Munnar

Understand

Munnar is a hill station at an elevation of 1,600 m, and was a summer resort for the British during the British Raj. The town is divided into two parts: Old Munnar, where the tourist information office is, and Munnar, where the bus station and most guest houses are located. The region in and around Munnar varies in height from 1,500 m (4,900 ft) to 2,695 m (8,842 ft) above mean sea level. It is pronounced "Moon-aar" short for "moonu aar" meaning 3 rivers. Three rivers - Madupetti, Nallathanni and Periavaru — flow through this town, but join some distance away from Munnar. Munnar is famous for its tea plantations, many of them started by the British. The "Kannan Devan" brand of tea from the Tata is cultivated and processed here. The strobilanthus ("neelakurinji" in Malayalam, the local language), a blue flower which blooms only every 12 years, is found in this region. It last bloomed from August to October 2018. The Eravikulam National Park is the main Neelakurinji flowering area and the number of tourists allowed in the park during the blooming period was limited to 2,750 a day. Munnar also has the highest peak in South India, Anamudi, at 2,695 m. Eravikulam National Park is one of the main tourist attractions, where you can find the endangered species of Nilgiri Tahr (mountain goat called "varayadu" in Malayalam). A trek to Rajamala ("King of hills" in Malayalam), in the morning is sure to spot a few friendly mountain goats. You can also find gaur, langur, lion-tailed macaque, and elephants depending on the season and time of travel. The altitude is 1,600 m- 2,000 m above sea level.

Climate The season between October and March (post-monsoon) is considered the best to visit Munnar. Take a rain coat with you from April to November. The temperature in the afternoon reaches about 22 to 26 °C throughout the year. The temperature in the night and early morning goes down to about 12 to 16°C. In winter there can be some colder nights, so bring some warm clothes.

Talk

Getting there

By plane Cochin International Airport (COK IATA), also known as Nedumbassery Airport. It is approximately 125 km away from the Munnar by road. Taxi services are easily available from airport to Munnar. Cochin International airport is nicely connected to metropolitan cities of India and some other cities abroad. Madurai Airport (IXM IATA) is more than 175 km from Munnar (by National Highway 49) and second largest terminal in Tamil Nadu after Chennai airport. The airport has direct connectivity with major Indian cities like Hyderabad, New Delhi, Mumbai, Bangalore and Chennai.

By train The nearest railway station is Aluva, 110 km. Ernakulam is 130 km and Madurai is 135 km. Angamali Railway Station is another nearest rail-head to reach Munnar. You can easily get private taxis or cabs from all the railway stations.

By bus 1 Munnar bus stand (It is on the main street, Main Bazaar). From this stop buses take the southern road to Adimali/Anachal/Ernakulam. Other buses take the south-eastern road to Poopara/Theni. (updated Feb 2026) 2 Bus stand for buses to Mattupetty and Vattavada. (updated Feb 2026) 3 Bus stand for buses to Udumalai and Coimbatore. (updated Feb 2026) From Kochi - Takes around 4 hours. The departure is from Ernakulam KSRTC bus stand at CP Ummer Road and the fare is ₹170-220 (Feb 2026). From Aluva - Nearest bus station to the Cochin International Airport. About 4 hr uphill to Munnar, and 3-3.5 hr downhill. Ticket price for a government-operated KSRTC (Kerala) bus is around ₹160 as of February 2026. At Aluva, there are no signs, schedules or dedicated bus bays for Munnar-bound buses; many of them briefly stop at Aluva en route from Kochi/ Ernakulam to Munnar. Check with a few locals every 15 minutes, or ask and hang around the bus info office, so they can point you to the right bus when it arrives. From Kozhikode – There are a few direct buses operated by KSRTC (Kerala). Otherwise take a KSRTC (Kerala) bus from Kozhikode to Muvattupuzha and then a K

Getting around

There are KSRTC buses and public buses offered by private operators as well as auto rickshaws. The drivers also call it Tuktuk here. As Munnar is touristy place, the tuktuk drivers offer you a high fixed price beforehand for a ride. The normal price is ₹30 for the first kilometer and ₹15 for every additional kilometer as of February 2026. On routes which are less frequented by buses (for example to Mattupetty and Top Station) there are also shared auto rickshaws.

Gokulam Bike rental, Near High Altitude Sports Stadium, Old Munnar, ☏ +91 9447237165, [email protected]. Valid motorcycle license required. ₹500 per day (Oct 2017).

See

Some of these sites are more popular for Indian tourists than Western tourists.

Near Munnar Town 1 Kathakali and Kalarippayattu performances, Thirumeni Cultural Centre in Temple Road (close to EastEnd Hotel), ☏ +91 8548516719, +91 9447827696. 16:00-22:00. In this cultural centre you can see the local art of Kathakali, which is a drama showcasing thick face make up and face gestures. Also, there are Kalarippayattu performances, which is an ancient Martial Art that was used to train soldiers already before the Common Era started. ~₹300 per performance. (updated Jan 2023) 2 Atukkad Waterfalls (you can find a road leading to Atukkad Waterfalls on Kochi road, just about 5 km from Munnar); this road is very narrow and needs a lot of experience to drive on). A scenic waterfall amidst hills and jungles. 3 Blossom Park (Also known as Hydel Park) (1 km from Munnar). 4 Chithirapuram (around 10 km from Munnar). Chithirapuram has old playgrounds and courts, bungalows and sleepy little cottages which all give this place an old world charm. This town is also famous for its tea plantations. 5 Pothamedu View Point. A small village 1 km away from headworks dam. Coffee and Cardamom plantation are sights to behold.

Mattuppetty Direction 6 Floriculture Centre. Daily 08:00-18:00. Run by the Kerala Forest Development Corporation. A well-kept garden with a large variety of flowers and some herbal/ foliage plants, all against the backdrop of the tea plantations. Nice for taking pictures with pretty flowers. ₹50 adults, ₹25 children. (updated Jan 2023) 7 Kundala Lake (23 km from Munnar). This lake is very beautiful amidst lush jungles. Hiring a pedal boat and exploring the lake and its surroundings is an awesome experience. Except at the place you hired the boat, don't expect to find humans around the lake as it is surrounded by scenic jungles and hills. Unless you know how to row a boat, prefer a pedal boat, each trip lasts around 30 min and will be closed at 4:30PM Mattupetty (

Do

Boating, There are several places to go out for boating in Munnar. One can choose among paddle boats and speed boats to Kashmiri-Shikara. Young couples who travel to Munnar should not miss out on the beautiful 'Kashmiri-Shikara' boat ride. It is one of the most romantic experiences. Bicycle. Experience the natural beauty of Munnar by riding a bicycle throu