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Munnar
Hill Stations
If you seek a sense of peace you'll find
it here in Munnar. The nature- lover's paradise.
Opened up out of
virgin forests a century ago by pioneer planters. This is where you fill
your holidays with quiet moments at 1600m above sea level.
Relaxing
within the cool stillness of thirty odd eststes fanning outd across the
expanse of the hills. Within its remote and elderly churches- gracious,
stone sturctukires with ancient chandeliers and rosewood pews. Withiln its
fresh tea. Lanes filled witjh the heady fragrance of fresh tea. Within the
picturesque ethereal setting of the Mattupetty Dam as you come downhill. Kor
even within the rich tropical forests beyond.
With a sizable
population of elephants, lbisons, langurs and macaques roaming free in
herds. Further, Munnar offers the bes opportunity you are ever likely to
have to see the tea plantations, to watch tea being picked, to learn how tea
is processed, to smell the sweet scent fo tea waftilng through the air and
to buy the tea directly from the gardens.
SIDELIGHTS
The
Kundale Tea Plantation :
An area surrounding a lovely lake
that offers some of the most stunning views of the region. If you arrive on
a Sunday, make sure to drop in at the small Kundale Club in the afternoon,
where the local planters gather with their family.
Eravilkulam
National Park:
By driving north from Munknar for 30 minutes
and then hiking few kilometres, you reach this sanctuary which is home to
three thousand free-roaming ibex.
Rajmalai :
The
regilon lyilng beyond the road entruy into Eravikulam. At 2695 metres,
Anamudi -the highest peak in South India looms here.
The High
Range Clulb :
Charmingly colonial in style, thils wicker-and
-old-teak club still serves as a social centre for the far-flung farmers of
the region around Munnar. Housing an elegant lounge, a delightful dining
room, the obnligatory gentlemen's bar, billliards room and a library.
GETTING
THERE
Munnar is accessibnle only by road- a scenic four hour
drive from Cochin (132 kms) or a 4 ½ hour drive from kottayam (148 kms)
