Travel Munnar: Tea, Treks, and Top Places to See
7 Days in Munnar: Green, Serene and Tea filled getaway in Kerala, India
In 1989, the Creative Director of an Indian advertising agency, Walter Mendez, depicted Kerala as "God's own country.” and the state has never wavered from this divine essence. It reveals to you a scenic splendor that is almost utopian in its magnificence. Kerela has always been on the bucket list of every traveler that comes to India, with its dense green forests, crystal clear beaches, alluring villages, preserved cultural heritage, and above all, a sense of peace and majesty encompassing the entire locale.
This blog post is about my visit to Munnar, a hill station in this fantastic state. When one thinks about Munnar, imagery of ever-expanding tea gardens, clouds drifting through lanes, and sparkling waterbodies spring to mind. And to tell you the truth, it offers you everything it promises.
Nestled in the Idukki region of Kerala in the Western Ghats at an elevation of around 1500 meters above sea level, Munnar is the most popular hill station in south India. Munnar is less of a city and more of a unit of private tea-estate properties. During the colonial era, it was known as the High Range of Travancore and served as a summer retreat for Britishers.
It is majorly owned by the TATA group. TATA is hailed as a blessing by the locals since it has provided opportunities for work, healthcare, and education to everyone involved in tea farming and production.
With several sites and activities in and around this tiny town, you can easily spend three days and two nights here. We did, however, spend an entire week in this winding village.
View from Mudhouse Marayoor, Munnar, Kerala. For more travel content follow @shivanis_travelverse
What to Expect
BEST TIME TO VISIT
DURATION OF STAY
HOW TO GET THERE?
UDAIPUR: THREE-DAY ITINERARY
Day 1 - Depart Kochi-Munnar - Scenic journey - Enroute Munnar: Cheeyappara Waterfall, Spices Garden - Check-in, relax
Day 2 - Abad Castle Hotel - Maravoor direction: Eravikulam National Park, Lockhart Gap, Talayar Valley - Lakkam Waterfalls, Marayoor Forest - Dinner, rest
Day 3 - Pothamedu View Point - Headworks Dam, Attukal Waterfalls - Valley Photo Point, Blossom Hydel Park - Relax at resort
Day 4 - Seven Hills Mountains - Lakshmi Hills, tea plantations - Thrillophillia trek
Day 5 - Enroute Mattuputty: Horse riding - Elephant Arrival, Botanical Garden -Echo Point, Kundala Lake - Mattupetty Dam
Day 6-7 - Mudhouse retreat
Eravikulam National Park, Munnar, India. For more travel content follow @shivanis_travelverse
BEST TIME TO VISITAs Kerala has tropic weather the perfect time to visit this quint town would be autumn from September to November and winter from December to March. Especially after the monsoon season, which ends in September, enriching the entire countryside with gushing waterfalls and luminous green forests, the weather becomes perfect and extremely pleasant. We too visited in October.
DURATION OF STAYUdaipur is a charming small city, built on and around Lake Pichola. Hence you can easily explore most of its significant sites and monuments in three days. However, you need to spend a minimum of two days here, to fully experience this laid-back vibed cultural city. For some people, it is a perfect weekend getaway, while some can spend weeks here and never get enough of the city.
HOW TO GET THERE?Being a hilly station, Munnar does not have an airport or railway station. But the nearby stations are well connected through the state and national highways. The nearest airport is Cochin International Airport, which is about 125 km away from Munnar. So, if you are reaching here via air, this is the best option. The nearest railway station is Kochi or Ernakulam. From these stations, you can easily get private and public transport to Munnar.
Pambar river-walk, Marayoor, Munnar, India. For more travel content follow @shivanis_travelverse
Day Wise JourneyDAY 1
Cheeyappara Waterfall, Munnar, India . For more travel content follow @shivanis_travelverse
On the first day, we began our journey from Kochi to Munnar. The journey was just as exhilarating as the destination. The misty hills and spiraling breezy roads kept the entire scene alive.
The best way to divide your travel internally in Munnar is by dividing it into 4 directions: Enroute Munnar Direction, Marayoor Direction, Mattuputty Direction, Attukal Direction.
We began with Enroute Munnar from Kochi in which we covered Cheeyappara Waterfall and Indian spices and herbs garden.
The majestic Cheeyappara Waterfall was about 45 km away from Munnar on the Kochi-Madurai Highway. We arrived at the site in the early afternoon, relishing the glory of the gushing flows surrounded by soothing trees. This location was only about ten minutes away from an Indian Spices and Herbs Garden. We stopped there too.
Indian Spices and Herbs Garden, Munnar, India . For more travel content follow @shivanis_travelverse
Indian Spices and Herbs Garden, Munnar, India . For more travel content follow @shivanis_travelverse
Indian Spices and Herbs Garden Ticket: 100 Rs/ person
Having reached Munnar, at around 4 p.m., we checked into our hotel, the Abad Copper Castle. Taking it slow, we rested for a while and enjoyed an early dinner at the hotel only.
Munnar is situated in mountain curvatures, it has a lot of beautiful stay options. However, picking a stay option with dinner availability or an in-house restaurant is advisable as it gets super foggy at night, and driving in the hunt for dinner is not the best option. Also, if you do not have a private vehicle, it can be a big hiccup to hunt for dinner each night and transport options as well. Also, swiggy/zomato do not operate there.
Pros and Cons of getting a cab in lieu of hotel/stay/resort
Pros - Safety factor: You get trusted drivers with liability in case something goes wrong. It is also preferably safe than driving a two-wheeler on mountain terrain.
Cons - It is three times more costly, also you might enjoy the fresh air and weather of Munnar more on a two-wheeler or rickshaw.
Munnar Tea, Munnar, India . For more travel content follow @shivanis_travelverse
DAY 2
Eravikulam National Park, Munnar, India . For more travel content follow @shivanis_travelverse
Lockhart Gap Road View , Munnar, India . For more travel content follow @shivanis_travelverse
The second day started with a hearty complimentary breakfast at our hotel Abad Castle. On this day, we visited the locations in the Marayoor direction. Eravikulam National Park was the first.
Eravikulam National Park (also known as Rajamalai Wildlife Sanctuary) is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and is only 15 minutes drive from Munnar. It is home to a diverse spectrum of flora and fauna. Nilgiri langur, Nilgiri marten, Atlas moth, lion-tailed macaque, and small-clawed otter are among the most abundant animal species found here. For animal lovers, the park is a wonderland. It also presents a stunning view of valleys draped in tea gardens.
We headed to Lockhart Gap Road View Point and Talayar Valley tea Garden in the afternoon. Lockhart Gap is an excellent location for adventurous tourism and trekking.
From here, one can enjoy panoramic views of Bison Valley and the surrounding environs, which extend all the way up to Thekkady in Periyar. It also has a natural cave. The name Lockhart Gap refers to a crevice between two mountains that resembles the shape of a heart.
Talayar Valley Tea Garden, Munnar, India . For more travel content follow @shivanis_travelverse
The next stop was Talayar Valley Tea Garden. As we wandered around the plantation, we also learned about the unique process of tea making.
After 4 p.m. we headed to the famous Lakkam waterfalls. The Lakkam Waterfall trickles down the beautiful Eravikulam Plateau's rugged rocks. The gorgeous setting, combined with the shimmering water, creates the perfect setting for some Instagram-worthy photos.
In the evening, we visited the Marayoor Sandalwood Forest. The sight of natural sandalwood among the pristine woodlands was exquisite. This is the only spot in Kerela where such natural sandalwood can be found. Trekkers and adventurers are also drawn to the area. The rain shadow trees and setting of the sun were the perfect way to cap off our second day.
We traveled back to our resort (a 2-hour drive) and had a delicious dinner at the restaurant of our hotel.
Pothamedu View Point, Munnar, India . For more travel content follow @shivanis_travelverse
Headworks Dam, Munnar, India . For more travel content follow @shivanis_travelverse
Attukal Waterfall, Munnar, India . For more travel content follow @shivanis_travelverse
Blossom Hydel Park, Munnar, India . For more travel content follow @shivanis_travelverse
DAY 3
Lakshmi Mountains, Munnar, India . For more travel content follow @shivanis_travelverse
The third day of our trip dawned with a visit to the Pothamedu View Point, a popular tourist site. We walked to this site at around 9 a.m. because it was just a minute away from our resort. The Pothamedu View Point is a tranquil and scenic spot from which to enjoy sunrises and sunsets.
Because of its elevated perch, we were able to see the panoramic charm of Munnar and the surrounding landscape with tea, coffee, and cardamom estates. It required some hiking. Generally, the mountain ranges are shrouded in mist, but if you're lucky, you might be able to view the Muthirapuzha River and the Idukki Arch Dam from here. The way to this point also has a lot of nice eateries as well.
We next walked to the Headworks Dam, Munnar's oldest dam. It was a ten-minute walk. This small check dam was equally impressive. We next proceeded to the Attukal waterfall.
Attukal Waterfalls, located between Munnar and Pallivasal, is a picturesque attraction loved by both visitors and locals. This waterfall is accessible by a narrow wooden bridge set among rolling terrains and deep woods. From a distance, the fall appears to be a shimmering silver line, but as you get closer, you will notice water falling from a towering height.
In the afternoon we visited a valley photo point, just behind the Misty Mountain Resort. Following that, we traveled to Blossom Hydel Park. Blossom Hydel Park is a 16-acre unique property that features a diverse assortment of regional and seasonal flowers, a beautiful green landscape, mountain butterflies, and migratory waterbirds.
The image is enhanced by the passing of the Muthirapuzha River through the vibrant park. It provides a variety of enjoyable activities such as roller-skating, nature hikes, badminton, bird watching, and boating. With its adventurous trails, artificial waterfalls, and serene environment this park is a perfect place to reinvigorate yourself in the arms of nature. With that, we called it a day.
DAY 4
The fourth day was entirely devoted to the trek over the Seven Hills Mountains. The seven hills Lakshmi Mountains are located three km from Munnar. This full-day hike, which included the Lakshmi Hills, Munnar's tea plantations, and the famous tea village, rewarded us with breathtaking scenery in the form of swaying green meadows surrounded by towering mountain peaks. We opted for this trek with Thrillophillia. And we loved it. I definitely recommend this trek as it brings the true essence of Munnar to you.
We were wary at the end of the day, but we went to bed with a sense of satisfaction and the experience of serenity and elegance.
DAY 5
Taking the Enroute Mattuputty, the fifth day began with enjoying horse riding at the Photo point. Photo Point is a renowned tourist attraction located around 3 km from Munnar. This location is perfect for photography due to its vast tea plantations, woods like silver oaks, numerous rivulets, and rolling hills.
The next stops were Elephant Arrival Point and Botanical Garden. We did not feel good to do elephant rides. Instead we had a soul churing experience. The elephants seemed to weak and underfed. With a heavy heart we left from the loaction and wrote a message to the authorities after our trip.Next, We went to Carmelgiri Botanical Garden from here. This location, which houses over 150 different types of flowering plants, an open theatre, stunning landscapes, pathways, a canteen, a souvenir shop, and spice shops, also provided us with a one-of-a-kind learning experience. I bought a wonderful silk saree from here. I always wanted to travel to southern India and wear the traditional saree.
Echo Point, Munnar, India . For more travel content follow @shivanis_travelverse
We went to the famed Eco Point in the early afternoon. Echo Point, a prime viewing location for the Neelakurinji, a flower that blooms once every twelve years, is nestled in the backdrop of a charming lake and foggy hills clad in verdant forest trees. As the name implies, this location is well recognized for its captivating demonstration of the phenomena of echoing.
Boating point Kundal Lake, Munnar, India . For more travel content follow @shivanis_travelverse
The next halt was at Kundala Lake. We had a great day boating on the peaceful lake here. Kundala Lake offers travelers the opportunity to experience Shikara, pedal boats, and rowboats.
The last stop and the perfect way to enjoy our evening was the Mattupetty Dam. To enjoy a holistic Idukki experience, you must experience this beloved place.
The dam was built in the late 1940s as part of the Pallivasal Hydro-electric project for water conservation and power generation. Because of its stable water availability, the dam is now a significant source of electricity generation in Munnar, as well as a habitat for many wild animals and birds. After indulging in the natural beauty, we went back to our resort.
We traveled just after the major covid lockdown, so certain obvious tea-activity like tea-tasting and tea museums were closed for safety reasons. But if you get a chance, you should definitely experience these as well!
DAY 6 - 7
We spent the remaining two days relaxing in a peaceful stay at a Mudhouse Marayoor. If you want to learn more about this lovely, organic, and all-natural stay, please keep scrolling further .
Mudhouse Marayoor, Munnar, India . For more travel content follow @shivanis_travelverse
Mudhouse Marayoor, Munnar, India . For more travel content follow @shivanis_travelverse
Mudhouse Marayoor, Munnar, India . For more travel content follow @shivanis_travelverse
Stay at Abad Copper Castle: A Soothing Experience
WHAT IS SPECIAL ABOUT THIS STAY?Abad Copper Castle, set in the midst of a tea farm hilltop with a river passing through, is a resort property and a wonderful place to unwind while soaking in the beauty of Munnar all around you. The resort, located at an elevation of 1600 meters above sea level, provides lovely weather for a wonderful leisure destination.
This resort, perched on a cliff, offers a panoramic view of the Kannandevan hills and the Muthirappuzhayar stream running down the valley. You can also see the lovely 7 hills Laxmi hills mountain range from the balcony, and when it's misty and cloudy, you can even touch the clouds! All prominent tourist attractions, such as the tea gardens, Tea Museum, and Pothamedu viewpoint, are easily accessible from here.
The resort is located around 15mins away from the central bus stop and market. Its location, being a little away from the crowded areas, makes it a beautiful place to enjoy solitude and serenity.
They also have an in-house spa called Revival Ayurvedic Centre where you can relax after a tiring day of hiking and traveling or even kick start your day having rejuvenated. Post dinner, you can also spend quality time with friends and family, cooped up in warm blankets around the campfire.
They provide cab services and tours, but it is recommended to do it independently as it is comparatively expensive.
On arrival, they greet you with a welcome drink. We enjoyed Chukku Kappi, a delicious warm drink that was perfect for the cold, foggy, and breezy weather.
Abad Hotels - Image source - Tripadvisor.in
Abad Hotels - Image source- Booking.com
WHERE CAN WE GET THE BEST DEALS FOR THIS?You can book from their website. (I’ve added the link here).
Tip: If you plan to stay for more than 3 days, call up in advance and ask for a discount if possible.
Interior : Utilities + Ambience + CleanlinessThey offer Superior rooms that come with modern amenities. The rooms are kept quite clean and cozy. Here they make sure to maintain hygiene and cleanliness. The room cleaning services are provided every day and the hotel staff is also very cooperative.
We were traveling amidst Covid and they had really good sanitation practices. All guests and their bags were screened and sanitized with smoke machines.
FOODBreakfast options are excellent here, with lip-smacking South Indian cuisine as well as more modification to meet northern Indian and Gujarati flavors. We had a fantastic view of the lush green mountains while savoring a delicious breakfast.
They have an in-house restaurant where they provide some of the best multi-cuisine delicacies. Food rates in their in-resort restaurant are really reasonable, and the food is scrumptious as well as of high quality.
Tip: The wi-fi here was not very good. It could have been due to the terrain.
Stay at Mudhouse Marayoor: In the Arms of Mother Nature
Mudhouse Marayoor - Image source- Tripadvisor.in
WHAT IS SPECIAL ABOUT THIS STAY?While researching about the enchanting city of Munnar, we stumbled upon a beautiful property and I couldn't depart without having experienced it. The name of this place is Mudhouse Mayaroor, situated about 40 km from Munnar. This property is perched in a picturesque village named Marayoor and is designed by a team of architectural and interior masters. It is designed to integrate the finest of luxury and rustic living.
The hosts and proprietors are committed to assisting their guests in experiencing nature and sustainable living. They have created a sanctuary away from the hustle and bustle of modern city life and into Mother Nature's healing and comforting arms. We, too, found serenity and pleasure while being here.
Close to the renowned sandalwood forest and Chinnar Wildlife Sanctuary, and perched among the magnificent and rich western ghats, the Mudhouse is a heaven for nature lovers, bird lovers, eco-enthusiasts, and artists around the globe.
Interior : Utilities + Ambience + CleanlinessThe true beauty of the Mudhouse resides in its architectural and interior aesthetics. The mud cottages are exquisitely built. These hut-like works of art depict indigenous tribal designs, tones, and decor. The open roof shower space, hand-painted walls, and facilities, however, transcend it to the level of luxury and comfort stay as well!
The front yard is so lovely that it is ideal for a scenic brunch with a table and chair for two. The roof is entirely hay-covered on top, but it is layered with a solid roof beneath that is properly insulated for the cold season. They have kept the place in immaculate condition. When we were there, they were also building a treehouse, which is now finished and available for booking.
FoodYou can enjoy meals outdoors in their beautiful garden. They have garden tables. We were so much in love with all the southern Indian ‘farm to table’ dishes made by their cook. We also had the chance to enjoy a barbecue dinner arranged by the team at the mudhouse. It was perfect on a cold night to have a warm appetizing barbecue party.
Spending time at a mudhouse and especially in a place like this, it's never about what is around but it's about being at the property and making the best of it. The mudhouse was an experience in itself.
We stayed for three days and two nights. Thus, on the first day, we took our time, settled in, and began glamping. We met the lovely team and the incredible architect behind all of this - Aman and his wife Shayza, who are in charge of all social media, SEO, and everything else you see online. They are a beautiful couple and also fantastic hosts with a lot of youthful exuberance.
We savored the amazing view the next morning with a 'breakfast with a view' kind of vibe. We spent the day at the property collecting fruits from the farm and the evening enjoying a Barbeque dinner. Aman came to fetch us up that night for something spectacular in the woods.
There was a swarm of fireflies twinkling in the dark night, transforming the entire scene into a fairytale setting. It was one of the most hypnotic spectacles I'd ever seen in my life! We were in the middle of a pitch-dark forest, surrounded by hundreds of fireflies.
Places aroundOn our last day, we did a little exploration nearby. We hiked up to the hill behind the Mudhouse, there is a mountain on which lemongrass grows. We plucked lemongrass while absorbing the breathtaking landscape and even sighted some animals. The approaching clouds added to the enchantment of romance with the hills.
Enroute Pambar River walk, Marayoor, Munnar, India . For more travel content follow @shivanis_travelverse
We finally returned and brewed ourselves some lemongrass tea. We set out for the Pambar river-walk trail after a hearty breakfast. A 2-hour river hike leads to a beautiful waterfall. After we returned, we had a ‘farm to table’ dinner and hung out with the mudhouse team, getting to know them better and making commitments to stay in touch.
You should consider staying at places like The Mudhouse because it serves a purpose greater than simply being a place to stay. Places like this create a sense of community as well as a whole unique experience. And we certainly had a great time at the Mudhouse!
The ambiance is quite relaxing and free. The staff is helping and cooperative. The cleanliness and hygiene are maintained quite well.
