All about Holiday Heaven


In Munnar there are wondrous places you can visit during your stay at Holiday Heaven

Pallivasal

Pallivasal, a small hilly village is about 8 km away from Munnar town. There are several scenic spots on the slopes of Pallivasal. The hills here are ideal for short treks. Pallivasal is also home to the first hydro-electric project in the State. The 37.50-MW power station is situated in a scenic landscape which travellers can visit with the permission of station authorities. Pallivasal in Munnar is really amazing destination with various attractions. The nature lovers will sure like this place very much as it is quite unique with so many rolling hills and lots of tea gardens. Pallivasal is a small village with lot to offer to its tourists. This place is the perfect pick for day excursions, picnics, hiking and the camping.

Eravikulam National Park

The most sought-after destination in Munnar is the Eravikulam National Park, the first of its kind in Kerala, where the endangered Nilgiri Thar (Hemitragas hylocres) - an endangered species of mountain goats, is protected. Spread over 97 sq. km., this park holds the largest viable population of Tahr, several other species of rare animals,lion-tailed macaque, leopards,tigers and the rare splendor flora and fauna. birds and butterflies. The park offers a magnificent view of the tea plantations and also of the rolling hills embraced by layers of mist. The park becomes a hot destination when the hill slopes get covered in a carpet of blue, resulting from the flowering of Neelakurinji. It is a plant common to this part of the Western Ghats which blooms once in twelve years.Eravikulam National Park is 13 km from Munnar.

Mattupetti Dam

Mattupetty is located 13 km away from Munnar. Here you can enjoy the greenish valleys and feel the fabulous climate around. The main attraction of Mattupetty is the dam and the lake here.Nestled inside the hills of Munnar and very near to the Anamudi peak lays Mattupetty, the hill station at a height of 1,700 m.The Mattupetty dam is a storage concrete gravity dam. The dam was constructed under the Pallivasal Hydro-electric project in the late 1940s, for the purpose of water conservation and power generation. Now the dam is a vital source of electricity generation in Munnar and also a haven for many wild animals and birds due to its constant water availability.The most attractive part of Mattupetty dam is its still water which reflects the tea garden around. You can engage yourself with water sport activities like speed boating and enjoy the pretty natural surroundings of this beautiful dam. Adventure lovers also have options here like trekking in the Shola forest.In the midst of the hills, surrounded by the tea gardens, Shola forest and hilly woods lays a beautiful lake, just a few miles away from the Mattupetty dam. The serene ambience of the lake will take you to a world of peace. You have endless options – either you can go for boating in the lake or you can sit on the shore enjoying the tranquility here. Tourists can go for a speed boat, pedal boat, motor boat or row boat.Mattupetty is also known as ‘cattle village’, the name which came from the famous Indo Swiss farm project or Livestock project. You can see hundreds of varieties of high yielding cattle in this farm. The sight of the cattle grazing freely on the hills of the wide farm is a unique experience which any tourist can have ever in his life.The farm is around three kilometer away from the Mattupetty Dam and is dedicated to cattle development and research centre set up by the Government of Switzerland.

Echo Point

A 15 km travel from Munnar will take you to Echo Point where you will have to pass to get to The Top Station. It is called such because of the natural phenomenon of hearing echoes while you are there. Echo Point is a must-see destination for all travelling to visit the Top Station. This scenic place gets its name from the natural echo phenomenon here. Echo Point, situated on the way to Top Station from Munnar is a stopover for tourists visiting Top Station - the highest point in Munnar.The brilliance of clustered tea plantations, spice and coffee gardens gave it an immense popularity amongst trekkers and tourists. In a wholly serene and refreshing environment, strollers and trekkers can move along the smooth slopes and selfie moments of serenity and bountiful natural beauty. It is a popular adventure tourism destination; trekking and nature walks are popular activities in this scenic destination with beautiful views of the green hills.It is also famous for the rare Neelakurinji (Strobilanthus) blooms here. Boating Options are also available here.Its green grasslands and adventure sports make it a hot favorite amongst tourists.

Top Station

Top Station is a tourist destination in the Kannan Devan hills of Munnar. It is part of Theni District in the state of Tamil Nadu .This area is popular for the rare Neelakurinji flowers. The Kurinjimala Sanctuary is nearby. Top Station is the western entrance to the planned Palani Hills National Park. Top Station, located around 32 km away from Munnar, is the highest point (1700m) in Munnar, on the Munnar-Kodaikkanal road. The place falls on the Kerala-Tamil Nadu border. Here you can enjoy the panoramic view of Western Ghats and the valley of Theni district of Tamil Nadu. Top Station got its name from the fact that it was the uppermost railway station located in the Kundala Valley. At this highest point, you may feel that the clouds are just a hand touch away from you. The destination is famous for the Neelakurinji flowers (Strobilanthus), which used to bloom once in twelve years. The bloom of these rare flowers will give the destination a different bluish look. Walk a short but steep walk to the spectacular viewing area at Top Station. The rewards all come at this summit, where the air is crisp and the views complete and dramatic. The uneven peaks of the Western Ghats, the rolling plains and immaculately laid-out tea plantations are all around.

Kundala Lake

Kundala is a picturesque place, about 20 km from Munnar on the way to Top Station. It is at a height of 1700 meters above sea level. It is located at a distance of 20 kilometer from Munnar. In Kundala, cherry blossoms appear twice in a year. The famous Neela Kurunji flowers which bloom once in twelve years bloom in the hills and valleys around Kundala Lake. There is an artificial dam in Kundala which is another major attraction here. It is Asia’s first Arch dam. The boating experience at this dam is a wonderful experience beyond words. Boating facilities namely pedal boats, Kashmiri shikkara boats and row boats are available on rent to make your trip more enjoyable. A Golf Course is also located here which belongs to Kundala lake, Munnar Tata Tea Ltd. Aruvikkad Waterfall is also situated nearby Kundala. The Sethuparvathi dam built in 1946 as a part of Pallivasal hydroelectric project is a sight to behold. Munnar is the nearest town to Lake Kundala and is well connected by road transport, mainly buses and taxis. The nearest railway station is either Ernakulam or Kottayam. You can get hired vehicles such as private cabs and taxis from the railway station to reach Lake Kundala. Kundala is an idyllic place in Munnar located on the way to Top Station or Top Slip. Surrounded by rolling hills and valleys of dense forests, Kundala is known for the Kundala Arch Dam or Sethuparvati Dam and Kundala Lake. Tourists often go to the top of Kundala Dam to have a panoramic view of the catchment area of the Dam. Tourists visiting Kundala Lake often go for a ride in Kashmiri – Shikara boats. Pedal boats are also available at Kundala Lake. Experience rowing a boat in the middle of this beautiful lake while taking in the magnificence of the surrounding forest.

Kolukkumalai Tea Estate

Located high on the slopes of Meeshapulimala, Kolukkumalai ,35 km away from Munnar is perhaps the estate with the highest grown tea in the world! Started in the early 1900s the estate produces tea using the conventional method in the time-tested tea factory. Little has changed here since the colonial planters left leaving behind their legacy of one of the best quality tea you can get in South India. The factory at the center of the estate has stood for several generations, having been built more than 70 years ago At 8,000 feet, the world's highest tea estate draws visitors for both its products and its panoramic views. For those hoping to visit an authentic tea estate to see tea processed in the orthodox method there is no better place to go than the Kolukkumalai Tea Factory. The tea grown on these slopes are special as the quality of tea improves with altitude and the orthodox process of manufacture helps retain all it's flavor! The tea produced at the factory is much sort after for its distinctive flavor and aroma. Kolukkumalai gets a fair number of day visitors to enjoy the spectacular sunrise over the Palani hills, the cool climate and obviously, visit to the factory where tea is still made using the orthodox method. What most day visitors miss is the opportunity to walk the hills above the estate and maybe a trek up Meeshapulimalai, an imposing peak at an elevation of 2640meters (8661 feet) above sea level! On clear nights, you can see Kodaikanal from the estate because of its height. The rejuvenating fresh air is a blessing in this place. Go on a guided tour through the factory. Tea lovers will be pleased to sip different varieties of tea from the tea tasting center here. . Orthodox tea-making is a seven-step process that includes withering, rolling, sieving, fermenting, drying, fiber extraction, and grading. All of this work happens in the small factory that has not been changed since the British constructed it in the 1930s.Those wanting to take home the flavour, can buy fresh packets from the outlet attached to the factory.

Pothamadu

Pothamedu - a small village inhabited - 6 km far from Munnar is where you can find intriguing plantations of tea, coffee and cardamom. Strolling along the plantation and enjoying the natural scent of the crops will be invigorating.Pothamedu is one of the major plantation hubs of Munnar. It has wide overlooking site from top view of the place. Even the 60 km view of Idukki Arch Dam from the Pothamedu can still be perfectly viewed. Pothamedu View Point is one of the magnificent view points, which gives an excellent panoramic view of the tea, coffee and cardamom plantations in the valley. The rolling hills, the lush mountain and the breathtaking scenery here is ideal for trekking and long mountain walks. The cool air and the splendorous mounts filled with tea plantations will take your breath away. Pothamedu added as the must-view spots in Munnar. The panoramic view of greenish tea, coffee and cardamom plantation and the cloud kissing mountain is exciting one. Manicured tea gardens, lush coffee plantations and wood-shaded cardamom estates, with stretches of 'potha grass' (from which the name is derived) covered hills all combine to make this place unforgettable. Also seen are the popular Pallivasal Tea Factory and a hydroelectric power plant. The area offers an excellent opportunity to connect personally with nature. Trekking, sight-seeing and nature walks along the mountains are popular activities amongst tourists at Pothamedu View Point.

Attukal waterfalls

Attukal Waterfalls, 9 km away from Munnar is an idyllic spot surrounded by verdant rolling hills. This is a favourite location for trekkers. Attukal Waterfalls gathers its real beauty soon after the monsoon months of June, July and August.Attukal Waterfalls is a famous spot frequented by both tourists as well as natives.Prior to the dense forests of Munnar, on the way to Pallivasal, lays the cascading Attukal Waterfalls. The cascading fall of the waterfalls can be seen from far off. As you get closer to the falls you can see the pearly white water streaming and flowing down, twisting, turning and shooting past, over and under massive smooth, glistening boulders as it makes it journey downstream.You can approach the Attukal waterfalls through a narrow wooden bridge. Ice cold, the water gushes around in a steady rhythm with mist rising and at times the entire region around the waterfall becomes foggy and glowing. The walk up to the waterfalls is a treat in itself. Towering hills wrapped in green and blooming with seasonal flowers fill the horizon as far as you can stretch your gaze. If the water level is low you can walk up to the rocks and splash around in the water. Serene and romantic, Attukal waterfalls are also an excellent site for a spot of trekking.Be sure to take a picture of this one of kind scenery.

Marayoor

is a little further from Munnar but it is well worth the trip to see an intricate piece of history with relics and murals coming from the stone age within the caves Marayur or Marayoor is a town is located 42 kilometers north of Munnar connecting Munnar with Udumalpet, Tamil Nadu. Marayur is the only place in Kerala that has natural sandalwood forests. Ancient dolmens and rock paintings in Marayur date back to the Stone Age. Marayur has more than 1000 species of flowering plants and is a well-known repository of medicinal plants. Chinnar - the wildlife sanctuary in Marayur - has recorded the largest number of reptilian species, including the mugger crocodile, in Kerala. With 225 recorded species of birds, it is one of the richest areas of south India in avian diversity.The phenomenon of butterfly migration occurs in between the monsoons. Marayoor as a pristine, heavenly and unexplored tourist spot is comparable to Munnar which is one of the most sought after hill stations in India in every respect. The place is especially an excellent trekking spot for adventure seekers. Marayoor houses the ‘muniyaras’ or the stone coffins with underground tunnels, which date back to the Neolithic period. A children's park formed under the canopy of a single Banyan tree spreads across a hectare of land and is a wonderful sight. Then there is the Thoovanam Waterfalls where one can spend endless hours romancing with nature.Ezhuthupara, located inside the Marayoor Forest Range is a prehistoric site where cave paintings can be seen. Such cave paintings have not yet been discovered in any other part of the state and the site has been declared as a protected monument by the State Archaeological Department. The paintings here are of two types – those drawn with reddish brown soil having iron minerals in different colours and those drawn with white clay soil.If you are lucky enough to reach Marayoor in the sugarcane harvest season, you can watch how the sarkara balls are made.Another interesting sight in Marayoor would be a scenic river called Pambar which flows between the villages of Marayoor and Kanthalloor.