Hey dear explorers! Welcome to an exciting virtual tour on things to do in Munnar. Yes, we are going to cover all the best things you can do in this amazing destination to make the most of your trip.
Munnar is the kingdom of greenery, tea plantations, gushing streams by the hill sides and incredible, breathtaking beauty. If you are seeking to have a peaceful and rejuvenating time, then Munnar is just the place for you. This amazing destination is home to a lot of tourist attractions, all of which are wonderful in their own way.
When it comes to how you can spend your time here, there are plenty of things you can do in Munnar. Our virtual guide will help you in making a list of all the exciting things you can do in this heavenly spot.
So what are we waiting for? Let’s quickly get started with our guide on best things to do in Munnar.
Make sure that you read till the end. We bet you won’t regret it!
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Table of Contents
Best Things To Do In Munnar
1. Stay In A Tree House
Locally known as Erumadam, tree houses in Munnar are an eco-friendly accommodation that are made up of materials like hay, bamboo, coir and straw. If you are planning to visit Munnar in summers, then you can go for a tree house stay at Dream Catcher Plantation Resort. It’s 19 km away from Munnar and is located amidst tea and spice plantations. It has 4 luxurious tree houses that are built at a height of 20-60 ft. Staying here is an absolutely magical experience. Another thing that you must know about this place is that eating, smoking and consuming alcohol is absolutely restricted here. Also, accomodation here is only for couples with children above 10 years.
Location: 19 km away from Munnar
Timing: 9 am onwards
Entry Fee: ₹13,000 for twin sharing for two nights. Includes breakfast.
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2. Camping And Trekking
If you are an adventure fanatic, then Munnar is an amazing place for you. There are plenty of adventure sports you can indulge in during your trip to this amazing place. One of the most popular things to do in Munnar is trekking till the high elevations like Echo Point and Top Station. Echo point is located 15 km from Munnar and is an amazing destination where voice resonance occurs naturally. Top Station is the highest point in Munnar and offers a breathtaking view of the town, surrounded by hills and valleys. Another thing that we would like you to know is that trekking 32 km upto Top Station can be very exhausting and requires a lot of stamina. While going for trekking, make sure that you carry with yourself your trekking gears and comfortable walking shoes.
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If you want to go camping then that’s also an exciting thing to do here. You can go for camping tours to Shola National Park.
Location: 15 km from Munnar
Timing: 7 am to 6 pm
Entry Fee: Free
3. Go On A Tea Estate Tour
Munnar is famous for its plantations. Your visit to this place is incomplete if you don’t explore its tea plantations. You can go to the Kolukkumalai Tea Estate which is one of the highest tea plantations in the world. Situated at an elevation of 7900 ft, this is the place where you can experience the refreshing aroma of tea. The zig zag road along Kolukkumalai hills leads to this spot and coming through this road is an experience worth cherishing in itself. This plantation is a key tourist attraction in Munnar and is famous for its flavoured tea leaves. A century old tea factory is also located here. You can visit this factory to have an exciting experience and understand the traditional methods of tea production.
Location: Munnar
Timing: Open on all days except Sunday
Entry Fee: ₹75
4. Explore Wildlife
If you are a wildlife lover, then you just cannot miss exploring the thick and dark forests, national parks and sanctuaries of Munnar. If you get lucky you might even spot some endangered and nearly extinct animals and birds. Some of the most visited and most popular wildlife areas of this twin in Kerala are Eravikulam National Park, Chinnar Wildlife Sanctuary and Salim Ali Bird Sanctuary. Let’s know about each of them one by one:
– Eravikulam National Park: It’s located in the Kannan Devan hills of Munnar and is famous for endangered Nilgiri Tahr. It’s spread across an area of 97 sq km and is divided into core area, buffer area and tourism area.
– Chinnar Wildlife Sanctuary: It’s located 60 km away from the town and has elephants, deer and leopards. If you are lucky, you might even spot the almost extinct grizzled giant squirrel.
– Salim Ali Bird Sanctuary: Also known as Thekkady Bird Sanctuary, it’s located 73 km away from Munnar. It has plenty of local and migratory birds including crimson-fronted barbet, crested serpent eagle, fairy bluebird, peninsular bay owl etc.
Location: Munnar
Timing: All of them are open from 7 am to 6 pm
Entry Fee: ₹90 for Eravikulam National Park. For Chinnar Wildlife Sanctuary and Salim Ali Bird Sanctuary, the charges are ₹10 for Indians and ₹100 for foreigners.
5. Mountain Biking
If you are a cycling enthusiast, then Munnar is not going to disappoint you! The estate town of Kerala has spots like Suryaneli, Anamudi Shola, Kundala, Marayoor and Vanadanmedu, all of which are suitable for mountain biking. It’s one of the most adventurous activities to do and it’s an absolute fun to ride along the hairpin bends and rolling roads, enjoying the majestic view.
Many hotels and resorts here that arrange biking trips for their tourists. You also have the option to rent a cycle from cycle rental services in Munnar.
Location: Munnar
Timing: NA
Entry Fee: ₹300 cycle rent for a day
6. Rock Climbing
Another exciting activity for adventure enthusiasts in this place is rock climbing. The hilly landscapes of Munnar make it an exciting destination for adventure lovers. Rock climbing is an exciting activity to do in Munnar and professional guidance is also available. Furthermore, National Adventure Foundation organizes rock climbing and other exciting activities tourists can do here.
Location: Munnar
Timing: You can do rock climbing from 7 am to 7 pm. This activity typically takes 2 hours.
Entry Fee: ₹600 per person
7. Enjoy A Shikara Ride Or Boating
Enjoying a shikara ride is an absolutely surreal experience. When you are on your way to the top station, you will come across Kundala lake and dam. Kundala dam is an artificial dam and India’s first arch dam. There’s a lot of beauty and serenity here but if you get lucky, you might also get to see the rare Neelakurinji flowers which blossom once in 12 years! Amazing isn’t it? If you want to boat in Kundala lake, then you have the options of pedal boating, row boating and taking a Shikara Ride. Enjoying a shikara ride is one of the best things to do in Munnar.
Location: Munnar
Timing: NA
Entry Fee: ₹10 per person for the lake
Boating charges are ₹350 for 15-20 minutes
8. Indulge In Water Sports
To add more excitement to your trip, you can indulge in water sports to make the most of your trip. Mattupetty Dam and Lake are just perfect for indulging in water sports. They are located near Anamudi peak and are surrounded by tea plantations, hills and spice gardens. The dam area is perfect for picnicking and has a perfect path for trekking as well. There are boating facilities as well, so you can choose from speedboats and motorboats.
Location: Near Anamudi Peak, Munnar
Timing: NA
Entry Fee: ₹10 per person for Mattupetty Dam. Boating charges are ₹500 for 15 minutes in a speed boat that is shared by 1 to 5 people.
9. Take An Elephant Safari
While on your trip to this green paradise, you can also take an Elephant Safari which is a very fun activity to do for kids and adults alike. You can have this experience at the Carmelagiri National Park. Located on Mattupetty road, this national park is one of the most popular tourist attractions here. Here you can go on short elephant rides of about 10-15 minutes.
Location: Munnar
Timing: 9 am to 5 pm
Entry Fee: ₹1,150 which includes ride, clicking pictures and gifting a fruit hamper to the elephant
10. Take An Ayurvedic Spa
Kerala is very popular for its Ayurvedic therapies including relaxing spa and wellness massages. This Place has various resorts and spa centers that offer Ayurvedic wellness treatments and rejuvenating body massages. Getting a spa and massage here can relax your mind and body in an amazing way. There are a variety of massages to choose from like Balinese massage, Classical Deep Tissue Massage or the authentic shirodhara.
Some of the most popular spa resorts and wellness centres in this place include Antara AyurSpa in Misty Mountain Resort, Spandini Spa in Ragamaya, The Bliss Mountain Spa in Spice Tree, Cure Monastery Spa, Tattavam Spa in The Panoramic Gateway, Mayura Ayurvedic Centre and the Grandspa Ayurvedic Wellness and Research Centre to name a few.
Location: Munnar
Timing: NA
Entry Fee: The cost varies depending on where you are going and what type of spa you are opting for. Typically, the cost for 60-90 minutes of ayurvedic massages and spa treatments ranges between ₹1800 to ₹2500 approximately.
11. Street Shopping
For all the shopaholics out there, we have exciting news! This town is an amazing place for shopping as well. During your trip to this incredible place, you can go shopping for your favorite tea and coffee variants, spices and aromatic and natural oils. The local, aromatic essential oils like eucalyptus, lemon grass, citriodora are highly recommended as they are good for relaxing the body and help in relieving the joint pains. For all the tea and coffee lovers, this place has an amazing variety ranging from long leaf black tea, elaichi flavoured green tea, cardamom flavour, freshly ground coffee etc. To buy the best quality tea, you can go to the Tata Tea Museum and Kolukkumalai Tea Estate.
Location: Munnar
Timing: 9 am onwards
Entry Fee: Free
12. Explore The History Of Tea
Paying a visit to the realm of tea without getting familiar with the history of tea doesn’t sound right, isn’t it? To get acquainted with the history of tea, you can go to the Tata Tea Museum. It’s one of the most significant sightseeing spots in this place. Here you can see some of the most interesting exhibits like the traditional tea roller, which is known as the ‘Rotorvane’ and is used for processing of CTC tea. Then there is the power generating ‘Pelton Wheel’ and ‘Kundale Valley Light Railway Engine’. Furthermore, you can also see old typewriters, wooden bathtub, iron oven, magneto phone, manual calculators etc. The most amazing experience here is plucking tea leaves and tasting a huge variety of tea.
Location: Munnar
Timing: Open on all days except Monday from 9am to 4 pm
Entry Fee: ₹75 for adults and ₹35 for kids. For camera, additional charges have to be paid of ₹20.
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13. Try The Kerala Cuisine
When you are in Munnar, don’t forget to try the delicious Kerala Cuisine! The authentic local cuisine here can wonderfully satisfy your taste buds. There are a plethora of places where you can enjoy the delectable cuisine. Some of the most popular places include Bamboo Hut, Mezban Hotel, Mayabazar to name a few.
Exploring Keralite cuisine is one of the most exciting things you can do here.
Location: Munnar
Timing: 9 am and onwards
Entry Fee: No Entry Fee
14. Enjoy Kathakali
Watching a kathakali dance is one of the most amazing things to do in this green paradise. This is one of those things that can give you the authentic experience of Kerala. You can experience the true essence of South India by watching the Kathakali Dance Performance. To witness this dance performance in its finest form, you can go to Punarjani Traditional Village which is a performing art theater in Munnar.
Location: 2nd Mile Kochi – Madurai – Dhanushkodi Road Pallivasal, Munnar, Kerala
Timing: Open 24/7
Entry Fee: No entry fee
Also Read: Reasons Why You Should Visit Kerala This Year
15. Hiking
Munnar has Anamudi Peak, which is no less than a paradise for those who love hiking. It’s a stunning hill that should be explored on foot. Hiking here gives you an opportunity to enjoy the breathtaking display of Nature and serene brooklets. The peak is filled with rich flora and fauna and here you can breathe in the fresh air and enjoy being connected to nature in the most amazing way. If you are going in winters, then this is the best thing to do here.
Location: Around 8.7 km away from Munnar
Timings: 24/7
Entry Fee: No Entry Fee
Parting Words
So are you ready with your checklist of all the things you are going to do in the Kashmir of South India? We hope you enjoyed reading our guide and found it helpful. There is no dearth of exciting activities to do in this beautiful place. If you want to spend some moments of serenity and also engage in some interesting activities then do pay a visit to Munnar. This place has something for everyone and never fails to leave people amazed with its unique attractions. No wonder why it’s one of the most sought after destinations in our country.
Have you ever been to Munnar? If yes, then how was your experience and what all activities did you do on your trip? We would love to hear about your experiences in the comments section!
Must Read: Places to Visit in Munnar
FAQs
Yes, motorbikes are readily available in Munnar. You can choose whichever suits you the best as per your budget. Munnar has a lot of bike rentals. You can rent bikes on hourly, daily, weekly or even monthly basis. The prices for renting bikes start from INR 360 per day and go up to INR 2000 per day.
The best time to visit Munnar is during the winter months of October to February. The low temperature makes the weather appropriate to indulge in outdoor activities. The summer season is also a great choice to visit Munnar as it’s all about charming evenings and mesmerizing views of blooming flowers.
Munnar doesn’t have its own railhead. The nearest ones are located in Aluva, Ernakulam and Madurai at a distance of 110, 130 and 135 km respectively. Furthermore, this place does not have its own airport. If you wish to reach Munnar by air, then the nearest airport is Cochi airport. It’s 110 km away from Munnar. From Cochi, you can take a cab or board the Kerala road transport buses directly to Munnar.
Munnar is located in the Idukki district of the southwestern Indian state of Kerala.
Munnar is popular for its tea plantations. Here you can find a huge variety of flavors like green tea, black tea, and aromatic blends. Apart from this, Munnar also has authentic spices, homemade chocolates, coffee, pure aromatic oils etc.
3-4 days are sufficient to explore Munnar. However, this duration may vary depending on personal preferences.
Munnar is best for hiking, its tea plantations, wildlife, safari, day trips, dams, waterfalls and a lot more.
Which between Ooty and Munnar is better depends on personal preferences. Ooty is a picture perfect destination with mesmerising hills, tea gardens, lakes, shooting places and lots of activities to do. Munnar on the other hand is famous for tea farms, rolling carpets, hills, chocolates, tea and aromatic oils. Both the destinations are beautiful in their own way.
Munnar is famous for its tea plantations, hills, lush greenery and serene hills. It’s a very popular destination for its natural beauty and romantic environment.
Munnar is famous for chocolates because it’s one of the world’s major suppliers of premium cocoa beans. It is becoming the leading producer of handmade chocolate because of the abundance of cocoa beans. White chocolate, dark chocolate, and nut-filled chocolate are some of the most popular options you can find in this place.
People like Munnar a lot because of its scenic beauty, lush greenery, hills, variety of tea, chocolates and the romantic, calm environment that this place has. This is one of the most sought after destinations by tourists.
