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Munnar Travel Guide

SIGHT SEEING PLACES OF MUNNAR

Anaimudi At a height of around 2,695m it is the highest peak in southern India and can be viewed from Munnar.

Attukal An ideal place for long trekking, Attukal is situated between Munnar and Pallivasal. The place is a feast for the eyes with its panoramic waterfalls and rolling hills.

Chithirapuram This small hill station exudes an old-world charm with its old playgrounds and courts, bungalows, and sleepy little cottages that point to its colonial past. Situated at a distance of around 10km from MunnarChithirapuram is home to Pallivasal hydel power project.

Christ Church is an important place to visit in Munnar. Built of stone, it wasconstructed by the British in 1910 and is known for its stained glass windows and a number of brass plaques in memory of the tea planters of Munnar.

Devikulam is an out-of-the-world experience among exotic flora and fauna, cool mountain air, and velvet lawns. An idyllic hill station, Devikulam is located at a distance of around 7km from Munnar. The Sita Devi Lake situated here is an ideal picnic spot with its picturesque surroundings, mineral water, and trout-fishing facilities.

echo Point As its name suggests, the place has a natural echo phenomenon. It is situated at a distance of around 15km from Munnar on the way to Top Station.

Kundale Tea Plantation offers an opportunity to see the tea plantations, to watch tea being picked, learn how tea is processed and to buy the tea directly from the gardens. It is an area surrounding a picturesque lake that offers stunning views of the region. If you arrive on a Sunday, make sure to drop in at the small Kundale Club in the afternoon, where the local planters gather with their families.

Neelakurunji Flowers The hills around Munnar are covered with the rare Neelakurunji plant giving it a wonderful look, especially when the flowers bloom to cover the entire mountain range. It is said that this exotic plant flowers every 12 years and the next scheduled flowering time is in the year 2006 and thereafter in 2018 and again in 2030 and so on.

Nyayamakad An excellent picnic and trekking point, Nyayamakad is situated at a distance of 10km from Munnar near Rajamala. Nyayamakad is a land of scintillating waterfalls with water cascading down from a height of around 1,600 metres.

Muttupetty 13km from town and situated at a height of 1700m, Mattupetty is famous for its highly specialized dairy farm; the Indo Swiss Livestock Project. Over 100 varieties of high yielding cattle are reared here. Visitors are allowed into three of the eleven cattle sheds at the farm. Visiting times are from 9.00 a.m. to 11.00 a.m. and 2.00 p.m. to 3.30 p.m. For more information give the place a call on: 30389. Tip: The Muttupetty Lake and dam, just a short distance from the farm, is a very beautiful picnic spot worth taking time out for.

Mudapetty Dam 10km from Munnar, this popular picnic spot activities like boating and horse riding and is a great place to spend the day especially if visiting with children.

Pallivasal A place of immense scenic beauty, Pallivasal is situated around 8km from Munnar. It has the distinction of being home to the first hydropower project in Kerala.

Pothamedu One of the major plantation hubs of Munnar, Pothamedu is situated at a distance of around 6km from the town. Views of coffee, tee, and cardamom plantations are excellent from here and it's an ideal spot for trekking and hiking amidst lush mountains, rolling hills and breathtaking scenery.

nayirankal Surrounded by lush tea plantations and evergreen forests, Anayirankal is situated at a distance of around 22km from Munnar. A visit to the splendid reservoir and the Anayirankal dam gives excellent views.

Chinnar Wildlife Sanctuary is around 52km from Munnar and is the home of elephants, leopards and bears and is an excellent place to spend at least half a day if not longer exploring.

Eravikulam National Park By driving north from Munnar for 30 minutes and then hiking a few kilometres, you reach this sanctuary which is home to over three thousand free-roaming ibex, elephants, lion-tailed macaque, and the Nilgiri tahr (an endangered mountain goat). Declared as a National Park in 1978 it covers 97km of rolling grass hills forested valleys and is one of the 'must do' activities in the area.

Nilgiri Region is known for its breathtaking landscape and natural splendour. Anayirankal is a well-known plantation site with some excellent views. Top Station offers panoramic views from an altitude of 2,200 metres. Marayoor Lake is one of the most known picnic spots in the state. Cheeyappara is a famous waterfall near Munnar. Meenuli is known for its large rock extending over an area of 500 acres. Nadukani is an excellent viewpoint.

Marayoor Around 40km from Munnar, Marayoor has many firsts to its credit. It is the only place in Kerala with natural growth of sandalwood trees, natural caves with murals, and relics from Later Stone Age civilisation. There is a sandalwood factory of the Forest Department of Kerala and a children's park extending across one hectare of land under the canopy of a single Banyan tree, all of which attract tourists in large numbers. Some nearby destinations such as Thoovanam and Rajiv Gandhi National Park are also of great interest.

Meenuli is an ideal place for trekking with its huge rock extending over 500 acres in area and two acres of evergreen forests up on the top of it. From the top of the rock, one can see the Lower Periyar Area, Bhoothathankettu and even up to Ernakulam on a fine day.

Nadukani Situated at an altitude of 3,000 ft. above sea level, Nadukani offers excellent views of the Moolamattam town, Malankara lake, etc. It is a natural dream heaven  covered with green-clad hills, silvery streams, valleys and paddy fields. You will encounter many rare species here like the hornbill, wild rabbits, spotted sambhar, jungle mainah and elephants, to name a few.

rajamallay/Rajamala about 17km from Munnar is the natural habitat of the Nilgiri Tahr (an endangered mountain goat). Rajamala is 2695m above sea level. The Nilgiri Tahrs are today reduced to small herds, found in the Eravikulam-Rajamala region and rarely if ever anywhere else these days; so are well worth seeing while they still exist; your grandchildren may never be so lucky.

Top Station Situated at an altitude of between 1700 and 2,200m, Top Station offers wonderful views of the valley down below and panoramic landscape. The hilltop is situated at a distance of around 41km north from Munnar town on the Tamil Nadu-Kerala border. According to a local belief, the place derived its name from Middle Station and Lower Station, both lying down the valley, which were once connected to this place via a ropeway.    

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Thekkady Travel Guide

SIGHT SEEING PLACES OF THEKKADY

Chellarkovil (15 km from Kumily)
This sleepy little village with its spectacular view of the plains (and cascading waterfalls during the monsoons) is a feast for your eyes. The village slopes down the famous coconut groves of Kambam in neighbouring Tamil Nadu.

The Periyar Wildlife Sanctuary
Lying close to the plantations, in the rich jungles of Periyar in Thekkady is one of the world's most fascinating natural wildlife reserves - the Periyar Wildlife Sanctuary. Spread across 777 sq. km, of which 360 sq. km is thick evergreen forest, the Periyar Wildlife Sanctuary was declared a Tiger Reserve in 1978. Noted for its geo-morphological diversity of wildlife and scenic beauty, the Reserve attracts visitors from all over the world. The splendid artificial lake formed by the Mullaperiyar Dam across the Periyar river adds to the charm of the park. This is the only sanctuary in India where you can have the unique experience of viewing wildlife at close quarters from the safety of a boat on the lake. The greatest attraction of Periyar remains the large herds of wild elephants that come down to the lake's edge.

The sanctuary watch towers
There are three watch towers for observing wild life - at Edappalayam and Manakkavala and Thannikudi. Reservations can be made at the Forest information Counter, Thekkady. Tel. : +91-486-322028.

Kumily (4 km from Thekkady)
This plantation town, closely associated with Thekkady, is situated on the outskirts of the Periyar Sanctuary. It is an important shopping centre and spice trade centre, the main bus station and most of the medium range accommodation in the Periyar region is in Kumily.

Murikkady (5 km from Thekkady)
Washed in fresh spice scented air, Murikkady is a panorama of cardamom, coffee and pepper plantations

Pandikuzhi ( 5 km from Kumily)
This picturesque place is cradled between Chellarkovil and the Tamil Nadu State border is a popular picnic spot. Pandikuzhi offers great opportunities for trekking and is a photographer's delight

Mangala Devi Temple ( 15 km from Thekkady)
This ancient temple is hidden in the dense woods at the top of a peak 1337 M above sea level. The temple is built in the traditional Kerala style of architecture. Visitors are allowed here only on the Chithra Pournami festival day. The peak commands a panoramic view of the other side of the ghats and the vast plains of Tamil Nadu. Permission to visit the area can be obtained from the Wildlife Warden at Thekkady. Tel. : 91-486-322027.

Vandiperiyar ( 18 km from Thekkady)
The river Periyar flowing through the centre of this town nourishes its vast tea, coffee and pepper plantations. A major trade centre, Vandiperiyar is also home to a number of tea factories. The Government Agriculture Farm and Flower Gardens have a delightful array of rose plants, orchids and anthurium Vandanmedu ( 25 km from Kumily)

This is one of the world's largest auction centres for Cardamom. A walk through the sprawling cardamom plantaions of Vandanmedu is a pleasent experience.

Pullumedu ( 43 km from Thekkady, 26 km from Periyar)
The winding journey to this hill town, along the Periyar river, offers a stunning view of the rolling hills draped in lush greenery. Velvet lawns, rare flora and fauna add to the beauty of Pullumedu which can be accessed from a jeep. The famous Sree Ayyappa temple at Sabarimala and the Makara Joythi illuminations at the shrine are visible from here. Since it is part of the restricted forest zone, special permission to visit Pullumedu has to be obtained from the Wildlife Preservation Officer, Thekkady Tel.+ 91-486-322027 or The Range Officer, Vallakkadavu Tel. :+ 91-486-352515.

MULLAPERIYAR DAM
Mullaperyiar dam was built by British in 1895. It stands on Peryiar river whose flow orginates from Thekkady. The dam was built mainly for watering the paddy fields of Tamil Nadu perenially drought - prone. Even though the dam is now in Kerala, most of the water in the reservoir is still released to Tamil Nadu and is cause for considerable political tensions between the two states.The dam is 175 feet tall in hight and is 5704 feet long.

Kuttikanam
A place for adventure tourism and trekking, or even langourous, tranquil break. This picturesque plantation town washed in the fragrance of cardamom is surrounded by lush-green, gentle hills.

Thrissanku Hills ( 4 km from Peermedue, 1/2 km from Kuttikanam)
The rolling hills the lovely landscape and the gentle breeze make this an ideal spot for long walks. The hills offer a breathtaking view of the sunrise and sunset.

Peeru Hills (4 km from Peermede; 1 km from Kuttikanam)
This idyllic hill station is a favourite haunt of trekkers and picnic teams. The hill is named after Peer Mohammed. the Muslim sufi saint, who spent his last days here. The masoleum of the saint, the summer palace of the royal family and the residence of the Diwan situated nearby are all worth a visit.

Grampi : ( 5 km from Peermede ; 10 km from Vandiperiyar)
Grampi is also known as Parunthupara (eagle rock) because of the panoramic view from its high peaks. Rocky plains, lush hillsides, forests trekking trails and picturesque views lend charm to this destination. The road to Grampi is flanked by unending stretches of cardamom, tea and coffee plantations.

Pattumala ( 17 km east of Peermede; 28 km west of Thekkady)
Lofty peaks little streams and ever expanding tea plantations are the attractions of this place. Pattumala (which literally means hill draped in silk) is home to the two most famous tea plantations in Kerala - Harrision Malayalam and A V Thomas & Co. The Velamkanni Matha Church, built entirely of granite, at the top of the hill is a famous pilgrim centre. The flower garden nearby is a facinating riot of colours of roses, orchids and anthurium.

Vagamon ( 25 km from Peermede)
Grass covered hills, velvet lawns and the cool mountain air make Vagamon a perfect holiday retreat. A curious blend of religious mysticism and European legacies, this hillside village is haven of tranquility. The chain of three hills - Thangal Hill, Murugan Hill and Kurisumala is a mark of religious harmony. The dairy farm managed by the Kurisumala monks is worth a visit.


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