Munnar is located in the Western Ghats of Kerala and is a place of divine gorgeousness and natural wonders. Mountains, tea estates, and spice plantations are just some of the many things that are special about this town. It is also known as the ‘Kashmir of South India’ because of its lush green landscapes, blankets of mist, and rocky peaks.
Cook With The Locals of Munnar
The local food of Munnar is made out of the local spices and hence are aromatic and yummy. Learn how to make the town’s authentic food items from a local homemaker and in the process don’t forget to appreciate the finesse and unique style in which they cook food! Some of the popular dishes here are rice and fish cooked in coconut oil, fish curry, a pumpkin and lentil soup, plantain curry in a creamy yoghurt sauce, beef fry with Malabar parotta, chicken fry, and much more! Your culinary adventure won’t be a boring one as you can always get chatty and share stories with the locals who would be teaching you the art of Kerala cuisine.
Get To The Root of Munnar
Say goodbye to the roar of an engine because the best way to navigate Munnar is on foot! You can only take the best of the town’s pristine air when you’re walking. The gorgeous landscapes will follow you wherever you go, and the locals will enliven your journey with lesser-known tales about the region. Munnar’s natural bounty is impeccable and abundant and its tea and spice plantations even more so. You should see how the plantation workers function and live and perhaps enjoy a cup of authentic tea at the same time. The hill station may not be grand but it sure has its own set of interesting stories that you can discover. You can also check out Head Works Dam, the first hydroelectricity project in Kerala, then the Roman Catholic churches that were erected during the colonial era, and you definitely shouldn’t miss the World War II memorial at Ropeway Station!
Cycle Into Rural Life
Munnar’s tea plantations reflect a very unique lifestyle. People have their respective rhythms, routines, times, and schedules that they religiously follow and it is very different from the mainstream lifestyle of Munnar. Visit Letchmi Estate in Kannan Devan Hills where the British first started the plantation of coffee, cardamom, cinchona and then ultimately moved towards tea! This is also the place where India’s first-ever tea museum is situated! The glimpses of life around these plantations are fascinating and peaceful to watch, as you pedal through gorgeous vistas, tiny homes of plantation workers and enjoy an overall serene ride across the lush region.
Spend Time With Tea Pickers
Have you ever actually wondered about the story behind the cup of delicious tea that you sip on? If yes, this is how you can find the answers. Hangout with tea pickers at Munnar to get hands-on knowledge about the processes that ensue in growing tea. How is tea planted? How and when is it picked? How much time does it take and what affects the taste of the tea? These are the kind of questions that you’ll find the answers to in this experience. You’ll also know why women dominate the tea picking profession here and visit the home of a tea picker! You’ll need to go on a 30-minute drive from Munnar to Lockhart for this tea adventure!
Trek On Letchmi Hills
The trek in Letchmi Hills is the easiest and lasts for only about 2-3 hours. It’s a great way to venture through the terrains of the hills that harbor majestic grasslands and rocky mountain slopes. From here, you will also get a bird’s eye view of the tea and spice plantations along with the unique shola forests that dominate the region. You can then make your way to the highpoint on a mountain named Anamudi (2,695), which is also the highest peak in South India. Rare species of birds will also accompany you on your trek and the mesmerizing view of the Southern Western Ghats will be worth the sweat you shed.
Trek To The Summit of Meesapulimala
Venture out on a 10-km long trek in the realms of a UNESCO acclaimed World Heritage Site, which brims with nature’s bounty and is a hotspot of biodiversity. The trail will guide you through many different terrains, some of which will be a healthy challenge to endure. In your path, you’ll come across different species of plants and trees, along with waterfalls that will leave you awestruck. The trek will begin at Silent Valley Tea Estate and then end at the peak of Meesapulimala, which is famous for providing a panoramic perspective of Munnar. The Southern Western Ghats will also give you an opportunity to birdwatch. This is one of the most popular and long treks in Munnar operated by the Kerala Forest Department.
Visit The World’s Highest Organic Tea Plantation
Get ready to weave some memorable moments in the pretty village of Kolukkumalai, which harbours the world’s highest organic tea plantation. It is situated on the Tamil Nadu side of the interstate border and produces flavorful tea because of the high altitude and hence has the most demand in Munnar. Although the taste is impeccable, that is not the only charm of this plantation. Since its establishment in the early 1930s, this plantation has been following the same orthodox and traditional method of processing tea. You’ll interact with the people who run this plantation as you sip on some delicious tea and also witness the seven-step process of making tea that involves withering, rolling, sieving, fermenting, drying, fibre extraction, and grading.
If you’re lucky and it’s a clear night, you can also get mesmerized by the sparkling lights of Kodaikanal, under open and starry skies.