Category Archives: Kerala
Adventure Trip at Kolukkumalai Hill, Munnar
Kolukkumalai hill in Munnar is that place where you can see the famous Kolukkumalai Tea Plantations which boasts of the famous Kolukkumalai Tea. The tea produced at Kolukkumalai tea factory is known for its unique taste and high quality. Located at about 7,900 ft above sea level, the Kolukkumalai tea plantations are considered to be the highest tea plantations in the world and is located around 30 kms from Munnar Town. The route from Munnar to Kolukkumalai hill is really an amazing experience as you will be riding through the narrow width road that leads to Suryanelli and then to Kolukkumalai.
If you are willing to have an adventure experience while on your trip to Munnar, then there will be no better place than the Kolukkumalai tea plantations. The Kolukkumalai hill offers a splendid scenic beauty along with an amazing adventure experience. Only heavy offroad vehicles can get through the rough road inside the Kolukkumalai tea estate and only drivers with enough expertise can drive through the hills. The natural beauty, the wild off road paths, the Echo point, the tea factory all makes your trip to Kolukkumalai hills more interesting.
If you are not pretty confident about your driving, then you can hire Jeeps just before arriving at the Kolukkumalai hills which may cost around INR 1500. But the amount is worth as you will be able to enjoy an amazing offroad adventure experience through the hills of Kolukkumalai. Initially the road leading to the peak may look smooth, and as you drive deeper, you can see the changing face of the road as it becomes too rough and rocky. You might even wonder how a jeep will ride to the top of the hills, but the experienced jeep drivers will take you there.
During the course of your offroad adventure ride at Kolukkumalai, you might even think of jumping out of the Jeep due to the wild nature of the road. The jeep will climb the road shaking all over the way and jumping from one rock to another. It is better recommended not to take the ride if you are not physically fit as you might get more exhausted and might also lead to vomiting.
After taking the off road jeep drive for about 15 kms, you will reach the top of the Kolukkumalai hill and there you can see the display board of Kolukkumalai tea plantations. Now you have reached the top of the world’s highest organic tea garden and will be able to get an amazing view of the natural beauty. At the top of the hill, you can get down from your jeep and take a small walk as the path now is plain and almost smooth. A few minute’s walk will take you to the Echo point which is one of the highest place at Kolukkumalai hills.
Here you can take some rest, capture some images on your camera, have a small snack (if you have brought along with you) and enjoy the amazing beauty of the surroundings. If you look beneath the top point of the hill, you can see and get an idea of how high you have rode on your jeep and how spectacular your off road adventure was. If you have viewed and enjoyed enough of the natural beauty, then you can take your ride back to the bottom of the hills.
Again you will be able to enjoy an amazing offroad jeep adventure ride on your way back and this is an experience you will never forget in your whole life. Kolukkumalai hills is a travel destination in Munnar which is yet to be touched by a vast number of travelers and still remains largely untouched, due to which the hills and its surrounding maintains and preserves its beauty and resources.
So if you are an adventure freak and at the same time a nature lover, then it is highly recommended to visit the Kolukkumalai hills and take the adventure ride on the jeep to the top of the hill. There are a lot of travel agents and tour operators which might help you in making a trip to Kolukkumalai hills and exploring the beauty of the hill to the fullest.
The Amazing Travel Experience at Mattupetty Dam, Munnar
Whenever you visit Munnar, you will always hear about different travel locations and attractions which make you confused on which place to visit. But there are some places in Munnar that always comes into mind when you think of Munnar hill station and one such travel attraction in Munnar is the Mattupetty Dam. The Mattupetty Dam is one of the must to visit travel spot in Munnar and is an ideal place to spend some time with your friends and family.
The Mattupetty Dam is almost 15 kms away from Munnar town and its main objective is to conserve water for hydroelectricity and is a major power yielding source in Kerala. Along with that the Mattupetty Dam and its surroundings are blessed with an amazing level of natural beauty and calmness which attracts a large number of tourists. Visitors do tend to visit Mattupetty Dam and also the Mattupetty Diary Farm which lies close to each other.
Apart from its scenic beauty, Mattupetty Dam is also popular as an idean destination for small scale adventure activity such as boating. Taking a boat ride along the water bodies of Mattupetty Dam offers an amazing experience and one will be able to get a wider view of the Dam and its surroundings in a better way. People from different locations who arrives at this dam, makes sure to take a boat riding trip to get a unique travel experience.
Obviously the boating trip does not come free of cost and there is a small amount of money associated with it. The price for boating usually comes around at INR 75 per head and the boating trip almost last for 10 – 20 minutes. The facility for boat ride at the Mattupetty Dam is organized by District Tourism Promotion Council (DTPC) Idukki and the array of boats includes row boats, pedal boats as well as speed boats. There will be highly trained boating professionals along with you while you enjoy your boating trip, so that you will not feel scary of taking the ride alone.
The boat ride at Mattupetty Dam helps you to enjoy the amazing natural beauty of the Dam in a better way and it is a perfect thing for those interested in photography. Photographers will be able to capture amazing snaps of the dam and its surrounding areas, so that they can save it for cherishing it in the future. On the way to the dam, you can see large lines of small scale shops which sells small scale items such as hats, glasses, fruits etc which are seen only in this place.
If you are visiting the dam in your own vehicle, you need to park the vehicle atleast 500 meters away from the Dam and have to walk to the Dam. During the peak tourism season, the dam can be seen filled with tourists and during the off season, there will be hardly and tourists at the dam. The best time to visit the Dam is when there is no rain and it comes usually between September to March.
So, next time if you are planning your trip to Munnar, then it is highly recommended you visit the Mattupetty Dam and you will never regret visiting this dam either alone or with your friends and family. Make sure that you visit the place at the right place when there is no rain and there is plenty of water in the Dam.
5 Amazing Things to Make Your Munnar Trip a Memorable One
Munnar is one of the most exotic hill stations in South India and due to its amazing beauty and cool climate; it is often referred to as the Kashmir of the South. Munnar is considered as a perfect summer holiday destination in South India and plays a vital role in the development of tourism industry in Kerala. Travelers from different parts of the world, visit Munnar during the peak tourism season, to take a much needed break from their busy urban life. The amazing flora and fauna, cool climate mind blowing natural beauty of Munnar makes it a popular travel destination in Kerala.
With its varied geographical features, Munnar has a lot in store for the travelers and you will need to take long holiday to cover all the major travel attractions in Munnar. Be it the green misty hills covered with tea plantations, the natural waterfalls, the flowers, wildlife or any kind of natural beauty, Munnar is a place that you cannot ignore that easily. Since it is very difficult to cover all the major attractions of Munnar within a short time frame, there are some high priority attractions and activities that you can do in Munnar to make your trip a memorable one. Here are some of the most importance travel activities that you should do while visiting this amazing hill station in South India.
1) Watching the Amazing Green Tea Plantations
The never ending chain of mountains covered with green tea plantations are one of the first thing that comes to mind when we think about Munnar. The Munnar hill station is known for its green blanket of tea plantations that make this hill station in Kerala more beautiful. You will never get bored of these green tea plantations that spreads across various hills in Munnar and they are a real treat to the eyes.
2) A Trip to Eravikulam National Park, Rajamalai
A Trip to Eravikulam National Park in Rajamala is something that you cannot miss out on your visit to Munnar. Rajamalai is home to the rare and endangered species of Nilgiri Tahr and majority of the Nilgiri Tahr in the world are found at the Eravikulam National Park. This National Park in Rajamalai is around 15 kms away from Munnar town and is one of the must to visit travel attraction in Munnar. There are time restrictions and entry fee for entering the Eravikulam National Park and this is mainly due to the reason that the Nilgiri Tahr is on the verge of extinction and visitors are prohibited inside the park during the time of breeding.
3) Boat Ride at Mattupetty Dam
Located at a distance of 13 kilometers from Munnar, the Mattupetty Dam is one of the major attraction for those visiting Munnar. The calm and serene nature of the Dam makes it a perfect place to enjoy with your friends and family. Boating is one of the major activities that can be done at the dam and this is take care by the Kerala tourism department. You need to pay a fee for taking a boat ride, but once you are into it, you will not regret paying the fee. Such is the experience that you inherit from your boat ride at Mattupetty Dam that you will always cherish for the time to come. Boating at Mattupetty will also help you to enjoy and explore the beauty of the Dam in the best possible way.
4) Offroad Jeep Adventure at Kolukkumalai Hills
The Kolukkumalai hills are famous for the Kolukkumalai tea which is produced in the tea factory present at this place. The Kolukkumalai hills offers a perfect place for offroad adventure ride and you can hire jeeps from the nearby places which will take you to the top of the Kolukkumalai hills. The road leading to the top of the hill is very much wild and rough in nature and you will really feel frightened and at the same time get astonished by the skills of the drivers. The terrain road which is filled with huge stones and humps are really very difficult to get through, but in the end you will always cherish those moments which might have left you on your toes.
5) Spices Shopping at Munnar Town
Munnar is home to some of the most rare and valuable spices which are not seen in other parts of Kerala. In Munnar you will be able to get spices that are fresh and of high quality. The final part of your Munnar tour will always be a shopping session at the markets which are present in Munnar town. The markets in Munnar town provides a perfect place for those interested in shopping special spices such as tea, cardamom, elaichi, pepper, homemade chocolates etc. So if you have completed your sightseeing trip in Munnar, then take some time to explore the vibrant markets of Munnar where you can buy some of the best spices.
Travel to the Jewish Synagogue in Kochi, Kerala
Kochi is one of the upcoming city and a popular travel destination in South India, due to the presence of a good number of travel destinations and tourist spots. The Jewish Synagogue in Kochi which has become a unique signature in the tourism map of India is another major attraction in Kochi city. The Synagogue was established in 1568 AD and is one of the major travel attraction in Kochi. The Synagogue is situated in Mattancherry in Kochi and is one of the oldest buildings in this place. A large number of Jews had arrive in Kochi for business purposes centuries ago and the then Kochi King donated a piece of land for constructing the present Synagogue. The Jewish Synagogue is Kochi is considered as the most important of its kind in India.
The Jewish Synagogue in Kochi was partially damaged during the Portugese attack in 1662 but was repaired later. The Synagogue has become a major hot travel tour spot in Kochi and people from different parts of the world arrive Kochi to visit this ancient Synagogue. The hanging lamp, the tiles with amazing art works etc bring a sense of enthusiasm among the visitors. All the tiles seem to look same, but the fact is that they are having different art works on each of them. Another major attraction of the Synagogue is the 45 feet high clock tower which was built in 1760. The time on the clock is denoted in Hebrew, Latin, Malayalam and Arabic language.
Kochi – The Queen of Arabian Sea
Kochi (Cochin) is a beautiful city in Kerala, located in the south of India and is also the commercial capital of Kerala. Kochi is an exotic travel destination in Kerala and this is mainly due to its vibrant character and other natural beauty. Kochi is an upcoming city in India and is also considered as the commercial capital of India, as a lot of companies and industries are trying to hold a firm foot in India. As per a survey conducted by the Nielsen Company on behalf of the Outlook Traveller magazine, Kochi has been ranked as the sixth best tourist destination in India.
Munnar – The Kashmir of South India
Munnar is one of the most amazing and beautiful hill station in Kerala and is often referred to as the “Kashmir of South India”. This marvelous hill station experiences a cool climate throughout the year and is one of the most preferred travel destinations in India. It is often seen as the best honeymoon and family vacation spot in South India. This beautiful hill station is covered by the green blankets of tea plantations which is the hall mark of this hill station’s beauty. Munnar is where the people love to spend their time during the hot summer in India, as the climate in Munnar is cool throughout the year.
Munnar is around 1450 feet above the sea level and hence the cool climate and we can see the fog racing towards us during the evenings. Munnar is situated in the Idukki district of Kerala and has some of the best panoramic scenes in store for the travelers. Munnar also has a rich and amazing flora and fauna which makes it more attractive. Neelakurinji flowers which blossom once in every 12 years are another major attraction in Munnar and the number of travelers to Munnar increases during the period of blossoming.
Munnar also has a rich wildlife wealth and has some of the rare wildlife species available and Chinnar Wildlife Sanctuary, Indira Gandhi Wildlife Sanctuary and the Eravikulam National parks are some of the most prominent wildlife reserves in the area. The Eravikulam national park is home to Neelgiri Thars which is one of the most endangered wildlife species.
You can see a lot of Tea factories in and around Munnar and you can also visit these factories to watch the processing of tea leaves. There are also some amazing waterfalls which provides you an excellent travel experience. There are also spots suitable for trekking, para gliding and other adventure activities which make Munnar more precious to the travelers.
The best time to visit Munnar is during October to May as you would feel more comfortable during these periods. Do not visit Munnar during the monsoon season, which ranges from June to September, as you would not be able to enjoy the beauty of Munnar due to the frequent rains.
A lot of hotels and resorts are available in Munnar and you can select them as per your financial stability. Munnar is well connected to the other major cities by Road. The nearest Railway station and Airport are around more than 100 Kms away in Aluva and Nedumbaserry respectively.
Kerala, the God’s Own Country!!
Kerala, popularly known as “God’s Own Country” is one of the most amazing and beautiful travel destination in south India. The greenish beauty and the unique geographical features makes Kerala a must to visit travel destination in India. Even though Kerala is a small state, it has different types of typography that suits different types of travelers and this is the main reason behind the tourism success in Kerala.
Kerala is mainly divided into 14 districts and all these districts have one or another hot tourist spots and hence if you want to explore the whole of Kerala, then you need to plan atleast a 10 days visit to Kerala. Where ever you go in Kerala, you can see some sort of natural beauty or tourist attractions.
Backwaters of Kerala are the most prominent tourist attraction and Kerala is the only state in India which boasts of such a beautiful resource of backwaters. After visiting the backwaters you can have a great time at the famous beaches in Kerala such as Kovalam, Cherai etc. If you are tired exploring the backwaters and beaches, then you can chill yourself by visiting the exotic hill stations in Kerala such as Munnar, Thekkady, Ponmudi, Wayanad etc.
There are also many historical forts, monuments, Churches, Temples and Mosques which speaks about the rich heritage and culture of Kerala. You can also have an Ayurvedic rejuvenation at the major and reputed Ayurvedic centers in Kerala, known for its amazing healing powers. Above all these things, the cuisine of Kerala is one factor that should not be missed while touring Kerala.
Trivandrum is the capital city of Kerala and is home to some of the ancient temples and palaces that are worth visiting. On the other hand, Cochin is the financial hub of Kerala and there are a lot of things to see in Cochin such as the backwaters, beaches, the unique Chinese Fishing nets, Palaces, Jewish Synagogues etc.
You can easily avail accommodation at any of the budget hotels or resorts in Kerala and Kerala is well connected to other major cities by air, rail and road.
