Munnar Sunrise Point: Best Sunrise Viewpoints & Sunrise Time

I have caught enough sunrises in my travel experiences. However, I never expected anything like Munnar would offer me. My host had told me on the second day that a good sunrise Point in Munnar would make me look over the clouds rather than under them. I was sure she was exaggerating a little. No, she was not. I tried visiting as many as I possibly could in the coming days and came back with the ranking. You can read the following list if you want to find where to head for Munnar during sunrise on your visit.

10 Best Sunrise Points in Munnar

At the end of my stay in Munnar, I managed to visit 10 spots, each having its uniqueness. While some of them required trekking and the rest only a drive, none of them failed to teach me something.

1. Kolukkumalai

This was certainly the best sunrise spot in Munnar, I have been to all the places I visited during my stay. I rented a jeep early in the morning, and even the rough and a little bit of a scary journey to it was half the fun.

There were so many layers of fog under me that it seemed as if I could really touch clouds.

If I could get a clear view during that morning, I would be able to see far away from Tamil Nadu, which was totally surprising to me. After sunrise, I strolled inside the tea estate near the spot and found machinery that dates back to British times.

2. Top Station

I arrived at the Top Station the very next day, feeling the after-effects of the wake-up call that I had to receive the previous day, but it proved to be all worth it in the end.

I witnessed the actual formation of the sea of clouds right underneath the viewpoint for real, which I could only see in pictures until now.

My local guide informed me that this used to be the highest point in the Kundala Valley Railway track, giving a bit of history to the scene in front of my eyes. I visited here outside the Neelakurinji flower blooming period, yet even the hills appeared beautiful without it.

3. Meesapulimala

None of the places in my list tested my physical strength as much as this one did. I hiked up along with a local guide and when I made it to the top, my legs were surely complaining, but the view was definitely thankful.

I walked through the Rhodo Valley, and without the blooms, the landscape too appeared dramatic. A forest pass was required to trek up here, my guide had arranged which in advance. Waking up to the sunrise colours on the peak will remain etched in my mind forever.

4. Pothamedu Viewpoint

On a morning when I could think of no other long drive, this place came to my rescue. It was nearby, convenient, and still offered plenty of beauty. It had the panoramic view of tea, coffee, and cardamom plantations. On a clear morning, I could even see the Idukki Arch Dam in the distant view. In fact, I returned to this place in the evening, because it also worked as an ideal sunset view point.

5. Lockhart Gap

I had planned not to visit this place, but another tourist at my homestay managed to convince me to go ahead and visit, and I am glad that she did, as it turned out to be one of the less-known places offering the best sunrise view point in Munnar on my entire trip.

The heart-shaped gap formed by the two hills created this unique picture of lights, which I have never seen anywhere else before. A couple of trekking trails started from this viewpoint itself, but I did not attempt any that day. I had the whole viewpoint for myself, which was really rare for me after visiting Kolukkumalai.

If you’re planning to explore more viewpoints after Lockhart Gap, Gap Road Munnar is another scenic route worth adding to your Munnar itinerary.

6. Chokramudi Peak

I have added this site to my itinerary on the recommendation of a local who thought this would be easier than Meesapulimala, and he was right. 

• It was an easy trek despite the pain from the previous day’s hike. 
• I spotted some animals grazing in the grasslands section, which was quite surprising.
• The angle of the valley in this viewpoint was different from all the others.

7. Anamudi View from Rajamala

This was not only a sunrise viewing spot, but also a place where I got to see some wildlife as it is located in the Eravikulam National Park.

• The atmosphere in the morning was sharp and clean compared to all other places on my trip.
• I spotted a herd of Nilgiri tahr grazing in peace, unaffected by the early visitors.
• The path in the park was easy so that I did not even get sweaty from the trek.

8. Kundala Lake Viewpoint

I planned this spot very early, when no boats started working in the lake yet, and the silence of the lake justified it.

• The water was reflecting the sunlight so brightly as if there was a mirror there.
• There were a couple of cherry blossom trees in this area adding color to the scenery.
• This was one of my calmest mornings on this trip.

9. Echo Point

I have visited Echo Point during the daytime, but visiting it at sunrise was a totally new experience for me.

• It was much calmer and less crowded compared to daytime visits.
• I chose this viewpoint as a combination with Kundala Lake as they are close to each other.
• It is probably one of the most underrated places on my list.

10. Marayoor Viewpoint

For my last morning, I have chosen to explore something new and tried the Marayoor viewpoint giving me the experience of a different kind of sunrise.

• The sandalwood forest with its dry atmosphere was unlike anything I have seen so far on this trip.
• I visited this place with a tour to the sandalwood forest and dolmen sites.
• It was a perfect ending to my trip dedicated to sunrises.

Best Sunrise Point in Munnar for Different Travellers

Thinking about all the travellers I have seen and met on this trip – from solo hikers to honeymooning couples, it seems like every traveller is attracted to different places.

Best Time to Visit Munnar for Sunrise

Based on my experience, the time when the sunrise occurs in Munnar can vary between five thirty and six thirty in the morning. It depended on the season and the location, however. I was there during October to March and the weather was mostly sunny, which is quite typical for Munnar Hill Station during this season. If you dream about dramatic cloud-top pictures of the area, then this time of year might suit you best.

How to Reach Sunrise Points in Munnar

Here is how I was able to reach different sunrise points in Munnar:

• I used a local jeep to get to the higher altitude places like Kolukkumalai since the roads there are not always good.
• For the self drive days, I checked the road conditions beforehand, especially those leading to the Lockhart Gap area.
• For the trekking spots, I booked a local guide since a permit is required for Meesapulimala and just for safety reasons.

During the second half of my trip, I arranged everything for two mornings through PlanYourTour.If you prefer a planned trip, a Munnar tour package can make it easier to arrange transport, sightseeing and other travel details.

Tips for Watching Sunrise in Munnar

Some of the useful things which I’ve learned myself and I would definitely pass along to those who are going to make a similar journey:

• Come earlier than you think you should, because sometimes I overestimated the time I needed to get somewhere.
• Wear enough warm clothes since I didn’t expect the temperature to be so low even with a jacket on me.
• Have your torch on your phone ready for the darker parts of the trail before sunrise.
• Remember to take water and snacks for long trekking routes.
• Some money will come in handy since it’s hard to use the card payments at some of the remote spots.

Try to avoid weekends, as I experienced crowded Kolukkumalai and Top Station during my Sunday visit there.

Sunrise Photography Tips in Munnar

Even though I’m not a professional photographer, I have learned a few things during my trip which helped me to take better pictures.

• Arriving at the place twenty minutes before sunrise gives you an opportunity to set everything up instead of trying to do that in the dark.
• Having a small tripod borrowed from my homestay helped me to take much better low light pictures.
• The golden hour right after sunrise gave me the softest, most flattering light across the hills.
• Having tea bushes or trail paths as the foreground in my photos took them away from their flatness considerably.

It was pretty embarrassing how quickly my phone battery got drained when exposed to the chilly air so from day two onwards, I started carrying a power bank.

Sunrise Point vs Sunset Point in Munnar 

After spending days and nights in this beautiful place, I have seen both the sunrise and sunset at different locations in Munnar and to be honest, the experience has been very different at both ends of the day.

To be completely candid, I found the mornings way more memorable than the evenings just based on how hard I had to work to reach there and then how silent it became when I finally made it there.

FAQs

Q. Can I watch the sunrise from Top Station? 

Yes and if I were to be completely candid, I would even recommend it since it turned out to be one of the most famous sunrise points in Munnar with a wide panoramic view and a sea of clouds effect around sunrise time.

Q. What time should I leave Munnar to watch the sunrise? 

In my personal experience, the time between four thirty to five in the morning seemed fine, giving me ample time to reach different viewpoints even before sunrise time in Munnar started.

Q. Is sunrise at Munnar worth waking up early for?

Absolutely and I can tell you why because I am not even a morning person. The misty valleys and peaceful mornings at all the viewpoints made each and every early morning call worth it.

Q. What should I carry for a sunrise trip in Munnar? 

In consideration of the things I carried along with things I wished I had brought, I will definitely say that warm clothing, flashlight, water, light snacks, power bank and some cash would be ideal.

Q. Are there trekking options for sunrise in Munnar?

Yes, I myself have trekked two points which were Meesapulimala and Kolukkumalai and although it required some physical fitness and forest permit in Meesapulimala’s case, those ended up being the best two mornings of my trip.