Munnar - The Destination
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Munnar,
the Kashmir of South India is one of the most popular
hill stations in India. Situated in the confluence of three
mountain streams- Mudrapuzha, Nallathani and Kundala, sprawling
tea plantations, picturesque towns, meandering lanes and
holiday facilities make this wonderful hill station.
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Munnar,
whose natural beauty is still unsullied by holiday-goers,
will welcome you to the highest mountain peak in South
India, Anamudi - which towers over
2695 m and is an ideal spot for campers who like to
indulge in trekking. Apart from the miles and miles
of tea plantations that welcome you, this is also
the place where the exotic flora, Neelakurinji bathes the hills in blue every twelve years, (this
flower will bloom next in 2006 AD). The mystical mountain
mists, waterfalls and forest sanctuaries all go on
to make it an alluring experience for you . A
must - see when you visit
this land of pristine glory is the |
Chinnar Wildlife Sanctuary (60 km from Munnar, 210 km east of Cochin) located
in Devikulam Taluks on the Tamil Nadu border. This
sanctuary is the abode for two highly endangered species-
the grizzled giant squirrel and the star tortoise.
Yet another attraction, Thoovanam, is on the
river Chinnar.
15 kms away is the Eravikulam National Park, where
you can see the rare Nilgiri Tahr (Nilgiri Ibex).
This stunningly beautiful park is divided into three
regions, out of which we as visitors are only allowed
in the tourism area in Rajamalaregion. This varied
habitat is the shelter to a number of terrestrial
and aquatic animals. In fact undertaking wild life
tours is one of the major activities in these wild
life tours and will be your experience for a lifetime.
What makes it even more exciting is the availability
of jungle lodges, tree houses and fishing camps which
give you the real taste of the place.
Munnar—A colonial town, clean and brightly painted,
well connected through air, road and water, the rhythms
of romance flowing in the ripples of the lake surrounded
by mountains, it sure has its own charm. |
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Munnar - Facts at a Glance
State : |
Kerala |
Area : |
1414 sq. km |
Altitude : |
1,520 mts |
Temperature
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21°C
- 34°C (Summers)
18°C - 30°C (Winters) |
Rainfall
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2700
mm (average) |
Language
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Malayalam
and Tamil, English is read and spoken by the locals |
Best
Season : |
Consistently
pleasant throughout the year,
the winters are chilly, and
monsoons bring a heavy downpour. Best time to
go is between October and May when the rains
aren’t very torrential. |
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Attractions in Munnar
A
stroll through the Tea Estates - Amongst
the must visits of Munnar are the lavish and
expansive tea gardens. Once here, you will get
to see it all- from picking of tealeaves in
the gardens and estates to their packaging in
the factories. To cherish the memories of the
tour, you may even pick up freshly packed tealeaves
as souvenirs from the factory.
Eravikulam
Park - Also known
as Rajamalai National Park, this was set up
in 1978 to preserve and protect
the endangered species |
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of
goats called Nilgiri Tahr. Today the park has
the largest known population of Tahrs in the
world. If you are an animal-lover, this is one
place you cannot afford to miss! Apart from
the Tahr, this place is also the shelter for
Atlas Moth, Elephants, Sambhars, Gaurs, Lion-tailed
Macaque, Nilgiri Langur, Tigers and Leopards.
The walk through the park offers picturesque
beauty for the aesthetically inclined tourist.
Devikulam Lake - Rejuvenating springs of
mineral water, this tranquil hill station with
its soft lawns, exotic flora and fauna and the
cool mountain air brings to your disposal a
rare experience. A perfect fairy-tale enchantment,
legend has it that once Sita Devi came down
to frolic in the lake and since then the lake
has been known as Devikulam. If you are a nature
lover, we seriously recommend a trip to this
place to breathe in the crisp and cool mountain
air filled with the fragrance of wild flowers
and rare herbs. In the middle of the lake is
a tiny island with a fishing lodge on it. Tiny
boats are available from the edges to take you
to the island where you can simply laze around
under the trees.
Christ Church - When you visit Munnar, be sure to visit the
Christ Church. Consecrated in 1910 by the British,
the Church is known for its stained glass windows.
Originally it was built to serve the managers
and employees of the tea gardens. It also has
a number of brass plaques in memory of the tea
planters. Today, the Sunday Services are held
here. In fact in case you plan to celebrate
Christmas at Munnar this is the Church to be
at!
Mattupetty
- Situated
at a height of 1700 m and about 13 km
from Munnar, Mattupetty is a must visit
for all. Famous for its Indo-Swiss livestock
project, you will find over 100 varieties
of high yielding cattle at the specialized
dairy farm. Visitors are allowed in three
of the eleven cattle sheds at the farm.
At a very short distance from the farm
the Mattupetty Lake and Dam form a very
beautiful picnic spot. In fact boating
facilities on the Mattupetty Dam on speed
launches and slow speed motorboats form
part of the excitement. |
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