Munnar Hotels

Munnar is a hill station in the Indian state of Kerala. Most tourists come to Munnar to see the surrounding tea plantations. The town itself is typically Indian with the usual shops and guest houses and is nothing special in itself. But it is a good place to stay to see the surrounding countryside. It is also a popular place for Indian honeymooners. 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. Munnar was a summer resort of the British government in South India. It is 1600 m (5400 ft) above sea level. It is pronounced "Moon-aar" meaning "Three rivers" in Tamil and Malayalam. There are in fact three rivers - Madupetti, Nallathanni and Periavaru which flow through this town, but join some distance away from Munnar. The neelakurinji, a blue flower which blooms only every twelve years, is found in this region. It bloomed last in December 2006. Munnar also has the highest peak in South India, Anamudi, at 2695 m. Altitude : 1600 Mts to 1800 Mts above sea level. Temperature : Min. 0 deg.C - Max. 25 deg.C. Clothing : Warm Clothes and Rain Gear. Tourist Season : August to March.With a Sound-of-Music-in-India backdrop of rolling mountain scenery, craggy peaks, manicured tea estates and crisp mountain air, Munnar really hits the spot after the sticky heat of the lowlands. Once known as the High Range of Travancore, today Munnar is the commercial centre of some of the world's highest tea-growing estates. But don't be fooled by the noisy and grubby namesake town of the region; the real attractions lie in the surrounding hills. Snuggling in the green and serene Kannan Devan Hills, lies the quite and restful resort of Munnar, at an altitude of 1524 m and 136 km off Cochin. Panoramic views of low-flying clouds and mist filled valleys make it a pretty little heaven with a cool bracing climate. It was opened up out of virgin forests a century ago by pioneering planters. Within its remote and elderly churches - gracious, stone-structures with ancient chandeliers and rosewood pews. A little beyond lies Anaimudi, South India's highest peak. In the vicinity is the Eravikulam National Park, the home of the endangered Nilgiri Tahr that roams on a stretch of grassland or is seen climbing the pinnacles of the undulating hills. Here we can have a glimpse of a Gaur, Langur, Lion-tailed macaque, and Elephants roaming in herds.The Kundale Tea Plantation - An area surrounding a lovely lake that offers some of the most stunning views of the region. It offers the best opportunity you are ever likely to have to see the tea plantations, to watch tea being picked, to learn how tea is processed, to smell the sweet scent of tea wafting through the air and to buy the tea directly from the gardens. Neelakurinji (Strobilanthes Kunthiana) is a rare bush that grows around Munnar which falls under western ghats. Neelakurinji has bloomed in Munnar in December 2006. It happens only once in 12 years. You can find a lot of informatin about this plant on neelakurinji.net and download a screen saver free!.