A trip to the world’s highest tea estate to watch the most glorious sunrise ever!!
Kolukkumalai is a tiny hamlet in Tamil Nadu-Kerala border, which sits at around 7130 ft above the sea level and lies about 32 km from Munnar.
What makes this place special to travel.?
Well, the tea plantations of Kolukkumalai are known to be the highest in the world. This tea estate will soothe your senses with its scenic beauty, and invigorating aroma.
The sprawling plantation is spread across over more than 1000 ac of land, and produces around 12 tons of tea per month on an average. While there, you can take the help of any local people guide, who take you around the tea estate and how the workers collect the tea leaves, which are then later processed into consumable tea.
Best time to visit.?
Weather here is pleasant all round the year; however, the best time to visit this place would be during the winter months. But if you still want to go there during the summer, we will suggest, plan your trip during the months of March and May.
Accessibility.?
Also, being situated just 32 km from Munnar, Kolukkumalai offers you more than one reason to visit. A one-and-half-hour jeep ride will take you to Munnar from here, whereas this tea estate is also accessible by road from places, such as Trivandrum, Kochi, Madurai, and Thrissur in Kerala.
About the world’s highest tea estate :
The prime highlight of visiting Kolukkumalai is that it is home to the world's largest tea estate. After reaching there, walk 1 km downhill through the tea plantations, and the path will lead you to the old-style organic tea factory. This factory was established in 1919, and has been following the orthodox tea-making process since the colonial area.
As you step inside the factory, it will take you back in time. Its secluded but scenic location, and the convention methods that it still follows, will make you believe in simplicity.
A walk around the factory, where its creaky doors and jagged wooden stairs infuse old-world charm, you might need some time to believe if such a place can still exist in the 21st century. If you take a local guide along with you, he will enthusiastically explain how things work here.
And a visit to this place will be incomplete if you don’t get a steaming cup of lemon tea there, which is made using the highest quality of tea leaves, categorised as BoP (Broken Orange Pekoe). From here, you can also opt to check out the nearby treks or head to Munnar.
Kolukkumalai for camping :
After visiting the world’s highest tea estate, you can also plan for a stay in a camp near the tea estate. If you want to avoid the last minute hassles, make advance planning and arrangements. Staying here is fun and depending on the season, it will be a fair deal to enjoy a night camping here. Sleeping bags will be provided, whereas dinner and breakfast will also be available from local and tea estate people guidance.
Now, when you wake up in the morning, the sight will be one of those memorable moments of your life. The sun rising and the manner in which this place comes alive is just a sight to watch. In short, when most glorious sunrise of the Western Ghats will wake you up, I bet you will thank me for recommending this adventurous trip to you!!
Kolukkumalai Jaguar Sunrise View Point :
Pro Tips :
Trekking to Kolukkumala / Meesapulimala (Kanchenjunga of South India) is possible only by proper booking with KFDC. Climbing privately is illegal. If forest officer at the top finds you coming from the wrong route, you may get into trouble.
Ask the kfdc person to arrange the jeep to reach camp from munnar. If you book, it will cost more.
My Personal Experience :
Wow!! Wow!! Wow!!
Don't give it a second thought, just go for it. You will be amazed for sure. It's a great treat for your eyes and soul. Landscape looks different with different kinds of plants for each 5min walk, simply amazing! The whole trekking way is filled with lot of jawdropping sceneries.
When we reached the top, the clouds were moving around us and there were water droplets all over our hair and eyelashes. Felt the chill mountain breeze !!. As our trip was during winter, the summit was covered with mist.
I like to mention that, we filled our water bottle with water flowing through the valley. The water was pure and tasted really good. Please bring 2 water bottles atleast. Avoid plastics as this location is clean and green. Let's not pollute our Mother Nature.
This trip is not preferred for aged people or a person with health issues. Remember, this is trekking, we have to walk nearly 16km that too all ups and downs.
Make sure, your check list includes below things too.
1.Salt ( You can find lot of leeches there. If it bites put some salt, leeches die when you put salt on it)
2. Water bottles
3. Carry enough Cash (avoid dependency on ATM)
4. No mobile network, rarely we can get BSNL network. Inform your family about this network problem before you reach camp.
Happy Trekking!!!
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