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Tea-covered hills beneath a cloud-filled mountain sky

KERALA FIELD NOTES · 04 / 06

Munnar

A little closer to the clouds.

TEA GARDENS & MOUNTAIN AIR

See the photo journal ↓

WESTERN GHATS

Get to know
Munnar.

Tea-covered hills, winding roads and cool mountain landscapes in the Western Ghats.

Tea gardens trace the slopes in long green patterns, broken by wooded valleys and mist. The roads curve past viewpoints and small settlements. In the wider highlands, grassland and shola forest create a landscape quite different from Kerala’s coast.

Tea gardens and trees across the Munnar hills

THE STORIES BENEATH THE SCENERY

A little history.

Munnar has a history that includes Indigenous communities and the later expansion of plantations during the colonial period. Tea cultivation transformed much of the landscape and drew workers to the hills. The region’s present-day identity reflects both the plantation economy and the ecology of the Western Ghats.

More background on Munnar →

LOOK A LITTLE CLOSER

What makes it special.

Places to notice. Stories to ask about.

01

Tea landscapes

Enjoy the hillside views and learn about the work behind tea production. Enter estates only where visitors are permitted.

02

Eravikulam National Park

A protected highland habitat associated with the Nilgiri tahr. Opening and access can change seasonally.

03

Mountain viewpoints

Follow the winding roads for valley views, changing cloud cover and a cooler side of Kerala.

A FEW FRAMES FROM MUNNAR

The view from here.

Select a photograph to take a closer look.

Tea-covered hills beneath a cloud-filled mountain sky — 01Tea-covered hills beneath a cloud-filled mountain sky

Tea gardens and trees across the Munnar hills — 02Tea gardens and trees across the Munnar hills

Curving rows of tea following the slopes — 03Curving rows of tea following the slopes

A small building surrounded by green tea gardens — 04A small building surrounded by green tea gardens

BEFORE YOU GO

A few local
considerations.

Weather & seasons

Conditions are often pleasant outside the heaviest monsoon periods. Rain and mist can limit views, and protected areas may close seasonally.

Travel thoughtfully

Bring a light layer and allow extra travel time on mountain roads. Stay on permitted paths in plantations and protected areas.

CURIOUS ABOUT MUNNAR?

Start with a conversation.

Ask your local guide about the places that interest you.

Contact your guide →

THERE’S MORE TO DISCOVER

Keep wandering.

All six destinations →

Chinese fishing nets at sunset on the Kochi waterfront

PORT CITY & LIVING HISTORY

Kochi

Chinese fishing nets, old trading streets and a waterfront shaped by centuries of exchange.

Houseboat and coconut palms along the Kumarakom backwaters

LAKESIDE VILLAGES & BIRDLIFE

Kumarakom

A lakeside landscape of coconut palms, village waterways and birdlife around Vembanad.

Discover Kumarakom

Houseboats and coconut palms beside the backwaters

CANALS, HOUSEBOATS & BACKWATERS

Alleppey

Palm-lined canals, traditional houseboats and everyday life woven around the backwaters.

Discover Alleppey

Next field note Thekkady →