John Keats had written “A thing of beauty is a joy forever”. India is a magnificent country with many places of beauty and one such delectable place nestled in the charming God’s own country Kerala is Munnar, the popular hill station in the imposing western ghats.
The drive from Marayoor sandalwood forest reserve, 45 kms away from Munnar is nothing short of splendid with mist covered peaks and greenery all around. The air gets cooler as one drives up the narrow road and the captivating scenery gradually changes to tea plantations, which fills the heart with glee. It is never known when time flies away as the heavenly surroundings enrapture our attention. The salubrious climate of Munnar extends a warm welcome to the tourists and there is no dearth of accommodation as there are so many hotels and resorts dotting the sides of the road.
The main intention of the tourists to visit Munnar would be to experience the cool and pleasant weather and of course to see various places of interest. This hill station does not disappoint anyone as it offers a veritable treat of places, which would delight the hearts of one and all.
To begin with, there is the Blossom hydel park in the centre of the city. It is a lovely garden with a good view of the hills and tea plantations. It is a nice place to have a brisk stroll in the mornings and evenings. The next place of interest is the Pothamedu view point, which offers a decent view of the hill ranges. The best time to visit this place is during sunset. The crimson red sun setting behind the hillocks is definitely a sight to behold.
Taking a slight deviation from the cochin road leads us to the Attukal waterfalls. The road leading to it is very narrow, but there is plenty of greenery around which makes it a good drive. The waterfalls would be in full flow during monsoon and it would be fabulous to just sit nearby with a cup of the aromatic, delicious Munnar tea and gaze at the serene waterfalls and the misty mountains behind it.
The famous top station road has most of the tourist attractions and it’s a convenience for the tourists as they can cover so many places in a single stretch. The first tourist spot in this stretch is the floriculture centre, which houses a wide range of flora. Seeing so many plants and colourful flowers amidst that natural setting is delightful. At a short distance from the floriculture centre is the ‘Photo point’, a place for the photo enthusiasts to snap some smart pictures in front of the picturesque tea gardens! A few kilometres from that spot is the idyllic Mattupetty dam, where the Mattupetty river flows along calmly and the hill ranges behind it offer a most wonderful view. At a few metres from the dam is the boating centre, where one can enjoy boating in that glorious environment. There is also the ‘Elephant arrival spot’ nearby, where with some luck , majestic elephants can be seen grazing on the carpet-like meadows.
Passing by the Indo-Swiss farm, the next place is the Kundala dam, another place of scenic beauty. But more than the dam, it is the road alongside the lake which is truly mesmerising with huge trees all along and the lake is a picture of solitude. The echo point is the next place on the stretch, and as the name itself suggests, this place echoes the voices when shouted loudly and it’s a good place to have some fun. Women can also have lots of fun here, as there are so many stalls to shop!
The next part of the journey is where one can experience the true beauty of Munnar. The drive to top station is a splendid one, offering a panoramic view of the vast expanse of exotic tea plantations and distant breathtaking mountains. The lush green tea gardens, the blue mountains and the tranquil blue sky with pure white clouds complement each other impeccably. The surroundings seem like a green carpet at some places. The wind brings with it the tingling scent of the tea leaves and the calmness around soothes the soul. There are many excellent viewpoints along the way and the final stop is at top station, which is actually a part of Tamil Nadu. This place offers an awe inspiring view of the grandiose western ghats. There is an almost 270 degree view of huge mountains and a short trek leads to the edge of the hill from where the landscape is absolutely enchanting. One particular view which draws attention is of 3 huge hills, which somehow reminds us of the holy trinity of Hindu mythology. It is a wonderful place with ethereal scenic beauty and is sure to satiate the thirst of nature lovers. The long drive back to Munnar, which is 37 kms from that spot is again very blissful and unwinding and which would be cherished for long.
Apart from these places, there is the Tata tea museum which displays the tea manufacturing process. There is also the Eravikulam National Park, the home of the endangered species Nilgiri Tahr(wild goats) found exclusively in that place. This usually takes half a day and one can have a good time in the safari amidst the vibrant forest and it’s an enjoyable experience. Another attraction in the national park is the Anaimudi peak, the highest peak of South India, which resembles the head of an elephant. A few kilometres away from the national park is the Lakkom waterfalls, which would be in full force during monsoon. But it is a good place nevertheless with dense jungle around the falls.
With all these attractions, Munnar is definitely a tourist’s delight. It is a beautiful place away from the heat, dirt and pollution of many cities and offers a rejuvenating and invigorating experience to the mind which is jaded with the mundane goings on of everyday life. The alluring climate, the pure and fresh air, the sublime tea gardens, the enchanting hills all around and the greenery fills one’s heart with ecstasy and caresses the soul. Truly, “A thing of beauty is a joy forever!”
