Munnar Hill Station: Photos, Location & Top Hill Stations in Kerala ​

Hardly any other hill station in South India evokes such a quick response as Munnar Hill Station, and for valid reasons too. Every year, Munnar Hill Station attracts many tourists from across the world, and that is not for its vast tea gardens alone but the effortless blend of scenic beauty, comfort and serene environment. Whether you are planning to know the best Munnar Hill Station photos to help you plan your tour itinerary or simply trying to know more about the Hill Station of Munnar​, this guide is just for you.

Where Is Munnar Hill Station Located?

Munnar Hill Station location can be found in the Idukki district of Kerala in the Western Ghats mountains at an elevation of around one thousand six hundred meters above sea level. The hill station is located at the convergence of three streams, Mudrapuzha, Nallathanni and Kundala. This is also said to be the origin of the name Munnar, which means “three rivers” in Malayalam. The distance between Munnar Hill Station and Kochi is around four hours, making Munnar easily reachable for tourists travelling to Kerala through flights.

Since Munnar Hill Station is located in the Western Ghats range, the region has borders with wildlife sanctuaries and dense forests.

Why Is Munnar Famous as a Hill Station?

Munnar Hill Stations Kerala enjoys its fame among the top hill stations of the state due to many reasons, the most important ones being as follows:

• Large expanses of tea plantations that cover the entire hill ranges with some of the most recognisable South Indian hill station sights.
• Cool and pleasant weather during the majority of years, which forms quite a contrast to the hot temperatures of coastal towns in Kerala.
• Presence of colonial architecture of tea plantations that defines the character of this hill station.
• Close access to trekking spots, wildlife sightings and viewpoints.

Travellers will get ample options to explore Munnar, as it is one of the most famous Hill Stations in Kerala. 

Best Places to Visit in Munnar Hill Station

Let’s help you in knowing about the Best Places to visit in Munnar Hill Station, some of the best places are given below for your choice to visit: 

1. Eravikulam National Park

Eravikulam is the centrepiece of Munnar’s natural heritage. The 97 square kilometre park rises across the western face of the Western Ghats, from rolling grasslands at the bottom to high altitude shola forests at the top.

What makes it special:

• Over 700 Nilgiri tahr live here, the largest surviving population anywhere in the world.
• Anamudi, standing at 2,695 metres, is the highest peak in South India and lies within the park boundary.
• The Neelakurinji bloom, occurring once every twelve years, is at its most spectacular here, with the next bloom expected in 2030.

The Rajamala section is the visitor zone, where a paved path climbs gently through the lower slopes. Tahr is almost always visible from the trail, often just a few metres from visitors during the early hours.

2. Anamudi Peak

At 2,695 metres, Anamudi is the highest peak in South India and the tallest mountain south of the Himalayas. Its name translates to elephant’s forehead in Malayalam, referring to the rounded dome that shapes the summit.

Quick facts:

• It sits at the junction of the Cardamom Hills, Anamalai Hills, and Palani Hills.
• Falls within the southern stretch of Eravikulam National Park.
• Summit hikes require prior permission from Kerala Forest Department.
• Access is tightly controlled to protect ongoing tahr and elephant conservation programmes.

Most visitors end up photographing Anamudi from the Eravikulam viewpoints rather than attempting the trek. Anamudi ‘ s lower slopes are also visible from the Rajamala trail.

3. Mattupetty Dam and Shola Forests

Mattupetty Dam was built in 1953 as part of the Pallivasal hydroelectric project, one of the earliest major hydro schemes in independent India. The reservoir behind it has become one of Munnar’s signature landscapes, an emerald lake set among tea hills and shola forest, framed by quiet roads ideal for slow drives and walks.

What to do there:

• Pedal boats and motor launches operate from the lakeside.
• The Indo Swiss Project, a Kerala Livestock Development Board farm established in 1963, is open to visitors.
• Short walking paths wind through dense shola forests around the lake.

Distance from Munnar: 13 km on the Top Station road.

4. Top Station and Kundala Lake

Top Station sits at 1,700 metres on the Munnar to Kodaikanal road, right on the border between Kerala and Tamil Nadu. It gets its name from its position as the highest point on the old British ropeway that once carried tea down to the plains.

Highlights:

• Offers the most expansive Western Ghats panorama in the entire Munnar region.
• On a clear morning, the Anamalai range and Cumbum Valley stretch out in a single uninterrupted view.
• Kundala Lake, just 5 km below Top Station, is ringed by cherry blossom trees that flower between December and February, making it one of the few places in India with a meaningful cherry bloom season.

Distance from Munnar: 32 km to Top Station, 22 km to Kundala.

5. Marayoor and Chinnar Wildlife Sanctuary

Marayoor, located 40 km north of Munnar on the Udumalpet road, is the only place in India with a naturally occurring sandalwood forest.

In Marayoor, you can experience:

• The Forest Department guided walks through the protected sandalwood zone.
• Neolithic dolmen sites predate the sandalwood reserve by several thousand years.
• Marayoor jaggery, made from local sugarcane, which carries its own Geographical Indication tag.

A short drive further leads to Chinnar Wildlife Sanctuary, sitting in the rainshadow of the Anamalais. This dry deciduous habitat is the only place in Kerala where the grizzled giant squirrel is found in the wild, and forest guides at the Chinnar entry point lead morning and afternoon nature walks suitable for most fitness levels.

Distance from Munnar: 40 km to Marayoor, 60 km to the Chinnar entry point.

6. Pothamedu and the Tea Estate Viewpoints

Munnar’s viewpoints are short, free pull off stops along the highway, each offering a slightly different outlook over the Kannan Devan Hills. All three listed below are best early in the morning before the cloud rises.

• Pothamedu, the most photographed viewpoint in Munnar, is a five minute pull off NH85 a few kilometres before town on the Cochin side.
• Lockhart Gap offers a wider, slightly higher panorama and tends to be quieter than Pothamedu.
• Pallivasal offers a valley view near the hydroelectric project of the same name.

7. The Waterfalls Around Munnar

Munnar lies in one of the wettest regions of South India. The road in from Cochin passes several best waterfalls in Munnar that are at their most powerful between June and September.

• Attukal Waterfalls, a short forest walk from a multi-tiered cascade about 9 km from Munnar on the Pallivasal road.
• Cheeyappara Waterfalls, a seven step cascade visible right from NH85, about 60 km below Munnar on the Cochin road, and a common stop for travellers on the drive up.
• Lakkam Waterfalls, a clear plunging waterfall 35 km from Munnar on the Marayoor road, set in dry deciduous forest and generally quieter than the others.

8. The Tea Heritage: Tata Tea Museum and Kannan Devan Hills

The Tata Tea Museum opened in 2005 on the Nallathanni Estate and remains the only museum in India dedicated entirely to the story of tea cultivation.

What you will see:

• Original nineteenth century plantation machinery, still in working order.
• Photographs and personal effects belonging to the early planter community.
• A working factory tour that follows the process from green leaf to processed powder.

Allow about ninety minutes for the visit, and arrive in the morning before the day’s tour rush builds up.

The surrounding Kannan Devan Hills Plantations, the largest tea producer in South India, runs guided walks through its estates by prior arrangement. Walking through a working tea garden at the right hour of the morning is often the closest a visitor gets to understanding why Munnar became Munnar.

Distance from Munnar town: 1.5 km north on the Munnar to Top Station road. 

Munnar Hill Station Photos: What Can You Expect to See?

If you’ve seen pictures of Munnar Hill Station online, you definitely noticed one thing. They always contain green hills, neat tea bushes, and light fog covering the valley. Well, such pictures are not overestimated, as early morning Munnar is one of the most picturesque times to take photos here. Clouds settle down in the valleys but then gradually move away, letting the sunlight appear.

There are several photo spots in Munnar. They are located in tea garden viewpoints, near the water in Mattupetty Dam and on the road passing through the plantations. In case you are visiting Munnar Hill Station in the wintertime, you can have additional bonuses: some light fog covering the hills early in the morning.

Time to Visit Munnar Hill Station

From September till May is considered the best period to visit Munnar Hill Station, with cool days from October till February being the most comfortable ones for sightseeing and other activities. March till May is warm but still a more pleasant period compared to the other months in Kerala.

During the monsoon season (from June till August), Munnar Hill Stations Kerala​ is covered with richer green and it makes the landscape even more beautiful. However, it should be taken into account that you may see some rain and limited visibility of the high points during this time period.

Things to Do in Munnar

Apart from sightseeing, Munnar has plenty of various activities to do:

• Trekking through tea estates and forests.
• Boating at Mattupetty and Kundala Lake.
• Spices and tea plantation tour (some of them include tasting).
• Wildlife watching in Eravikulam National Park.
• Camping in the viewpoint areas situated at high altitudes.

Visitors usually spend a day in Munnar just exploring the city while visiting local spice markets and cafes.

How to Reach Munnar

Munnar has a lot of connectivity in terms of roadways, and visitors usually come here through:

• Flying into Kochi International Airport and then taking a four-hour drive through scenic routes.
• Travelling to stations like Aluva and Ernakulam and reaching Munnar via road.
• Road driving if you are travelling inside Kerala,, as the roads that lead up to Munnar are well maintained and provide some beautiful scenic locations on the way.

If you do not wish to worry about arranging the logistics yourself, platforms like PlanYourYour can be used for transport and stay arrangements as part of an entire Munnar package, which can be very helpful if this is your first trip here.

Munnar Hill Station vs Other Hill Stations in Kerala

Munnar consistently comes out on top when compared with Kerala’s other hill destinations, largely due to its balance of accessibility, scenery, and things to do.

It is safe to say that among the hill stations of Kerala, Munnar stands out as the top choice for first-time tourists due to its combination of scenic beauty and accessibility. Some are hill stations near Munnar​. 

Munnar Travel Guide and Tips 

A few handy tips that will ease your trip to Munnar are listed below:

• Book accommodation in advance in case you are coming in the peak season as hotels fill up very quickly from December to February.
• Bring warm clothing as early mornings and evenings in Munnar can get chilly, especially from elevated vantage points.
• Arrange a route for your sightseeing so as to avoid backtracking between locations.
• Include buffer time in your schedule in case of possible weather-related delays, especially during the monsoon period.

Use a service like PlanYourTour in case you wish to travel with an itinerary planned for you including all the popular tourist locations in Munnar without having to go through the hassle of planning everything yourself.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q. How Many Days Are Enough for Munnar?

The number of days to spend in Munnar is three to four days. This would be adequate to explore all the major tourist sites, undertake some treks and yet remain at a leisurely pace without hurrying between sites.

Q. What are the most beautiful places in Munnar?

The topmost scenic sites in Munnar include Eravikulam National Park, Mattupetty Dam, Top Station, and tea garden viewpoints on the major roads.

Q. Is Munnar suitable for a family trip?

Yes, Munnar is a suitable place for family holidays due to the availability of easy sightseeing opportunities, boating and weather conditions. Also, there are numerous types of accommodation available here for every budget.

Q. Is Munnar good for a honeymoon?

Munnar is among the most suitable honeymoon locations in Kerala because of the availability of beautiful views, cool weather and an adequate provision of privacy and romantic viewpoints.

Q. Is Munnar better than Ooty?

Munnar and Ooty are different in terms of sights, with each having its strengths. However, which one is better really depends on the type of experience a person is seeking to have. 

Q. Is Munnar cheap or expensive?

There are various accommodation options in Munnar for people of different budgets; hence not too expensive. There are options for travellers willing to stay as per their requirements.