Munnar
Munnar is a gracious hill station that lives up to its huge reputation as a tourism hotspot. Developed by the British into a summer resort, Munnar’s picture post card image is considered by many international tourists as very similar to the Scottish hillsides, with its distinctly English and colonial imprint of crystalline lakes, sprawling hillsides swathed in the green of tea gardens, lush meadows, banks of flowers, pebble-strewn streams and the lavish, colonial bungalows with gabled roofs and tall chimneys.
Located at 1600 metres above sea level, with the silky gossamer of mist floating all around and the cool breeze on your cheeks one instantly slips into a dreamy haze, into a world of make-believe. Romance beckons from every up and dip of its seductively curving hills and lanes. With the main town saturated with tourism, it is better to move away to the less frequented and still pristine locales of Rajamala, Chinnakkanal and Lock Heart Gap for a more private rendezvous with nature. Rajamala is known for its proximity to the Eravikulam National Park that conserves the almost extinct Nilgiri Tahr, which can be observed only at a distance, with the buffer zone of the sanctuary out of bounds for tourists.
For the trekking enthusiasts, Munnar offers plenty of options, as also facilities for some adventure sports. Anamudi, located 2695 metres above sea level and skirting the Ervaikulam Sanctuary is the highest peak in South India and is a great destination for trekking expeditions. Mattupetty, famous for the Indo-Swiss Livestock Project and the Kundala dairy farm, further uphill surrounded by endless vistas of tea gardens are great spots for a kaleidoscopic view of Munnar and its surroundings. The Top Station, the most vantage point for a stunning view of the scenic beauty of the area, is home to a magical phenomenon that happens every twelve years, when the rare Neelakurinji bursts into a sea of blue that blankets the entire hillsides. Just as quaint as the picturesque scenery are the many exclusive resorts and hotels in Munnar which blend with and enrich the surrounding scenic motif. Close at hand are also the idyllic hill station of Devikulam known for the Sita Devi Lake and its mineral waters and trout fishing, and the Chinnar Wildlife Sanctuary with its distinct topography and abundant wildlife. Munnar is a destination that is a must visit if you want to experience ecstasy, abandon and spiritual high all rolled into one.
