India’s summer heat isn’t kind to any of us. We all long to vanish to a place where the clouds come in through the windows and a view of beautiful hillsides lay right before our eyes. Munnar is one such place. 

Located towards the South of Kerala, Munnar is just one of the several picturesque destinations the state of Kerala has to offer. The name Munnar is believed to mean “three rivers”, referring to the congregation of the Mudhirapuzha, Nallathanni and Kundaly rivers.

Munnar is home to serene tea garden hillslopes, gushing waterfalls and mesmerising lakes. It is a hill station situated in the Idukki district of Kerala and sits at an altitude of around 5000 ft above mean sea level. This naturally made it a favourite for British officers during the Colonial days who used to visit the hill station to holiday and they helped convert the hills of Munnar into luscious and profitable tea plantations. 

When it comes to activities, you can take in Munnar in all of its glory by hiring a bicycle and riding it over the hills or through the tea gardens. You can head out to the Eravikulam National Park and try to spot the Nilgiri Tahr which is native to this district. You also have the option of visiting the Mattupetty dam which makes for a great boat ride experience. Since Munnar is home to some of Kerala’s most powerful waterfalls, make sure you visit the Attukal, Cheeyappara, and Valera waterfalls in the region. 

Munnar is well connected by both National highways, state highways and rural roads. The closest airport is Cochin International Airport which is 110 kilometres away, while the nearest major railway stations are at Ernakulam and Aluva (approximately 140 kilometres by road). 

Munnar is the star of the Western Ghats and it possesses everything from spell-bounding waterfalls to mesmerising views that are bound to enthral you.  Munnar is steadily on the rise to becoming the most visited and popular hill station in India, and why not? It has everything that makes it worthy enough to take the throne.