Best time to visit Munnar

coco_harry

I would like to travel on the 1st week of april and have shortlisted Munnar for my trip. I am travelling with my wife and a kid. I am a member of Club Mahindra and planning to opr for Club Mahindra Munnar [ open to other options ]. Will be travelling from Kolkata and getting down at Coimbatore [ train ].

I have seven days at Munnar or kerala. IF you all people can help me in planning the trip it would be great.

mathis

Hi!!!!!
Its a womderful decision that you have decided to visit Munnar during summer.But restrict your visit trip to Munnar to 3 days or atleast 4days there are better places in Kerala to see like Kochin,thekkady,Kumarakom.

You have lot of time to plan your trip as you will be coming only in April.

coco_harry

Thanks for such a quick reply.

Can you just elaborate a little more like the days and places. I would not like to travel much - like 150kms per day and not more.

I am absolutely open to any ideas and can extend my holiday in kerala to 10days if required.

snonymous

From Coimbatore, the road route to Munnar is via Udumalpet crossing the state border just after Amaravathi, at the Chinnar Sanctuary. The route is extremely scenic through the sanctuary, via Marayoor, high altitude tea estates and then to Munnar town. There is a lot to see along this route but you may be very tired after your long train journey, and prefer to save it for another day. From Munnar you will have to go to Chinnakanal [20km from Munnar town] via Devikulam and Lockhart Gap for the Mahindra Resort. It is better if you rent a pvt taxi for this journey. The Mahindra Resort is extremely well located with fantastic views of the lake Anaiyerangal below and high mountains immediately behind it. You can easily spend 7 days here with more than enough to do and enjoy, at a leisurely pace. There are several day trips in and around Munnar you can do such as to the prehistoric dolmens near Marayoor, Top Station, Shola forests etc, as well as a trip to the Periyar Sanctuary if you want [3hrs from Mahindra]. The Kolukkumalai high altitude tea estates are also very close to Mahindra.

Or if you prefer, you could stay part of the time at Mahindra and part of the time elsewhere.

If you are interested, you can read about my recent trip to the Munnar area at My Kerala holiday - May 2008

Some of my photos of the Munnar region at http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog...3220/tpod.html

Also, have a look at keralatourism.org for more information.

April is a very good time to go, it is just after spring and the flowers will be in bloom.

mathis

hi!!!!
You will be taking the route snonymous has said and you shouldn't miss the scenic route, if you are fortunate you can see elephants,peacocks,spotted deer and many more.But it will be a long journey to Munnar from coimbatore it will take approx (3-3.30hrs_if you travel by a cab.
In munnar you can visit places like mattupatti dam,kundallay dam,echo point,photo point, honey bee tree,rajamally-anaimudi peak the highest south indian peak you can see nilgiri thar a rare species there.Head work's dam,Blossom international park are the few places you can see in munnar you can spend 3 days in Munnar slowly visiting these places without any haste and too much of travelling.you can also see marayoor sandal forest,spice plantation and topstation.

Then you can go to Thekkady where you having boating and sightseeing there you get to enjoy the flora and fauna of thekkady and the slow boat.(its optional)

kochin is a place you shouldn't miss, Jew temple (synagogue),chinese fishing nets,Mattancherry palace are quiet intresting to see, kochin is about 150km away from munnar.

Aleppy or kumarakom is equally wonderful,before going to Kochin you can spend some time in the backwaters of aleppy or kumarakom in the boathouse,you can enjoy yourselves in the backwaters of kerala they give you a different experience.

if you have decided to spend time in kerala for 10days then you can visit Trivandrum too but it will definitely be a long tiring journey specially in april because its going to be hot there so its upto you instead you can extend you stay in munnar or thekkady.

coco_harry

Thanks.

I was planning the trip like
kolkata - coimbatore - munnar - thekkady - trivandrum - house boat ride to allepey - kovalam - cochin - kolkata

I could pre pone my program to end of january. Please suggest

1. Wether the itenary is feasible.
2. The number of days to stay at each place. I do not want to travel more then 200 - 250 kms each day.
3. Other then munnar, places to stay and the approx cost of lodging and fooding.
4. Should I hire a personal cab for the entire tour or take cabs from point to point.
5. Places to see in and around the places I am visiting.

I can also change my travel dates if required to catch up something special.

snonymous

Hope this helps. Jan is a good month weather wise.

coco_harry

Thanks for your reply snonymous.

Could you be a little elaborate about the itenary I should take. from where to where should I take the boat ride.

I am checking the other threads for places to visit in the mean time. Is home stay a popular thing in Kerala also.

PLease advise

snonymous

Backwaters boat ride: Sorry, the last time I did a backwaters trip was in 2000 or so at Allepey and near Cochin, and once or twice before in the nineties from Quilon. Im not a backwater trip fan.

But you will get plenty of good advice from our members here who have done it. There are several threads on this as well, if you do a search. KTDC offers a half day backwater trip from Cochin for those who do not have more time. http://www.ktdc.com/Tours.htm
If you want a houseboat stay you will have to go to Allepey or Kumarakom.

Home stay is very popular in Kerala. Lots of threads on this topic as well as several reviews in the hotels section.

CliveG

The KTDC backwater trip is a full day trip. Starting from Cochin a vehicle takes you to the backwaters and you then spend the day on two different boats. A guide assists and provides plenty of information. You will stop off at several places during the dya. Lunch is included. Last year the cost was about Rs 475 per person which is great value for a relaxing and interesting day out. Highly recommended.

snonymous

There is a half day trip as well, in canoe type boats. I remember this well because of the many kingfishers and arack shops en route!!! It was quite nice, if you havent been on backwaters before, and as I mentioned earlier, if you do not have that much time to spare. Dont remember how much it cost but it wasnt much. The bus from the KTDC centre at Cochins Marine Drive took us somewhere out of the city area and the boat rides commenced from that place.

CliveG

I didn't know about the half day trip. The full day does the small canoes as part of the day. Going along the small canals and seeing the kingfishers was brilliant. The full day includes a visit to a spice and herb garden.

coco_harry

Thanks CliveG and snonymous.

I am a little confused. Is the backwater trip different from a houseboat travel ? Are the routes different ?

Harry

snonymous

Houseboat: These are like floating hotels, lots of them in the Allepey backwaters. You can stay in them as many people prefer to do. The KTDC tours Clive G and I were referring to, are day trips.

I expect you could also do a day trip in a houseboat. Have a look at this thread:

Kerala Backwaters - A cruise on budgets!

Im sure you will get responses from members who have stayed in houseboats.

coco_harry

sorry for a late response.

Thanks snonymous. Actually right now am in a confusion. Whether Coorg on 26th January or Munnar in April. Can you all suggest ?