Discover Munnar

Munnar lies about 1,600 metres above sea level; in Malayalam, its name means “three rivers.” To understand the destination, look beyond its tea plantations: hills, valleys, bodies of water and historical connections are also part of Munnar’s character.

Landscape and the Kurinji bloom

Munnar’s landscape includes forests, savanna, gentle hills and valleys, numerous streams and waterfalls, extensive tea plantations and winding paths. These features offer different points of reference: forests and savanna, the contours of hills and valleys, waterways and areas of tea cultivation. Munnar is therefore not defined by just one natural feature. If you value a varied landscape when choosing a destination, you can get a sense of Munnar through these different elements.

The rare Neelakurinji, for which Munnar is known, blooms only once every twelve years. During the Kurinji season, its flowers turn Munnar’s hills and valleys blue. Unlike the other landscape features, this blue bloom is tied to a specific season. If you want to plan your trip around the Neelakurinji, check before making your plans whether your preferred dates coincide with the Kurinji season.

Destinations in the surrounding area

For geographical context, it is useful to distinguish Munnar itself from destinations in the surrounding area. Mattupetty is about 13 kilometres from Munnar Town. It is known for its masonry storage dam and lake. Top Station lies about 32 kilometres from Munnar, at an altitude of 1,700 metres. The dam and lake identify Mattupetty; at Top Station, the altitude provides a different point of reference. The approximate distances and distinct features help you distinguish these two destinations from each other and from Munnar Town.

Tea and colonial history

Tata Tea opened a museum in Munnar dedicated exclusively to tea, to preserve and showcase aspects of the origins and development of tea plantations in the highlands of Kerala. Its exhibits include a large sundial from 1913. It stands on a granite block and was made by the Art Industrial School in Nazareth, Tamil Nadu. The year, material and place of manufacture give the object its own story within the museum dedicated to tea.

Munnar is also home to English country houses that recall the colonial era. The Kundala Valley Railway offers another historical connection to tea. On journeys to Munnar, you can see scattered remains of the railway. The Kannan Devan Company established it to transport tea; it was destroyed by a flood in 1924. The remains point to the railway and its former purpose, while the English country houses recall a different historical period.

The museum and railway offer two different perspectives on Munnar’s tea history: the museum focuses on the origins and development of plantations in the highlands of Kerala, while the railway served to transport tea. Together with the country houses that recall the colonial era, they provide different historical connections to explore as you learn about the place.

Discover more destinations: Mlappara, Koviloor, Kuttikkanam, Kanthalloor, Kallar Vattiyar, Pallivasal, Kumily, Azhutha

For the broader travel overview: Idukki.