Munnar is a part of the Western Ghats and lies in the village called Kannan Devan village in the largest panchayat in Idikki district. This Idikki district is a part of the Indian state of Kerala which is best known as ‘God’s Own Land’. Kerala is popular for its scenic splendor which is incomparable with that of any other place in India. Beauty at its best is what comes to our mind when we think about the land of Kerala.
The lush greenery is a characteristic feature of this lovely place. The name of the place, Munnar, means ‘Three Rivers’ in the local language. This is because the region lies at the confluence point of three rivers which are the Nallathanni, Madhurapuzha and Kundaly.
Munnar is probably best known for its tea plantations. In this town, you will see miles and miles of tea estates and these tea gardens are the highest ones in the entire country. Mountain mist, low floating clouds, clear lakes and beautiful fountains are what Munnar basically stands for. This town is the little heaven with the perfect combination of peace and life. The tea produced here is exported to various parts of the world too.
There are many dense forests which are home to unique flora and fauna in this part of the country. The uncommon flower called Neelakurinchi can be found here. These bloom once in twelve years and when they do they turn the whole valley into a blue paradise. The last time these blossomed was in 2006. The Nilagiri Tahr is a breed of mountain goat which is very rare but can be found in the forests of Munnar.
Similarly, there are many more rare genres of plants and animals which can be found here. The flora and fauna in Munnar are getting deeply affected by the cutting off of forests in this part of Kerala in order to make more space for the setting up of tea plantations. Because of this, all these plants and animals are disappearing with time. Activities such as trekking, paragliding and and a tour to Periyar Wildlife Sanctuary can make your trip more fun. Munnar was also the summer capital of the British Empire.
This is probably because of the pleasant weather and peaceful environment that Munnar offers. Munnar does not really have a railway station although nearby regions such as Ernakulam and Aluva which are located 140 kilometers away have stations.
Cochin International Airport, located almost 105 kilometers away is the nearest airport from Munnar. The hill station lies at a height of 1500 meters above sea level. The region also has one of the highest hills in the whole of South India.
