Munnar is Kerala’s beloved hill station, a cool retreat 1,500 meters above sea level where undulating tea estates paint the hills in fifty shades of green. Once a British-era plantation outpost, today it’s a paradise for hikers, birders, tea aficionados, and anyone who craves mountain light and clean air. The name “Munnar” is said to come from the Malayalam for “three rivers,” a nod to the meeting of the Mudhirapuzha, Nallathanni, and Kundala.

Highlights include Eravikulam National Park (home of the Nilgiri tahr), sunrise views at Top Station, and mirror-like lakes at Mattupetty and Kundala. The region’s tea heritage is alive in factory tours, tasting rooms, and museum exhibits that trace the journey from leaf to cup. Between treks and jeep safaris, you’ll find waterfalls like Attukad and Lakkam thundering through shola forests.

Practical notes: The best time to visit is October–February for crisp skies; June–September brings lush monsoon greenery and leeches on trails (pack rain gear). Eravikulam sometimes closes briefly around Feb–Mar for tahr calving—check locally before you go. Carry cash for small eateries, keep warm layers for breezy evenings, and book tours and tickets in advance during holidays.

Munnar

Munnar blends outdoor adventure with cultural immersion: trek ridge lines at dawn, sip single-origin teas by afternoon, and end days under a sky pricked with stars. You’ll crisscross historic plantations, watch spice gardens at work, and meet local guides who know every bend in the hills.

• Top sights: Eravikulam National Park, Top Station, Mattupetty Dam, Echo Point, Kundala Lake, Pothamedu and Lockhart viewpoints, Attukad and Lakkam Waterfalls, KDHP/Tata Tea Museum, Lockhart Tea Museum.
• Good-to-know: Distances are short but roads are winding—plan fewer stops per day and enjoy the scenery.
• Dining snapshot: Expect Kerala thalis on banana leaves, flaky parottas with peppery curries, cardamom-laced tea, and simple bakeries turning out hot puffs and buns.

Where to stay

• The Panoramic Getaway (modern rooms, great valley views, two restaurants): Check availability
• Club Mahindra Munnar (family-friendly cottages, activities on-site): Check availability
• Zostel Munnar (budget-friendly, social vibe, hillside setting): See beds
• Browse more stays on Hotels.com: Munnar hotels or on VRBO: Private stays

How to get to Munnar

• Fly to Kochi (COK). Compare fares on Trip.com Flights or Kiwi.com. Drive time to Munnar is ~3.5–4 hours (110 km); a private taxi typically costs ~$50–75.
• Train to Aluva or Ernakulam, then taxi or bus to Munnar (3–4 hours by road). Check schedules on Trip.com Trains.

Day 1: Arrival, Blossom Park stroll, and a comforting Kerala dinner

Afternoon: Arrive via Kochi, wind up to Munnar, and check in. Stretch your legs at Blossom Hydel Park—flat paths, flower beds, and gentle riverside air ease you into hill-station pace.

Evening: Dinner at Rapsy Restaurant (local favorite; try beef ularthiyathu if you eat meat, or veg shawarma and porotta) or KTDC Tea County’s restaurant for classic Kerala fish curry and appam. If you’d like a drink, Tea County’s licensed bar offers beer and simple cocktails.

Day 2: Eravikulam National Park, Tea Museum, and a sunset tea-walk

Morning: Start early for Eravikulam National Park (45–60 min from town). Minibus shuttles take you uphill to trails where you can spot the endangered Nilgiri tahr and views toward Anamudi, South India’s highest peak. Note: the park often closes briefly around Feb–Mar for calving—check locally and book tickets in advance during weekends/holidays.

Afternoon: Visit the KDHP/Tata Tea Museum to see antique rollers, withering troughs, and a demo that demystifies orthodox vs CTC processing. Taste fresh cups in the small café; stop at the Ripple Tea outlet in town for souvenir packets.

Evening: Join a guided plantation amble for golden-hour photos and local stories:

Munnar Tea Plantation Walk with Sunset View (By Munnar Info)

Post-walk dinner at Saravana Bhavan (pure vegetarian; dosa, ghee roast, and mini tiffin are reliable crowd-pleasers).

Day 3: Anakulam jeep safari and town bites

Morning–Afternoon: Head down the Lekshmi mountain road to a forest-fringed hamlet known for elephant sightings. Your driver knows the bends and best lookouts:

Anakkulam Wild Elephant Visiting (Jeep tour)

Carry binoculars; sightings are never guaranteed, but the valley views and riverside pauses are memorable. Lunch back in town at Gurubhavan (banana leaf meals with sambar, thoran, and fish curry if available).

Evening: Bakery crawl: pop into Munnar Bake House for egg puffs and tea cakes. Dinner at The Panoramic Getaway’s Restaurant Aimie—order pepper chicken, Malabar prawns, or a gentle spinach-mushroom curry with flaky parottas.

Day 4: Mattupetty Dam, Echo Point, Kundala Lake, and high viewpoints

Morning: Drive to Mattupetty Dam for reservoir vistas and on to Echo Point—yes, the echo works on quiet mornings. Continue to Kundala Lake for a paddleboat ride ringed by eucalyptus and shola forest.

Afternoon: Lunch at a simple dhaba near Kundala (ask your driver for the freshest fish fry). Return via photo stops at Photo Point. If time and weather allow, detour to Lockhart Gap Viewpoint—mist curling over tea-laced ridges makes for cinematic frames.

Evening: Sunset at Pothamedu Viewpoint, then a relaxed dinner at Sree Mahaveer Bhojanalaya (north Indian vegetarian thali) or back to town for egg curry and parotta at a local “hotel” (Kerala-speak for restaurant).

Day 5: Tea trail immersion—fields, factory, and tasting

Day tour: Immerse in Munnar’s tea story from leaf to cup with a guided plantation walk, factory visit, and tasting flight. You’ll learn plucking techniques, oxidation science, and how to brew black tea properly.

Munnar Tea Trail Tour, Tea factory visit & Tea Tasting

Pair the experience with a stop at Lockhart Tea Museum (if open) or swing by a KDHP Ripple Tea shop to pick up fragrant cardamom and premium whole-leaf black tea. Dinner idea: a simple veg “meals” set at Hotel Sri Nivas.

Day 6: Half-day trek, Attukad Waterfalls, and a soothing massage

Morning: Lace up for a guided hike that begins among tea rows and climbs to grassland ridges for panoramic valley views. Expect 3–4 hours on undulating terrain.

Half day trekking (Munnar Valley Trekking & Tours)

Afternoon: Refuel with hot chai and vada, then drive to Attukad Waterfalls for a short walk and misty photos. Consider an Ayurvedic massage back in town—many hotels arrange reputable therapists; it’s perfect after a trek.

Evening: Dinner at Tea County or a low-key feast of kappa (tapioca) and meen curry (fish) at a local eatery. If you prefer vegetarian, opt for paneer butter masala with naan at Sri Nivas.

Day 7: Top Station sunrise option, spice garden, and departure

Morning: Optional very-early start for sunrise at Top Station (allow 1.5–2 hours each way; local jeeps handle the mountain roads best). Otherwise, enjoy a lazy breakfast and visit a small spice garden to see cardamom, pepper, and cloves growing under forest canopy.

Afternoon: Last-minute shopping for tea, homemade chocolates, and spices. Depart for Kochi airport or Aluva station. Expect ~3.5–4 hours by road to COK; pad your schedule for mountain curves.

Evening (if staying late): A final cup of strong Kerala “chaya” at a roadside stall—poured high and foamy—before you wind down from the hills.

Food and drink: quick picks you’ll love

• Breakfast/coffee: Saravana Bhavan (idli-vada combos, filter coffee), Munnar Bake House (tea cakes, puffs, decent cappuccino in town).
• Lunch: Gurubhavan (banana leaf thali; ask for today’s fish), Sri Nivas (veg thali and North Indian staples).
• Dinner: Rapsy Restaurant (Kerala favorites and Middle Eastern-influenced plates), Restaurant Aimie at The Panoramic Getaway (contemporary regional plates with views).
• Tea to take home: KDHP Ripple Tea outlets—look for whole-leaf black, green, and fragrant cardamom.

Need a second wildlife or village day?

If elephants and village life fascinate you, consider a different route and cultural stops with:

Anakulam Wild Elephant Village life tour (By Munnar Info)

Wherever you roam, carry a light jacket, sunblock, and water. Roads are narrow; hire local drivers for comfort and safety.

Wrap-up: In a week, you’ll have walked tea trails, chased waterfalls, watched hills blush at sunset, and—if luck favored you—spotted elephants along a mountain stream. Munnar’s blend of quiet mornings, fragrant cups, and big-sky viewpoints lingers long after the last sip of tea.