Munnar has perhaps the most beautiful scenery in all of Kerala. The green tea fields combined with the mountains make Munnar a crazy destination that you should definitely visit during your trip in India. In this article you will discover the best places to visit in Munnar and surroundings.
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How do you discover Munnar?
The best way to explore the places in Munnar and its highlights is with a jeep tour. You can book these at most accommodations and otherwise search the internet for a tour company. The jeep tour often starts early in the morning and lasts 6 – 8 hours. You will be taken to the highlights and you can stop at any places in Munnar for a nice photo whenever you want.
The tea fields of Munnar
The tea fields of Munnar are the most beautiful in the entire state of Kerala. Everywhere you look you see hundreds of meters long rows of tea fields. There are different “styles” on which the tea fields are planted: the original style and the Italian style. You will soon see the difference.
If you look closely, you can see women with brightly colored clothes working in the tea fields. They cut the tea leaves from the plant and collect them. These women work tremendously hard and earn very little.
It is recommended to take a long walk through the tea fields. The surface is sometimes a bit uneven but it is well worth it. During the walk, you will smell the delicious aroma of the fresh tea leaves and walk through the most beautiful areas. It is also a good place to take beautiful photos.
Tip: also check out our spending in India: how cheap is India really?
Visit a tea factory
Of course, you will find many tea factories in the Munnar area. You can fully follow the process from leaf to tea here. You can often just walk into a tea factory to have a look and, of course, a nice cup of fresh tea.
Riplle Waterfalls
This beautiful waterfall is located 12 kilometers from the city. Besides enjoying the view of the waterfall, you can also go ziplining here! A great adrenaline activity from which you will get a lot of fun. You can easily get to the Ripple Waterfalls by tuktuk or bus. Admission costs 20 rupee (€0.25) per person.
Want to know more places to visit in Munnar? Continue reading in the blog, we are half way there.
Visit Top station
Early in the morning, a magical view of the mountains is what you will see in front of you at the top station. As the sun is just rising, you can see the clouds hanging low combined with the view of the mountains. The top station is the perfect place to enjoy the peaceful and quiet environment. The top station is one of the best places to visit in Munnar.
It is recommended to be here early (before 7:00 a.m.). Because it is far from the center, you definitely have to drive at 06:00. You can easily take a day tour to the station doing other activities along the way.
On the way back from the top station to Munnar, we passed several stalls where you can shoot balloons with an air rifle. A super fun activity for only 50 rupee (€0.60) per 10 shots. Go do the same and get into conversation with the nice locals.
Flower garden
The flower garden in Munnar is nicely made but not very special. There are some nice flowers but especially the cacti were nice to see. You’ll be outside again in 15 minutes.
Munnar Botanical Gardens
Whereas we found the botanical gardens in Ooty very nice and beautiful, this one in Munnar was fairly disappointing. The park is not well maintained and there was little beauty to see. If you happen to pass by, you can definitely take a look here but it’s not worth driving all the way out here for.
Do not go to the elephant sanctuary
Munnar is also home to an elephant sanctuary. At this sanctuary, you can ride the elephants, wash and feed them. This is not okay. It is animal cruelty and you should not want to participate in this. Therefore, let the locals know that you do not want to visit this because the elephants here are mistreated. Definately skip this place.
Further travel from Munnar
This where the best places to visit in Munnar. If you combine Munnar with other destinations in Kerala, you can go in multiple directions. When you travel on from Munnar you will have amazing views from the bus. Therefore, be sure to arrive or leave during daylight. It is an activity in itself to enjoy these beautiful views. We really loved the first hour of the road to Thekkady. As you travel towards Ooty, you will also enjoy the views of the surrounding mountains for the first few hours.
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