Major Attractions in Munnar:
1. Mattupetty Dam (19 km from Resort)
The beautiful hill station of Mattupetty is a 13 km drive away from Munnar. The Mattupetty Lake and Dam is enroute to Top Station and is situated at an altitude of 1700 m. You will often see people enjoying a lazy picnic here. Visitors love the panoramic view of the dam surrounded by wooden hills and tea plantations.
Boating is a popular activity here. The DTPC (District Tourism Promotion Council) Idukki has good facility for boating and has a fleet of speed boats, row boats and pedal boats.
You will love trekking in the Shola forests around Mattupetty which is also home to a variety of birds. Walk along small streams and follow its meandering path till it falls down the hillside as a waterfall. The hill-side is dotted with pretty waterfalls that add to the attraction of the place.
2. Kundala Lake (34 km from Resort)
Situated at 1700m (5940 ft) above sea level, Kundala Lake is located at 28 Km away from Munnar on the way to Top Station, located amidst a dense forest. Kundala Arch Dam is Asia's first Arch Dam. Kundala lake and its surrounding area offer a calm and quiet atmosphere with quiet natural beauty. Kerala State Electricity Board has arranged boating facilities in the lake. Beautiful Kashmiri Shikkara boats, pedal boats and row boats are available on rent. Boating in this dam is an experience beyond words. The sprawling Kundala tea plantations and the Golf Course Ground are other attractions in the vicinity.
Kundala is a picturesque town on the way to Top Stations. The Golf Course which belongs to Tata Tea Ltd. is located here. The Kundala artificial dam is another attraction. Aruvikkad waterfalls is also near Kundala.
3. Echo Point (21 km from Resort)
Echo point is situated at 15km from Munnar and is an admirable adventure destination for the tourists. Some of the popular activities in this picturesque destination among the explicit views of the lush green hills are trekking and nature walks.
An appropriate place to disembark for some time, shriek and scream and enjoy the pleasure of your voice coming back. This is best enjoyed by the youngsters.
With a panoramic view, clean mountain air, mist clad hills makes this place worth visiting. The silence is simply disturbed by the visitors at echo point for few seconds and once again everything is normal.
4. Top Station View Point (38 km from Resort)
Top station, 41 km (1hr) from Munnar is aptly named, as it is home to some of the highest tea plantations in India. It lies on the state border between Kerala and Tamilnadu and commands a panoramic view of rolling green hills.
5. Power House Waterfalls (11 km from Resort)
This waterfall on the way to Thekkady from Munnar cascades down a steep rock 2000 m above sea level. The spot is enriched with the scenic western mountain ranges, and is an ideal place for a break on the way to the Periyar Wildlife Sanctuary in Thekkady.
6. Lock Heart Gap View Point (07 km from Resort)
It is a famous viewpoint. You can see the Bison Valley and the nearby mountains from here. It is a good place to go trekking and mountain climbing.
7. Anayirankal Dam (33 km from Resort)
Anayirankal lake and dam are very popular picnic spots. Herds of elephants visit the lake to quench their thirst and allow the visitors to feast upon the sight of them. The scenic beauty of the lake, the surrounding tea gardens and forests has made the place the favourite of resort owners. Several five star quality resorts have sprung up in the hill slopes over looking the lake.
8. Pallivasal Hydro Electric Project (02 km from Resort)
This is the site of the first Hydro-Electric Project in Kerala and a place of immense scenic beauty.
9. Attukad Waterfalls (03 km from Resort)
A panorama of waterfalls and rolling hills, Attukal, located between Munnar and Pallivasal, is a feast for the eyes. The place is also ideal for long treks
10. Chithirapuram Tea Plantations (04 km from Resort)
Chithirapuram hill station is a scenic treasure chest, full of verdant hills, tumbling mountain streams and vast tea plantations. Embark on a journey to explore the unexplored. Savor the unspoilt beauty of lofty hills and sparkling brooks on your Chithirapuram tour. You can plan a visit to the tea plantation. Enjoy hiking along the tea plantations and savor its lush green scenic beauty.
11. Meesapulimala Mountain Peak (31 km from Resort)
Going through 'Silent Valley', a picture-perfect tea plantation area, we reach the second highest peak in Kerala, rising to a height of 2650 mtrs. From this vantagepoint we will get a panoramic view of Tamilnadu spread out below. Every season offers us a different view of our neighbouring state.
12. Rajamala Nilgiri Tahr (21 km from Resort)
Rajamala Wildlife Sanctuary, located 15 kms from Munnar is the natural habitat of Nilgiri Tahr. Half the world population of the rare mountain goat is concentrated in this region.The animal is fast becoming extinct. The sanctuary is a part of the Eravikulam Wildlife Sanctuary, and visitors are allowed only to the tourism area in the Rajamala region.
The Nilgiri Tahrs are now reduced to small herds found in Eravikulam-Rajamala region. The total number of Nilgiri Tahrs in Rajamala is estimated at 1317.
13. Nyamakad Waterfalls (16 km from Resort)
Located between Munnar and Rajamala, Nyayamakad is a land of breathtaking waterfalls. The waters cascade down a hill from a height of about 1600 metres. The enchanting surroundings makes an excellent picnic spot and trekking point.
14. Anamudi Mountain Peak (21 km from Resort)
Anamudi – Elephant Forehead is the highest peak in south India and is also the highest point in India after the Himalaya-Karokarm range. It is situated in Idukki district of Kerala state. Anamudi peak is located inside the Ervikulam National park at its Southern region. The elevation of the peak is 8842 feet and is considered as an ideal place for trekking.
15. Eravikulam National Park (23 km from Resort)
The Eravikulam National Park (15 kms from Munnar) is situated in the Devikulam Taluk of the Idukki District. It lures the travellers with its irresistible grace and beauty. The 97 sq km park lies along the high ranges of the western coast in the Munnar Forest Division of Idukki district in Kerala. It is situated on the border of Kerala and Tamil Nadu in the north where it extends as the Annamalai National Park. The mountains covered with the rolling grasslands and high level sholas is breath-takingly beautiful. This park was established to protect the Nilgiri Tahr also known as the Nilgiri Ibex. The Rajamala is the natural habitat of this rare mountain goat. Half the world population of the endangered Nilgiri Tahr (Hemitragas hylocres) lives here. (Around 1317, according to the 1991 census).Besides the Nilgiri tahr other important fauna are elephant, leopard, tiger, malabar civet, sambar, barking deer, nilgai, langur, phyhon etc. The birds found are imperial pigeon, grey jungle fowl etc.
16. Pothamedu View Point (12 km from Resort)
Pothamedu is a tiny hamlet over hilly terrains. It is chiefly a view point from where vast acres of tea, coffee and cardamom plantations can be seen. Also seen are the popular Pallivasal Tea Factory and a hydroelectric power plant. The area offers an excellent opportunity to connect personally with nature. Trekking, sight seeing and nature walks along the mountains are popular activities amongst tourists at Pothamedu View Point.
17. Marayoor Sandalwood Forest (48 km from Resort)
Marayoor lies 40 km from Munnar. It is a place not to be missed for its combination of ancient caves, sandalwood trees and souvenirs from ancient civilization and more. A natural forest of fragrant sandalwood trees, Marayoor has a sandalwood factory owned by the Forest Department of Kerala, where attractive objects are d’art crafted from the precious wood.
18. Chinnar Wildlife Sanctuary (48 km from Resort)
Chinnar Wildlife Sanctuary lies 60 km from Munnar, a mixture of thorny scrub and deciduous forest that is home to some of Kerala’s most interesting wildlife. The prima donna here is the highly endangered giant grizzle squirrel, of which as estimated global count is less than 200. Other than this extremely rare creature, Chinnar’s resident species include elephants, tigers, chital, sambar, Indian bison and monkeys.
Text compiled by:
Munnar Heritage Residency
2nd Mile
Pallivasal P.O.
Munnar
Kerala 685 565
Mob: 0999 580 4141
Fax: 0484 2358622
Email: info@munnarheritage.com
Web: www.munnarheritage.com
