Our Experience:
It is always a great feeling while planning for a holiday, when you get bored with your routine work. Our team (Marketing Communication) decided to have some relaxation and to refresh our self, so we decided to go Athirapally falls and Munnar. But before planning this place we were confused about where to go. Many of them came with different ideas and at last we agreed Reghu’s plan of going to Munar. Since none of us visited that place earlier, all of agreed to go. Peter orgainsed the trip and did the arrangements for transportation and accommodation.
We planned our trip one month before and searched information and collected images about the falls and munar. All of us were so eager to go and we used to talk about that. Some how all our team members agreed to go on Oct 2nd and 4 members from Eurega team were also interested to join this trip. So atlast 13 members my self (Karthik), Reghu, Derick, Peter, Stalin, Aleem, Mythili, Kirthi and Yograj, Balaji, Venkat, Rajaram from Eurega and Precilla – Peter’s wife were there for the trip.
At last the day came and we started our journey on Saturday morning at 5:30 am of oct 2010 from Coimbatore with our vwr friends. We took a tempo traveler from gandhipuram and picked our friends on the way from L.Mills and ukkadam etc... We reached Palakkad at 7.15 and had our breakfast from Hotel Arryas at vadakkanchery and reached mannuthy at 8.30. On the way, we had a great time in our cab. Around 10.30 am we reached athirappally water falls and we spend 2 and half hours there. All of us were so excited and were so eager to see it. To reach the falls it took 5 min walk and we were just admiring the huge gushing water fall. It was really superb to view such a huge falls and we started to take snaps and videos. All were busy in taking snaps and then we slowly moved towards the bank of the river to take bath. We found a nice place and jumped into the water. Wow! It was an unforgettable moment; all the guys were just enjoying the bath and had a great fun over there.
After taking bath we moved to see the bottom part of the falls, which was really amazing. We could realize the force of the water falling and was so cool. We took snaps there and then started to climb up but it was such a hard task and we became so tired. Had a great experience of trekking. After climbing the hill we had hot tea and snacks. Then we started towards vazhachal.
On the way we enjoyed the beauty of the small waterfall "charpa falls" and from vazhachal we moved to chalakkudy at 2.45 pm. It was raining heavily and we were waiting for the lunch. We couldn’t find a good hotel to have our lunch and after 1 hr of travel we found one good hotel at Chalakkudy at 4.15 pm. The lunch was so heavy which filled our hunger. Then we started to Munnar around 5.00 pm and on the way we saw the Periyar River and enjoyed our travel listening songs and having great fun. It took 5 hrs to reach munnar after a few confusion we reached the Sterling Resort at 10 pm which is 20 km away from munnar town. After reaching the resort we had our dinner which was ok (not much as expected).Then we moved to our rooms which was really superb! We had a great fun night in our room. We enjoyed dancing and playing cards. Each one of them were dancing in there own way with full of fun. After completing all our fun activities we went to sleep around 1am.
Next day, we got ready and were eager to move for our next day’s journey. Below the resort area there was a small hotel and there we had our breakfast. Then we moved to munnar- mattu petty dam. On our way we enjoyed seeing mountains covered with clouds and we got down to view the scene. It was really amazing. Someone was saying that as if we are in heaven. After taking few snaps we moved to munnar town. The whole scenery of nature was so superb to see and enjoy. The mountain was covered with tea plantations and it was so cool to see as if a huge green velvet blanket was spread on every mountain.
I always think why these people are cut the trees and destroy the beauty of nature. Then we reached mattupetty dam and boating locations. We took few snaps and girls went for shopping. Few of them took the photos of nature. Our next plan was to go to Rajamala and Eravikulam National Park. We missed the top station and went in to munnar town. After having the lunch we went to rajamala. It was raining at that time but we enjoyed its beauty. In 15 minutes we reached Rajamala. Our plan was to see the Neelagiri Taur but the forest guard disappointed us since that animal was not there at that time. We started to return back to Coimbatore. After that we went to chinnar and saw the highest hill in the Kerala mountain region ANAMUDI where we spotted numerous water falls. We can’t forget those scenes.
While we were crossing Marayoor we found the largest collection of sandal wood trees beside the road. The govt are protecting these trees from smugglers with the help of huge iron fencing. As we entered in to chinnar wild life sanctuary we found a wonderful water fall in the middle of the forest, it was Thoovanam waterfall. The water flows to Tamilnadu and joins the river Pambar. As we reached the Tamilnadu border the driver showed us the Amaravathy reservoir area. We expected some animals there but nothing was there to see. But we had a great luck. On the way we someone saw an elephant inside the bushes, we became so excited and stopped our vehicle and got down from it. All of us saw 4 elephants on a mountain and were admiring that scene. At that time Balaji was unaware that he was wounded by a leech. His pant had blood stains. All of us were so shocked to see the leech on his leg with blood flowing from it. Some how he managed to remove that leech and then we got back to our cab.
Then we moved back to Coimbatore crossing Udumalpet. We took tea break at Udumalpet. While boarding the cab someone found blood stains on the floor of the cab and we confirmed that again someone has been wounded by the leech. All of us were so afraid and were searching here and there for the wound on us. I was making fun on others reactions and when I lifted my pants, I saw blood stains on my socks. Then all of them came to know that the leech has bitten me. Oh God! I was shocked but was not afraid. Then I cleaned my wound and again we board the cab and reached Coimbatore around 8.30 pm.
The entire trip was so amazing and had a great fun throughout the journey. All had a great time and unforgettable moments.
We planned our trip one month before and searched information and collected images about the falls and munar. All of us were so eager to go and we used to talk about that. Some how all our team members agreed to go on Oct 2nd and 4 members from Eurega team were also interested to join this trip. So atlast 13 members my self (Karthik), Reghu, Derick, Peter, Stalin, Aleem, Mythili, Kirthi and Yograj, Balaji, Venkat, Rajaram from Eurega and Precilla – Peter’s wife were there for the trip.
At last the day came and we started our journey on Saturday morning at 5:30 am of oct 2010 from Coimbatore with our vwr friends. We took a tempo traveler from gandhipuram and picked our friends on the way from L.Mills and ukkadam etc... We reached Palakkad at 7.15 and had our breakfast from Hotel Arryas at vadakkanchery and reached mannuthy at 8.30. On the way, we had a great time in our cab. Around 10.30 am we reached athirappally water falls and we spend 2 and half hours there. All of us were so excited and were so eager to see it. To reach the falls it took 5 min walk and we were just admiring the huge gushing water fall. It was really superb to view such a huge falls and we started to take snaps and videos. All were busy in taking snaps and then we slowly moved towards the bank of the river to take bath. We found a nice place and jumped into the water. Wow! It was an unforgettable moment; all the guys were just enjoying the bath and had a great fun over there.
After taking bath we moved to see the bottom part of the falls, which was really amazing. We could realize the force of the water falling and was so cool. We took snaps there and then started to climb up but it was such a hard task and we became so tired. Had a great experience of trekking. After climbing the hill we had hot tea and snacks. Then we started towards vazhachal.
On the way we enjoyed the beauty of the small waterfall "charpa falls" and from vazhachal we moved to chalakkudy at 2.45 pm. It was raining heavily and we were waiting for the lunch. We couldn’t find a good hotel to have our lunch and after 1 hr of travel we found one good hotel at Chalakkudy at 4.15 pm. The lunch was so heavy which filled our hunger. Then we started to Munnar around 5.00 pm and on the way we saw the Periyar River and enjoyed our travel listening songs and having great fun. It took 5 hrs to reach munnar after a few confusion we reached the Sterling Resort at 10 pm which is 20 km away from munnar town. After reaching the resort we had our dinner which was ok (not much as expected).Then we moved to our rooms which was really superb! We had a great fun night in our room. We enjoyed dancing and playing cards. Each one of them were dancing in there own way with full of fun. After completing all our fun activities we went to sleep around 1am.
Next day, we got ready and were eager to move for our next day’s journey. Below the resort area there was a small hotel and there we had our breakfast. Then we moved to munnar- mattu petty dam. On our way we enjoyed seeing mountains covered with clouds and we got down to view the scene. It was really amazing. Someone was saying that as if we are in heaven. After taking few snaps we moved to munnar town. The whole scenery of nature was so superb to see and enjoy. The mountain was covered with tea plantations and it was so cool to see as if a huge green velvet blanket was spread on every mountain.
I always think why these people are cut the trees and destroy the beauty of nature. Then we reached mattupetty dam and boating locations. We took few snaps and girls went for shopping. Few of them took the photos of nature. Our next plan was to go to Rajamala and Eravikulam National Park. We missed the top station and went in to munnar town. After having the lunch we went to rajamala. It was raining at that time but we enjoyed its beauty. In 15 minutes we reached Rajamala. Our plan was to see the Neelagiri Taur but the forest guard disappointed us since that animal was not there at that time. We started to return back to Coimbatore. After that we went to chinnar and saw the highest hill in the Kerala mountain region ANAMUDI where we spotted numerous water falls. We can’t forget those scenes.
While we were crossing Marayoor we found the largest collection of sandal wood trees beside the road. The govt are protecting these trees from smugglers with the help of huge iron fencing. As we entered in to chinnar wild life sanctuary we found a wonderful water fall in the middle of the forest, it was Thoovanam waterfall. The water flows to Tamilnadu and joins the river Pambar. As we reached the Tamilnadu border the driver showed us the Amaravathy reservoir area. We expected some animals there but nothing was there to see. But we had a great luck. On the way we someone saw an elephant inside the bushes, we became so excited and stopped our vehicle and got down from it. All of us saw 4 elephants on a mountain and were admiring that scene. At that time Balaji was unaware that he was wounded by a leech. His pant had blood stains. All of us were so shocked to see the leech on his leg with blood flowing from it. Some how he managed to remove that leech and then we got back to our cab.
Then we moved back to Coimbatore crossing Udumalpet. We took tea break at Udumalpet. While boarding the cab someone found blood stains on the floor of the cab and we confirmed that again someone has been wounded by the leech. All of us were so afraid and were searching here and there for the wound on us. I was making fun on others reactions and when I lifted my pants, I saw blood stains on my socks. Then all of them came to know that the leech has bitten me. Oh God! I was shocked but was not afraid. Then I cleaned my wound and again we board the cab and reached Coimbatore around 8.30 pm.
The entire trip was so amazing and had a great fun throughout the journey. All had a great time and unforgettable moments.
Location:
Munnar is located in the eastern part of the state of Kerala, in the southern region of India, amongst the craggy hills of the Western Ghats at an altitude of 1524 m (5000 ft) above sea level. It is 130 Km east of Kochi and borders the state of Tamil Nadu near Bodimettu. It can also be reached from Madurai via Theni, Bodi.
Best Time to Visit:The best time to visit Munnar is between October and May
How To Reach:
Munnar, the beautiful hill resort in the state of Kerala is reachable only by motorable roads.The road to Munnar is noted for its scenic beauty.Travel within Munnar itself is so small that it is easily manageable by foot.
The town has some local transport, including auto-rickshaws, should one get bit tired of moving around on foot. Auto rickshaws, commander jeep and taxis are available for local shared transport. For sites further out of town, like Top Station and Thattekad, a rented bike or taxi is the best option. There are some tour operators in town that will arrange excursions to more out laying places. The area surroundings Munnar can also be accessed using the regular buses that leave for Theni, Top Station, Marayoor and Chinnar, among others.
Travelling to Munnar by Road - (Kochi Route)
Travelling to Munnar by Road (Madurai Route)
History:
In both Malayalam and Tamil, the word 'Munnar' means three rivers, as it is merging place of three mountain streams; Mudrapuzha, Nallathanni, Kundala. The Duke of Wellington was the first prominent person to visit Munnar.
Munnar was once the summer capital of the British in southern India. Munnar was developed to cultivate tea plants by British although it was first discovered by Scottish planters. In the early developmental stages only Tamilians worked there as few Malayalis inhabited in that area Munnar.
But later more and more Malayalis were recruited as employees to work in plantations and bungalows, that were build for estate managers of British origin. They occupied most of the top posts. Some of the bungalows that were build for them is still in good condition and being used. The local people here speak Malayalam, the official language of Kerala and since there are a lot of Tamilians, the second language is Tamil.
Munnar has an ancient history and prehistoric relics that can be dated back to Stone Age civilization. The written history begins only from 10th century. In the early 19th century, the headman of the villages of Anchanad, Kannan Thevar, held lands to the north of the high ranges, which belonged to the local Rajah of Poojar.
According to record history, the first tea sapling was planted by A.H. Sharp at Parvathi, part of the present Sevenmullay estate, consisted of 50 acres of land in the surrounding jungle.
J D Munro, a British lawyer and tea planter leased close to 600 Sq. Km of land around Munnar, which was then covered with thick jungle, from the Poonjar chief, a subordinate of the Maharaja of Travancore. He then cleared the jungle for Tea plantations. This land was later known as Kannan Devan (Kannan Thevar) Concession Land.
Later in 1895, Messrs Finlay Muir & Company bought Munro's land and in 1976 Tata-Finlay Ltd. purchased it. Then in 1983 James Finlay Group sold their remaining share holdings and the company became known as Tata Tea Ltd., the largest integrated tea company in the world. In April 2005 tea plantations under the Tata group were transferred to a new company called Kannan Devan Hills Produce Co, Pvt Ltd. Today the company manages 16 estates spread over in about 8600 hectares of land.
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