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You
are in the lap of nature,
Embrace her benevolence,
go trekking, climb rocks,
paraglide, snare a rainbow
trout, cycle along the
pathways that wind through
the estates, try our
nine hole golf-course,
and if you are not in
the mood for physical
exertion just simply
put all your worldly
cares aside. Here time
stands still. Through
the day, birds fill
the air with twitters
and songs to calm the
world weary soul. The
hills around you are
venerable and give birth
to gurgling streams
that meander through
the verdant landscape.
Step out, you will discover
that a walk isn't what
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thought
it would be. Your senses
have come alive, you
have discovered a new
meaning to existence
and it is with anticipation
that you will turn the
next curve, climb the
next slope, step around
the next tree. |
Geography and
climate
The region in and around
Munnar varies in height
from 1,600 meters (5,249
ft) to 1,800 meters
(5,906 ft) above mean
sea level. Munnar enjoys
a salubrious climate.
The weather ranges between
0 °C (32 °F)
and +10 °C (50 °F)
in winter and +15 °C
(59 °F) and +25
°C (77 °F) in
summer. The tourist
season is from August
to May. However, even
the monsoons are lovely
with many streams and
rivulets in the area.
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Flora
and Fauna
Most native flora and
fauna of Munnar has disappeared
due to severe habitat
fragmentation by plantations.
However, most of the species
survive in several protected
areas nearby, including
the new Kurinjimala Sanctuary
to the east, Chinnar Wildlife
Sanctuary and Manjampatti
Valley in Amaravati reserve
forest of Indira Gandhi
Wildlife Sanctuary to
the north east, Eravikulam
National Park and Anamudi
Shola National Park to
the north, Pampadum Shola
National Park to the south
and the proposed Palani
Hills National Park to
the east. These protected
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are
especially known for several
threatened and endemic
species including Nilgiri
Thar, Grizzled Giant Squirrel,
Nilgiri Wood-pigeon, Elephant,
Gaur, Sambar, and Neelakurinji.
The neelakurinji, a blue
flower which blooms only
every twelve years, is
found in this region.
It bloomed last in December
2006. Munnar also has
the highest peak in South
India, Anamudi, at 2695m |
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Animals
Most of the Southern Indian
wild animals can be found
in this forest. These
include te grizzled giant
squirrel, champal squirrel,
elephant, sambar deer,
gaur etc.
Birds
Jungle fowl, myna, laughing
thrush, black bulbul,
peafowl etc. |
Trekking
Routes
| Palapety |
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Champakad |
| Karimuty |
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Inchapetty |
| Karimuty |
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Alampetty |
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Recreation
: Among the picturesque
green turfs of Munnar,
several 9 hole golf courses
are available. Besides,
facilities for games of
tennis, squash and billiards
are also available. On
request, recreational
equipment can be arranged
on rentals.
Apart from activities
like golf, tennis, squash
etc, this vast tract of
land offer some of the
finest trekking trails.
You are treated to some
of the most visually enthralling
sights of wild-life and
nature. It is of immense
delight for photographers
with its unceasing array
of subjects. |
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would do you good to carry
a camera and binocular for
an unforgettable experience.
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The
Tahr Look-Out :
Even as the unceasing
green vistas of Munnar
landscapes picture-perfect,
the Tahr look-out will
not fail to take your
breath away. It is a vantage
point to view the unmatched
beauty of the land with
all its magnitude and
myriad hues. |
Rain
bow Trout angling :
The thrills of Trout fishing
can be had at Munnar,
which is the only Trout
fishing vicinity in India
apart from Kashmir and
the Nilgiris. Regular
stocking is undertaken
at these pristine streams.
Smoked Trout is considered
a delicacy. Moreover wild-life
sightings are quite common
in these areas. |
Gravel Banks :
Gravel Banks must be seen
to be believed. It is a
secluded haven for the ardent
nature lover for its pristine
beauty of nature. |
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Tea
Gardens: Munnar’s
top attraction is its
scenic tea gardens and
is top priority on any
travel itinerary in this
area. There are around
30 tea estates, all are
privately owned, but most
estate managers will allow
visitors to wander around
the estate for free. Tea
factories at the estates
offer a great opportunity
to witness the entire
process by which tea changes
from being a fresh, hand
picked leaf to the fragrant
product that makes it
to breakfast tables across
the world. Some tea factories
also offer tea on sale
for visitors. |
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| Tea
Processing |
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the bungalows are on working
tea estates, guests will
see first hand how the world's
finest tea is made. How
tea is harvested by hand
in the fields and processed
in the nearby factories
in a traditional manufacturing
process unchanged for a
century |
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Paragliding:
Quenching the yearn to
soar in the skies. Paragliding
is the sport that can
take you up to the skies
and allow you to soar
with the eagles. Over
the last fifteen years,
paragliding has become
the world's most popular
and easiest to learn method
of "sharing the air"
with our feathered friends.
To soar with the eagles
has been one of mankind's
oldest and most exciting
dreams. Eastend offers
you just that to make
that dream come true.
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Tent
Camping: Eastend
offers opportunities to
camp out in the wilds
of Munnar. Enjoy a wide
selection of spacious,
level sites with picnic
tables, water spouts and
fire pits. snuggle up
around a crackling campfire
and enjoy a cup of hot
drink Your cozy tent will
be waiting for you when
the fire is out. Experience
the freedom to fall asleep
to the sounds of crickets.
Wake up too the welcoming
of the day by the chirpings
of exotic birds. Purist
campers wouldn't have
it any other way. But
Eastend makes tent camping
even better, because Eastend
amenities are right down
the path. Enjoy hot showers,
a campground store full
of handy supplies, a roster
of fun activities , and
maybe fun neighbors to
share them with. |
Trekking: Trekking
in Munnar will turn out
to be an unforgettable
experience as it not only
let you to experience
the unexplored trails
made by nature, but also
bring the visitor directly
in touch with the country
and its people and helps
you to appreciate the
mountain environment.
Eastend will guide you
to some of the most awesome
trekking opportunities
anywhere. All across,
there are a series of
breathtaking trekking
trails, ranging from even-kiddies-can-manage
to the hardcore professional.
Head out for adventure
into the gorgeously beautiful
Munnar mountains trails
and make tracks through
stunning landscapes.
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Rappelling: Munnar
has wonderful Rock Climbing
and Rappelling opportunities
with steep rock faces
of 100ft and more. Enthusiasts
can enjoy the special
thrills of rappelling
through the meandering
mists hugging the cliff
faces. Eastend's expert
professionals will provide
you with the proper apparels
and tools and will guide
you through the process
all the way.
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Rainbow Trout fishing:
Fly fishing for trout is
a very popular sport which
can be done using any of
the various methods and
any of the general types
of fly. Munnar is one among
very few places in India
that offers the thrills
of Trout fishing. The Gravel
banks with pristine streams
is paradise for anglers
out for trout fishing. Smoked
trout is considered to a
delicacy. |
Tea Museum: Munnar
is perhaps the choicest
of places to preserve
and showcase some of the
exquisite and interesting
aspects on the genesis
and growth of tea plantations
in Kerala's high ranges.
The Tea Museum which houses
curious, photographs and
machineries, each depicting
a turning point that contributed
to a flourishing tea industry,
as seen today in the region.
The museum set up at the
Nallathanni Estate of
Tata Tea in Munnar is
a fitting tribute to the
toils and rigors of its
pioneers, who showed utmost
determination and were
resolute in their efforts
to transform Munnar into
a major plantation centre
of Kerala. Visitors to
the museum can satiate
their curiosity on various
stages of tea processing,
and also learn a thing
or two about the production
of black tea. Some of
the attention grabbing
items on display at the
museum include the original
tea roller, the 'Rotorvane,'
dating back to 1905, used
for CTC type tea processing;
the 'Pelton Wheel' used
in the power generation
plant that existed in
the Kanniamallay estate
in the 1920s; a rail engine
wheel of the Kundale Valley
Light Railway that shuttled
men and material between
Munnar and Top Station
during the first half
of the last century.
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Step
out to a panoramic serenity
that will take your breath away
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