Trekking in Munnar (Yellapatty Trail)

Last Updated on July 1, 2024 by admin

If you love doing offbeat things, then Trekking in Munnar and Camping in Munnar are not to be missed. This is one of the best things to do in Munnar.

‘Black Tea or Coconut Water?’ asks John as soon as we get down from our van in Yellapatty. The unparallel views from his roadside stall are lush green tea gardens, which makes me opt for black tea. 

I prep myself for a day of Munnar trekking by putting on leech socks, packing the essentials in a day bag and sipping on the hot black tea to experience one of the best things to do in Munnar while our group guides – Senthil and Saju patiently wait for us.

Trekking in Munnar

While there are many Munnar trekking places, we decided to choose the Yellapatty trail.

Yellapatty means ‘last village’. It is a small town situated on the border of Tamil Nadu and Kerala at an altitude of 6420 feet.

Nestled among the rolling hills of Kanan Devan (Munnar) in the Western Ghats, Yellappetty is accessible by Munnar. The Yellappetty trek in Munnar is one of the easy treks that starts from Yellappetty village overlooking tea gardens that gradually take visitors into forests.

The entire route of 7km (both ways) is an easy to moderate hike and crisscrosses the borders of Tamil Nadu and Kerala. 

Trekking in Munnar through Munnar tea gardens

Yellapatty tea garden stretches for as long as the eye can see. And trekking through them is fun!

Yellapatty 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 Yellapatty houses tea plantation workers that live happily surrounded by tea gardens.

While trekking in Munnar, hikers can see and interact with tea pickers who go about their day collecting tea leaves.

Hiking through the Kottakudi Valley

It is an exciting trek as the tea gardens give way to the Reserve Forests of Kottakudi valley in the Kanan Devan Hills. The trek starts with an easy ascent overlooking the Eucalyptus trees and the sounds of Nilgiri Langurs. Be sensitive to sounds as one may be able to spot the Malabar Flying Squirrel (Indian Giant Squirrel) and many endemic birds.

I came across wild mulberry trees, giant tea trees (yes they can grow up to 30 feet), water streams and leech patches. The cricket sounds made walking in the forest quite intriguing. There were slippery patches and patches with thorny shrubs all of which reminded me of my trek to Nong Khiaw Viewpoint. 

Slowly and steadily we reached the half peak also known as Cloud Form Camping Viewpoint. The viewpoints are named on the camps in Munnar so it is remember the names.

This peak gave us a peek of Top Station Munnar – the highest mountain peak in Kerala and the other ranges in Western Ghat. We loaded up on sugary drinks to give us the energy to walk to the peak. Trekking places in Munnar also include a trek to Top Station.

As we walked further we were welcomed by the blossoms of Melastoma (also known as Malabar Black Mouth). These purple flowers were a great respite to look under the scorching sun beating down on us during treacherous ascents.

Trekking in Munnar to witness Meesapulimala peak, Kerala

As the hunger pangs began at 1 pm and more tiredness crept in due to the profuse sweat, I turned to my guide Senthil and he assured me that the peak was close and the views were worth the wait. As I huffed and puffed through the Kottagudi valley, I saw some red flowers. 

Rhododendrons, I exclaimed! 

I have had a special place in my heart for them ever since I went on the Triund Rhododendron Trek in Himachal and again trekked through them for Birding in Pangot, Kilbury and Sattal of Kumaon region. This made me keep going and within a short time, we reached the peak.

The Kottakudi Valley Peak also known as Cliff Valley Viewpoint was every bit worth the ascents and leeches we came across. Most of the peaks of Kerala were visible from here and the unparalleled views were mesmerizing.

With no fog in the valley, we got really good photographs till it started getting cloudy. It was time to head back. But not before more sugary treats!

After some bananas and chocolate, it was time to descend and some more ascent to reach Glamp Footprints – a great option for Glamping in Kerala. It is possible to stay here overnight or trek back to the starting point.

Descent to Yellapatty village in the hope of spotting Padayappa Elephant!

We descended onto the trail again to go back to where we had started from – the tea gardens. We crossed the elephant trails across the tea gardens in the hope to see some elephants. Our guide told us about ‘Padayappa’, the famous wild elephant of Munnar. Padayappa elephant is a regular presence in Munnar town and occasionally becomes a star in the news for his infamous doings like stealing fruits from a shop!

Well, we did not spot Padayappa or any of his herd members but it was fun knowing about him.

Concluding remarks on Trekking in Munnar 

Trekking in Munnar is one of the best places to visit near Munnar and an offbeat experience, especially for hiking enthusiasts. While Top Station, Munnar remains the more popular choice for Munnar trekking adventure, Yellapatty is quieter with no crowds. We had the whole trail to ourselves which was a boon to spot wildlife and hear the birds.

I highly recommend adding Yellapatty trail to the list of Camping in Munnar and Adventure in Munnar.

How to Reach Yellapatty from Munnar

Being a short distance away from Munnar town, Yellapatty is best reached by road. Private cars can be hired to cover the distance of 29 km. It is also possible to hire a scooter from Munnar town in case you are planning a one day hike in Munnar. KSRTC buses also ply on the road connecting Munnar to Kodaikanal and one can get down at the Yellapatty bus stand. Private buses to Kovilore also pass through Yellapatty.

Keep in mind that the trail is not popular and only known to the locals and the guide. It is best to hire a guide before going there.

Best time to Hike in Munnar

While Munnar enjoys a cool climate throughout the year, it gets very chilly in winters. The monsoons are not so great either because of slippery trails and the valley being covered by fog throughout the day. It is best to trek in Yellapatty in Spring or Summer months to enjoy a comfortable hike and get good views. Be warned that Kanan Devan hills get rain anytime even during summer so best to check weather updates before planning.

Things to carry while Trekking in Munnar | Hiking essentials checklist for Hiking in Munnar

• Hiking backpack/daypack
• Water bottle
• Cap/hat
• Weather-appropriate clothing 
• Hiking shoes
• Snacks to munch: High-energy snacks like energy bars
• First-aid kit
• Knife or multi-tool
• Sanitiser (because water is a commodity)
• Salt (for leeches)
• Sunscreen lotion
• Navigation or guide (human guides are the best)

Tips to be a Responsbile Hiker

• Carry a bag to store the wrappers and plastic packets. Dispose of the waste in waste bins after reaching back to Munnar town.
• Carry your own refillable water bottles on the trek.
• Take food only in the quantity that you will consume.
• Avoid liquor while trekking.
• Wear camouflage colours to blend in with the forest surrounding.
• Maintain silence and listen to nature. Loud music is a strict no-no!

Munnar Trekking Guide

Trekking in Yellapatty is no joke because of the dense forests and multiple routes. Trekking enthusiasts who want to experience treks in Kerala have to be careful to pick the right guide and agency – Someone who knows the local area and cares for the environment.

I highly recommend Senthil Kumar and Saju Lawrence of Kestrel Adventures who are camping and trekking expertise in the area for over 2 decades. Their knowledge about the local ecosystem, flora and wildlife is commendable. They run extremely ethical camps and promise unforgettable trekking in Kerala experience.

Senthil Kumar can be reached on : +91 9447031040

Read More Kerala Blogs here:

• Eravikulum National Park
• Ultimate Road-trip in Kerala
• Periyar National Park
• Human by Nature
• Kerala Backwaters of Alleppey
• Places to visit in Thekkady
• Things to do in Thiruvananthapuram

Disclosure: I was invited by Kerala Travel Mart (KTM) and Kerala Tourism to explore Kerala. However, all opinions in this post are unbiased and of my own. Special thanks to the team of Kestrel Adventures for the guided tour of Yellapatty.

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.

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