munnar can not be represented by any words. Start your journey to the Top Station and drive approximately 20 km to the shore. The lush green hill grades and spectacular sunrises provide excellent backdrops for Munnar. Do not overlook this lake in Munnar when sightseeing. The beauty of the Neelakurinji flowers that bloom once in twelve years is unparalleled, and it has cherry blossoms that make it a great dream location in Munnar.
It is one of the best places in Munnar to visit. Each year, this lake in Munnar attracts hundreds of tourists and tourists may spend long hours just looking at the beauty of nature. It is an artificial lake that also has the first Arch dam in Asia. Like pedal boats, row boats and Kashmiri shikara, you will participate in many unforgettable boating experiences. You can visit the lake at any time during the day in Munnar. Here, there is a huge Tata tea golf course, and near the lake there is a waterfall. When visiting the lake in Munnar, you can visit the Munnar waterfall. This lake is the best place to visit in Munnar and should be at the top of your itinerary. Here you can vote for various types of boating facilities. There are different choices, such as speed boating, pedal boating, row boating, boating with Shikara and much more. There are balloon shooting games and horseback rides to visit Munnar that keep the children and adults interested. Also, near the lake, you can find a variety of food stalls It is beautifully connected to Munnar and the villages nearby and can be reached quite easily.
Chinnar Wildlife Sanctuary
The Chinnar Wildlife Sanctuary, home to Munnar ‘s famous endangered species, is surrounded on its northern side by Eravikulam National Park in the south and by Indira Gandhi Wildlife Sanctuary. In addition to other flora and fauna, this Munnar sanctuary has several well-known but endangered animals, such as the giant squirrel, tufted grey langur, elephants, a variety of Hanuman monkeys, crocodile, spotted deer, gaur, tiger, leopard and Slender Loris. When it comes to sightseeing in Munnar, it is a refuge for wildlife enthusiasts and bird watchers. The Munnar Wildlife Sanctuary is open from 8 AM to 5 PM, and the entry fee for Indian adults is INR 10 and for children INR 5. Foreign nationals have to shell out INR 100 in Munnar.
This sanctuary has a total area of 90 sq. in Munnar. Km and is specific in terms of Munnar ‘s floral, geomorphological, ecological and cultural influences. It is one of Kerala ‘s 12 protected areas, and this sanctuary is a must when visiting Munnar. It is the best place for trekking, and it is one place in Munnar that annually receives far less rainfall. Because of this, special habitat types such as dry thorn scrub, deciduous forests, shoals, grasslands, and riparian forests are blessed. It also has an extensive sandalwood forest close by. In Munnar, this is an additional attraction. The sanctuary also has around 1000 species of flowering plants and a wide range of medicinal plants, in addition to the rare wildlife of Munnar. You’ll also be able to see 225 registered bird species and several endangered species. The Munnar sanctuary is renowned for the various activities of eco-tourism, such as river trekking, nature path, medicinal garden, cultural site trekking and camping.
Eravikulam National Park
Eravikulam National Park, situated in Munnar’s Western Ghats area, is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Spread over an area of 97 square kilometres, the National Park has a rich ecosystem. This park is also known as the Rajmalai Wildlife Sanctuary and houses more than 300 species of indigenous flora and fauna, some of which are very rare.
The famous Anamudi Peak is also home to Eravikulam national park. Anamudi mountain, considered to be the highest peak in South India, is a popular destination among trekkers, wildlife enthusiasts, and nature lovers.
The endangered mountain goat species‘Nilgiri Tahr ‘is a key attraction of Eravikulam national park. Apart from housing the highest peak and a rare animal species, another rare phenomenon can be seen in the Eravikulam National Park. It is here that Neelakurinji, a flower that blooms once every twelve years, takes over the rolling hills and produces a stunning view. Neelakurinji’s most recent bloom took place in 2018.
Mattupetty Dam
Mattupetty Dam is one of the most visited tourist destinations in Munnar, nestled between rolling tea gardens and shola forests. Mattupetty Dam is a favourite place among local nature lovers, where elephants and other animals can be seen resting on the lake. Tourists flock to Mattupetty dam to enjoy the panoramic views of the surrounding tea gardens, the nearby lake and enjoyable activities such as boating on the placid lake.
Mattupetty dam, built in 1940 as part of the Pallivasal Hydro-electric project, rises up to 1700 metres in height. It also acts as an important energy source as well as an important source of water for the region’s animals and birds. In addition, its convenient location is what makes it an invaluable tourist spot.
Meesapulimala
The peak of Meesapulimala is situated at a distance of about 15 km from the wonderful hill station of Munnar. It lies in the Rhodo Valley, known for the beautiful trees of the Rhododendron, at an altitude of 8,000 feet above sea level. It is definitely one of the best places in Munnar for sightseeing. One of the highest peaks that can be hiked in Munnar is one of the top places to visit in Munnar. On one side, and Kerala on the other, the peak borders Tamil Nadu, and it is a moderately challenging trek that takes about one day.
This trek goes through eight hills in Munnar in order to reach the top. It is an idyllic place that will guarantee peace for you, and this is what makes it one of Munnar’s top places to visit. From the base of the first hill, this Munnar trek will begin and continue to the forest of Shola grassland. Initially, the trek will be a little steep, and you’ll be at the top of the first of the eight hills in Munnar in no time. You can get the best view of Munnar as well as of Suryanelli Town right from the mountain tops. You will cross the Anayirankal lake at Munnar as you descend from the hill, and you may get a glimpse of the wildlife of the Shola forests that have come to welcome you by the time you are at the seventh peak of the Munnar hills. The final peak which is the Meesapulimala peak promises to give you the most breathtaking views of Munnar.
Lockhart Gap
You must have learned by now that in Munnar there is no dearth of awesome perspectives. Another marvellous tourist destination, Lockhart Gap, is added to this list. Lockhart Gap is also known as Lock heart gap, situated 12 km away from Munnar, and is popular among individuals looking for both solitude and adventure.
The distance between the hills resembles two locked hearts and gets its name ‘Lock core’. Considered to be a very romantic spot, if you are considering taking a Kerala honeymoon package, Lockhart Gap should certainly be a part of your itinerary. Other sports such as trekking and trekking can also be taken up here. It is completely worth taking a trip to this magical place in Munnar to see the panoramic views of undulating hills , valleys and tea plantations.
Lakkom Waterfalls
In Eravikulamm National Park, which is on the way from Munnar to Udumalaipettai, the Lakkom waterfalls are situated. The Munnar waterfall starts from the Eravikulam dam, approximately 30 km from Munnar. It is only a short walk from the main road and can be reached in Munnar by adults of all ages. The Eravikulam plateau is the point of origin of the water stream, and only the lower fall is accessible from here. On a narrow trail, you can ride through the tea plantations and note the pure magic of nature as you go sightseeing in Munnar. In the tub, the water is really clear. From 9 AM to 4 PM, you can visit the waterfalls in Munnar, and the charges are INR 20. As it takes a dive out of the dense green forest from a distance, the sight of this charming waterfall in Munnar is spellbinding. Every effort is worth it in Munnar. You can also find a small shop in Munnar, situated a short distance from the break. This Munnar shop serves excellent food containing rice, fish and sambhar from Kerala. This is one of the most interesting locations in Munnar to visit.