Top Station Munnar: View Point, Highway, Distance, Timings & Weather

Of all the viewpoints I explored while visiting Munnar, none came close to the experience I had at Top Station. I would hear people talk about Top Station now and then, mostly because of how much people loved visiting there, as it seemed to be the one stop everyone could not afford to miss. The idea was enough to make me go out and explore it on the third day of my visit. 

What I saw turned out to be one of the best views of the entire trip, and I even went back a second time to see it again at a different time of day. During this journey, I managed to find some information regarding munnar top station view point, which helped me compile a complete guide.

Where Is Top Station Located?

Top Station can be seen on the border between Kerala and Tamil Nadu, situated along the Munnar Top Station highway, or the mountain road leading from Munnar to Kodaikanal. As far as my driver told me, Top Station earned its name because it used to be the highest spot on a ropeway system used to transport tea from the upper estate down to the plains in the British era. After checking the Munnar Top Station height myself, I realised the spot is elevated at a pretty high altitude and thus is cooler than most of the places in Munnar.

Indeed, being in such a high location, I could feel the difference between the air temperature outside and inside the car immediately when I came out of it. It is no wonder why this particular Munnar Top Station viewpoint is so popular with tourists visiting the area.

Top Station Munnar Timings

To be certain about the Top Station Munnar timings, I asked a couple of locals, including the entry counter, about the time when it would be best to visit this location. Typically, the viewing point operates in the early morning hours till late in the evening, according to the schedule below.

I personally chose to arrive right at opening time on my second visit, and it made a noticeable difference, both in terms of crowd levels and the quality of the view before the day’s heat set in.

Top Station Munnar Entry Fee

The entry charges at this place are quite reasonable compared to some of the other commercialised tourist places in Munnar. I had to pay some entry charges for each individual andA additional charges to park my rented car. Charges are often levied on cameras depending on the type of camera and the use of certain accessories like a tripod, etc., but there were no additional charges for using my mobile phone camera. I would advise you to carry loose money, as I realised that they do not have change for bigger notes at the counter.

Top Station Munnar Distance

One of the first things that I needed to figure out was the exact Munnar to Top Station distance, as I wanted to plan my day accordingly. It is roughly 32 kilometres away from Munnar town, taking approximately an hour by car.

How to Reach Top Station Munnar

Getting there was actually easier than I thought, although I guess you could say that some patience was required because of all those turns.

• I took a taxi from town to get to the point of interest in question, and I must say it made the process a lot easier compared to doing it on my own.
• Those who choose to rent a car and drive themselves need to be ready for some narrow spots of the road and potential traffic jams at the locations where people usually stop to admire the surroundings.
• A couple of other travellers I bumped into decided to make this tour a full-day tour, starting at Mattupetty Dam and then going on to the Top Station.

If you don’t want to think through your route and find a good option on your own, the platform PlanYourTour will allow you to combine the Top Station Munnar tour into the bigger itinerary for the region, and this is precisely what I chose to do during my second visit.

Best Time to Visit Top Station Munnar

Based on my own experience of two trips and advice from several locals, the best time to make this trip is the period from September to March. I visited it twice – in December and in February, and both times there were clear skies. However, on one of those occasions, the weather seemed to be a bit colder as the sun had not yet come up.

Best Time for Clear Views & Pleasant Weather

If you want to see the landscape and its views in full clarity, mornings should be your choice. I experienced this on both trips when a slight haze would appear above the valley by mid-morning and then turn into clouds by early afternoon. Visiting the site by eight o’clock always allowed me to take pictures of good quality and see the most amazing view of the Western Ghats. And let me tell you, this Top Station Munnar view during mornings is something that can’t be beaten.

Seasonally, this is what I found out about Top Station Munnar weather during the different months of the year.

Best Time to See Neelakurinji Flowers

That was definitely one thing that I regretted timing poorly. According to a guide that was working in that area, the Neelakurinji is a unique type of flower that appears every twelve years, changing the color of surrounding hills into blue. Sadly, my trip did not fall into the period when the Neelakurinji is in bloom. The latest appearance of the flowers occurred in 2018, and the next bloom is scheduled to occur in 2030. If you are lucky enough and can come when they bloom, then you will definitely have the experience of your lifetime.

Things to Do at Top Station Munnar

Apart from simply enjoying the view, I have been able to find a couple of activities to enjoy while visiting the place.

• Walking along special platforms for different viewpoints of the valley.
• Grabbing myself a nice hot cup of tea or coffee from the stall right by the entrance; it was rather good in combination with the fresh morning air.
• Talking to local vendors who were selling chocolates and spices from their homes; many of them had rather interesting stories regarding the area.
• Sitting down and contemplating the magnitude of the Western Ghats in front of me; photos just cannot capture that feeling.

Top Station Munnar Sunrise & Sunset

I planned to go to Top Station once at sunrise, and it was absolutely worth it. Watching how the sunlight illuminated the whole valley and how the mist was still hanging on the mountain slope was an amazing personal experience which left its mark. In order to catch the sunrise top station munnar, however, you will have to get up very early in the morning to leave Munnar town ahead of sunrise.

Unlike sunrise, sunset is quite unpredictable, with clouds often covering the mountain range and blocking the view in most cases. If I were to give advice based on my experience, I would suggest going to see the sunrise instead of sunset. However, in both cases you will need some planning in advance.

Top Station Munnar vs Other Munnar Viewpoints

Having visited several viewpoints throughout the trip, I could not help but compare them after visiting Top Station.

For sheer scale and drama, Top Station edged out most of the other viewpoints I visited, though Kolukkumalai came fairly close in terms of overall impact, especially for anyone willing to put in a bit more effort to reach it.

Top Station Munnar Travel Tips

Here are a few things I learned along the way that really helped me out:

• Bring a light jacket in all seasons, as the wind at this altitude was noticeably colder compared to anywhere else I went to in Munnar.
• Plan to get there as early as you can for better views and a more peaceful experience.
• Have some money ready to pay for entrance fees, parking, and small vendor kiosks at the viewpoint.
• Check the weather forecast the previous night, as cloud cover is quite common at this altitude and may seriously impact visibility, especially outside the winter months.
• In case you are combining this with a few other attractions, try to plan this stop to be either first or last on your list, as it’s a bit far away from the others.
• In case you consider visiting Munnar Top Station and staying closer to the viewpoint rather than the town, there are a few homestays and small resorts in the vicinity of Suryanelli, which will help you reach the viewpoint in the early morning.
• Looking back on my visits to Top Station, it was not only the stunning views themselves but also how they changed depending on the light, the season, and even my own mood on a particular day that stuck with me. 

This is the kind of attraction that deserves patience and planning rather than rushing there for a quick look, and I would really encourage everyone who plans to visit Munnar to allocate enough time for that.

FAQs

Q. What is the distance from Munnar to Top Station? 

As per my personal experience, the distance to Top Station is about 32 kilometres, which takes a bit more than an hour on the road.

Q. Which highway goes to Top Station from Munnar? 

Top Station is located on the road connecting Munnar to Kodaikanal, known as Munnar Top Station Highway and passes through numerous beautiful stretches before arriving at the viewpoint near the border of Kerala and Tamil Nadu.

Q. Is Top Station the highest viewpoint in Munnar? 

As per my personal experience, Top Station is considered one of the highest viewpoints in the region, though places such as Kolukkumalai stand tall at a similar elevation.

Q. Is Top Station good for photography? 

Absolutely, based on my own experience. The sweeping panoramic views, especially during early morning light, made for some of the best photos I captured during my entire Munnar trip.

Q. How much time is required to visit Top Station? 

I spent around an hour and a half at the viewpoint itself, including time for photos and a short walk, though factoring in travel time, I would recommend setting aside at least three to four hours for the full round trip from Munnar town.

Q. Is Top Station open throughout the year? 

Yes, Top Station remains open year-round, though based on my experience, visibility and overall enjoyment drop noticeably during the heavier monsoon months, so I would recommend planning your visit between September and March if possible.