Places to Visit in Munnar
 

Imagine camping on top of a hill and watching the sun rise amidst the mountains. Leave the leisure of sightseeing and shopping, ever cared to explore the treasured viewpoints on top of hills? Gasp with the joy of perspiration and let out all your stress and pain with a wonderful hike through some of the well sought after trails. Be it with family or friends, it is bliss to conquer the heights of nature together and watch the breathtaking treasured viewpoints. Munnar is known for its adventurous trekking trails. Your trekking gears will have the time of their lives with the grassy and rocky landscape of the hills. With a cozy climate, acres of lush tea plantations, greenish grasslands, pristine streams, majestic rivers and gigantic hills, Munnar is the one of the best places to trek. Being a congregation of different topographies, there are several hills with different specialties to choose for your hike. Here are a set of six  well sought after trekking trails of Munnar.

TREKKING IN MUNNAR

Chokramudi peak
Chokramudi trek is the most prestigious trek of Munnar. The legendary mountain is a challenge you can take .The trail is divided into four parts. You can choose the difficulty level according to your comfort. Starting with the Shola walk, the grass stroll, steep climb and dangerous terrain, all four trails offer breath taking viewpoints at the top. It is advised to take some local support as some of these trails may be confusing. With numerous valleys and aromatic cardamom plantations, you can let out the inner child in you. The Chokramudi peak is a hidden treasure of Munnar. Carry snacks, lunch and water as the trail is long and tiring. The best time to visit is from December to February when the climate is moderate and the heat would be tolerable.

Letchmi hills
Located at a distance of about 3 kilometers from Munnar, Letchmi hills is a famous trek in Munnar. The challenging trail is about 23 kilometers. On the top is an enchanting view where you can get a glimpse of Pallivasal and Anachal . The trek which starts at a height of 145 meters above the sea level starts with a refreshing walk through the lush tea plantations. There are a set of four peaks in Letchmi hills. The slopes get grassy after the initial bit and the trek gets adventurous with each step. The highest point of the hill is at about 1950 meters above the sea level. With scenic grasslands and slopes, the view of acres of tea gardens with patches of the Shola Forests would steal your hearts! When the mist clears, you may see the Anamudi, the highest peak in South India from a distance. You can spot flocks of exotic birds floating through the long stretches of cardamom and coffee plantations.

Meeshapulimala
Meeshapulimala is known by its name as the peak resembles the face of a tiger. The trekking trail which became a major sought after trail after the film Charlie is a congregation of a number of elegant tea estates, sparkling steams and a bunches of blooming Rhododendrons. At a height of about 8,661 feet from the sea level, the whole trek passes through eight different hills. Walking through this 8 kilometer trek is a refreshing experience with a number of grasslands. Being a moderate trek, the experience is accessible to all age groups. If you are a hill person, you can complete the trek without much hindrance.

Top station
With a panoramic view of the Western Ghats, the beaming Kurangini hills in Theni and the majestic Kolukkumalai hills, Top station is indeed a trek worth trying that would give you a visual feast for the eyes. With smoky clouds, green mountains and valleys, the view would steal the heart of any viewer. There are two paths from Kurangini to get here. The first path is normal path which is stone laid, the next path, through a coffee plantation is beautiful. While the first path is pretty easy, the second path has a difficulty level of easy to moderate. After about 1.5 kilometers from the middle stretch, the trek can become a bit challenging. There is a total distance of 9 kilometers from Kurangini.

Thoovanam waterfalls trek
The best way to see the essence of Chinnar is to have a trek through the Thoovanam waterfalls. The 4 kilometer trek starts at Alampetty check post and you can walk along the Chinnar River to Thoovanam waterfalls. Make sure to do the trek between 8 AM to 2 PM. Falling from a height of 84 feet, the silver gushing stream steals the heart of all travellers. The trek from Alampetty check post would be an experience with sighting elephants, giant grizzled squirrels, languars etc. You can also watch thousands of butterflies fluttering around you. Originating from the Pambar River, the beauty of the falls would take away all your tiredness.

Anamudi peak
Being the highest peak of South India, the Anamudi peak is located at a height of 2,695 meters from the sea level. You can reach the peak after a stroll through the Eravikulam Nation al park. You get a view of the peak from Udumalpet road or Marayoor. The word Anamudi means elephant hair. It is believed that the first person to reach here found traces of animal hair here and thereby the peak got its name. Being one of the top most peaks in South India, it is possible to get a glance of the peak on the way from Munnar to Udumalpett. As a huge biodiversity spot, a number of endangered species like Asian elephants, Nilgiri Tahrs, lion tailed macaque; gaurs etc. have their habitat here. With beautiful forests, rivers and streams, the Anamudi is an enchanting climb. You can enjoy the splashing sounds of the Vigai, Thamirabarani and Periyar rivers as you proceed with the trek. There are a number of plant species like Blackwood, teak, Gaultheria fragrantissima, Arundinaria densifolia etc. If it is the Neelakurinji season, you will get a dreamy sight of colorful flowers. Being known as the Himalayas of South India, it attracts photographers and travellers from all parts of the world. With a number of trekking trails, majestic rivers, gigantic mountains and cycling trails, Munnar is indeed an adventure lover’s paradise. So what are you waiting for? Pack your bags and enjoy the best treks of your life at Munnar!