My Eyes on Kerala: Munnar

Showing posts with label Munnar. Show all posts

Discount Travel with Rotary Tours

If you work with Wipro, Cognizant, Infosys, TCS, Accenture you get Half Ticket and an additional 10% off

On packages organized by Rotary Club of Kuttanad

Snapshot of a Rotary Trip: 9 days 8 night tour

2 days at Munnar; 2 days at Kovalam

1 day each at Kochi, Thekkady, Allepey and Kanyakumari

Itinerary:

1^st day – Arrive at Kochi, transfer to hotel, noon tour of Kochi, visit Fort Kochi, Jewish Synagogue, Jew Town, Dutch Synagogue, Chinese fishing nets, St. Francis Church. Overnight stay at hotel

2^nd day – Drive to Munnar. Transfer to hotel, day at leisure. Overnight stay at hotel

3^rd day – After breakfast, sightseeing in Munnar. Visit Eravikulam National Park, Mattupetty dam, old Munnar town and local market. Rest of the day at leisure. Overnight stay at hotel

4^th day – After breakfast, drive to Thekkady. Reach hotel at noon and take rest of day off or opt for a boat cruise down the Periyar river in the Periyar Wildlife Sanctuary (This is not included in the package cost). Overnight stay at hotel

5^th day – Transfer from Thekkady to Kumarakom/Allepey houseboat. All meals on houseboat. Full day and overnight stay on the houseboat

6^th day – Drive to Kovalam. Transfer to hotel. Overnight stay at hotel

7^th day – Day at leisure. On payment basis avail of the resort facilities like Ayurvedic massage

8^th day – Drive to Kanyakumari after breakfast. Check into hotel by noon. Rest of day at leisure. Overnight stay at hotel

9^th day – Transfer to Thiruvanthapuram to catch connecting train/flight back home

Package Cost:

Budget - Rs.40,290 for two. Rs.4000 for extra person

Standard – Rs.44,660 for two. Rs.4500 for extra person

Deluxe - Rs.65,240 for two. Rs.5000 for extra person

Luxury - Rs.86,235 for two. Rs.8000 for extra person

Mode of Travel: Indica. A/c Indica for Deluxe and Luxury packages

Bus tickets can be arranged on request

Other Offers

Rotary also offers discounts on houseboat packages such as 15% off on deluxe 5 days 4 nights tours and if you like them on Facebook there's a 5% discount!

Contact

Call 09349178898 or 09447776841

Munnaresque

Munnar is where to be if you seek silence and being one with nature where the town hustle bustle is winding miles away....and it's just water, flowers and green tea leaves afloat on hills like a rain of green...


Munnar Waterfall


Munnar Mattupetty Dam


Munnar Floral Burst


Munnar Poem in Poinsettia


Munnar Fuschia Floral


Munnar Tea Estate

Munnar Tea Estate

Munnar is the best place to be in June when the rains make it a cool secluded retreat. Head for the old town of Chithirapuram

Picturesque Munnar Auto Ride

Munnar in an Auto

Munnar View

Sunset in Munnar

End of the Auto Ride in Munnar

Also see

Munnar Sightseeing

Tips on Munnar

Accomodation in Munnar - Review of Tea Castle

Tea Castle is in the old town of Munnar, called Chithirapuram so it means it’s an uphill drive so view is more breathtaking than hotels closer to market.


Tea Castle Chitirapuram Munnar - 9th floor View

180 degree panoramic view from restaurant also.

Tea Castle Chithirapuram Munnar - 10th Floor Restaurant View

We were on 9^th floor so just below restaurant and had view of the winding road amidst tea plantations as well as the hills beyond. It’s a superb view.

The bathroom is the cleanest and best we experienced, no fancy twists and turns to get the water to flow. An extra steel sink outside is a boon. Tea coffee maker with electric kettle in deluxe room.

Tea Castle Chithirapuram Munnar - 9th Floor Room

Staff is very good, courteous and warm, both room service, reception and restaurant.

They offer a la carte and buffet in the restaurant. Jeera rice was Rs.70; Vegetable curry Rs.70; Phulka was Rs.5 for one. The complimentary breakfast had the widest array of items from wada, idli, uthappa with sambar, bread toast, omelette, cornflakes with milk, tea, coffee and juice.

Tea Castle - Restaurant

Drawbacks

Tea Castle is near the tea plantation and factory but far from market area and Mattupetty dam if you're keen on sightseeing but Munnar is for doing nothing so the hotel is ideally suited.
The food quality could improve.

There were small roaches but only in the wooden cupboards. Glass topped table and 3 chairs can be used to put baggage on so that roaches don’t trouble. Pest Control required as others may not be so tolerant of roaches but Kerala is a place where there will be insects because it's cheek by jowl with nature.

News Flash - Kumily Checkpost Opens to Buses after Mullaperiyar Row


Thekkady

The tussle between Kerala and Tamil Nadu on the Mullaperiyar dam adversely affected tourism in both states. This time of the year, foreign tourist inflow declined to a trickle in Thekkady as well as the temple town of Madurai. Hotels and tourist operators reported cancellation of booking at a whopping 80%. It translates into 20 foreign tourists where 200 were to arrive. The reason is due to the road blockade carried out by the protests over the issue of the dam. State buses and private vehicles could not cross into Tamil Nadu and vice versa as Kumily which is at the border of the two states saw violent agitations over the dam. Even check posts at the Kumily border refused to issue passes.

Tourists were forced to opt for trucks that trundled across or take a circuitous route. Those traveling from Tamil Nadu traveled from Coimbatore, Palakkad to Kochi and thence to Thekkady. Some walked across the border. So a holiday trip of 4 hours became a lengthy 14 hour detour which was bad news for the tourism industry. Even now buses are being stopped and tourists had to walk across the border. Tourist buses cost Rs.27 lakhs and no one is willing to have their Rs,40,000 windshield shattered by protesters.

There is some respite now mainly due to the onset of the Sabarimala pilgrimage. With police protection being offered to pilgrims to cross the border from Tamil Nadu to Kerala, there have been demands for similar protection for the tourists within Kerala. Finally on Monday, buses managed to operate on the Kumily border route passing from Tamil Nadu to Kerala. Buses in Kerala to the Kumily border town are set to operate by 10:30 am today. Private buses and taxis are playing it safe and dropping tourists till the border. Tourists are moving freely across without incident as peace prevails after a long period of violent clashes. With the holiday season winding to a close, tourism operators pinned hopes on domestic tourists and they haven’t disappointed continuing to arrive to holiday into what was once a tourist haven.

Trekker Trail and Waterfalls at Thommankuthu

You’ve read those hotel brochures that offer private pools with every cottage? Thommankuthu is a natural beauty which offers a waterfall cascade and step at every pool. Seven Steps to Beautiful Waterfalls is what this splendiferous wild waterfall would be headlined if in a brochure. For there are 7 waterfalls flowing into the river near a village.
What’s On Offer

There’s a mix and match of green patches here. There’s evergreen forest, an array of medicinal plants – 180 species in all and wild versions of plants that you’d otherwise see growing in private gardens neatly.
There’s a 12 km trail through thick forest. It’s a rough hewn path that gives way to boulders as you move up.
There’s a lake for boating.
There’s fishing and horse riding.
There’s quiet. For those looking for an undisturbed picnic spot, it’s here.

Getting There: It is equidistant from Kochi or Kottayam, 60 km each way. You can catch the bus to Thodupuzha which is 18 km away Or take the Munnar – Thommankuthu bus to reach (20 km).

Accommodations in Thommankuthu: Thodupuzha is where the hotels and rest houses are, as Thommankuthu is still being developed as an eco-tourist spot. So as of now Thommankuthu can be done only as a day trip.

Afloat on a boat in Kerala… Beyond Houseboats

Ferry Boats in Kochi

Kochi, the ferry is the best option to avoid the traffic jams. The ferry travels over the waterways that link the various isles that make Kochi. The jetty points have bus stops usually bang outside so you can just hop on for the onward destination point or else take the autos after haggling.

The Kochi ferry is of two types:

There are the only passenger ferries.
There are also the roll-on, roll-off ferry for two wheelers, light vehicles as well as standees, limited depending on the space. But there are lengthy queues for these.

Ferry jetty points are:

Ernakulum Main Boat
High Court (Ernakulum)
Vypeen (Vypeen Island)
Bolgatty (Bolgatty Island)
Embarkation (Willingdon Island)
Terminus (Willingdon Island)
Mattancherry
Customs (Fort Kochi)

The passenger ferry timings:

Check timings call – 0484-2360215. Ticket window opens 10 mins prior to ferry start time

High Court to Vypeen Island and High Court to Bolgatty Island:Every 20 minutes from 6:00 am to 10 pm

Fort Kochi to Vypeen Island:6:00 am to 10 pm

Ernakulum to Embarkation (Willingdon Island)/Fort KochiMorning - 6:00; 6:30; 7:10; 8:00; 8:40; 9:10; 9:40; 10:10; 11:00; 11:40;
Noon – 12:30; 1:00; 2:40;
Evening – 4:00; 4:50; 5:10; 6:10; 7:00;
Night – 8:00; 8:50;

Fort Kochi/Ernakulum (Willingdon Island) to ErnakulumMorning - 6:30; 7:00; 7:50; 8:30; 9:10; 9:40; 10:20; 10:40; 11:40;
Noon – 12:10; 12:50; 1:20; 2:10; 3:10;
Evening – 4:40; 5:15; 5:40; 6:40; 7:20;
Night – 8:20; 9:10;

Ernakulum to Mattancherry (This is the area of the Jewish Synagogue and Dutch Palace)Morning - 7:10; 9:40; 11:05;
Noon –2:00; 3:20;
Evening – 5:40;

Mattancherry (This is the area of the Jewish Synagogue and Dutch Palace) to ErnakulumMorning - 7:50; 10:25; 11:45;
Noon –2:40;
Evening – 4:00; 6:20;

Ernakulum to Vypeen: The frequency is more. Every 20 minutes and even 10 minutes apart.From 5:30 morn right till 10:30 night.

Vypeen to Ernakulum: The frequency is more. Every 20 minutes and even 10 minutes apart.From 6:00 morn to 10:00 night.

Boating in Munnar

Mattupetty Dam Point: 9am – 5:30 pm. Call Indo-Swiss Project - 0486-242201

Speedboat that seats a max of 5 costs Rs. 200 for a ride of 15 mins.

Safari boat that seats 25 costs Rs. 300 for a ride of 30 mins.

Old Munnar river cruise: Call District Tourism Promotion Council - 0486-231516

Boat per person per hour = Rs. 30
Motorboat for 9 persons for 30 minutes = Rs. 180
Pedalboat for 2 for 30 mins = Rs. 40
Pedalboat for 4 for 30 mins = Rs. 80
Watercycle per person for 30 mins = Rs. 100
Surfbike for 15 mins = Rs.50

Boat Cruise sans frills

Available for cruises in Kochi, Kottayam, Kollam, Kumarakom, Allapuzha (Allepey): If you don't want to houseboat and wish for just the cruise without the frills then you can opt for just a plain boat cruise.

Advantage of boats

You pay for the cruise only

Disadvantage

Only the roof is covered. So the sun beats down from the sides and it can get very taxing

Different kinds of plain boats

There’s the boat with either plastic/cane/wooden chairs or others with lounge seats, tall people have to sit hunched though or lounge as they are lounge seats:


Boat cruise - Allepey

There’s the deck chair boat

Deck Chair Boat - Allepey

Munnar Sightseeing

Manmade Sights

Munnar is where 3 mountain streams meet – Kundala, Nallathanni and Mudrapuzha. But the main attraction everyone will point out is THE DAM. Mathupetty!

Walk up and down the long road, shop at the stalls that sell trinkets like paper jewellery to made in China wooden trucks. Really, what is there to see? Water coursing down? Go see The Natural Cascade - Athirapally Waterfalls

Manmade Noise

Echo Point is where you can stand and yell to get the echo. Yawn da yawn.

Wildlife

The second thing everyone raves about is the RARE ANIMAL – The Nilgiri Tahr - the Mountain Goat. Eravikulam National Park and Rajamala Wildlife Sanctuary is where it can be seen in its its natural habitat. The Rajamala part open to tourists falls within the Eravikulam National Park itself.

At Eravikulam, you can see also the Atlas Moth, Elephants, Sambhars, Gaurs, Lion-tailed Macaque…..

But be assured, all you may get to see is NOTHING. You have to stand in the open for a ticket. Ride around in a jeep and try and peer to see anything. If it rains as it does in winter, all you will see is sheets of rain. So first check the weather, the parks are closed in the monsoon. Then decide whether the animals are best left alone.They’ve mastered the fine art not to be gawked at by tourists.But if you want to try, best time is between October-March

District Tourism Promotion Council (Idukki) offers :

The dam, Echo point, Rajamala/Eravikulam Sanctuaries plus Top Station, Pothamedu view and Attukad Waterfallls. It costs Rs. 250/- per head. It's a day tour between 10am-6pm.
Contact District Tourism Promotion Council Information Office - 91-0486-231516

For Other Options on Sightseeing in Munnar Away from Itinerary

Images of Munnar

Munnar is for sightseeing but it’s not about the typical sightseeing of junketing around. It’s the one place to just be. Soak in the mist, the rains, the fragrance. And see the sight of the plantations and gentle sloping hills appearing like a water colour painting…..

Munnar Mist View


Munnar Misted Road


Munnar Mist Rising

Tips for Munnar Sightseeing

Vistas of Munnar

There’s something called The Gap, which is supposed to give a panoramic view of Munnar. It’s over-rated. Really want a view? Trek to Anamudi, the highest peak in South India. Over 2695 mts.
There's also a trekking trail is Anamudi-Rajamala-Meesapulimala-Top Station-Kundala-Devikulam.

There's also mountain climbing, paragliding and rock climbing
Call District Tourism Promotion Council-Track Finder-91-0486231516

For those who prefer wheels, hire an auto, yes, they will charge, but you can bargain. Hop in and they’ll revv you around to nearby spots. There’s Devikulam (7 km from Munnar) with a Sita Devi Lake, a natural picnic spot. Pothamedu (6km from Munnar) which offers tea and cardamom plantation views. Or there’s Attukal (9km from Munnar) with its waterfalls. They’re all in the vicinity of Munnar and worth seeing in an auto because it’s open on both sides, the plastic flapping away the drizzly rain, the cold chill wind that seeps in edgeways….it’s not the same thing in the plush comfort of a car, believe me. The auto ride was worth every penny and those who returned exhausted trying to spot the animals in the parks said they should have just done this auto sightseeing rather than following their itinerary - See Munnar Sightseeing

Or take a jeep safari to the highest tea plantations in the world - Kollukumalai. Costs Rs.1500.

Or just sit tight and enjoy the view from the comforts of the hotel room. This is from Tea Castle, Chithirapuram, Munnar:

Overview of Munnar

Munnar is a hill station in Idukki district. There’s Munnar, the town and Munnar, the hill station. Enter Munnar wafted by the scent of cardamom and soothed by the neat tea plantations...

Entering Munnar - First View of Tea Plantation

And then get into the busy market part of Munnar town. Drive further and upwards on....

The real Munnar is the old town, called Chithirapuram. Here are the wide roads, the old style cottages and the best views of Munnar the hill station.

Munnar - Chitihirapuram Sunrise View

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