Sightseeing in Munnar

Take a sightseeing tour around Munnar as the places to see are a varied and interesting lot.

The old Christ Church in the town centre is small, cosy and charming with wonderful stained glass panels. It was consecrated in 1910 and the original wooden pews are now a rich grainy brown. In 1981 the medium of instruction changed from English to the vernacular. Sunday service now is in Tamil and Malayalam. Mount Carmel is the oldest Roman Catholic Church in the region. First set up in 1898, the present church dates back to 1938.

The tea gardens are the last bastion of the Raj. Several still preserve customs like ‘chhota hazari’-an early morning cuppa’ hot chocolate before a round of work. Most managers would be happy to let you take a stroll among the bushes.

Dr. Salim Ali, the famous ornithologist, established the Thattekad Bird Sanctuary in 1983. It has a resident population of Malabar grey hornbills, woodpeckers, and rare species like the rose-billed roller, and the Sri Lankan frogmouth. Visit early in the mornings, as the day comes alive so do the birdsongs. The colder months from October to March are the best time to be at the park.

The highest peak of the ranges is Anamudi (2695 meters). It can be sighted from many places in Munnar. This is protected forest area and off bounds for everyone except those involved in serious research.

At a height of 1700 meters, Mattupetty Lake (13 km) and dam is surrounded by tall hills and forest. You can hire a boat, and walk down to the nearby dairy and cattle farm.

Top Station (41 km, 2200 meters) has some of the highest tea plantations in India. At the edge of the Kerala-Tamil Nadu border, you can look over across at the hills ebbing into plains in the other state. Come here for breathtaking views of rolling hills awash with greenery, and crisp air.

Eravikulam Park (16 km) is where you can find the endangered Nilgiri Tahr (ibex). Docile and friendly, it is hard to imagine that this is a rare animal when you see the numbers in this area.

The Elephant Lake is great for trout fishing so anglers must take the bait and visit!