Munnar Hill Station in Kerala,India

Munnar Hill Station in Kerala,India
Sushil Ojha, retired SBI Manager from Dehradun travels to Munnar Hill Station in Kerala during his, more than a month, long trip starting from 18 09.2007 to 25.10.2007 to the India’s southern most state of Kerala, the God’s Own Country

14.10.2007 ( Sunday ) travel by bus to Munnar from Thekkady / Periyar lake

4.00 am :Got up early in the morning . It was raining. Peeped outside and saw well lit road but silent, unlike not so silent roads in Kotayyam. Still raining upto 5 am and now the electricity light gone. Used candle light to quell the darkness in the room, but within 5 minutes power light came (perhaps no power for TV). Heard a few vehicular movements on the road. Switched off fan to enjoy warmth in the cool weather with blankets on me.

6.00 am : The road in front of this newly constructed excellent home stay in Kumily, is on Thekkady / Periyar lake bye pass and is busy with traffic. Now I am waiting for my bed tea in the room. Sharp at 6.05 am, the hot red tea without milk and sugar was served by the host Mr Sabu.

7.45 am : Talked with Mr Sabu about Kumili. He said it is a hill station at a height of about 3500 ft and its 20 degree temperature in summers, attracts nearby Tamil Nadu people who have to face the 45 degree hot & sultry weather. He says that I should not miss Munnar hill station at still higher height of about 6000 ft. And from Munnar, I should catch last pvt. bus at about 5 pm to reach Ernakulam by 9 pm. So that I get full clear day on 15th Oct,(Monday) to visit Thrissur/Guruvayur also in one day before leaving for my further scheduled visit to Nashik on 16th Oct and then on 23th Oct from Nashik back to New Delhi..Dehradun.

8.30 am : Breakfast ( Idiappam with Chana Masala curry ) and hot tea brought by Sabu, in a casserole and a saucer with cover lid. Had a very tasty Keralite dish.

9.00 am : Paid cash Rs300 to Sabu and thanked him for excellent home stay along with complementary tea, dinner, breakfast. Sabu also told about his friend followed by his phone to Mr Sathis C B who is having similar arrangement of home stay in Munnar. Walked up to bus station. Took seat in a pvt bus No.KL 6C 369 with good seats etc

9.45 am : Bus left punctually for Munnar ( fare Rs68). Talked with some co – passengers, one of which was a Swedish young couple visiting Kerala,Goa, Mumbai etc and another from Munnar itself going to his home town. All front seats were kept reserved for ladies.

10.00 am : Saw enroute one Spices Paradise and Herbal garden, red coloured flowering trees name could not be known to me. I saw for the first time, Cardamom (Ilaichi) plantations. While Swedish lady was awake, her young husband was asleep.

10.15 am : Saw one cardamom grading centre. Entered Vandanamettu bus station and then by 11.45 am, Nedumkandam, comparatively a big town. Here I was told this town was a midway place before reaching Munnar. For the first time for,me a very unusual mobile tea vendor on his bicycle, was seen here. I took tea for Rs3 from him.

12.15 am : At Udumbanchola, here I saw ICRI (Indian Cardamom Research Institute). The bus was running on NH 49, a well maintained road with not much traffic. Only few local dwellers were seen now and then otherwise only Cardamom plantations on both sides of the road. Presence of flags of some Political parties were seen, most of these were of CPI(M), some were of Congress and at least one of BJP at Santhanpura. Just like, tea / coffee boards in the country for their development / marketing, here was seen by me, one Spices Board on the lines of tea/coffee boards.

1.00 pm : Now at Poopava, which is just 30 Km before reaching Munnar. Many tea Estates here seen in open high rise valley (like paddy fields at Gaucher in Distt Chamoli ( Uttarakhand ). Bus stayed here for more than 5 minutes for tea break. Surprisingly I saw green guavas (red inside) being sold here for Re1 each.

After 10 minutes, bus started for further heights to Munnar. Again many Cardamom plantations on both sides of road. Here I saw close view of cardamom seed shooting up from the bases of the plants.

Now very big open high valley. Here, tea gardens are spread every where in a most magnificent design. We could see below the road, a big Seethdevi lake and a big Chinnar dam.

1.50 pm : It was misty here at Pothemedu view point, where on a thin rocky road, was a deep forest valley (gorge ) and the other side was the rocky hill.

2.00 pm : Now the weather was foggy but the tea gardens again seen every where in an open high rise valley. These tea gardens were looking like thick green carpets in the valley above valley.

2.15 pm ; Reached Devikulam, where Govt offices and some upcoming high rise buildings were seen. Saw again, the tea gardens – rivulets – water falls.

2.30 pm : Finally reached Munnar. Surprisingly, an autorikshawala was waiting for my arrival ( I think arranged by Mr Sathis,the owner of Home Stay here). The riksha driver drove me to the Westend Cottage (Home Stay)
Situated not on main road and not newly constructed but spacious and comfortable. In this home stay, I saw gas geyser for the first time which gives instant running hot water any time you open the tap.
Paid Rs10 for rikshaw and occupied room for rental Rs200 without any complementary unlike that offered by his friend Mr Sabu at Kumily.

3.00 pm : So, walked out for meals in one South Indian restaurant, where I was served excellent food & services for Rs25 only. After taking meals, walked and saw all around and also sat in an internet café for one hour.

6.00 pm : Came back to room. No Airtel connectivity here, only that of BSNL, Vodafone services were available then.

6.30 pm : Walked again around Munnar to know and see more. Met and talked with SBI Branch Manager Mr Hari who apprised me in detail about Munnar Hill Station. Got some picture cards of Medupetty lake, Tront lagoon Kundala, Hydel park, road map of Munnar and nearby places. Also went inside the Munnar Inn ( rental Rs1200 onwards )

7.30 pm : Sathis, the owner of Westend Cottage Home Stay, also briefed me about fauna and flora of Munnar, nearby places, their historical accounts

Munnar (moonu means three, ar means rivers), is a wide open valley at a height of about 1600 mtrs, from where three rivers emanate, namely Kundaley, Nallathany,Mutrapuzha.

Tea Valley conducted tour for Rs 250 each daily 10 am to 6 pm, covers Mattapetty, Kundala dam, Rajmala, echo point, top stn,Pothameda view pt.

Sandal valley conducted tour covers Naimakad view pt,Lakkam view pt, coffee plantations, sandal wood forests, Pious Nagar village view, Chinnar wild life sanctuary.

8 to 9 pm : Read various publications on Munnar and Kerala tourism.

10.00 pm : Now going to bed after eating some fresh fruits. The weather is quite cold here even in side the room. I used both the blankets to keep my body cosy & warm in night.

15.10.2007 ( Monday ) travel by bus from Munnar to Aluva / Guruvayur

5.30 am : Got up early in morning but no body was awake except those who had to catch first bus at 5.30 am from here to their respective places

6.00 am : Walked out side and saw the beautiful scenery spread all over. However, some demolitions of buildings were seen which, later I learnt that these encroachments were demolished earlier but now it is slowed down or stopped for political reasons.

6.30 am : Got a cup of tea from the cottage owner and experienced the gas geyser installed there costing Rs3500 at Munnar.

7.00 am : Walked up to the bus station. Pvt. bus to Aluva ( departure 8.10 am) was to be changed at Kothamangala, so I decided to take KSRTC bus to Aluva (departure 8.40 am)

8.40 am : The bus left most punctually from Munnar to Aluva (fare Rs60 )
9.40 am : Reached Adimali. It was on NH 49 now that the banana, pine apple plantations as also the oranges garden, eucalyptus forests, thin bamboo shoots as a thick forests on the sides of the road. Saw a water fall where many tourists were enjoying their bath. Reached a place where a river crossed our road and there was a big Jawahar Navodaya Vidyalaya.

10.40 am : Before Kothamangala at 11.10 am and then Perumbvor at 12, now our bus was running in planes when we reached Aluva at 12.40 pm




Munnar Hill station

Munnar (Malayalam: മൂന്നാര്‍) is a town located in the Idduki district of India's Kerala state, situated in the south Western Ghats of India.
The name Munnar usually refers to the whole tourist area of the Idukki District of which the town forms only a small part.
The name Munnar is believed to be derived from the Malayalam/Tamil words Munu (three) and aaru (river), referring to the town's strategic location at the confluence of the Muthirappuzha, Nallathanni and Kundaly rivers.
The Munnar panchayat in the Devikulam block is the largest panchayat in the Idduki district having an area measuring nearly 557 km².

Essentially a pass; the area around Munnar is surrounded by vast jungles and remains wet and cold during most of the year. The entire area of Munnar officially belongs to the government of Kerala; though the Poonjar royal family (its pre-independence owners) have made claims to the contrary.
Sprawling tea plantations, picture book towns, winding lanes, trekking and holiday facilities make Munnar a unique experience for the tourist and traveller. Munnar is essentially a tea town. There is a large population of people from Tamil Nadu.

Recorded History of the old Munnar-Aluva Pathway

[Old Aluva – Munnar Road]. The Reconstruction of the road was started in 1891s and was completed in the following decade. In fact the road has a much older tale to tell. The road that the local people showed the British was the remnants of a glorious past, Bits and pieces of an ancient Royal Path that connected the historic port city of Musiris (Now Kodungallur) with the city of old Madurai. The road covered the Western Ghat-–home to invaluable natural resources. The known history of trade through this route traces back to the times before the Old Testament.

The presence megaliths and so many other historical monuments point towards a civilisation over 3000 years old. The ancient Pathway(road) was constructed in the Chera Era (300 BCE to 250 CE). The road, which transported valuables including sandalwood and spices from the misty heights to Musiris, was once the backbone of an economy. As trade in these items increased, Feneshiya/Arab/Roman/Chinese traders were attracted to India, and more specifically Kerala.

The road is a rather unique one. First, it runs almost parallel to the rivers Periyar and Pooyamkutty. Second,It has no steep slopes and maintains almost a constant slop of 1:10. Third, it goes through The Western Ghats, one of the world's ten ecological hotspots. This place is famous for the "Neelakurinji" flower .
Nobody has as yet traced the ancient road in entirety. The reason being, the change in topography of the land over centuries. The Great Flood in 1354 almost wiped out the city of Musiris, destroyed the port and, as if in a quid pro quo, formed the natural contours enabling Cochin Harbour. The course of the rivers was also changed considerably, making it difficult to apprehend how the road, described as following the ancient river course, actually would have been.

However there is enough evidence to show that the road existed and a civilisation prospered by the side of it. The remnants of old Forts, Nannangadis, and Muniyaras (dolmens) around the region show the same.
Geography and climate

The region in and around Munnar varies in height from 2,000 meters (6,562 ft) to 2,600 meters (8,530 ft) above mean sea level. Munnar enjoys a salubrious climate. The temperature ranges between 10 °C (50 °F) and 0 °C (32 °F) in winter and 8 °C (46.4 °F) and 16 °C (60.8 °F) in summer. The tourist season in Munnar is from August to May. However, even the monsoons are lovely with many streams and rivulets in the area and post drizzle the dew drenched tea gardens looking majestic and heavenly enshrouded in light mist .

Economy

Most residents of Munnar are employed in the tea industry, or are involved in the tourism business. In 2000, the Government of Kerala declared Munnar as a tourist spot. This has helped in attracting more tourists to this beautiful hill resort. Several protected wildlife areas and the regions attractive climate area attract many tourists who support the many hotels, restaurants and transport businesses in Munnar and constitute an important, if seasonal, mainstay for its economy.


Munnar tea gardens.


Eucalyptus trees were introduced by the British


Munnar Tea plantations and hills


Munnar Top Station


Mattupetty Dam reservoir, near Munnar

Until the early 1990s, Munnar, despite its enchanting natural beauty and salubrious climate, continued to remain a sleepy plantation town. Its tourism potential was realised only by the Sterling Group and Mahindra Holidays. However, the promotion of Kerala globally as God's Own Country and the rapidly increasing spending capacity of middle class Indians has resulted in a virtual explosion of tourism activities in Munnar. Resorts, big and small,have started springing up all around the town and overnight the once sleepy town has became a bustling tourist destination. Many of the developments done by unscrupulous investors have had a significant detrimental impact on the environment in Munnar and the once romantic beauty of the "sleepy town of Munnar" has significantly eroded over the years. Moreover the huge throng of domestic and foreign tourists in their buses and cars have added to pollution in Munnar and stretched the town's infrastructure and service delivery systems to their limits.

Earlier most of the land around Munnar was leased out to planters and the only activity permitted on such leased land was plantation of cardamom. Ownership continued to remain with the Government and even cutting of trees on such leased land was prohibited. However, the recent development of resorts has resulted in large scale deforestation and violation of government regulations governing land use, forests and plantation cultivation. It ultimately came to a pass in 2007, and the Government sprung into action to demolish illegal resort constructions to restore the beauty of the town.

Irrespective of all this, tourism has flourished over the years in Munnar and important tourist activities include boating (in the reservoirs of the many dams), trekking, parasailing, hot air ballooning and camping and wild life safaris in the jungles and sanctuary. The presence of all these activities and more has ultimately led to Munnar becoming a choice destination for foreign as well as domestic tourists. One can also see people from nearby districts in Kerala and Tamil Nadu thronging the town during weekends.