Munnar among Tea, Hills and History

Munnar lies about 1,600 metres above sea level. Its name means “three rivers” in Malayalam and offers a first glimpse of a destination whose landscape and history provide many ways to plan a holiday.

Hills, Tea Plantations and a Special Bloom

Munnar’s landscape includes forests and savanna, as well as gentle hills, valleys, numerous streams and waterfalls. Expansive tea plantations and winding paths add to this varied scenery. If you are mainly looking for scenic experiences on your trip, there are many different sights to focus on: gentle hills, valleys and waterways.

The rare Neelakurinji has a special natural connection to the area. This plant, for which Munnar is known, blooms only once every twelve years. During the Kurinji season, its flowers turn the hills and valleys blue. This seasonal sight is distinct from the area’s other landscape features: it is part of a specific blooming cycle, not an experience to expect at any time.

Tea and Traces of History

Tata Tea opened a museum in Munnar dedicated exclusively to tea. It was intended to preserve and showcase aspects of the origins and development of tea plantations in the highlands of Kerala. This makes tea visible not only as part of the landscape, but also as a subject with its own history. The museum includes a large sundial dating from 1913. It stands on a granite block and was made by the Art Industrial School in Nazareth, in the state of Tamil Nadu.

Historical traces can also be found beyond the museum. Munnar has English country houses that recall the colonial era. On trips to Munnar, you can also see scattered remains of the Kundala Valley Railway. The Kannan Devan Company built this railway to transport tea; it was destroyed by a flood in 1924. The country houses, museum exhibit and railway remains highlight different aspects: architecture, a specific museum object and the history of transport.

Putting Nearby Destinations in Context

Places in the surrounding area may also play a part in planning your trip. Mattupetty is about 13 kilometres from Munnar Town and is known for its masonry storage dam and lake. Top Station is about 32 kilometres away, at an altitude of 1,700 metres. The distances refer to different starting points: for Mattupetty, the reference point is Munnar Town; for Top Station, the distance is given from Munnar.

Choose the Right Accommodation as Your Base

When choosing a holiday rental in Munnar, consider which aspects of the destination you want to shape your trip: tea and scenery, historical traces, or destinations in the surrounding area. If you also plan to visit Mattupetty or Top Station, you can include these destinations as separate stops in your itinerary.

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