Kerala · Western Ghats
Munnar
Munnar's rolling tea plantations were first planted by British planters in the late 1800s, and the region remains one of India's major tea-producing belts. Its cool climate at around 1,600m made it a natural extension of the colonial hill-station circuit.
Munnar is also home to the rare Neelakurinji flower, which blankets the surrounding hillsides in a distinctive purple-blue — but only once every 12 years, making any visit during a bloom year especially memorable.
How to reach Munnar
Places to visit
Eravikulam National Park
Home to the endangered Nilgiri Tahr, with rolling grasslands above 2,000m.
Mattupetty Dam
A scenic reservoir popular for boating, surrounded by tea gardens and eucalyptus forest.
Top Station
A high viewpoint on the Tamil Nadu border, once used to transport tea to the plains by ropeway.
Tea Museum
A working tea estate museum explaining the history of Munnar's tea industry, with tastings.
Attukad Waterfalls
A set of waterfalls amid tea estates, a short walk from the road.