Munnar
Key Facts
Best Time to Visit
September to March (cool 10-25°C, clear views); monsoon Jun-Aug is lush but heavy rain and leeches
Language
Malayalam, Tamil, Hindi, English at hotels and tour operators
Currency
Indian Rupee (INR)
Time Zone
IST (UTC+5:30)
Airport
Cochin International Airport (COK), 110 km (4-5 hour drive); or Madurai Airport (IXM), 150 km
Population
~30,000 (Munnar town)
Climate
Tropical highland; cool year-round (10-25°C), heavy monsoon rainfall Jun-Aug, misty mornings common
Safety Rating
Very Safe — peaceful hill station; main risks are winding mountain roads and leeches during monsoon
Altitude
1,532 meters (5,026 ft); surrounding peaks up to 2,695m (Anamudi, South India's highest)
Famous For
Tea plantations, Eravikulam National Park (Nilgiri tahr), neelakurinji flowers (next bloom ~2030), spice gardens
Top Highlights
Tea Plantations & KDHP Tea Museum
Munnar's endless carpet of tea bushes is the main attraction. Visit the KDHP Tea Museum at Nallathanni Estate for the history of Munnar tea (established 1880). Entry: INR 125. Open 9 AM-4 PM, closed Mondays. Tea tasting and factory tour included. Buy fresh tea directly (INR 100-500 per 250g). Photogenic tea gardens everywhere — just pull over.
Eravikulam National Park
Home to the endangered Nilgiri tahr (mountain goat) — the world's largest population. Entry: INR 125 Indians, INR 420 foreigners. Shuttle bus from gate to viewing areas (INR 50). Open 7:30 AM-4 PM. Best Jan-Mar when tahr descend to lower slopes. Closed during calving season (Feb-Mar sometimes). Allow 2-3 hours including queue. 15 km from Munnar.
Mattupetty Dam & Lake
Scenic reservoir 13 km from Munnar surrounded by tea estates and shola forests. Speedboat rides on the lake: INR 300-500 for 15 min. Pedal boats: INR 100. The drive from Munnar is gorgeous — stop at Echo Point (2 km before) where your voice bounces off the valley. Free dam viewing. Allow 2-3 hours for the circuit.
Top Station
The highest point on the Munnar-Kodaikanal road at 1,880m, 32 km from Munnar. Panoramic views of the Western Ghats and Tamil Nadu plains. This is where the neelakurinji (Strobilanthes kunthiana) blooms once every 12 years, painting hills purple (last bloom: 2018, next: ~2030). Free entry. Best before 10 AM when clouds roll in. Allow 3 hours with travel.
Spice Plantations
Guided tours through cardamom, pepper, cinnamon, clove, and vanilla plantations. Several estates between Munnar and Thekkady offer 1-2 hour walks (INR 200-500 per person). You'll taste raw spices straight from the plant. Buy fresh spices directly (much cheaper than markets). Kolukkumalai Tea Estate at 2,400m is the highest organic tea plantation in the world.
Anamudi Peak Viewpoint
South India's highest peak at 2,695m, visible from Eravikulam National Park. Trekking to the summit requires special permission from the Forest Department and is rarely granted. The best viewpoint is from within Eravikulam — on clear mornings the peak is dramatic against blue sky. Combine with your Eravikulam visit.
Chinnar Wildlife Sanctuary
Drier, less-visited sanctuary 60 km from Munnar with thorny scrub, grizzled giant squirrels, and star tortoises. Trekking options from 2-8 hours (INR 300-1,500). Night trail available (INR 500, 2 hours). More adventurous and less crowded than Eravikulam. Open 7 AM-6 PM. Tribal heritage museum at the entrance. Allow half to full day.
Planned Itinerary
7-Day Munnar Itinerary
Arrival & Tea Country First Views
Drive from Kochi airport (COK) through winding mountain roads to Munnar (130 km, 4-5 hours). The last 60 km through tea plantations is spectacular.
Drive from Kochi to Munnar(4.5 hours)
Hire car INR 3,000-4,000 one way. Or KSRTC bus (INR 150-300, 5 hours). The Adimali-Munnar stretch through tea hills is breathtaking — stop for photos
Check into resort or homestay(30 minutes)
Windermere Estate (luxury, INR 8,000-15,000), Blackberry Hills (mid-range, INR 3,000-5,000), or KTDC Tea County (government, INR 2,000-3,500)
Pothamedu viewpoint sunset(1 hour)
6 km from town. Panoramic views of tea, coffee, and cardamom plantations. Free entry. Best at golden hour. Short walk from the road
Dinner at Saravana Bhavan, Munnar town(1 hour)
Reliable South Indian — dosas, Kerala meals (INR 100-250). Or dine at your resort
Tea Museum & Eravikulam National Park
Morning at the KDHP tea museum, then spot the endangered Nilgiri tahr at Eravikulam — the highest national park in South India.
KDHP Tea Museum(1.5 hours)
Tata Tea's museum showing the history of Munnar's tea industry. Processing demo, old machinery, and tea tasting. Entry INR 125. Open 9 AM-4 PM. Closed Mondays
Eravikulam National Park(2.5 hours)
Home to half the world's endangered Nilgiri tahr (mountain goats). Shuttle bus from the gate to the top. Entry INR 125 Indians, INR 420 foreigners. The shola grasslands above the treeline are stunning. Open 7:30 AM-4 PM. Closed Feb-Mar for calving
Lunch at Rapsy Restaurant, Munnar(1 hour)
Local favorite — Kerala fish curry meals and appam (INR 100-250)
Attukad Waterfalls(1 hour)
9 km from Munnar on the Pallivasal-Munnar road. Multi-tiered falls through tea plantations. Free. Short walk from road. Best after monsoon
Top Station & Mattupetty
Drive to the highest point in Munnar for Tamil Nadu border views, then the scenic Mattupetty Dam area.
Drive to Top Station (32 km)(1.5 hours)
The highest point in Munnar at 1,880m. Views of Tamil Nadu plains stretching to the horizon. Neelakurinji flowers bloom once in 12 years (next: 2030). Misty mornings
Photo stops at tea plantation viewpoints(45 minutes)
The hairpin bends on the Top Station road have some of India's most photographed tea landscapes
Mattupetty Dam(1 hour)
Concrete dam surrounded by tea and forest. Speed boating on the reservoir (INR 300-500). The drive here passes through the Indo-Swiss Dairy Farm area
Kundala Dam and Echo Point(1.5 hours)
Pedal boating on Kundala Lake (INR 100-200). Echo Point where shouts bounce back. Both on the Top Station road
Lunch at Copper Castle(1 hour)
Multi-cuisine with valley views (INR 200-500)
Rest & Spice Garden
Sleep in. Visit a spice garden to see pepper, cardamom, vanilla, and cinnamon growing.
Spice garden tour(2 hours)
Multiple spice gardens around Munnar. See pepper, cardamom, cinnamon, vanilla, nutmeg, and clove growing. Tour INR 200-500. Buy spices directly (much cheaper than markets). Kanan Devan or Lockhart Tea have good tours
Lunch at SN Restaurant(1 hour)
Kerala special biryani and chicken fry (INR 150-300)
Evening walk through Munnar town(1 hour)
Small hill town — browse tea shops, buy Munnar tea (INR 200-800/250g), and watch the mist roll in
Ayurvedic massage(1.5 hours)
Kerala is the home of Ayurveda. Many resorts offer authentic treatments (INR 1,000-3,000). Abhyanga (oil massage) is the signature
Chinnar Wildlife Sanctuary
Day trip to the dry-deciduous Chinnar sanctuary — a different ecosystem from Munnar's wet hills, with grizzled giant squirrels and tribal interactions.
Drive to Chinnar (60 km)(2 hours)
Via Marayur, famous for natural sandalwood forests and dolmens (prehistoric burial stones)
Marayur sandalwood forest walk(1 hour)
India's only natural sandalwood forest. Entry with forest department permission. Ancient cave paintings (Ezhuthupara) nearby. Buy genuine sandalwood products at the government shop
Chinnar Wildlife Sanctuary trek(2.5 hours)
Guided trekking trails through thorn forest. Look for grizzled giant squirrel (endangered), bonnet macaques, and elephants. Entry INR 100-300. Guide INR 300-500
Tea Plantation Walk & Cooking Class
Deep dive into tea culture — walk through a working plantation and learn to cook Kerala cuisine.
Guided tea plantation walk(2.5 hours)
Walk through Kanan Devan Hills Plantations with a guide. Learn about shade management, plucking, and grading. Some estates offer hands-on plucking (INR 500-1,000). The morning mist through the tea rows is magical
Kerala cooking class(3 hours)
Learn appam, fish molee, thoran (coconut stir-fry), and payasam. Book through resorts or local hosts (INR 1,000-2,500). Includes lunch
Sunset at Lockhart Gap(1.5 hours)
Viewpoint 13 km from Munnar with 360-degree tea garden views. Less crowded than other viewpoints. Free
Departure Day
Final morning in tea country. Drive back to Kochi for onward travel.
Last tea plantation photography(1 hour)
Dawn light on the tea hills — the mist burns off between 7-8 AM creating layered views
Buy tea from Kanan Devan/KDHP shop(30 minutes)
Factory-fresh tea at source prices — Golden Tips, Silver Needle, green tea (INR 200-1,000/250g)
Drive to Kochi(4.5 hours)
Stop at Cheeyappara and Valara waterfalls en route (visible from the road). Reach Kochi by afternoon for evening flight
14-Day Munnar Itinerary
Arrival & Tea Country
Drive from Kochi (4-5 hours) through tea plantations.
Tea Museum & Eravikulam
Tea history and endangered Nilgiri tahr.
Top Station & Mattupetty
Highest point and dam area.
Rest & Spice Garden
Sleep in. Spice garden and ayurvedic massage.
Chinnar Sanctuary
Dry deciduous forest and sandalwood.
Plantation Walk & Cooking
Tea plucking and Kerala cooking class.
Anamudi Peak Area & Lakkom Falls
Explore the base of South India's highest peak (2,695m) and a pristine waterfall deep in the tea country.
Anamudi Shola National Park(2.5 hours)
The park around South India's highest peak. Guided walk through shola-grassland mosaic. Entry INR 100-300. Spot giant squirrels, langurs, and endemic birds like the Kerala laughingthrush
Lakkom (Lakkam) Waterfalls(1.5 hours)
Off the Top Station road. Less visited, more pristine. Short walk through tea gardens. Natural pool for wading. Free
Afternoon at Blossom Park(1.5 hours)
Flower garden and kids' play area. Entry INR 40. Pleasant for a lazy afternoon walk
Day Trip to Thekkady/Periyar
Drive 100 km to Periyar Tiger Reserve at Thekkady — boat safari on the lake watching elephants and deer.
Drive to Thekkady(3 hours)
Through spice country — cardamom, pepper, and rubber plantations
Periyar Lake boat safari(2 hours)
KTDC boat safari on Periyar Lake. INR 300 Indians, INR 600 foreigners. Spot elephants at the waterside (almost guaranteed), gaur, sambar deer, and otters. Morning boat (7 AM) has best sightings
Lunch at Thekkady(1 hour)
Spice Market restaurant for Kerala meals (INR 150-300)
Spice market at Kumily(1 hour)
Buy cardamom, pepper, clove, and vanilla directly. Prices lower than Munnar. Sargaalaya Arts & Crafts Village nearby
Rest Day
Full rest after Thekkady trip.
Meesapulimala Trek
Trek to South India's second-highest peak (2,640m) — rolling grasslands above the treeline with spectacular views.
Meesapulimala trek(5 hours)
12 km round trip. Moderate to challenging. Through shola forests then above the treeline to vast grasslands. Permission and guide required from DTPC (INR 500-1,000). The summit views on clear days extend to the Tamil Nadu plains
Munnar Tea Tasting & Photography
Professional tea tasting and photography of the tea landscapes.
Professional tea tasting at KDHP(2 hours)
Compare first flush, orthodox, CTC, green, and white teas. Learn to evaluate color, aroma, and liquor. INR 300-500 per session
Photography walk through plantations(2 hours)
Dawn light on tea rows. Many estates allow photography with permission. The mist between 7-8 AM creates ethereal layers
Rose Garden and Photo Point(1.5 hours)
Rose Garden: 20 varieties (INR 30). Photo Point: hilltop with elephant-shaped topiary and valley views (INR 30)
Rest & Farewell Shopping
Rest day. Tea and spice shopping.
Farewell Munnar
Final full day in tea country.
Departure Day
Drive to Kochi.
Drive to Kochi(4.5 hours)
Stop at Cheeyappara and Valara waterfalls
21-Day Munnar Itinerary
Arrival & Tea Country
Drive from Kochi (4-5 hours).
Tea Museum & Eravikulam
Tea history and Nilgiri tahr.
Top Station & Mattupetty
Highest point, dam, and Echo Point.
Spice Garden & Massage
Spice tour and Ayurveda.
Rest Day
Full rest in tea country.
Chinnar Sanctuary
Sandalwood forests and dry-zone wildlife.
Plantation Walk & Cooking
Tea plucking and Kerala cuisine.
Anamudi & Lakkom Falls
South India's highest peak area.
Thekkady/Periyar Day Trip
Tiger reserve boat safari.
Rest Day
Recovery after Thekkady.
Meesapulimala Trek
South India's second-highest peak.
Tea Tasting & Photography
Professional tasting and landscape photography.
Overnight to Alleppey (Side Trip Begins)
Drive 5 hours to Alleppey (Alappuzha) for a Kerala backwater houseboat experience. Stay 2 nights.
Drive Munnar to Alleppey(5 hours)
Through the Western Ghats down to the Kerala coast. Dramatic landscape change from mountains to paddy fields to coconut backwaters
Board a houseboat (kettuvallam)(30 minutes)
Private houseboat for 1-2 nights (INR 6,000-15,000/night). Includes AC bedroom, living area, crew, and all meals. Book through ATDC or reputable operators. Premium houseboats have upper deck lounges
Cruise through Vembanad backwaters(3 hours)
Glide through narrow canals, past paddy fields, coconut groves, and village life. Toddy shops (palm wine) on the banks. Kingfishers, cormorants, and otters
Dinner on the houseboat(1.5 hours)
Fresh fish caught from the backwaters — karimeen (pearl spot) fry, prawns, and Kerala rice. Cooked by the onboard chef
Alleppey Backwaters Full Day
Slow float through the backwaters. The houseboat anchors at night in a scenic spot.
Wake up on the water(1 hour)
Dawn on the backwaters — mist, bird calls, and fishermen casting nets
Morning cruise(3 hours)
Deeper into the canal network. Wave to school children in canoes. Pass tiny islands with churches and temples
Village walk at a canal-side settlement(1.5 hours)
The crew anchors near a village. Walk through coir (coconut fiber) workshops, fish markets, and toddy shops
Sunset on the houseboat deck(1.5 hours)
The sky turns pink-orange over the paddy fields. Kerala sunsets from the water are unforgettable
Alleppey Beach & Return
Disembark, explore Alleppey beach and lighthouse, then drive back to Munnar.
Alleppey Beach and lighthouse(1.5 hours)
Long sandy beach with an old lighthouse. Less touristy than Kovalam. The pier and surrounding street life are atmospheric
Lunch at Thaff (Rahmath Hotel)(1 hour)
Alleppey institution for biryani and chicken fry (INR 150-300)
Rest Day
Recovery after backwaters. Full rest.
Kolukkumalai Sunrise Trek
Pre-dawn jeep and trek to the world's highest tea plantation (2,200m) for a spectacular sunrise.
Jeep ride to Kolukkumalai base(2 hours)
Leave 3:30 AM. Rough 4x4 track. INR 2,000-3,000 per jeep. Only Land Rovers can manage the steep track
Sunrise at Kolukkumalai(1.5 hours)
World's highest organic tea plantation. The sunrise over the Western Ghats with mist in the valleys below is one of India's most spectacular sights. Tea factory tour (basic, 1940s machinery)
Fresh tea at the plantation(30 minutes)
Freshest tea you'll ever drink — brewed at the source. Buy directly (INR 200-500)
Gap Road & Power House Falls
Scenic drive along Gap Road — one of India's most beautiful mountain drives — and visit waterfalls.
Gap Road drive(2 hours)
The stretch between Munnar and Bodimettu is Gap Road — hair-raising drops, tea on both sides, and misty mountain passes. Best driven slowly with multiple photo stops
Power House Waterfalls(1 hour)
Near the old power station. Multi-tiered falls in a forest setting. Less crowded than Attukad. Short walk from road
Nyayamakad Waterfalls(1 hour)
10 km from Munnar town. Trekking trail to the top for views. Moderate. Best post-monsoon
Rest Day
Penultimate rest. Spa and easy afternoon.
Farewell Munnar
Final full day. Last tea shopping and favorites.
Departure Day
Drive to Kochi.
Drive to Kochi(4.5 hours)
Stop at Cheeyappara and Valara waterfalls en route
Travel Tips
Visa & Entry
e-Visa for India
Apply at indianvisaonline.gov.in. 30-day e-Tourist visa ~$25. Fly into Kochi/Cochin (COK) — 110 km from Munnar. The 4-5 hour drive through the Western Ghats is scenic but winding. Alternatively, fly into Madurai (IXM) from the Tamil Nadu side.
transport
Getting to Munnar
From Kochi: KSRTC bus (INR 200-350, 5 hours) or hire a car (INR 3,000-4,000 one way). From Madurai: 4.5 hours by road. No railway station in Munnar — nearest is Aluva (Kochi metro terminal, 110 km) or Ernakulam (Kochi). The last 70 km is hairpin bends through tea estates — motion sickness medication recommended.
Getting Around Munnar
Attractions are 10-60 km apart — a car/driver is essential. Hire through your hotel: INR 1,500-2,500/day. Auto-rickshaws only available in Munnar town (INR 50-200). No Ola/Uber here. Some brave visitors rent scooters (INR 400-600/day) but mountain roads are steep and foggy. KSRTC buses connect Munnar to Top Station and Mattupetty (INR 20-50).
Budget
Accommodation & Food
Budget: guesthouses and homestays INR 800-1,500/night. Mid-range: tea estate bungalows (INR 3,000-6,000) — the best Munnar experience. Luxury: Windermere Estate or Spicetree (INR 10,000-25,000). Kerala meals (rice, sambar, avial, fish curry) at local restaurants: INR 100-250. Try puttu and kadala curry for breakfast (INR 50-80).
Safety
Leech Season Warning
During monsoon (Jun-Sep), leeches are everywhere on trails. Tuck trousers into socks, apply insect repellent on footwear, and carry salt or tobacco. Leeches aren't dangerous but bleed profusely when detached. Avoid open sandals on any trail. The flip side: monsoon Munnar is impossibly green and beautiful with waterfalls at full flow.
Road Conditions
The Kochi-Munnar road has 48+ hairpin bends. Landslides are common during monsoon — check road status before departing. Night driving is risky (no streetlights, fog, wild elephants on roads near Chinnar). Start early from Kochi (by 7 AM) to arrive in daylight. Wild elephants occasionally block the road near Eravikulam — maintain safe distance and don't honk.
Local Customs
Tea Buying Guide
Munnar produces CTC (crush-tear-curl) and orthodox teas. For quality, buy from KDHP outlets (Kannan Devan brand) or the Tea Museum shop. Prices: INR 100-500 per 250g depending on grade. 'Dust' is cheapest, 'whole leaf' is premium. Taste before buying — most shops offer free samples. Avoid generic 'Munnar tea' from roadside stalls.
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