Munnar, India: travel guide
Tea-covered hills, mist and cool air high in Kerala's Western Ghats
Emerald hill station of endless tea gardens, misty peaks, and the rare Neelakurinji flower — Kerala's most beloved highland retreat.
About Munnar
Munnar is a hill station in the Western Ghats, where tea plantations roll over the slopes in neat green waves and cloud often settles in the valleys. The air is cool compared with the Kerala coast below.
The main pleasures are gentle ones: walking among the tea estates, visiting a tea museum or factory, stopping at the viewpoints at Pothamedu and Pallivasal, and heading towards Anamudi, the highest peak in South India. The Neelakurinji, a rare flower, blankets the hills only once in many years.
Munnar suits honeymooners, families and anyone wanting a quiet break from the heat. The best time to visit Munnar is from September to March.
- Country
- India
- Currency
- INR
- Time zone
- Asia/Kolkata
Last updated
Top places to visit in Munnar
Eravikulam National Park
national-park · 4.6 rating · about 3 h · entry ₹500
Rolling high-altitude grassland park (Rajamalai) protecting the endangered Nilgiri Tahr and India's highest peak south of the Himalayas, Anamudi; famed for Neelakurinji blooms.
Neelakurinji Bloom Season
nature-reserve · 4.9 rating · about 4 h · check the fee at the gate
Neelakurinji blooms only once every 12 years across the Munnar hills, turning the entire hillside purple. The next blooming is approximately 2030. Eravikulam NP holds the world largest population.
Mattupetty Dam & Lake
dam-lake · 4.3 rating · about 1.3 h · entry ₹40
A scenic concrete dam and reservoir ringed by tea-clad hills, popular for speedboat and pedal-boat rides amid grazing cattle and dairy farms.
Kannan Devan Tea Gardens
tea-plantation · 4.6 rating · about 1.5 h · check the fee at the gate
The vast emerald tea estates blanketing the hills around Munnar, ideal for plantation walks, photography and visits to working tea factories.
Munnar Tea Garden Morning Walk
tea-estate · 4.6 rating · about 2 h · check the fee at the gate
Munnar is surrounded by some of the world most beautiful tea gardens — rolling hills carpeted in vivid green Camellia sinensis bushes. Walking through the estate rows in morning mist is a quintessential Munnar experience.
Echo Point
lake-viewpoint · 4.2 rating · about 0.8 h · entry ₹10
A lakeside spot on the Top Station road where shouts echo off the surrounding hills, with boating and tea-garden walks amid scenic valley views.
Top Station
viewpoint · 4.4 rating · about 1 h · free entry
The highest point on the Munnar-Kodaikanal road (≈1,880 m) on the Tamil Nadu border, offering breathtaking views over the Western Ghats and misty valleys.
Rajamala Tahr Wildlife Walk
national-park · 4.7 rating · about 2 h · entry ₹500
The Rajamala area of Eravikulam NP has open grasslands at 2000m where Nilgiri tahr graze in large groups. The nature trail gives excellent close-up wildlife viewing.
Tata Tea Museum
tea-museum · 4.3 rating · about 1.3 h · check the fee at the gate
The KDHP/Tata tea museum tracing Munnar's plantation history, with vintage machinery, photographs and a live demonstration of tea processing and tasting.
Kundala Lake
lake · 4.3 rating · about 1 h · entry ₹10
A pretty high-altitude reservoir surrounded by tea slopes and the cherry-blossom-lined road, offering shikara and pedal boating in a tranquil setting.
Echo Point Kundala Lake Munnar
viewpoint · 4.2 rating · about 1.5 h · check the fee at the gate
A scenic mountain lake and viewpoint 15km from Munnar where shouting produces an echo from surrounding hills. The dam creates a beautiful reservoir among tea estates and shola forest.
Valara Waterfall Twin Falls
waterfall · 4.3 rating · about 0.8 h · check the fee at the gate
A beautiful twin waterfall on the Munnar-Ernakulam highway, closely paired with the larger Cheeyappara Falls. The approach through spice plantations is equally scenic.
Things to do
- Tea Plantation & Factory Tour Cultural · 2.5 h · from INR 800 per person
- Eravikulam Trek & Tahr Spotting Hiking · 3 h · from INR 1,000 per person
- Munnar Top Station Day Trip Scenic Drives Sightseeing · 6 h · from INR 2,000 per person
- Munnar Echo Point Kayaking Mattupetty Lake Water Sports · 2 h · from INR 1,200 per person
- Kolukkumalai Sunrise Jeep Safari Adventure · 5 h · from INR 2,500 per person
- Munnar Photo Trek Golden Tea Gardens Nature · 5 h · from INR 1,800 per person
- Munnar Waterfall Trekking Attukal Falls Adventure · 4 h · from INR 1,500 per person
- Munnar Organic Cardamom Farm Tour Nature · 3 h · from INR 1,000 per person
Day trips and tours
- Eravikulam & Top Station Nature Day 8 h · from INR 2,000
- Munnar Sightseeing Full-Day Tour 8 h · from INR 1,800
- Kolukkumalai Sunrise Jeep Day 6 h · from INR 2,500
Where to stay in Munnar
- Town Center about INR 3,500 per night
Main market area with hotels, restaurants, and shops
- Tea Estate about INR 4,000 per night
Peaceful areas near tea gardens with resort stays
Hotels
- Blanket Hotel & Spa Munnar 5-star · INR 15,000 to INR 45,000 per night
- Spice Tree Munnar 5-star · INR 15,000 to INR 45,000 per night
- Munnar Wild Trails Resort 5-star · INR 12,000 to INR 38,000 per night
- Munnar Tea Estate Bungalow 5-star · INR 25,000 to INR 75,000 per night
- Munnar Tea Trails Bungalow 5-star · INR 22,000 to INR 70,000 per night
- Windermere Estate Munnar 4-star · INR 12,000 to INR 35,000 per night
Where to eat
- Munnar Town Morning Tiffin Kerala, South Indian, Breakfast · about INR 200 per person
- Surya Restaurant Munnar Kerala, Multi-cuisine, Biryani · about INR 400 per person
- The Green View Restaurant Munnar Kerala, Multi-cuisine, Biryani · about INR 400 per person
- Rapsy Restaurant Kerala, North Indian, Continental · about INR 350 per person
- The Munnar Tea Lounge Tea, Continental, Heritage · about INR 400 per person
- Echo Point Restaurant Munnar Kerala, Snacks, Cafe · about INR 200 per person
- Munnar Biryani House Malabar, Biryani, Muslim Cuisine · about INR 250 per person
- Eastend Hotel Restaurant Munnar Kerala, Multi-cuisine, Continental · about INR 500 per person
Getting to Munnar
Nearest airport: Cochin (COK), about 73 km away in a straight line. The road or rail journey is longer.
How visitors arrive in Munnar
- Road from Kochi, taxi or KSRTC bus By road from Kochi · common · unconfirmed
No railway line. Visitors fly or train into the Kochi area and continue by road or KSRTC bus. Source: munnar.com
- Train to Aluva/Ernakulam then road By train from Aluva · common · unconfirmed
Nearest stations are Aluva, Angamaly and Ernakulam Junction, then taxi, cab or KSRTC bus. Source: munnar.com
Getting around
- Auto Rickshaw
- Taxi
- Walking
Safety and scams to avoid
Pre-paid taxi "broken meter"
Airports, train stations, popular squares
Driver insists meter is broken, quotes ~3x the fair price; or detours via "shopping" stops earning commission.
How to avoid it: Use pre-paid taxi counter at airport, or Uber/Ola/Rapido apps. Insist on meter or agree price upfront.
Best time to visit Munnar
- Jan 22°C
- Feb 24°C
- Mar 25°C
- Apr 26°C
- May 26°C
- Jun 24°C
- Jul 22°C
- Aug 23°C
- Sep 23°C
- Oct 23°C
- Nov 22°C
- Dec 22°C
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Frequently asked questions about Munnar
- What are the top-rated places to visit in Munnar?
- The highest-rated places in our Munnar guide are Neelakurinji Bloom Season, Rajamala Tahr Wildlife Walk, Eravikulam National Park, Kannan Devan Tea Gardens, Munnar Tea Garden Morning Walk.
- Where should I stay in Munnar?
- Our guide covers these areas to stay in Munnar: Town Center, Tea Estate.
- How do I get around Munnar?
- Ways to get around Munnar covered in our guide: Auto-rickshaw, Taxi, Walking.
- What scams should I watch out for in Munnar?
- Scams reported to us for Munnar include Pre-paid taxi "broken meter". Each is explained in the guide, with how to avoid it.
- What is the weather like in Munnar?
- Average daytime highs in Munnar run from 22°C in Nov to 26°C in Apr.