I've visited Munnar during Jun 15-17, 2018. It's my first trip along with my office colleagues, especially my seniors.
We (a group of 12 members from same office), departed from Chennai to Munnar on June (Thurdsday Night). It's a traffic day in Chennai as it was a weekend time along with Ramzam Festival on the next day, friday. We run out of time, but finally caught the bus (SRS Travels : NON AC Sleeper) which we pre-booked. The bus departed from Perungalathur @7:50pm, on-time. We had fun throughout this bus journey, gossiping about all the stuffs and things happening around us.
It wasn't first or second. I've visited Munnar thrice. Once during summer which was a disaster. But my other two visit's were totally opposite. And this falls under my other side. Yes. One of the most enjoyable trip among my 3 visits to Munnar goes to this. This visit to Munnar took me to places like Matupetty Dam, Top Station, Kundala Dam, Echo Point, a private waterfalls, tea estate and such. Let us go through deeper about my experience in exploring munnar..
Next day morning, on June 15, 2018 (Friday), it was around 5am we all wake up and the bus was almost empty except we 12, and the bus was jus started to drive up from udumalpet, through Anamalai Forest Range. It's was quite drizzling (misty) and we had a superb sceneries all around, while the bus was climbing up the hill through anamalai forest. We had a rollercoaster kindoff experience. 🤪
By 6:45am, we finally reached munnar. The climate was so chill and we directly called the cottage man, which we've pre-booked. The cottage man arranged for keep from munnar center to the cottage. We stayed in Zina Cottage, which was comfortable, budgeted and luxurious (compared to other cottages nearby) one. It was around 12k for a night stay for 12 members. We opted almost the whole cottage (5 Bedrooms and 2 Restrooms), except the two, in which a foreigner family and the cottage owner were staying.
We got refreshed in the cottage itself and started our 1st day trip towards top station.
Reaching center of munnar, we had our breakfast @ MahaLakshmi Cafe, where I use to have usually while visiting munnar. It was small, budgeted and a tastier restaurant (actually a tea shop kindoff).
Finishing our breakfast, we had a nice lemon tea, which is very famous in munnar. Then, we took the Jeep got the road to top station. On the way towards top station, there are many, many and many places to visit for.!
At first, we come across the photo point, where people use to take pictures standing inside tea gardens.
The next stop is the elephant camp. We didn't go for the ride as we thought it was quite expensive (not much worthy) and also not to waste time here. But clicked some pics and move forward to the next spot, rose garden.
@ Rose Garden, we came across natural, unique flowers and move forward.
Next is the great Mattupatty Dam, which is the main Reservoir for Munnar. We got down from the Jeep before the dam itself, walked from one end to another, had some available snacks over there like nuts, corn, especially mangos were superb for that chill climate.
The Jeep had a collection of Tamil Kuthu Songs and it was a great feel singing those songs while travelling in such roads in Jeep.
The next spot is echo point, where the entry ticket price is Rs.10 per head. The location was surrounded by a small market with huge collection of jewels, handmade crafts, tea, food shops and all. Echo point was divided by the river stream which was from Kundala Dam towards Mattupatty Dam. On the other side of the river stream, there is a small hill with bunch of some pine trees. On shouting anything which pops in our mind, we can hear the echo of it. It's was a different experience and almost easily we can witness, hear the echo. It's a go to place in munnar.😍
The next spot is Kundala Dam. It's almost similar to Mattupatty Dam, but it's season is ON only during monsoon, when Mattupatty Dam is full. But there are some water level maintained here usually for generating Hydroelectricity.
At last, we reached top station. Here we had good views from the top towards Theni District (Tamil Nadu) side. There are also presence of tea gardens over there.
After having a good visit and a small photo session @ the top station, we started back towards munnar. While returning back, we stopped in the mid of the hill (34kms drive) at a small shop as all of us felt hungry. There we had Maggi Noodles, which is a common food in all the roadside and small food shops. Also we had Bajji's and Bakoda's, and Tea.
While having them sitting inside a small food shop, I jus looked outside the window on the back side of the shop. There the scene I witnessed is one of the best in my lifetime. There was a slope, covered with green grasses and the depth is almost 20-25meters. Down the slip, there was a small stream passing by. After that stream, there are carrot gardens for almost 500m distance. After that, there was a ground where children's were playing football and their parent, friends, passing people were applauding them.. 😍
We decided to walk down the slope and reach the stream. It was quite slippery as there were some drizzles always. On reaching the stream, we got refreshed. It was so chill and the climate along with the drizzle made my legs under the stream water almost to freeze.! 🥶
The location down the slope had a spacious plain surface, covered with grass. I jus thought of buying the land, build a small house and spend rest of my lifetime over there.! It was such a beauty..😍
Everything's are passing clouds. We started to go up the slope, got the Jeep and resumed our way towards munnar.
We went for some local shopping in the night by walk, got our dinner parcel to the cottage. There we had nice time playing cards and making fun of each other. 😇
The cottage was located deep inside a tea estate, on the top of a small hill. The location of the cottage was superb and the surroundings were always chill. We had deep sleep then.
The next day morning, Jun 16, 2018 (Saturday), we woke up around 8am. All had good morning scenes at the cottage garden and tea gardens.
Got refreshed, had breakfast @ the same MahaLakshmi Cafe, went some local spices shopping at the famous Kannan Devan Tea House and departed towards Udumalpet Road.
There one of my trip and office colleague, Mr.Elangovan had a contact with a tea estate person and with the help of him, we visited a private tea estate, which had almost all vegetables and fruits plantation along with a beautiful private waterfalls. 😍
There we all enjoyed a lot, bathing in the walls which was so chill and freezing..🥶
Followed by this, we resumed the journey towards Udumalpet.
The second spot on the way towards Udumalpet was Munivar's Cave. It was a small hill and there were 2 cave's build with 3 rectangular huge rocks, each.
Then on the way, we stopped on seeing a collection Jack Fruit's infront of an house. We stoppedz enquired the price of one small jackfruit and had them. The taste was totally different from what I use to have in my hometown. It was so natural and juicy. We all (12) had atleast 4-6 pieces, each.
On reaching Udumalpet, we settled the Jeep person and got the bus to palani. It was a 1 Hour travel.
On reaching palani, we booked a lodge and had a stay. It wasn't so comfortable, but something is better than nothing.!
Next day morning, on June 17, 2018 (Sunday), we woke up soon and had a good dharshan @ Palani Aandavar Temple. 🙏
Followed by our breakfast at a small roadside shop, we hired a van and started towards Monkey Falls, which is at the foothills of Valparai.
On reaching monkey falls, we had superb bath, but it was crowded as it's a Sunday and also quite slippery. There we can witness almost 1000's of monkeys in a 300 meter distance. So be careful with your belongings. We locked our belongings inside our van.
Once after finishing my bath in the falls, we resumed back to Aaliyar Dam. There at first, we had our lunch. Fishes were famous at that location. Also briyani, is a must try one.
After completing our lunch, we got tickets and entered Aaliyar Dam. It was like a huge garden and we spend some time, resting over there. Then started to climb the dam. There the water level is almost 70% full and we had boating in the dam, which was a good experience overall, surrounding by Valparai Hills aside. We also had running race to climb the dam footsteps between my colleayand BAGUBALI NAMBI is the winner. Myself and Sasi started and gave up jus after climbing 15-25 steps itself as we can't able to play and win with The Great BAGUBALI @ Nambi.💪
Once completing our visit to Aaliyar Dam, we were on the way towards pollachi. It was around 3pm and we had quite more time to spend. So we're looking for a spacious place, like a garden and got it which was jus 40mins away from pollachi. We spend some time over there, playing cards, having hi-tea and roaming inside Pollachi's Coconut Gardens.
Around 6pm, we started wind-up the place and resumed towards pollachi. There, we had our dinner @ Ramanujam Restaurant and finally got our return bus to Chennai.
A special thanks to my office colleagues, who made this trip happen. 🙏💜
That's it from my MUNNAR TRIP. Will join you guys in my next trip, which is not far from me. BuByeee.!😉
CEO Signing off.!😎
Munnar a hill station on the Western Ghats; The name Munnar is believed to mean "three rivers", referring to the town's strategic location at the confluence of the Madhurapuzha, Nallathanni and Kundaly rivers. The town is surrounded by the country's highest tea gardens. Layers and layers of tea estates, mountain mist, waterfalls and wildlife sanctuaries make Munnar almost surrealistically beautiful. The lofty mountain ranges with misty peaks, sprawling tea estates and serene climate provides a quiet and peaceful resort. Panoramic views of low-lying clouds and mist filled valleys make it a pretty little heaven with a cool, bracing climate and is also famous for the wild orchids locally called Neelakurinchi which blooms once in 12 years. Munnar is famous as Honeymoon destination and Romantic getaway, has a variety of attractions to feast your eyes like placid lakes, meandering streams, misty mountain peaks, sylvan valleys, rare orchids and wildlife. Plantation visits, treks, tea factory visits, cycling, boating, paragliding, day tours to the Periyar Wildlife Sanctuary etc add to the excitement of exploring the truly unique destination.
Altitude : 5000-8000 ft above sea level.
Area : 26.2 sq. km.
Languages spoken : Malayalam, Tamil, Hindi and English.
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