Munnar belongs to which state

Interestingly, it was not Munro or Turnor who started tea cultivation in Munnar. The credit goes to A. Sharp, a European planter, in Sharp planted tea in around 50 acres of land at Parvathy, which is now part of the Seven Mallay estate. Planters get a setbackIn , the plantations of Munnar suffered a major setback in the form a disastrous monsoon. Heavy landslides and flooding literally redrew the landscape in several places.

There was a heavy loss of property and life. Though it was hard for them, the inhabitants managed to bring back life to a normal in a few months. Large-scale replanting was carried out in several estates.

Tata Tea Ltd. Employees of Tata Tea hold stake in the company. The hill station, situated about m above the sea level, began to be flocked by travellers from around the world. The town, which still retains its colonial charm, has a large number of hotels to greet travellers. Virgin forests, savannahs, rolling hills, scenic valleys, numerous streams, waterfalls, sprawling tea plantations and winding walkways are attracting thousands every year.

Poonjar Royal FamilyThe history of Munnar is never complete without a mention of the Poonjar royal family. Over a long period of history, this royal family had the privilege to be the custodians of the virgin hills of Munnar. The history of Poonjar Royal Family begins in Tamil Nadu from where they had to flee following a ruthless struggle for power. Long ago, the Madurai kingdom was ruled by Manavikrama, a mighty king of the Pandyan dynasty.

Besides a powerful kingdom, Madurai had the distinction of being a centre of arts. The Pandyan kings had great reverence to the goddess Madurai Meenakshi. The artful sanctum sanctorum of the temple is believed to have been built during the reign of the Pandyas. Once Madurai came under the attack of the nearby Chola dynasty and after a fierce battle, the Pandyas recaptured their kingdom. The recapturing of Madurai was celebrated with spectacular festivities.

But in the night, when everyone was asleep after the celebrations, Viswanatah Naicken a general of the Pandyas who had sided with the Cholas, opened the fort gates for the enemy. The Chola army unleashed a ruthless attack slaying the sleeping soldiers. A minister safely took Manavikrama and his immediate family out of the fort through a long secret tunnel. The family had managed to take a good portion of their fortune in the form of jewellery, gems and gold. The tunnel led them to a forest area from where they reached Palghatusserry the present day Palghat.

There they lived for a brief period in the house of a Brahmin. But when he came to know that his guest was King Manavikrama, the Brahmin family feared the displeasure of the Cholas and asked them to leave the place. From there, Manavikrama moved to Vanneri, which is part of the present day Thrissur. There he built a residence and after sometime some of his former subjects came to visit him. They were the poligars of Theni, Uthamapalayam and Kumbam. Though they extended support to their dear king to win back Madurai, Manavikrama had scant interest.

They built a palace at Mele Goodalloor in anticipation of a change of mind of their dear king. As time passed by Manavikrama was racked with a feeling of insecurity at Vanneri and during this time he was approached by the king of Elangallur present day Edappally.

Both the royal heads soon struck a chord of friendship which resulted in Elangallur king marrying the daughter of Manavikrama. The Elangallur king, as a token of his love, gifted the Ernakulam region in his principality to the queen. The prince was an ambitious gentleman who wanted to regain the glory of his family. He made arrangements to move to the Goodalloor palace and regroup the loyal Poligars. Fate was more generous than the young prince had thought.

He came to know that the kingdom of Poonjar was for sale following the death of its chieftain. Poonjar lay opposite to the Goodalloor hill ranges and it was quite natural for the prince to have interest in the region.

With the help of the fortune his family had brought from Madurai, the prince bought the Poonjar region from its custodians, the royal family of Thekkumkoor. Kulasekhara was an ardent devotee of the goddess of Madurai Meenakshi temple and the first thing he did was to build a temple for the goddess on the banks of Meenachil river which flowed through Poonjar. A grand palace and fort was also built soon. It is said that the idol installed at the temple was the original idol of Madurai Meenakshi temple, which King Manavikrama had brought with him.

The Pandya kings were generous rulers and had high regard for their subjects. Though their original title was Perumal, they adopted the title Raja for male members and Thampuratty for female members. Munnar and Idukki, the district to which it belongs, grow a variety of spices.

Kumily a plantation town near the famed Thekkady Wildlife Sanctuary is recommended for those who wish to buy farm-fresh spices. Idukki district, formed in January 26, , is a scenic region in the State. The Tata Tea Museum in the Nallathanni Estate tells the eventful story of Munnar; its transformation from an uninhabited stretch of forest land to a plantation town. The highlights of the museum include old machineries used for tea processing, photographs and some other curious displays that throw light on the efforts of some adventurous planters who dared to conquer the wild with minimal equipment and little resource.

Served on a banana leaf, a thali involves at least six small dishes which cover the six different flavours of sweet, salt, bitter, sour, astringent and spicy in a single balanced meal.

This Keralan meal is served with mountains of fat spotted rice which is only available here. At about 40 km from Munnar is Anakulam. Visit Anakulam to view a family of elephants in their natural habitat from a respectful and enforced distance of 50 metres. Herds of elephants live in the forest and they visit the river daily to drink and play.

You get to see them when they naturally visit the lake to drink and play. Human interaction is strictly not allowed.

Visiting a spice farm is a surreal experience. Here, you get to understand how pepper, cardamom, turmeric, and ginger grow and some owners do explain the medicinal properties of every spice.

This tour will be a subtle reminder about how we take the roots of our food completely for granted. The most popular way to tick off a few of the most popular sights in Munnar is to take a private auto-rickshaw or taxi tour. Have you not thought about any particular place to visit? These drivers offer set-day trip routes and the rates depend pretty much on your negotiation.

These auto-rickshaws or taxis take you around for local sightseeing. Also, note the entrance fees will not be included. Munnar is known for its magical beauty. Its captivating beauty makes your holiday more fun-frolic and memorable. A water reservoir in Idukki district, located at about 13km from the heart of the hill station.

Owing to the availability of water, it has an exotic range of flora and fauna thriving around it. If luck favours, you will also be able to spot Asiatic Elephants here. This artificial lake is located about 20 km from Munnar. It is well-known for its bountiful beauty and charm. Enjoy panoramic views of the Western Ghats, here in Top Station. Located about 40 km from Munnar, Top Station offers an amazing view of the most gorgeous valleys in Munnar. A visit to this dairy farm should not be missed at any cost; its locale makes it one of the most picturesque places to visit in Munnar.

If you were browsing for the most stunning places to visit in Munnar, you would have come across the place Echo Point. Located 15 km away from Munnar, Echo Point is also known to be one of the most mystical places to visit in Munnar. Best Time to Visit: Anytime Avoid monsoon. Instructions for Tourists: slopes are steep. Not just these, Munnar also happens to be the most popular pick among many beautiful honeymoon destinations in India.

However, you can also plan your trip to Munnar with friends and family, for an amazing fun-filled experience. So, what are you waiting for? Check-out some cool Munnar Tour Packages and book your customised trip to Munnar with Pickyourtrail and have an amazing vacation! Book Now. Written by Janani on July 1, Share on.

Munnar, Kerala — All you need to know about Munnar. Water Villas. Mesmerizing Itineraries Pickyourtrail. Janani 97 Posts Published. View all posts. Let us now explore some of the options in and around Munnar that would provide travellers ample opportunities to enjoy the captivating hill station of Munnar. One of the main attractions near Munnar is the Eravikulam National Park.

This park is famous for its endangered inhabitant — the Nilgiri Tahr. Spread over an area of 97 sq. A great place for trekking, the park offers a magnificent view of the tea plantations caressed by blankets of mists. The park becomes a hot destination when the hill slopes here get covered in a carpet of blue, resulting from the flowering of the Neelakurinji.

It is a plant endemic to this part of the Western Ghats which blooms once in twelve years. This is the highest peak in South India, standing at a height of over m. Treks to the peak are allowed with permission from the Forest and Wildlife authorities at Eravikulam. Another prime draw for visitors, located about 13 km from Munnar Town, is Mattupetty. Situated at a height of m above sea level, Mattupetty is known for its storage masonry dam and the beautiful lake, which offers pleasurable boat rides, enabling one to enjoy the surrounding hills and landscape.

Pallivasal, located at about 3 km from Chithirapuram in Munnar is the venue of the first hydro-electric project in Kerala. It is a place of immense scenic beauty and is often favoured by visitors as a picnic spot. Near Munnar Town lie Chinnakanal and its waterfalls, popularly known as the Power House Waterfalls, which cascade down a steep rock m above sea level.

The spot is enriched with a scenic view of the Western Ghat ranges.