Munnar is a hill station with crisp cool mountain air, dense green forests and a refreshing climate. Situated at the confluence of three clear mountain streams, on a range of mountains in the Idukki District called the Western Ghats, the most celebrated aspect of Munnar is its remarkable beauty.
A backdrop of lofty mountain scenery with rugged peaks shrouded in wispy mists, offsets rolling green slopes, lush valleys, waterfalls and wildlife sanctuaries, and in the foreground is the serene town and neighbouring tea estates – the geometric patterns of the dense green hedges adding a fantastical beauty to the landscape. Munnar was once the British government’s summer resort and it still has the charm of the old-world plantation days.
The cardamom plantations, thriving under a thick forest set the scene for exquisite walks, with birdcalls and the bubbling mountain streams for accompaniment.
Highlights
Sip a fresh brew on a tea estate | Trek or cycle in the Munnar Mountains
Interesting facts
− The name ‘Munnar’ is believed to mean ‘three rivers’ referring to the confluence of the Madhurapuzha, Nallathanni and Kundaly rivers
− Munnar is famous for the wild Neelakurinchi orchids, which bloom once in 12 years when the entire valley turns violet
