Hill stations are popular in lndia & a place to be sought during the hotter months of lndia. Munnar sits 1600 m above sea level & offers cool respite from the 40 degree heat of Cochin. lt is also a popular honeymoon destination in Kerala & there are many packages. It's a huge contrast in every way from the lowlands. The scenery is lush & hilly and it is less crowded & congested. Definitely a more relaxed environment that can be gradually felt as the bus crawls for 3 hrs, up & around dangerously hairy bends, overlooking spectacular scenery, to the town of Munnar.
Once there it was easy to find accomodation with stunning views of the valley, cost about $25 pn. And for the first time l was searching for a jumper as the night temp drops down to a chilly 15 degrees. I palled up with a Swiss girl who just adored being up in the cooler altitudes again. Me, being an Australian, is happier at sea level.
We hired a tuk tuk driver for the day who well looked after us around the well worn path. The tea plantations were really picturesque, rolling over hill after hill like a giant padded green eiderdown. There is nothing sweeter than sipping on a cup of tea, overlooking the plantation from whence it was grown.
We decided to trek down through the village & had a lovely time being greeted by the local tea-pickers who spoke no English but smiled & shook our hands or waved from a distance.
l had believed what l had been told at a plantation in Malaysia, that Sri Lanka was the only place left in the world that hand-picks tea, which was clearly & completely untrue. Life as a tea-picker is difficult & they earn about $3 a day. Snake bites are a regular problem which can cause severe illness for months without pay.
We caught an elephant back up the hill. It was one fabulous experience after the other. We tuk tuked around the massive Kundala dam which provides great boating & Kasahmiri style house-boats. We visited Echo-point, we ate fabulous morsels from road-side cafes with the best chai tea in the world.
Kerala is well known for its spices & l believe the best food in lndia. And up in Munnar, the cuisine was distinct to the area, perfect for the chilly climate.
The markets were very different from the lowlands as well. Food, produce & crafts unique to the area are sold in a more casual easy-going holiday environment. Obviously with holiday prices but still extremely reasonable & far more special than from many other markets anywhere.
An excellent museum about the history of Munnar, the tea plantations & the terrible destruction of the wildlife over the centuries, is really fascinating & well worth the time.
All round, Munnar is a really lovely break from the heat & hecticness of coastal Kerala. It felt like a little holiday from the intensity of an Indian holiday.
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