Munnar- aptly famous as God’s own country is a hill station situated in Idukki district of Kerala is so serene and captivating that it will take your breath away. Munnar is lush green covered with misty mountains and pristine waterfalls everywhere. Famous for its tea & spice plantations, Munnar derives its name from the combination of two Malayalam words “Moonnu” and “Ara” which translates to three rivers. The town gets this name as it is situated at the confluence of three rivers.
If you are visiting Kerala then place Munnar at the top of your list. I travelled via bike and I can still not get over with those memories.

Also Read – How to Plan South India Bike Trip

Best time to Visit Munnar

I would suggest visiting Munnar anytime after August till Jan as the weather during this time is awesome. If you are also planning for a bike trip then do not forget to carry a raincoat and a light jacket.

How to Reach Munnar

If you are coming from North India then the nearest airport is Kochi. Kochi to Munnar is around 130km and the route via NH85 is smooth & full of greenery. You can take a cab or rent a bike to reach Munnar directly. As I mentioned in my previous post about this bike trip to South India, I came to Munnar after visiting Alleppy.
Below is the 10 days route plan of the Kerala Bike trip if you are coming via Kochi.
Kochi > Thrissur > Kozhikode > Wayanad > Ooty > Coimbatore > Munnar > Alappuzha > Kochi
Map link – Click Here

Must see places in Munnar

Mettupetty Dam (Madupetty Dam)

Mettupetty Dam built-in 1953 is the main source of electricity for the Idukki district till date. The dam is situated at 13km from the main town of Munnar.
The reservoir thus created by the dam being surrounded by thick forests on either side presents a spectacular view. One can also enjoy boating on the other side of the Dam.
Timings – All day open
Entry Fee – Free

Echo Point

Our next destination from Mettupetty Dam was the Echo point. It is around 2km from the dam on the banks of a picturesque lake. Living up to its name, here you can hear your voice as an echo if you shout.
As can be seen in the pic below, the lake is surrounded by the lush greenery of the Western ghats. You can enjoy boating here in the lap of nature. This place is a delightful destination for the birdwatchers as many native & Nilgiris birds can be spotted here easily.
Timings – All day open
Entry Fee – Free

Kundale Lake (Kundala lake)

Take the direct road from the Echo point, it will lead you to Kundale Lake which is around 12 km from it. This beautiful lake created by the Kundale Dam is surrounded by magical green valleys that you will love to capture through your lenses.
Kundala is famous for its unique flower named Neela kurunji which blooms once in 12 years.
We had a wonderful experience peddling our way in the lake on a boat. This is again an incredible place which will bring you close to nature.
Near the Lake, there is a Golf Course which is owned by Tata.

Timings – All day open
Entry Fee – Free

Eravikulam National Park

From Munnar, Eravikulam National Park is around 7km which is a home of Nilgiri Tahr. This national park wears the crown of the highest peak of the southern part, Anamudi(2676m). Thus, offering you trekking option to explore. The flora & fauna of this place, the wide variety of bird species makes it one of the popular tourist’s attraction. Official vehicles are available here which you can hire for a tour around the park.
I suggest visiting in the early morning hour as it will take a minimum of 4-5 hours to cover the national park which is spread over 97 square kilometers.
Timings – All day open(8 AM to 4.30 PM). Completely closed from Feb to March every year.
Entry Fee – INR 125.00

Lakkom Waterfalls

Lakkom Waterfalls are situated 17 km inside the Eravikulam national park and 30 km from Munnar. These pure white waterfalls are tributaries of the Pambar River and will bewitch you by its absolute unperturbed beauty. We spent an hour here and then returned to Munnar.

Timings – All day open(8 AM to 5 PM)
Entry Fee – INR 20.00

Tata Tea Gardens

If you are a teetotaller (just kidding) you will love the tea plantations here as Munnar is home to the world-famous Tata tea. Tata Tea gardens are situated everywhere in Munnar town. Mainly it is located around 5km from Munnar in Pallivasal Area. But frankly speaking, you will find Tata tea gardens everywhere in Munnar. They own a large part of Kannan Devan Hills of Munnar.
Not only Tata but there are many other companies that own tea gardens in Munnar.

Journey throughout the Munnar turned out to be an unparalleled experience for us. I would personally advise all the couples out there to go on a bike journey and I bet you will post thanks afterward in the comment section 😉
Riding through this landscape amidst the high mountains & waterfalls is a spellbinding experience that is inexplicable and will make your journey to this God’s own place stay alive in your memories forever. Munnar to Coimbatore journey is one of my best journeys in Kerala in the past 10 days.

Places to Stay in Munnar

There are many places to stay in Munnar such as Pallivasal ,Devikulam or Munnar town. I would recommend to stay in Pallivasal area as the view from resorts situated here are awesome.
I stayed at Misty Mountain Resort & if you want to enjoy premium stay then I would highly recommend this place , charged around INR 3000 per night. Views from the hotel are just breathtaking.
I had bike so I didn’t face any issues while travelling, as visiting sites are nearby but you definitely need vehicle to reach there. There are many Auto & Jeeps available which you can hire. Many AirBnb hotels are present in Munnar town as well & they are good choice for budget traveler.