Munnar – Peace and Solitude

‘Munnar’ or ‘Moonu Aaru’ which means three rivers in Tamil is a small valley nestled in the Western Ghats mountain ranges, bordering the states of Kerala and Tamilnadu. This beautiful hill resort though geographically and politically part of the state of Kerala, this valley is populated by Tamils and Malayalees alike. The pristine surroundings of Munnar is dotted by tea plantations everywhere and there is no single open are that you can find that is not covered by grass, tree or the plantations. Virtually unspoilt, this hill resort has still not succumbed to the damages of commercial tourism, as this place is relatively unknown and inaccessible in comparison to its neighbors, Kodaikanal and Ooty, which share the same mountain ranges.

The best time to visit Munnar is when the hill sides are filled with a flower variety called “Kurinji’ which blooms once in twelve years. Locals say that when the flowers bloom there is no other place in the world that can be as beautiful as their land. The places of interest are Mattupetty dairy farm, which is an Indo-Swiss joint venture. This place apart from being a dairy farm is also filled with numerous small lakes and a dam. One important event you should not miss when in Munnar is trying to spot the elusive Nilgiri Tahr, an elusive mountain goat that has been declared an endangered species by the government. For the avid trekker Munnar is a dream as the place is filled with numerous trekking trails and also boasts of the highest peak in the Western Ghats called Anaimudi.

Though Munnar is not the place for the tourist who wants high voltage action all the time, it is a perfect place to retreat with your loved ones for some bonding time or a place to carry your favorite books to read without being disturbed. The place has a lot of hotels and resorts and some resorts have tree houses that offer a splendid view of the whole valley. Munnar is well connected by road to all major towns and is accessible from both Kerala and Tamilnadu by road, however the Kerala route is more scenic and worth the experience of traveling on this road. The best time to visit is the summer months of May-July when the rest of the country is under the wrath of the blazing sun.