Tea-covered hill station in Kerala's Western Ghats, about 1,600 m up, where three streams meet.
FamousHill-stationWildlifeLakeWaterfall
Munnar is a cool hill town surrounded by tea estates, with a national park that protects the endangered Nilgiri tahr and views towards Anamudi, the highest peak in South India. It suits families, couples and first-time visitors to Kerala who want easy sightseeing by road, with boating, viewpoints and short walks rather than hard trekking.
Trip planner
Plan from your city
Photos
Hills and tea estates around MunnarTea estates in the Kanan Devan HillsMattupetty Dam reservoirView from Top StationLakkam waterfalls near Munnar
Photos from Wikimedia Commons. Select a photo for its author and licence.
Best time to go
When
What to expect
September to February
Main tourist season. Cool and mostly clear, with temperatures falling to about 11 C in December to February. Hotel rates are at their highest and sights are crowded.
March to May
Warmest months at about 22 to 27 C. March is good for sightseeing and April for walks; May is warmer and more humid with some drizzle. Eravikulam National Park is closed in February and March.
June to August
Monsoon, with moderate to heavy rain and about 20 to 25 C. The hills are very green and waterfalls are full, but sightseeing is harder, trails can be slippery or closed and boating may stop.
Sights and activities
1
Eravikulam National Park (Rajamala)
A 97 sq km park of grassland and shola forest that protects the Nilgiri tahr, with views towards Anamudi peak. Private vehicles are not allowed in; forest department buses take visitors up from the 5th Mile entrance, followed by a walk of about 1 km.
Distance
About 15 km from Munnar town, on the Munnar-Udumalpet road
Entry
Indians 200, children 150, foreigners 500; still camera 50, video camera 350
Timings
About 8:00 AM to 4:00 PM (sources differ on exact hours). Closed in February and March for the tahr calving season.
A lakeside spot on the Top Station road, known for the echo across the water. There are boats, short walks through tea gardens and stalls selling tea and snacks.
Distance
About 18 to 19 km from Munnar town, 6 km beyond Mattupetty Dam
Entry
Adults 30, children 15; boating extra
Timings
7:00 AM to 10:00 PM daily, as listed by one source
The highest point on the Munnar-Kodaikanal road, at about 1,700 m, with wide views over the hills and across to Tamil Nadu. It is also a place to see Neelakurinji flowers in the years when they bloom.
Distance
About 32 km from Munnar town, 1.5 to 2 hours by road
A waterfall of about 50 feet that drops into a pool, reached by steps and boulders. There are changing rooms and toilets at the base, and the rocks are slippery.
Distance
On the Munnar-Udumalpet road beyond Eravikulam National Park.
A high tea estate at about 2,170 m, best known for sunrise views. The last steep stretch is only possible in a four-wheel-drive jeep hired at Suryanelli.
Distance
About 32 to 35 km from Munnar town, via Suryanelli
Entry
No entry fee confirmed. Jeep from Suryanelli about 3,000 to 3,500 per jeep.
Timings
Sunrise trips leave Munnar at about 3:15 to 3:30 AM
Kochi to Munnar is about 130 km by NH 85 through Kothamangalam and Adimali, about 4 to 4.5 hours. KSRTC and private buses run from Ernakulam and Aluva, and there are also road routes from Madurai (about 153 km) and Coimbatore (about 160 km).
By train
Munnar has no railway station. The nearest is Aluva, about 108 to 110 km away; Angamaly is about 109 km and Ernakulam Junction about 120 km.
By air
Cochin International Airport is the nearest, about 108 to 110 km away, 3 to 4 hours by road. Madurai (about 140 km) and Coimbatore (about 150 km) are alternatives.
Where to base yourself
Stay in or near Munnar town, which has the KSRTC bus stand and is the starting point for the roads to Eravikulam, Top Station and Suryanelli.
Getting around
Local buses link the town with nearby villages and some sights for about 5 to 25 rupees a ride.
A hired sedan taxi for an 8-hour sightseeing day including Top Station costs about 2,700 rupees per car, and an SUV about 3,300; entry fees are extra.
KSRTC runs the Royal View double-decker sightseeing bus from the Munnar bus stand to Anayirangal Dam at 9 AM, 12:30 PM and 4 PM; the 3-hour trip costs 400 on the upper deck and 200 on the lower deck.
Auto-rickshaws work within the town and to nearby hotels; one traveller report gives 100 to 300 rupees for short rides.
Motorbikes can be rented for about 300 to 400 rupees a day.
Kolukkumalai needs a four-wheel-drive jeep from Suryanelli, about 3,000 to 3,500 rupees per jeep.
On the way
Worth a stop on the drive from Aluva, the last stretch whether you arrive by train, bus or air. Stopping needs a taxi or your own vehicle; buses do not wait. Distances are by road.
1
Cheeyappara Waterfalls
Seven-step waterfall right beside the Kochi to Munnar highway, between Neriamangalam and Adimali. Busiest in the monsoon.
Budget hotels, cottages and lodges in and around the town
₹500 to ₹2,500
Mid-range
Three-star hotels and plantation-view resorts
₹2,500 to ₹5,500
Luxury
Estate bungalows and high-end resorts
₹6,000 to ₹15,500
Food
Most eating is in small restaurants in Munnar town, such as Saravana Bhavan, Rapsy and Guru's, and at roadside places on Post Office Road. Stalls at Echo Point and other stops sell local tea and snacks. Drink bottled or filtered water.
Try these
Appam and stew (thin rice pancake with meat in coconut gravy)
Puttu and kadala curry (steamed rice and coconut with black chickpea curry)
Idiyappam with egg curry (rice noodle cakes with spiced egg gravy)
Kerala chicken fry (chicken fried with chilli, vinegar and coriander, served on a banana leaf)
Parotta with prawns (layered Malabar flatbread with Kerala-style prawns)
Ari pathiri with chicken (soft rice-flour flatbread with chicken curry)
Vegetarian South Indian food such as puttu, appam and idiyappam with vegetable curries is on most menus.
Daily costs
Budget level
Stay per room
Food per person
Local transport
Budget
₹1,200
₹400
₹100 per person
Mid-range
₹3,500
₹900
₹2,700 per vehicle
Luxury
₹10,000
₹2,000
₹3,300 per vehicle
Per day. Travel to and from your city is added in the planner above.
Permits and documents
No permit was found to be needed for visiting the town and its main sights; Eravikulam National Park needs an entry ticket, which can be booked online. High-altitude treks such as Meesapulimala need a forest department permit, usually arranged through the operator. Carry a photo ID for hotels.
Safety
By day
Generally safe, with low crime reported and regular police presence. Keep away from wild animals, especially elephants and gaur near forest roads.
At night
Avoid remote areas and hill roads after dark. Autos can be hard to find late, so arrange your ride back in advance.
Solo women
Rated safe by solo women travellers, who describe local people as respectful and helpful. Take the usual care, pre-book transport and avoid isolated spots at night.
Roads
The road from Kochi climbs more than 1,500 m through ghat sections with many bends. Avoid night driving, allow extra time in the monsoon and use a driver who knows the route.
Emergency numbers
112 (all emergencies), Tata General Hospital, Munnar: 04865 230270, Eravikulam National Park office: 04865 231587
Practical
Mobile network
All the main networks (Jio, Airtel, Vi and BSNL) work in town. Signal is reported to be patchy on remote trails and viewpoints outside the town.
ATMs and cash
ATMs are easy to find in town. Carry enough cash for entry tickets, boats and jeeps before leaving town.
Fuel
There are several petrol pumps in and around town. Fill up before long drives to Top Station or Suryanelli.
Medical
Tata General Hospital in Munnar (04865 230270) is the main hospital listed by Kerala Tourism; there is also a government primary health centre.
Most sights are viewpoints and lakes reached by road, so they suit older visitors. Eravikulam involves a walk of about 1 km uphill after the bus, and Lakkam has steps and boulders. The rough jeep ride to Kolukkumalai is not comfortable for people with back or neck problems.
Children
Good for children: boating at Mattupetty and Kundala, the echo at Echo Point and tahr spotting at Eravikulam. The winding roads can cause motion sickness, so keep drives short.
Wheelchair users
No confirmed wheelchair facilities were found. Roadside viewpoints and the dam area can be seen from near the vehicle, but Eravikulam, Lakkam and Kolukkumalai involve slopes, steps or rough tracks.
Unless a sight is described as accessible, assume it is not step-free.
Culture and responsible travel
Single-use plastics are banned; carry a reusable water bottle and take litter back with you.
Do not feed, chase or crowd the Nilgiri tahr and other wildlife, and stay on the marked path in the national park.
Ask before photographing local people, including tea estate workers.
Dress modestly in villages and at religious places.
Tea estates are private working land; do not walk into them without permission.
Be careful with spice shops that sell overpriced products as authentic; compare prices before buying.
What to pack
Photo ID (Aadhaar, passport or driving licence); hotels and permits ask for it
Proper winter wear: a heavy jacket, thermals, gloves and a cap
Clothes in earthy colours, a cap and binoculars for safaris
Some cash in small notes for autos, stalls and tips
Your regular medicines, plus basics for stomach upsets, headaches and cuts
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