4 / 5 - 3 reviews
How to get there
Four hours by bus from Cochin
When to go
From November to May
Minimum stay
1 to 2 days
Munnar (India)
©
Nina Montagné
Practical information on Munnar
Reviews of Munnar
A cool, fresh place that will delight travelers in search of relaxation.
My suggestion:
Nothing compares to the experience of enjoying a cup of tea in one of the town's many salons.
My review
Ah, Munnar, with its extraordinary tea plantations coloring its landscape. Munnar, an oasis of fresh coolness in a southern India accustomed to incessant heat. It is a range of steep mountains in a largely flat expanse. It is, for me, the ideal destination when it comes to enjoying walks away from the town center, through fields whose changes in level are not inconsiderable.
And because this is the area's speciality, Munnar is somewhere where you simply have to take the time to sit down with a cup of tea on a terrace with views over the verdant surroundings. I stayed at a hostel 15 kilometers from the town to be able to completely relax far away from the spluttering motors and the frequent noise of the horns.
This place perfectly satisfies the need for peace and quiet that can arise after a few days in this intense country, a country which constantly stimulates your senses, thereby lending a very particular flavor to moments of respite.
©
Vinoth Chandar
A town lying at 1600 meters of altitude in the mountains at the heart of Kerala.
My suggestion:
Avoid visiting in the summer monsoon season, when it rains torrentially every day!
My review
The town of Munnar very often serves as a place to stop-off in South India when traveling the road between Kerala and Tamil Nadu. It sits perched up in the mountains, and you simply must lose yourself in its steep, hilly landscapes, where tea is famously grown in terraces.
What a delight it is when traveling India to observe these different shades of green fading infinitely to the horizon! This is a good place for long outings on foot or by bicycle.
There are numerous guesthouses and small restaurants to be found locally where you can stop for a break or pass the night. Piece of advice: watch out for the leeches in the rice fields: they are tenacious. Opt for boots, long sleeves and long trousers.
©
Nina Montagné
©
Jakub Michankow
In a mountainous region 165km from Madurai and perched at an altitude of 1,600m, Munnar sits in stunning countryside surrounded by tea plantations.
My suggestion:
Tea plantations are often forbidden to visitors. Some are very well guarded, others less so. The tea pickers, however, are often pleased to have a chat, so don't hesitate to strike up a conversation.
My review
After the sweltering heat on the coasts, Munnar is a breath of fresh, cool air during a trip to India. This little hill station has amazing scenery.
Munnar is circled by tea plantations that cling to the mountainside. If you like walking, this area is ideal. Lakes, rivers, eucalyptus forests - it's breathtaking. The tea plantations form the base of Munnar's economic activity. Sadly, it's hard, if not impossible, to visit the plantations and factories. Some of them have really tight security. Others are easier; a nice smile and few words with the security guard can get you in. I was lucky enough to meet some tea pickers. I really enjoyed their company. They showed me how to pick tea leaves. It was awesome!
©
David Debrincat
344 travelers' photos
