Cochin To Munnar- A Greenary Journey

By Author: Rashmiranjan Patil
Total Articles: 261
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Munnar, a haven for the tourists as well as honeymooners, is situated in the God's own country, Kerala. Situated at a height of 1600 m above sea level, Munnar is home to tea and spice plantations, rivers and waterfalls. Like most of the other hill stations, Munnar was also the summer retreat of the British. Munnar is located in the district of Idukki on the Western Ghats. Munnar is a perfect hub for tourists of varied interests. Honeymoon couples, nature lovers, photographers and adventure lovers can equally enjoy the city of Munnar. The nice climate, serene surroundings and the thick and evergreen forests make Munnar a favorite hill station for the travellers.

The name Munnar in Malayalam means three rivers as the town is situated at the confluence of the three rivers namely Mudrapuzha, Nallathani and Kundala. The tea estates, owned by the Tata Tea Limited, are the main economy of Munnar other than tourism. Cardamom, cinnamon, pepper, vanilla, coffee, clove, nutmug, ginger and turmeric are cultivated abundantly here. The popular flower Neelakurinji blooms once in every twelve years in the valleys of Munnar. Munnar ...
... offers a lot of sightseeing options for tourists of varied interests. Idukki Dam, Salim Ali Bird Sanctuary and Eravikulam National Park are some of them.

Cochin or Kochi, popularly called the 'Queen of Arabian Sea', is the most favoured tourist hub among travellers. This coastal town is surrounded by Western Ghats on one side and Arabian Sea on the other. According to World Travel and Tourism Council, Cochin has been rated as one of the top three tourist destinations. Kochi, one of the fast developing cities in the country, is referred as the 'Gateway to Kerala'.

Travelling from Cochin to Munnar is very comfortable. Munnar does not have a railway station or an airport. But the trains from Ernakulam (nearest railhead to Cochin) pass through Angamaly, which is the nearest railhead to Munnar. There are 5 trains pass through Angamali from Ernakulam.

The best way to travel to Munnar from Cochin is either you take bus or a taxi. Kerala State Road Transport Corporation (KSRTC) buses ply frequently from Cochin to Munnar. These are cheaper and comfortable.

Cabs charge Rs. 2800/- for 4 travellers. For 7 tourists, the big vehicle cost you around Rs. 3800/- for a round trip.

If you have your own vehicle, it takes approximately 4 hours to cover 130 km from Cochin to Munnar depending upon the vehicle. You can travel through NH47A from Cochin and then take NH49 to reach Munnar.

There are several Munnar packages offered by tour operators cover well furnished accommodation with free breakfast and sightseeing arrangements. Munnar offers several high-end, medium and budget hotels according to the budget of the tourists.