Discover Things to Do in Munnar other than Tea Estates

Munnar is famous for its snake-like steep roads which are blanketed with mist and fog and all of this is enveloped into valleys of tea gardens. Check out this blog on things to do in Munnar, Kerala.

Munnar was part of my Road trip to Kerala and I was excited to visit another hill station after Thekkady with its splendid backwaters and Periyar National Park.

BEST THINGS TO DO IN MUNNAR

Munnar is a hill station located in Idukki district in the state of Kerala. The name Munnar is believed to mean ‘Three rivers’. It was a former resort for the British elite class. 

Tea Plantation and Tea Factory

Even though the blog title says ‘Things to Do in Munnar other than Tea Estates’, I had to include tea because, well tea is everywhere in and around Munnar. It is like going to Paris and not visiting Eiffel Tower. Duh! You can stop your car and go into the tea alleyways (unless there is a fence and in most cases, there is!). The tea gardens certainly reminded me of my trip to Manas National Park (click to know why!)

Munnar valleys are the ideal place for growing tea spices, due to their weather and soil fertility. With the area successfully harvesting tea, more and more investments in the regions were done by private groups. Today, these plantations belong to several large private tea estates – including TATA. 

The tea plantations are privately owned in most cases so it is ideal to visit a tea farm where tourists are allowed to roam freely and even see and understand the process of harvesting.

Lockhart Tea Factory & Museum 

Lockhart Tea Factory and Museum is about 20km away from Munnar town which provides tea factory visits, plantation walks and tea tasting. There is a possibility of seeing workers, working on the tea plantation going about their work and can be photographed with permission. The factory tours are conducted in English every hour and can be easily attended. The duration is 25 minutes, however, visitors can spend more time in the plantations. 

After the factory visit, visitors are taken to a small museum that displays all the tea products. This is where the tea tasting happens. If you like what you taste, you can buy it over the counter at their retail shop.

Tour Cost: Rs. 200 per person for Indian tourists and Rs. 400 for foreign tourists. 

Another option for the Tea Museum is Kanan Devan Hills Tea Museum which is much closer to the town. However, the plantation visit is not allowed here and most functions of the factory can be observed from the viewing deck. This museum was set up by Tata Tea to exclusively showcase the origin and evolution of century-old tea plantations in Munnar. The museum essentially pays homage to the fact that Munnar houses some of the best tea estates in the world, and is thus among the most significant places to visit in Munnar.

Mattupetty Dam

Mattupetty dam is one of the favourite tourist places in Munnar. The dam of Mattupetty is a dam storing waters from the confluence of the mountain streams of Muthirappuzha River, Chanduvarai River and Kundale River. More than the dam, the catchment area has lovely scenery overlooking the hills and also serves as a picnic spot. The dam has an abundance of water at all times of the year which makes it a biodiversity hotspot. What adds to the charm of the place is its pleasant weather which persists almost all through the year. 

The local government has also set up many activities around the dam which includes watersports, boating, etc. Several of these activities are organized by the District Tourism Promotion Council of Idukki (Munnar). Apart from these, tourists can also choose to go for treks in the Shola forests that surround the dam.

Eravikulam National Park

About 8 km away from Munnar town, Eravikulam National Park has earned the title of the first National Park that opened in Kerala. Located approximately 2,000 metres above mean sea level, it offers picturesque views of the Munnar valley and the tea gardens. The national park is around 97 square kilometres but only a fraction of that is open to visitors!

This national park is home to the endangered Nilgiri Tahr, a mountain goat species. Apart from the main attraction of Nilgiri Tahr which is found in abundance, Golden Jackal, Jungle Cat, Dhole, Leopard and Tiger are some of the predators documented here. This park allows a walking safari from a drop point. It is ideal to book a ticket in advance so as to avoid the park lines. Read in detail about Eravikulam National Park Safari – guide, safari timings, and exclusive photos of Nilgiri Tahr in Eravikulam Kerala.

Chinnar Wildlife Sanctuary & Lakkam Waterfalls

It is a couple of hours’ drive from Munnar Town. This place can be combined with Lakkam waterfalls, a sandalwood forest, some caves, and the Thoovanam waterfalls. It requires an entire day to cover these places and is totally worth getting away from tea valleys for a day!

Attukal Waterfalls

Attukal waterfalls are extremely beautiful as the water flows from the mountains overlooking the tea gardens. Situated only 9km away from Munnar town, between Pallivasal and Munnar it is a must-visit place in Munnar on weekends. The Attukal waterfalls are popular for their cascading flow and which makes them appear like white froth due to the force. Since the cascades are at short gaps of altitude from one another, you can see the entire panorama of this natural phenomenon. The falls are especially mesmerizing in the monsoon due to the mightier force and greenery all around.

The region around the falls is quite popular with adventure enthusiasts who choose to hike here. Guided tours are available here which take visitors up to the waterfall. Bathing is allowed in Attukal waterfall.

If time permits, Pothamedu View Point near Attukal waterfall is an amazing viewpoint. It showcases gorgeous valleys and tea plantations from a height and the undulating hills on all sides with waterfalls flowing through them. 

Top Station, Munnar

One of the popular places, Top Station is one of the must things to do in Munnar. Top Station derived its name as it used to be the highest railway station in the valley. In earlier times, traders used the delivery system to transport tea to the plains. It was the uppermost station of the Kottagudi Aerial Ropeway. Tea from Kannan Devan Hill Tea Plantation was transported 5 km downhill from Top Station to Kurangani in Tamil Nadu. From there, it was further distributed all over the country and then to England.

Top Station View Point Munnar is surrounded by beautiful valleys and is a heaven for hikers and adventure lovers. It provides a perfect bird’s-eye view of the entire Munnar valley on a clear day. 

Top Station is situated 32 km from Munnar on the Kerala – Tamil Nadu border. It is easily accessible as there are frequent buses and cabs to reach here. Kurinjimala Sanctuary is close to Top Station which is popular for the rare Neelakurinji flowers. These flowers bloom once in 12 years. The next bloom of Neelakurinji flowers is expected in the year 2031.

TREKKING IN MUNNAR

Munnar has lovely trails in and around the town for small and long hikes. Some of the most popular ones are:

Through Tea Plantations

There are many local tour operators who offer half-day and full-day treks through tea plantations. These treks are generally easy to moderate and the average length is 10km to 20km. The price range for these tours is Rs. 1,000 – 2,000 per person. Check with your hotel/resort to know the best yet authentic tour operator for a tea plantation trek in Munnar. Many times, the resorts also offer it themselves depending upon where the resort is located. 

Yellapatty Viewpoint

The Yellappetty tea gardens are located on the Munnar – Kodaikanal route. Located 32 km from Munnar city centre the Yellappetty tea gardens can be reached after crossing the Mattuppetti dam. The small village of Yellappetty houses tea plantation workers that live happily surrounded by tea gardens. Read more here: Trekking in Yellapatty.

Phantom Mountain

A very short 400 meters hike leads to a beautiful valley view. If visitors are short on time, then this trek is worth exploring.

Meesapulimala Trek

This trek requires one full day for dedicated trekking. Meesapulimala is located 40 km away from Munnar Town and requires 4-6 hours of walking involved along the route and the trail leads to a wonderful mountaintop above the clouds.

PRACTICAL TIPS FOR THINGS TO DO IN MUNNAR

Bike rent in Munnar

Unfortunately, bike renting is no longer allowed in Munnar. Until 2018, this option was open, but the local government does not allow renting 2-wheelers for tourists. While there are many reasons, one of them being safety. Tourists do not have the habit of driving along with the snake bents of Munnar roads, which have caused a few tourist deaths before 2018.

That’s why taking a tour with an auto-rickshaw driver or a car driver is now your best bet to get around. It is possible to visit the Top Station, Eravikulam National Park and a few other places with the public bus from the centre of Munnar Town, but it is slow and clashes with your schedule if you are on a tight itinerary. 

Best time to visit Munnar

Being a hill station, Munnar is a good idea all time of the year. Although it is best to avoid the monsoon season due to heavy rainfall which will give zero views. Summer is when a lot of locals (from Kerala state) take respite in the hills from summer as well as people from neighbouring states. Munnar is also popular as a honeymoon destination. 

How to reach Munnar

The nearest airport to Munnar is Cochin International Airport, which is a few hours away by road. Another closest option is Madurai International Airport.

The nearest railway station to Munnar is in Aluva. From there, it’s possible to take a cab or local bus from the KSRTC bus station. There is also a daily bus from Alleppey to Munnar, which again takes about 5-6 hours – unfortunately we don’t have further information available on prices or times.

Where to stay in Munnar

Munnar is a family favorite destination and also popular among honeymoon couples. The pleasant weather allures visitors of all ages and interests to visit Munnar all year round. For the same reason, there are a lot of accommodation options in Munnar. 

I stayed at the Blackberry Hills Resort Munnar and it had the most beautiful unparalleled views of the tea gardens. My most favourite part was their Hornbill restaurant whose location felt like it was suspended in the hills. They even have a walking trail from the restaurant to a village in the valley nearby which equals as a birdwatching trail too.

Other options for where to stay in Munnar include

Hostels: The Lost Hostel, Electric Cats Hostel 

Homestays: Munnar Pavithra Riverview Homestay, Mistletoe Homestay & Cafe

Mid-range hotels: Fragrant Nature Munnar, Amber Dale Luxury Hotel & Spa, Munnar

Luxurious Resorts: The Fog Munnar, Seven Springs Resort

SUSTAINABLE TIPS FOR THINGS TO DO IN MUNNAR

• Munnar is a hill town and so it is best to avoid polythene bags so do not use single-use or disposable plastic. Dispose of biscuit wrappers, wafer packets, juice boxes in designated bins. Do not litter the highways, places of tourist interest or riverbanks.
• Respect nature during adventure activities and do not harm it in any form. A single cigarette butt can give rise to fires hurting the economy of the entire region.
• Munnar tea valley is situated within the traditional elephant migration routes so there are many instances when elephants are found on roads. Respect nature and give them the distance to peacefully pass through.

I hope this Munnar travel guide on Things to do in Munnar will help you to plan your trip. Did I miss out on any places to visit in Munnar? Let me know in the comments below.

Read More Kerala Posts:

• Kerala Backwaters of Alleppey
• Eravikulam National Park
• Humans of Kerala
• Things to do in Thiruvananthapuram

Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links. It means it adds no extra cost to you if you book through the link but I get a referral bonus which helps me earn a little to keep this website up and running.

Pin this post!