9 Best Places to Visit in the Hill Station of Munnar

Munnar is a hill station located in the Idukki district in Kerala. that is famous for its natural beauty, tea gardens and greenery. Some of the major tourist destinations here include Eravikulam National park and Salim Ali Bird Sanctuary, among others. Munnar is also home to the rare Neelakurinji flower that only blooms once a year. The main tourist attraction in Munnar is the acres of tea gardens that are spread across the expanse of this hill station. Visitors can also participate in adventure sports activities like trekking, paragliding and boating when here.

Another key area of interest is the plenty of shops selling a variety of spices such as cardamom, ginger, cinnamon, clove, and nutmeg. Munnar enjoys pleasant climatic conditions throughout the year. This means that you can visit this place at any time of the year and it will always look as beautiful as ever.  If you are looking for hill stations near Chennai, then Munnar is the place for you.  Here are the tourist places to cover when travelling from Chennai to Munnar:

Sevenmallay Tea Estate

Sevenmallay Tea Estate was established in the 1900s. The tea estate is owned by the Tata Tea Company and is spread across hundreds of acres of land. It is a wonderful attraction for nature lovers and tea connoisseurs. You can also buy the tea produced at the estate from the tea shop here. The tea estate has a lavish bungalow located in the center of the tea estate. The bungalow further adds to the charm and beauty of the tea estate.

Atukkad Waterfalls

The Atukkad waterfalls are quite a popular tourist destination in Munnar especially so because they are surrounded by lush green forests. The best way to enjoy the waterfalls is to take a dip in the pool of water formed at the base of the waterfall. The road to Atukkad is a bit rough; make sure you hire an expert driver to take you to the site of the waterfalls. The journey though will be well worth the effort once you reach there. Even though you will find that most in Munnar are covered with tea plantations, you will also find mesmerizing Munnar waterfalls on some of those hills.  Apart from Attukud, you can also visit Lakkam waterfalls and Naimakkadu waterfalls.

Rose Garden

The Rose Garden is a popular tourist destination in Munnar that’s famous for its wide variety of flowers, plants and trees. The lush green garden is home to tropical fruit trees like Litchi, Strawberry, and Amla. The plants grown in the garden are also used for making spices like cardamom, vanilla and clove. The mixture of different aromas can be quite refreshing for your body and mind. The sight of so many flowers blossoming in one place is what attracts thousands of tourists from all over the world. Make sure the Rose Garden is on your list of places to visit while travelling to Munnar from Chennai.

National Park

The National Park is home to the rare Nilgiri Tahr. It is an endangered species of goat found only in the Western Ghats. Apart from that, the park is also known for the famous Neelakurunji flowers found at the Anamudi peak that’s located 2700 meters above sea level. The flower only blossoms once in a year which makes it quite unique. Tourists from all over the world visit the National Park just to witness this amazing sight.

Kundala Lake

The pristine lake is surrounded by lush green mountains and covered in cherry blossoms. One of the best ways to spend your time at the lake is boating. The surrounding hills are also a perfect spot for some adventure sports activities like trekking and hiking. If you are there at an opportune time, then you might also get to witness the amazing sight of Neelakurunji flower blossoming at the lake.

Chinnar Wildlife Sanctuary

This wildlife sanctuary is home to a wide variety of animals like the Hanuman monkey, Spotted Deer and Slender Loris. If you love animals, then Chinnar wildlife sanctuary is the place to be at. The sanctuary is also a hotspot for wildlife photographers who love capturing visuals of these creatures in their natural habitat. Along with this, you can also visit the Rajamala Sanctuary and the Kurinjimala Sanctuary to see some more magnificent creatures in the wild.

Meesapulimala

One of the highest peaks in Munnar, the Meesapulimala mountain peak offers breathtaking panoramic views of the surrounding landscape. In order to reach the peak, you will have to trek through eight hills. Once you reach the summit, you’ll definitely have a sense of accomplishment! Tourists can also enjoy paragliding since the peak provides a perfect spot for such adventure sports activities.

Tree Houses

Tree houses are a newly emerging trend in the popular hill station of Munnar. Tourists can now live in tree houses located in the widespread tree plantations and regale in the breathtaking views. Definitely one of those things that you should add to your bucket list while in Munnar.

Lockhart Gap

Last but not least is the Lockhart Gap, a heart-shaped lake which is a popular tourist destination especially among honeymooners. The lake is surrounded by lush green mountains covered with mist which further adds to the captivating aura of the lake. Visitors can set up camps near the lake and enjoy the awe-inspiring views of the surrounding landscape.

The best way to reach from Chennai to Munnar is to take a flight to the Madurai airport and then hail a cab to Munnar. There are no direct trains from Chennai to Munnar; you will have to take a train to Aluva railway station. You can also take a bus from Chennai to Munnar. It will take at least 11hrs to reach Munnar since the distance from Chennai to Munnar is 589 km.  If you are planning to go from Chennai to Munnar, then check out Veena World’s Chennai to Munnar trip package.