1600 to 1800 meters above sea level is the buaitiful hill station of munnar.Agentle 4 hour ride away from cochin,munnar is still very much a british tea platation town , its beauty further enchanced by great black roads that thrust upwards suddenly from amidst the thick vegetation
Cionds drop gently on the mountain peaks that flank the verdant shaped slender blue and red gum trees that shoot up into the sky. And the winding lanes of fresh tea wafting out of the innumerable tea processing plants.
Mattupetty
As you come down the hill you come upon a picture book scene of still water glowing in the setting sun,with silent cluster of gum trees on either side. This is mattupetty dam where you can spend quiet moment 13 km.away from munnar it is at an elevation of 1700 meters.
MARAYOOR
The relics of new stone age civilistaion have been unearthed here. It is thew only place in kerala having a natural growth of scandal wood trees
Eravikulam National Park
The most sought after destination in Munnar is the Eravikulam National Park, the first of its kind in Kerala, where the endangered Nilgiri Thar
is protected. Spread over 97 sq. km., this park holds the largest viable population of Tahr, several other species of rare animals, birds and butterflies.
The park offers a magnificent view of the tea plantations and also of the rolling hills caressed by blankets of mist. The park becomes a hot destination when the hill slopes get covered in a carpet of blue, resulting from the flowering of Neelakurinji. It is a plant endemic to this part of the Western Ghats which blooms once in twelve years.
Anamudi Peak
Located inside the Eravikulam National Park is the Anamudi Peak, the highest peak in south India standing at a height of 2695m. Entry is restricted but the view can be enjoyed from a distance at Rajamala.
Rajamala
Rajamala is the tourism zone of Eravikulam National Park and is a place where one can see Nilgiri Tahr at close quarter.The tourism zone will be closed in calving season during Feb – March every year. Visitors can get assured sighting of Nilgiri Tahr, feel the kurinji and experience the shola grassland eco system. Visitors will be picked from 5th Mile on safari buses and dropped back.
Kurinji Trail
A soft trekking in the morning and evening through the misty tracks of the Nilgiri Thar and Kurinji filled grass lands.
Lakkom Water Falls
The crystal clear water originating from the core zone of Eravikulam National Park flows to river Pambar, one of the east flowing rivers in Kerala, which ultimately joins river Cauvery in Tamil nadu. Lakkom waterfalls is a natural fall which cascades down the hill side, lending an enchanting view. This is on the road side from Munnar to Marayoor. There is eco shop cafeteria and refreshing centre to provide services to visitors.
TOP STATION
The top staion 1700 meters above sea level. From top station we get a panoramic view of kambum in the neighbouring state of Thamil Nadu.
During the time of british rule, fore transpotaion of tea and manpower,they had constructred a rope way as well as a mini local rail line. This was later destroyed by natural clamities but ,the remains are still left.
ECO POINT
The important characteristic of the echo point is that the visitors can hear their voice echoing through the reservoir and coming back reverberated. It is a favorite picnic spot for many travelers much because of its velvety slopes and misty surroundings. The surrounding tea plantations and spice gardens invite trekkers to explore the wonders of nature.
KUDALA DAM
There is an artificial dam in Kundala which is another major attraction here. It is Asia’s first Arch dam. The boating experience at this dam is a wonderful experience beyond words. Boating facilities namely pedal boats, Kashmiri shikkara boats and row boats are available on rent to make your trip more enjoyable
ROSE GARDEN MUNNAR
Tata Tea Museum
The Tata Tea Museum diligently portrays the growth of Munnar tea estates, veritably conveyed through some of the displays like the rudimentary tea roller to the modern fully automated tea factory. Visitors to the museum can satiate their curiosity on various stages of tea processing, and also learn a thing or two about the production of black tea.
A sundial, placed on a granite block, which was made in 1913 by the Art Industrial School at Nazareth, Tamil Nadu, greets a visitor to the Tea Museum. At the museum, if one is curious to locate an item with some antiquity, then the burial urn from the second century BC, which was found near Periakanal estate tops the list.
Some of the attention grabbing items on display at the Tea museum include the original tea roller, the 'Rotorvane,' dating back to 1905, used for CTC type tea processing; the 'Pelton Wheel' used in the power generation plant that existed in the Kanniamallay estate in the 1920s; a rail engine wheel of the Kundale Valley Light Railway that shuttled men and material between Munnar and Top Station during the first half of the last century.
LOCKHART GAP
Lockhart Gap (often spelt wrongly as Lock Heart Gap), just 13 km from Munnar, is an ideal place for adventure tourism and trekking. The fresh mountain air, the mist-clad hills and panoramic view make it worthy of a visit. Located at a distance of 13 km from Munnar, this magnificent vantage point lies close to Mattupetty. This place offers some amazing views of the mist-clad blue hills covered with lush greenery, winding roads and silver brooks splashing the emerald greenery with white streaks. The salubrious climate and picturesque surroundings make it one of the most preferred locations to visit in Munnar.
Kolukkumalai
Kolukkumalai is about 7,900 ft above sea level and you can have some excellent views of the far off plains in the bordering State of Tamil Nadu. The distant hills slipping in and out of the mist is a captivating sight.
The sprawling plantations and an old tea factory lend an old world charm to this place. Go on a guided tour through the factory. The two-storied building, built in the 1930s, with its wooden interiors and aroma would present you some time-tested methods of tea processing. Here tea is processed in the traditional method.
The rolling acres of tea are an experience in itself for the visitors. Take a lovely stroll on the pathways in the plantations. The more adventurous can take a walk down a fairly steep and narrow bridle path leading to the plains. Only with awe can you hear that this route was once the only option for the estate workers to carry tea chests down and bring provisions to their residence.
Periyakanal Waterfall is
Periyakanal Waterfall is located near to Munnar en route to Thekkady. The enchanting surroundings amid lush tea plantations make it an excellent picnic spot and overlook.
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