It's Time To Pack Your Bags And Go To Munnar: Let This List Be Your Guide!

I had the good fortune of spending four years in Bangalore and if you have lived there then you know how green and beautiful South India can be.

There are many places one can choose to visit when in the South. While their mountains may not be as high and mighty as Himachal’s, their lush plantations will tease your nostrils playfully, throwing at you the fragrance of tea and coffee.

One such place is Munnar that's situated in the lap of Kerala, the land of spices. The closest well-connected city to this stunning hill station is Kochi, which is famous in its own right for the annual art festival it hosts.

Munnar will leave you spellbound. The moment you enter the narrow, hairpin bends that decorate it, you won't know which side to look at because there’s greenery everywhere. You can spend idyllic moments sitting on one of the stone benches that rest along the roads, watching women pluck tea leaves and feel the clouds kiss your tired city-life soul.

But Ranak once I’ve reached my destination, what should I do?

Well, fret not, this boy will help you. All you need to do is follow my curated list and voila! You’ll return with a heavier suitcase filled with memories and a lighter soul than before, rejuvenated till your next vacation!

1. Visit Munnar's very own Tea Museum.

It would be blasphemy if you skip a visit to the Tea Museum in Munnar. After all, the place is covered in tea plantations! Opened in 2005, Tata Tea wanted visitors to come and see how the most important ingredient of this hot beverage is made. Also, most of the tea estates here are owned by the Tata group.

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2. Treat your eyes to Kathakali dance.

When in Kerala, you should not ignore its beautiful culture. We all know that a lot of graceful dance forms have originated from South India. Kathakali is one of them. Thirumeny Cultural Centre in Munnar host evenings for you to watch a stunning performance by dancers dressed and made up in finery. Immerse yourself in an evening of exotic storytelling.

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3. Sit by the waterfall.

Munnar has one other speciality apart from the plantations and those are waterfalls. The hill station has many streams turning into beautiful falls. There are some where you can find quaint stalls offering Maggi and hot tea. Now who can refuse Maggi in the hills?!

If you’re one of the many who want to stand on rocks and get photos clicked, be careful. Don’t slip! One famous waterfall to visit in Munnar is the Attukal falls.

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4. Book a seat on the Eravikulam National Park safari.

If you think your friend is living the high life by going on wildlife safaris in Kenya, wait till you show them your amazing visit to Eravikulam National Park.

The long winding roads will take you through many signages that mention elephants as one of the wildlife animals that walk on the same path as you. Our country is rich in wildlife and you can witness some of its stunning examples here. So wear your trekking shoes and strap on your binoculars ‘cause you have some serious sightseeing to do, people!

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5. Hike to Anamudi Peak.

Did I just hear a gasp escape your lips? Well this is only a photo of the peak, wait till you visit it in person. This gigantic mound is rich in flora and fauna. If you thought you can only walk through the plantations and not give your glutes any workout, you were wrong!

The steep climb on this peak will leave you happily exhausted and sleeping like a baby at night. There’s Nothing like sweating it out in the bounty of nature.

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6. Find a favourite spot at Lakkam waterfalls.

Now, this is one of the best waterfalls I have ever been to. I remember I stumbled upon it while I walked solo for hours. Sitting by the falls and sketching in my small diary was the highlight of it.

There are tiny white flowers that line themselves along the giant mist producing monster. If you want you can nap on the grass but don’t forget that you have a life to return to!

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7. How can you miss a trip to the highest tea plantation in the world?

No? Well now you have! Munnar is home to the highest tea plantation in the world and it’s called Kolukkumalai tea estate. It is at a height of 7900 feet above sea level! Yeah, let that sink in. So it would be a hard miss for you to make. After all, you get one cool ass caption for your photo, dontcha?!

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8. Come climb the second highest peak in Kerala.

While staying on the topic of visiting some of the highest places, Meesapulimala is another one such place for you to go to. It is situated at a height of 2640 metres above sea level. That’s a tall one for ya! An extremely popular tourist attraction, you’re sure to see many happy faces along with yours!

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9. Ayurvedic Massages. YAASSS!

Now that you’ve followed this list so diligently, it’s time for you to treat yourself to one of the many Ayurvedic massages offered at various spas in the city centre of Munnar.

Your tired limbs from all those treks and your exhausted shoulders from working long hours at work will feel relaxed once you are in a quiet room getting yourself the much needed rub from professionals! Go for it peeps, you’ve earned it!

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