Enjoying the Scenic Munnar

Enjoying the Scenic Munnar

Posted by Binoy Anto in Friends, Info Tips, Kerala, Photo Sharing, Places, Travel, Trips and Tourism on 02 17th, 2010 | 11 responses

ROUTE MAP FROM PUDUKAD TO MARAYUR

ROUTE MAP . WE TRAVELLED FROM PUDUKAD TO MARAYUR & KANTHALLOOR - CLICK ON MAP TO ZOOM

View Larger Map

We were on a 2 Night 1Day Tour to Munnar. I was thinking about going to Marayoor and was very glad that we were going there, also we went to Kanthaloor a good place with lots of cultivation of Apple (which is rarely seen on Kerala),Orange, Berries, Sugarcane etc. Lastly we visited Lock Heart Gap at, which gives you a breath taking view of Munnar.

There are around 160 images to Enjoy and I think you will enjoy each image, I will be posting the captions. Also try to comment from your side, views. You will find the SlideShow of all the Images with FULLSCREEN in the last of all the Images.

We started our Trip on 8th JAN 2010 around midnight 12:45 from Chengaloor, as we were planning to reach there before sunrise and settle for sometime. We 5 (Rojan, Vibin, Bino(myself), Joy & Sharen were packing things and as we planned to shoot a lot of Photos,especially for Joy & Sharen’s outdoor photos. So we were not worried about going more places but wanted to spend quality time on each place and wanted to be free to do what we were upto.

WE TOOK 2 ROOMS AT BELL MOUNT RESORTS WATCHING TV @ 4:15am

We Reached Munnar by 3:45 am on 9th Jan, it took nearly 3hr 30min to travel 140kms and it was full of curves and humps and we  were just riding hard to reach early. We took 2 rooms for 5hrs to get fresh and it was on Bell Mount Resorts in NH49, its very clean and provides most necessary facilities. It cost you 2500.00 Rs ie; aprox. 50USD for a day per Double Bed room. We took it for just to get fresh and start off. The staff at the hotel were very nice and they gave us 2 rooms adjacent. We were pleased with the facilities. We slept till 8:00am.

Munnar a Small Introduction from Wikitravel  http://wikitravel.org/en/Munnar

Munnar is a hill station in the Indian state of Kerala.

Most tourists come to Munnar to see the surrounding tea plantations. The town itself is typically Indian with the usual shops and guest houses and is nothing special in itself. But it is a good place to stay to see the surrounding countryside. It is also a popular place for Indian honeymooners.

The town is divided into two parts, Old Munnar, where the tourist information office is, and Munnar, where the bus station and most guest houses are located.

Munnar was a summer resort of the British government in South India. It is 1600 m (5400 ft) above sea level. It is pronounced “Moon-aar” meaning “Three rivers” in Malayalam. There are in fact three rivers – Madupetti, Nallathanni and Periavaru which flow through this town, but join some distance away from Munnar.

The neelakurinji, a blue flower which blooms only every twelve years, is found in this region. It bloomed last in December 2006. Munnar also has the highest peak in South India, Anamudi, at 2695 m.

Altitude : 1600 Mts to 1800 Mts above sea level. Temperature : Min. 0 deg.C – Max. 25 deg.C. Clothing : Warm Clothes and Rain Gear. Tourist Season : August to March

OH – ON THE WAY TO MARAYOOR, ON TOP OF A BRIDGE

IN THE MORNING WE STARTED AROUND 8:45am TO MARAYOOR THROUGH THE UDUMALPETTA ROAD, IT WAS AROUND 19KMS FAR AND FURTHER WE WERE PLANNING TO GO TO KANTHALLOOR WHICH FURTHER 25km FAR.

JOY & SHAREN – GREEN ALL AROUND

HOWS THE POSE!

ROJAN LOOKING COOL

OVER THE FENCE

REACHING OUT TO MUNNAR

Munnar is 140 km (about 3 hours) from Kochi. Remember to budget a good 6 hours if you are driving up or down, since the road is blind in some places and there are a lot of trucks and buses that seem to drive as if they own the road. Although the road is smooth (NH 49), it is narrow, twisty and curvy. Make sure you have a litte meal before you drive to Munnar on these roads, otherwise the next thing you will see on your dash-board will be your last meal! Kothamangalam is on the way and is 80 km away from Munnar. Between Kothamangalam and next town “Adimali”, you can experience a beautiful cool drive through a natural forest. Alongside, you can see many refreshing waterfalls.

Once you reach Adimali, Munnar is just 30 kilometers away – but it will take almost an hour to reach. Around 22 kilometers from Adimali, you can start seeing the tea plantations on both sides of the road and a panoramic view of the western ghats. The view is extremely beautiful during the early mornings.

Munnar can also be reached from Kodai Road, Madurai, Udumalpet. The drive to Munnar involves about 3 hours on the ghat section. There are 17 hair pin bends and traversing them can make you feel nauseated. However if you eat light while travelling you can enjoy the scenery during the drive.

Munnar is about 150 km from Coimbatore. Coimbatore-Munnar route is a very scenic route and though a bit longer is generally considered worth the extra time spent.

Kodaikanal is nearly 170 KM away from Munnar. [ Kodaikanal - Perumal Malai - Mayiladum Parai - Mooliyaru - Oothu - Falls View - Ganguvarpetty - Ghat Road - Periya Kulam - Theni - Bodi - Bodimettu - Devikulam - Munnar.] This route is a highly scenic one.

  • For Detailed report and photos of route to Palani from Kochi thru Valpara goto Kochi-Valpara-Palani

Distances from Munnar to various cities:

GOOD SHOT, NICE BACKGROUND

JOY & SHAREN – SMILES TO OUR COMMENTS

WE FOUR ARE IN ACTION WHILE SHAREN IS HANDLING THE CAMERA.

EVIDE MOTHAM VELLAMAA…. NEAR THE LAKKOM FALLS

NEAR THE LAKKOM FALLS

ENROUTE MARAYOOR..

ONE OF THE BIG BANYAN TREES IN THIS AREA SPREAD ACROSS HALF ACRE. MARAYOOR

WE GOT SOME GOOD FOG AND DRIZZLES WHILE ON THE WAY TO KANTHALOOR

JOY WAS VERY MUCH EXCITED TO CLIMB ONE OF THE AMLA -INDIAN GOOSEBERRY TREE TO PLUCK THE GOOSEBERRY AND EAT IT.

PLACES MUST SEE

  • Eravikulam (Rajamalai) National Park:[1] 45 mins from Munnar. See Nilgiri Thar (Hemitragas hylocres) – an endangered species of mountain goats, rolling grasslands and sholas, spread over 97 sq km in the Rajamalai hills, rare flora and fauna, Atlas moth (largest in the world), lion-tailed macaque, leopards, tigers, The Kurichi or Neelakurinji Flowers turn the hills of Rajamalai blue every 12 years. The next bloom will be in 2018. One can actually debate if going to the high peak just to see some goats is worth all the effort or not. However, the walk along the park is very romantic and has some breath taking view.
  • Anamudi Peak inside Eravikulam National Park: The highest peak (2695 m) south of the Himalayas, towers over the sanctuary in majestic pride. The slopes of the hills abound in all kinds of rare flora and fauna. The Atlas moth, the largest of its kind in the world, is a unique inhabitant of the park. Other rare species of fauna found here are the Nilgiri Langur, the lion-tailed macaque, leopards, tigers, etc. An ideal place for trekking, facilities are provided here and tourists are allowed to go on foot up to Anamudi.
  • Chinnar Wildlife Sanctuary,[2].Chinnar wildlife sanctuary is located in the Wester Ghats of Kerala. This wildlife sanctuary has a large number of plants and animals. This wildlife sanctuary is spread in around 90 km of area. This sanctuary is one of the protected areas in the western ghats because of its geomorphologic, ecological, cultural significance and floral.
  • Mattupetti 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. You could take the speed boat ride which is fantastic. It costs 300 INR if you have to hire a boat for you alone. The ride is for 15 minutes. The maximum capacity is 5 persons and you could save some money if you are a group of 4 to 5.
  • Mattupetti Indo-Swiss Farm – Better known as Mattupetti (cattle village), Tamil migrant labourers had once upon a time reared cattle here. The cool climate and abundance of fodder made it the ideal location for the Indo-Swiss dairy farm. Established in 1961, the Kerala Livestock Development Board (KLDB) manages this highly specialised dairy farm. The dairy farm is a unique one of its kind with more than 100 varieties of high-yielding cattle being reared.
  • Echo Point – 15km from Munnar, on the way to top station from Munnar is a small lake set amidst rolling hills. Every loud call made from a spot on the lake embankment is returned manifold by the echo from the surrounding hills. Young tourists throng to this place to listen to the echoes of their friendship calls.
  • Top Station, [3]. 37km from Munnar on the Kerala and Tamil Nadu border, has great views of the Western Ghats. Top station is the “top”-tourist attraction. This place gives a real ‘above the clouds’ experience. Regular buses go to Top Station (1 hr) from Munnar. A jeep costs Rs 400. The area is known for the Neelakurunji plant, which flowers only once every twelve years. The flower is violet.
  • Kundala Lake – This lake is very beautiful amidst lush jungles. Hiring a pedal boat and exploring the lake and its surroundings is an awesome experience. Except at the place you hired the boat, don’t expect to find humans around the lake as it is surrounded by scenic jungles and hills.
  • Atukkad Waterfalls – A scenic waterfalls amidst hills and jungles. You can find a road leading to Atukkad Waterfalls on Kochi road (just about 5 km from Munnar). This road is very narrow and needs a lot of experience to drive on.
  • Salim Ali (Thattekkad) Bird Sanctuary, [4]. There are woodpeckers, Malabar gray hornbills, Ceylon frogmouths, parakeets, and rose-billed rollers. This sanctuary is located 20km from Kothamangalam on the road between Ernakulam and Munnar. There are basic and mid-range hotels in Kothamangalam and an Inspection Bungalow in Boothathankettu. You can take a boat cruise from Boothathankettu to Thattekkad. Admission Foreigners/Indian Rs 40/10.
  • Marayoor – Around 40km from Munnar. 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.
  • Kolukkumalai Tea Estate – At a height of about 7130 ft, this orthodox tea factory lays claim to being one of the highest in the world. The view of the Western Ghats is absolutely enchanting.
  • Blossom Garden – Houses many different varities of flowers. Tourist will definitely take away good memories from this place.
  • Water falls[5] – Check out several natural waterfalls on the way to Munnar. These waterfall carry fresh rain water. They provide an excellent place for all tourists to have photo shootout.
  • Tata Tea Museum’ is located at the distance of around 2 km on the Nallathany road, from Munnar. Tourists can see pieces of colonial era and old bits collection. Videography and Photography is strictly prohibited here. This museum remains open from morning 10’o clock till evening 4’o clock every day, besides Monday which is an off day. There is a 50 rupees ticket on the entry for the adults and 25 rupees ticket for the children.
  • Chithirapuram is located at a distance of around 10 km from Munnar. Chithirapuram has old playgrounds and courts, bungalows and sleepy little cottages which all give this place an old world charm. This town is also famous for its tea plantations in the world.
  • Kalvarimount

VIBIN – NEAR LOCK HEART GAP

SHAREN, JOY AND ROJAN LOCK HEART GAP

MY SELF ENROUTE TO MARAYOOR

VIBIN IN ONE OF THE TEA ESTATES

JOY INSIDE A TEA ESTATE

ROJAN INSIDE A TEA PLANTATION – ENROUTE MARAYOOR

THERE WAS SOME ROAD WORKS GOING ON

WE STOPPED HERE FOR SOME TIME TO SHOOT SOME PHOTOS THE SCENE WAS VERY COLOURFUL

ROJAN – BEHIND WHEELS

SOME FLOWERS NEAR THE FENCES

SOME GIRLS NEAR MARAYOOR VILLAGE

BY AROUND  10:30 WE REACHED NEAR MARAYOOR AND THERE WAS SOME COFFEE SHOPS, WE TOOK SOME COFFEE, WHILE VIBIN WAS ENJOYING THE COCONUT.

LAKKOM FALLS IS LESS CROWDED,CLEAN AND NEAT.THEY CHARGE YOU 5Rs. FOR ENTRY BUT ITS KEPT GOOD. WE SPENT AROUND 45MINS THERE ENJOYING THE WATER.

JOY AND ROJAN WAS BUSY SHOOTING WITH SOME GUESTS

WHILE VIBIN WAS HAVING SOME SHOTS INFRONT OF THE FALLS

LAKKOM FALLS IS LITTLE FAR FROM ERAVIKULAM NATIONAL PARK AND ITS A PART OF THE PARK.

BOTH ROJAN AND VIBIN WAS ENJOYING THE SEZO RIDE.

VIBIN, JUST TRYING THE OLD EXPERTISE HERE.

HANGING ON BANIYAN TREE BRANCHES IN THE CHINNAR WILD LIFE AREA, RAJIV GANDI PARK.

WAS THIS A COMPETITION OF HANGING ON TREE..

ALL OF US – ON FRAME. SHOT BY ONE OF OUR FRIEND FROM THE PARK.

JOY WAS READY TO DO THE TRICK.. ALL WERE WAITING.

HE DOES THE TRICK VERY WELL. TOOK A ROUND USING THE TREES  HANGING BRANCHES.

WE WILL CONTINUE OUR JOURNEY ON THIS…  JOY & SHAREN

BY THE TIME WE REACHED MARAYOOR WE WERE HUNGRY AND GOT A SMALL ROAD SIDE “THATTUKADA”, SO WE JUST WENT IN FOR TAKING SOME “KAPPA  & MEAN” IE; FISH AND TAPIOCA.

COOOL.. TASTY FOOD. ALL WERE ENJOYING THE FOOD.

JOY WAS TAKING TASTE FROM THE LAST FINGER LICK.

AFTER A 35MINS HALT FOR SMALL LUNCH AROUND 1:30PM WE CONTINUED TO KANTHALLOOR

ENROUTE WE SAW AN INDIAN GOOSEBERRY TREE – AMLA TREE, JOY STARTED THE CLIMB AT ONCE.

A LADY WITH A FLOCK..

THROUGH THE FOG.. A NICE EXPERIENCE WHEN FOG & DRIZZLE TOGETHER

JOY WAS HAPPY THAT HE WAS ABLE TO COLLECT SOME GOOD ONES

WE TASTED IT AND AS ITS THE NATURAL INDIAN GOOSEBERRY, NOT LIKE THE HORTICULTURED ONE, WAS TASTY. WE ATE SOME THERE AND PACKED THE REST.

A CUTE ROSE FLOWER

ANOTHER DALIYA FLOWER

CARROT PLANTS

ANOTHER DALIYA FLOWER

COFFEE BEANS .

WHILE WE WERE IN TALKS WITH THE FARM OWNER, VIBIN WAS DIGGING SOMETHING

SOME ORANGE TREE IN A FARM.

WORKERS WHO ARE ENGAGED IN THE NATIONAL WORK GUARANTEE SCHEME

SUGAR CARE

SOME OF THE WORKERS, WORK WITH SUGARCANE FACTORIES IN MARAYOOR

ONE BOY MARAYOOR SUGARECANE FACTORY

WE WERE WATCHING THE PROCESS FOR SOMETIME

NEAR LOCK HEART GAP, ITS A WONDERFUL VIEW POINT AND YOU WILL LOVE TO SEE THIS

JOY & SHAREN ENJOYING THE SHOOT AT LOCK HEART GAP.

OYE – KAB TERE KO GLASS MILARE?

WE ALL WERE POSING INFRONT WHILE THE CAMERA WAS ON INCHARGE WITH REMOTE.
SOME PANORAMIC SHOTS OF MUNNAR – CLICK TO ZOOM

IT’S WIDE SHOTS AND YOU WILL NEED TO PAN LEFT & RIGHT TO SEE FULL IMAGE

Slideshow of All Photos - Press the [ ] Square on Bottom near to NEXT arrow to watch Fullscreen

References
http://www.nivalink.com/camelot/munnar.html
http://wikitravel.org/en/Munnar
http://i-theni.blogspot.com/2008/01/munnar-places-to-visit.html
http://www.chandanaresorts.com/marayoor_kanthalloor_touristmap.html



11 Responses to “Enjoying the Scenic Munnar”

  1. Anoop says:
    February 19, 2010 at 2:30 pm

    Da roja, Ullathu paranjal ninne Photos il kandal oru TG ravi – look undu ;)

    Reply
  2. Rojan says:
    February 22, 2010 at 8:45 am

    Eda super work .I appreciate u

    Reply
  3. joy kurissery says:
    September 25, 2010 at 9:34 am

    hi bino………done a great job………..SUPERB

    Reply
  4. VP PRASANNAKUMAR says:
    January 4, 2011 at 10:12 am

    I appreciate you all behind this great work. People around the whole world should know about our pride of Kerala.

    Can you please send the road map of Major tourist places in Kerala.

    Thanx…

    Reply
  5. Manoj Joseph says:
    June 8, 2011 at 9:48 am

    I think you could enjoy the trip, it is a memorable trip. my wife house is there. Kanthalloor they running a homestay there. Name- Dew mount. if you had a proper guidence, you can see more places there.
    thank you
    manoj (Deepika Daily)

    Reply
  6. Raj Babu says:
    July 24, 2011 at 9:32 am

    Dear Sir,
    I happend to see your site accidently. congrats for your great piece of work. THANK YOU so much for your nice comments about BELLMOUNT RESORTS, MUNNAR.
    Further if you need any accomodation requirements in Munnar Town, do let us know by calling 04865230417.

    Reply
  7. kerala tours says:
    August 24, 2011 at 11:32 am

    Thank you so much for the information. Keep posting,pictures are awesome! Great post.

    Reply
  8. zaheer says:
    October 11, 2011 at 4:16 pm

    Superb yaar … u showed the whole munnar in pics …gr8

    Reply
  9. David Domincki says:
    June 6, 2012 at 3:55 am

    Hi there! I just wish to give an enormous thumbs up for the great information you could have right here on this post. I shall be coming again to your weblog for extra soon.

    Reply
  10. ayamuponmala says:
    July 24, 2012 at 5:21 pm

    Every photos are very nice… and they are very helpfull to the travellers whome were planning to visit Munnar!Thanks..

    Reply

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