Munnar

Munnar is located at the Idukki district of Kerala State in South India.

Munnar's mesmerising greenery, mountain scenery, calmness and cool refreshing air attracts honeymooners and tourists throughout the year. It is a weekend hideout location for domestic tourists during summer season. Foreign travellers likes watching the natural beauty of Kerala while the journey from Thekkady to Munnar.

Munnar is at the confluence of three rivers. In Tamil, the word 'munnu' means "three" and 'aar' means "river". Hence "Munnar" is a shortened version of 'Munnu Aar'. The 3 mountain streams joining together here are Madurapuzha, Nallathanni and Kundala.

Mattupetty Dam

 Munnar is a commercial centre with one of the world's best tea estates. There are about 30 tea plantations in and around Munnar. Among these, majority of the plantations are owned by Tata Group's Kannan Devan Tea Estate. A visit to Munnar can witness the nurturing of tea in plantation to the process of manufacturing and packing.

The tea estates, hills, lakes and forests inside Munnar area exposes it's beauty. The tea plants covered Munnar hills makes the feeling of seeing a wide green carpet.

                                                                                        Munnar Basic Facts:

Tea Plantations

Location: 135 Km from Kochi

Altitude: Approximately 1600 meters

Nearest Airport: Cochin

Nearest Railway Station: Aluva

STD Code: 04865

Main Attraction: Exploration of hills around Munnar

Historical Importance: During British reign, Munnar was the summer resort of Government officials

 Best Time to Visit Munnar:

You can visit Munnar throughout the year except the Kerala monsoon in June/July. The weather is extremely cold during winter (December/January). Take woolen garments during heavy winter season.

The local people here speaks Malayalam (the official language of Kerala) and Tamil (the official language of Tamil Nadu). English is taught in schools from the primary level and even common people can read and speak English.

Hydel Park

Eravikulam

Tea Plantations

REACHING THERE

Tea Plantation

• From Kochi: Munnar is 130 km (3.5 hr) from Kochi. The road is blind in some places and there are a lot of trucks and buses that seem to drive as if they own the road. Although the road is smooth (NH 49), it is narrow, twisty and curvy. Kothamangalam is on the way and is 80 km away from Munnar. Between Kothamangalam and next town "Adimali", you can experience a beautiful cool drive through a natural forest. Alongside, you can see many refreshing waterfalls. Once you reach Adimali, Munnar is just 30 kilometers away - but it will take almost an hour to reach. This is the last place where you can spot a decent restaurant before Munnar. Around 22 km from Adimali, you can start seeing the tea plantations on both sides of the road and a panoramic view of the western ghats. The view is extremely beautiful during the early mornings.

• From Aluva: Aluva is nearly 110 km from Munnar. Just outside Aluva railway station you can hire a taxi for Munnar for Rs 2000. There is a bus stand nearby as well which operates frequent buses to Munnar; ticket prices start from Rs 70 per person.
• From Madurai: Munnar is about 135 km from Madurai and 80 km from Theni. Madurai- Theni - Bodi - BodiMettu-Devikulam - Munnar route is the most scenic route by National Highway 49(Via Madurai-Cochin HighWay).

• From Coimbatore: Munnar is about 160 km from Coimbatore and 120 km from Pollachi. Coimbatore- Pollachi - Udumalpet - Chinnar - Marayoor - Munnar route is the most scenic route and though it will take bit longer, it is generally considered worth the extra time spent.

• From Kodaikanal: Kodaikanal is nearly 170 km from Munnar. Kodaikanal - Perumal Malai - Mayiladum Parai - Mooliyaru - Oothu - Falls View - Ganguvarpetty - Ghat Road - Periya Kulam - Theni - Bodi - Bodimettu - Devikulam - Munnar. This route is also scenic.

ATTRACTIONS:

Near Munnar Town

• Atukkad Waterfalls, A scenic waterfalls amidst hills and jungles. 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.

• Chithirapuram is located at a distance of 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 in the world.

• Blossom Park, also known as Hydel Park, (1 km from Munnar).

• Pothamedu View Point

Towards Mattuppetty

• Floriculture Centre, run by the Kerala Forest Development Corporation. An extremely well-kept garden with a large variety of flowers and some herbal/ foliage plants, all against the backdrop of the tea plantations. Definitely worth a visit.

• Photo Point, (2 km from Munnar). It is a small place filled with woods and a small stream. Good location to take photos.

• Mattupetti Dam, (10 km from Munnar), this popular picnic spot activities like boating and horse riding and is a great place to spend the day e specially if visiting with children. You could take the speed boat ride which is fantastic. It costs Rs 300 if you have to hire a boat for you alone. The ride is for 15 min. The maximum capacity is 5 persons and you could save some money if you are a group of 4-5.

• Mattupetti Indo-Swiss Farm, Better known as Mattupetti (cattle village), Tamil migrant labourers had once upon a time reared cattle here. The cool climate and abundance of fodder made it the ideal location for the Indo-Swiss dairy farm. Established in 1961, the Kerala Livestock Development Board (KLDB) manages this highly specialised dairy farm. The dairy farm is a unique one of its kind with more than 100 varieties of high-yielding cattle being reared. Tourists are not allowed to enter the farm.

E

• Echo Point, (15 km from Munnar), on the way to top station from Munnar is a small lake set amidst rolling hills. Every loud call made from a spot on the lake embankment is returned manifold by the echo from the surrounding hills. Young tourists throng to this place to listen to the echoes of their friendship calls.

• Elephant Arrival Spot, (18 km from Munnar), Here you can board an elephant for a ride. It costs approximately Rs 350 per person.

• 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

• Top Station,  (37 km from Munnar on the Kerala and Tamil Nadu border). Great views of the Western Ghats. Top station is the "top"-tourist attraction. This place gives a real 'above the clouds' experience. Regular buses go to Top Station (1 hr) from Munnar. A jeep costs Rs 400. The area is known for the Neelakurunji plant, which flowers only once every 12 years. The flower is violet.

Towards Marayoor

• Tata Tea Museum, also known as the KDHP Tea Museum, (Around 2 km on the Nallathany road, from Munnar). A must-see. Tourists can see a collection of odd bits from the colonial era. Photography is allowed on payment of Rs. 20; videography is strictly prohibited here. A very interesting 30-minute film is screened, and visitors are then taken around the factory to understand how tea is processed. This museum remains open from 10AM-4PM every day, closed on Mon. There is a Rs. 75 ticket fee for adults; lower for children.

• Naimakkadu Water Falls

• Eravikulam (Rajamalai) National Park, (45 min from Munnar). See Nilgiri Thar (Hemitragas hylocres) - an endangered species of mountain goats, rolling grasslands and sholas, spread over 97² km in the Rajamalai hills, rare flora and fauna, Atlas moth (largest in the world), lion-tailed macaque, leopards, tigers, The Kurichi or Neelakurinji Flowers turn the hills of Rajamalai blue every 12 years. The next bloom will be in 2018. One can actually debate if going to the high peak just to see some goats is worth all the effort or not. However, the walk along the park is very romantic and has some breath taking view. Please be aware that this park remains closed every year around February-March due to the breeding program of the Nilgiri Thar. Before visiting Munnar please check if the park is open or not. Tickets can be bought from the counter for INR 55 per adult. Please be warned that if you do not reach the counter before 8:30 AM, the queue can get so long that it may take a couple of hours to get the tickets. The visit to the park is arranged by buses. While coming back after the visit, you'd again have to wait in queue. The entire process of buying tickets, visiting park and coming back may take 4-5 hours.

• Anamudi Peak inside Eravikulam National Park, The highest peak (2,695 m) south of the Himalayas, towers over the sanctuary in majestic pride. The slopes of the hills abound in all kinds of rare flora and fauna. The Atlas moth, the largest of its kind in the world, is a unique inhabitant of the park. Other rare species of fauna found here are the Nilgiri Langur, the lion-tailed macaque, leopards, tigers. An ideal place for trekking, facilities are provided here and tourists are allowed to go on foot up to 2 kms from Anamudi. Going up to the peak is no longer permissible unless you have special permissions from forest department.

• Lakkam Water Falls. (24 km from Munnar). A small waterfall.

• Marayoor - (Around 40 km from Munnar). It is the only place in Kerala with natural growth of sandalwood trees, natural caves with murals, and relics from late Stone Age civilisation. There is a sandalwood factory of the Forestry department of Kerala and a children's park extending across one hectare of land under the canopy of a single Banyan tree, all of which attract tourists in large numbers.

• Chinnar Wildlife Sanctuary.Chinnar wildlife sanctuary is in the Western Ghats of Kerala. This wildlife sanctuary has a large number of plants and animals. This wildlife sanctuary is spread in around 90² km of area. This sanctuary is one of the protected areas in the western ghats because of the significance of its flora, geomorphologic features, ecology and local cultural.

To Eat and Stay:For vegetarians I recommend Saravana Bhavan which is well within the city and serves tasty food. South Indian food is very good and north Indian food requires an improvement. There are lot of hotels for accommodation. Its better to hire a cab for sight seeing.

Munnar-Thekkady Road

Kodachadri- A Gateway to Heaven

Kodachadri is in Shivamogga (Shimoga) district, 1343 meters above sea level. A beatific hill abode that overlooks the panoramic Western Ghats. It is clothed with splendid evergreen forests. The place is 115 kilometers from Shivamogga town, but very near to the  temple town of Kollur. 

The Kodachadri trek basically has three routes

Thanks to person who had put this image on internet

1) Route-1 : Via Santosh hotel : This route is marked using yellow and green color .  If you are coming from Shimoga, you will hit small village "Nittur", you required to proceed 5.5 Kms on same road. you will find small mud road towards your left. This point is marked as Trek route-1 1 : Trek starting in above map. If you are travelling by public vehicle then you can get down here and start your trek. If you are travelling by private vehicle then you can carry on till "Hotel Santosh", Route marked in yellow color is mud road. Distance between Main road and Hotel Santosh is around 5.5 KMS. You will find breakfast or basic food here. Actual trek starts from this point. Distance between "Hotel Santosh" and "PWD guest house" is about 4 KMS. This stretch is marked  using green color. Initial part of this stretch is much steep. You need to trek inside forest, You will find here "leeches world" in post monsoon. couple of times you will come out of the forest and again your trek trail enters to the forest. After trekking 4KMS you will find PWD guest house. PWD guest house offers you accommodation and food(basic food)

2) Route-2 : Via Hidlumane falls : This route is marked using blue, brown and purple color. If you are travelling from Shimoga side then you will find trek starting point before Nittur (1.5 KMS before Nittur ).

Initial trek route is marked in blue  line in above map, this is very easy roue as you will be walking on a  road, need to walk 2.5 Kms 

Next stretch is marked in brown line, This trek trail  also easy . There are many small roads which may make you little confuse(If you are taking this trek route then better to get guide along with you).For guide the contact number is:+919242892299/+919449145540, Name: Mr Rajendra.(He charged us Rs.600 per head including food and accommodation for 1 night) 

Purple line represents trek trail inside forest. This trek stretch  is most difficult part of your trek. You will find beautiful Hidlumane falls on the way. The best part is that  you trek beside the flowing water of Hidlumane falls but the stones are too slippery. This is a very beautiful stepped water falls. Don't come back thinking the first stream you get as the falls. Climb the rocks, if not possible take the alternative way through the forest. Go parallel to the stream, a huge, beautiful, ice cold water falls is waiting for you. ,

After the fall there is pretty steep climb inside forest. Length of this stretch is around 5 KMS. This trek rail reaches again jeep trail which is marked in blue line.

You need to trek on jeep road for another 2KMS to reach PWD guest house, This route is marked in blue line.  

3) Route -3 : Jeep route: This is longest trek route compared to other two . This trek trail is marked in Blue line. Total length of trek trail is around 15 KMS, This route will be  helpfull in heavy rain.

 All above routes 1, 2 and 3 takes you till PWD guest house. then there is a common path till peak. distance between kodachadri peak and PWD guest house is around 1.2KMS. 

Greenery all over except for the jeep tracks and a sheet of white clouds hovering above the head. For a minute , everything appears to be covered in white and then gradually as the clouds pass on , the greenery returns. Words aint enough to explain the experience  

Best time to visit Kodachadri is from October to February.

St.Mary's Island

St.Mary's Island

St. Mary's Island is located at a distance of 6 km from Udupi and 65 km north of Mangalore. St. Mary's Island is a collection of small islands in the Arabian Sea off the coast of Malpe in Udupi district.

It is said that in the year 1498, "Vasco Da Gama" landed on his voyage from Portugal to India and the name of one of these islands "El Padron de Santa María". This is how the islands have got their current name.
These islands are just rock projections arising out of the sea near Malpe. The St. Mary's Island beach is special for the unique formation of basalt rocks that have crystallized into whole columns and split into vertical hexagonal blocks.

The west coast of these islands is a haven of shellfish with shells of various shapes and sizes littered along the coast. The island is 300 m long and 100 m wide and has a few palm trees.

The only way to approach these islands is by boat. Regular boats ply from the Malpe Harbor to the islands. The frequency of these boats may vary depending on the amount of tourists.

Accommodations are not available at St. Mary's Island.But fresh fishes to eat are available.

Best season to visit: December-January

Distance from St. Mary's Island Beach
1. Udupi: 6 km
2. Mangalore: 65 km
3. Bangalore: 425 km


How to get there

Nearest Airport: Mangalore

Nearest Railhead: Udupi

Road: Udupi is well connected by roads. You need to catch another bus from Udupi to reach Malpe Fishing port. If you are going by your own vehicle take a left turn before Hotel Sarovar on NH17.

Vibhuti Waterfalls

Vibhuti falls which is a beautiful waterfall about 30 Ft high and is a natural pool. vibhuti falls is located in Vibhuti Falls along the scenic banks of river Gangavali. Enter the gateway to the most unspoilt, untouched and unexplored exciting island by crossing the calm river through boat. Feel the heaven and tranquility surrounded in the crib of evergreen forests, majestic bamboo groves, landscaped garden and palm, impressive flora and fauna, magnificent rivers and natural scenic beauty
There is a big water falls of about 20 to 25 ft and a small one of 3ft .Some of us climbed to the top of the falls and it give a very good very of the surrounding area. This site is very good for camping and offers some mesmerizing sceneries down the valleys. We had a leisurely bath and unpacked our lunch and spent a couple of hours in the midst nature’s bounty. This river streams forms many such waterfalls on its way down the valley. 
 The place is a must watch for all nature lovers.

Reaching there

 By road:Take the road from Sirsi which goes to Mattighatta, Devanalli via Hegadekatta. You will not get a bus which takes you near the waterfall you will have to walk the Vaddi Ghat after you get down at Vaddi cross.

If you have your own vehicle pass the Vaddi Ghats and you need to take a deviation at a place called Mabagi which is about 3kms from the falls

Nearest Railway: Sirsi

Nearest Airport: Mangalore  Airport

Distance: From Bangalore 400 kms

                     From Mangalore 240 kms

                     From Sirsi 50 kms

Yana-Karnataka

This place in thickets of the Sahyadri hills of the Western Ghats is around 45kms from Sirsi and about the same distance from Kumta. Two huge rocks are the center of attraction here. There are two temples, temple of Shiva inside a cave and a Ganesha temple nearby. The other places of interest are a small waterfall and the forest itself.

There are two ways you can get there, Route (i) Take a bus from Sirsi which goes to mattighatta,devanalli via hegadekatta.Get down at a stop called "vaddi cross" and walk 6+kms from there. Route (ii) Take a bus either from sirsi or kumta get down at a place called Anegundi near Kathagaal. This place is after the Devimane ghats if you are coming from Sirsi. From here it is around 16kms walk.

Jeep is the best mode of transportation anywhere in North Kanara. You can hire a jeep either in sirsi or anywhere your base camp is and take convenient drives

Its better if you take the first route and leave Sirsi around 8am in the morning and have breakfast at Devanahalli and reach yana by 10am and if your time permits also visit Vibhuti Falls which is also near by.

Yana also has religious importance as mentioned in an event of Hindu mythology. It is believed that the demon king Bhasmasura performed penance to acquire a boon from Lord Shiva. As per the boon, whatever he touched burnt into ashes. Bhasmasura chased Lord Shiva in order to destroy him, who found refuge in the Bhairaweshwara peak at Yana.

Distance ...
From Bangalore 400+ kms
From Nearest Town 50 kms (sirsi)
From Nearest Petrol Bunk 50kms (sirsi, kumta)
Nearest Medical Help ~20kms (Hegadekatta)
Nearest Hotel ~50kms(Sirsi, Kumta