Munnar

Munnar is located in Idukki District, of the Southern State of Kerala in India, is greatly known for its splendid green mountains, Valleys and streams. Munnar is a peaceful hill station. This place is often frequented as a tourist spot. Munnar boasts of unending tea estates covering the hill station. Munnar offers not only the laid-back atmosphere of a quiet little tea town, but also plenty of opportunities to savour nature at its best. Beyond the estates are rich tropical forests which contain wildlife like the Nilgiri tahrs (ibex), sambars, gaurs, elephants and lion-tailed macaques

Munnar is located at the confluence of the mountain streams Mudrapuzha, Nallathanni and Kundala and is surrounded by the wild jungles and is rainy and cold for most of the season. The south India’s highest peak Anamudi which is 2695 metres high is situated in Munnar. Among the exotic flora found in the forests and grasslands here is the “Neelakurinji”. This flower that bathes the hills in blue once in twelve years will bloom this year 2006.

While in Munnar, one can take part in the conducted tour of a tea factory to witness the process of tea dust being manufacturing, i.e. how a tea leaf is transformed to a cup of tea. Munnar is 133 km from Cochin and 148 km from Kottayam.

The hill resort of Munnar is one of the most popular tourist destinations in India. Munnar lies in the God's Own Country of Kerala. Besides being a hill resort Munnar is known a center for tea trade too. There are over thirty teagardens in and around Munnar. Get going on a bicycle at your own pace and unwind. Let the magic of Munnar bewitch you! The hill resort of Munnar derives its name from the fact that it lays at the confluence of three mountain streams. Literally in Tamil Munnar means "three rivers".

History:

During the British Rule of India, Munnar was developed to cultivate tea plants. At that time, most of the people around the area were employed as labourers for the various plantations. In the early stages of development, only Tamilians and a few Malayalis were present there.

Most of the top positions were occupied by the British, proudly called 'Managers' in Munnar. A few bungalows were built for them and these are still used. It is also believed that Munnar was a favourite place for those of the British and it was sometimes referred to as the 'Switzerland of India' for its natural surroundings and Old World architecture.

In year 2000, the Government of Kerala declared Munnar as a tourist spot. This has helped in attracting more tourists to the place.

Area and Season:

The area is between 1600 and 1800 meters above sea level and typically stays between 22 °C and 38 °C. The tourist season is from August to March but is especially lovely during the monsoons, with little streams and rivulets all over the place. Though the temperature is moderate, the relatively high altitude makes one prone to sun-burn.

Best Time to Visit:

The hill resort of Munnar, experiences cool weather all through the year. In the summer months you will need to carry some light woolens for protection against the chill. Whereas in winters, you should be, completely covered in woolens. The temperature drops down to as low as five degree Celsius. Thus you may visit Munnar anytime of the year besides the monsoons that last from June to September.
Tea estates:

Munnar is almost full of tea estates and has thick forest cover. Most of the people work in tea estates and many of them are labourers (to pluck the tea leaves). The majority of the tea estates are owned by Tata Tea. In fact, the entire area is known as the Kannan Devan Hills, from which the famous brand of the Tata’s gets its name.