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Munnar meaning "Three rivers"
is situated at the confluence of three mountain streams
Muthirappu (Kannimalayar), Nallathanni and Kundala and
is a delightful, small hill station. Munnar was the
summer resort of the British Government in the south.
Munnar has some of the biggest tea plantations in the
world. This hill station more than 5000 feet above sea
level with its mist and flowers, has very good potential
to bedeveloped into a tourist spot. Situated at 1600m
above the sea level this hill station, leaves you with a
cold summer sweetness. Completely dotted with lakes,
reservoirs, mountains streams, scabrous rocks, wooded
valleys, wavy grass hills, this hill station offers a
great variety choices at short intervals. Along the
quite drives of Munnar, through the unending sea of tea
plantations, signs of human life itself is a rare sight
apart from similarly attired plantation workers. The
unending dominance of the tea plantations and the
mountain flower Neelakkurinji that bloom once in 12
years are both synonymous landmarks of Munnar. Playing
mists, soul searching winds, hurling waterfalls, cold
monsoons, picturesque towns, fragrant cardamom bushes,
sprawling tea plantations, shaven silver oaks,
indomitable elephant herds, long winding lanes, the
bluish tint of the Neelakkurinji mountains, floating
tunes of early morning radio, strangely uniform herds of
plantation workers. With the mist covering in the
valleys around, the plateau of a resorts sticking out,
it is a heavenly feeling of being on the legendary
flaying machine - Pushpak, floating over the cloud.
Munnar - breathtakingly beautiful - a haven of
peace and tranquility - the idyllic tourist destination
in God's own country. Set at an altitude of 6000 ft in
Idukki district, Munnar was the favored summer resort of
the erstwhile British rulers in the colonial days.
Unending expanse of tea plantations - pristine valleys
and mountains- exotic species of flora and fauna in its
wild sanctuaries and forests - aroma of spice scented
cool air - yes! Munnar has all these and more. It's the
place you would love to visit - it's the place you would
wish never to leave- so welcome - log on to munnar.com
for all information on Munnar anytime, every time.
Situated at the confluence of three mountain streams
called Mudrapuzha, Nallathanni and Kundala, the small
town of Munnar is characterized by the clean, neat and
brightly painted ambience inside the city. Beautiful
landscape, cozy weather and wonderfully scented
tealeaves are some of the other aspects that make this
place a much sought after destination in Kerala.
Moreover, it used to be one of the favorite summer
resorts of the British during their reign in the
country.
History
In Tamil, the word Munnar means three rivers and as the
place is at the confluence of three mountain streams, it
got this name. In the year 1790, the Duke of Wellington
became the first European to visit this site. Later, the
Poonjar chief, a subordinate of the Maharaja of
Travancore, leased 588 sq. km of land to J.D. Munro, a
Scottish tea planter in the 1870s. Though the Scots left
the place long ago, the tea estates still continue to be
well maintained by private companies. According to
records, the first tea sapling was planted by A.H. Sharp
at Parvathi, which a part of the present Sevenmullay
area. The first plantation of tea was done on an area of
20 hectares (50 acres) of land. Initially, tea
plantation was a big problem as the entire area was
covered with thick forest inhabited by wild animals.
However, now the area has been converted totally into a
tea plantation region. |
