Periyar and Munnar

stringyfing

Could anyone tell me if we need to obtain a permit for trecking in or around Periyar National Park? Also what is the terrain like there i.e could I get away with wearing walking sandals or do I need to take proper shoes? Also does anyone know of a comfortable place to stay in Munnar? We are not experienced travellers and any advice at all about visiting Kerala (starting at Cochin) would be very gratefully received. Thank you in advance for any help you may be able to give us.

kalcorn

If you want to go trekking you do need permits - the Rough Guide to India has advice on how to apply for them. However, it is also possible to walk through the tea plantations if you follow the quieter roads out of town. We stayed two nights in Munnar at the Keenan Devan Hills Club (500 rupees a night for a twin bed room in a cottage), but there are other more modern hotels in town. You will not need to book in advance except in high season (April to September).
If you follow signs for the High Range Club (across the river from the Tata Tea Sports Ground) and carry on walking down a very quiet road, you will soon find yourself in fantastic walking country - walking sandals are fine for this terrain, and it is fine to walk up the tracks too. The hills around Munnar are stunning.

chrissawka

can a person just walk around the hills and tea plantations or do u need permission from the land owner?

also as i will be travelling alone is this avisable to venture off walking in the hillsides/fields alone?
i don't want to sound so defensive and untrusting but i like to by my actions after hearing the experiences of others
i trust what is posted here as it is the experience of travelors in the same position i'll be in
thank u for sharing

__________________
enjoyed 6 weeks in southern india and saving up to go back..
i never hated.....yet loved<more>a country soo much
words cannot truely describe the satisfaction it gives u

Watson

Sadly I can’t say anything about Periyar ; I wanted to go last time, but couldn’t quite squeeze it in time-wise. I’ve heard great things about it though. In Cochin I would definitely recommend the 6 hour backwater cruise. A wonderful way to spend a nice relaxing day!

laureninTN

i've just been to periyar - you aren't allowed to trek in the park unaccompanied. even with a guide you are only allowed in for two hours or so and you don't see a lot. better trekking in ooty and kodaikanal so i've been told.

sknair

There is a person called P J Titus who offers trekking in Munnar - over the WesternGhats to Kodaikanal or Madurai. His website is www.triotoursindia.com.

I have tried it once and it is excellent.

stringyfing

Thanks for all of your advice, we have just returned from 14 days in Kerala. I wore my shoes at Periyar and stayed at the Govt run Periyar house inside the park. We bought a ticket at the gate which allowed us to go in and out of the park, then had to show the ticket again when we went on the boat ride round Periyar lake (as well as ticket for boat trip). We went on short trecks (2 hours) with guides and saw deer, black monkeys, monkeys, wild pigs, various birds, otters, buffalo, at one point our guide thought that there was a bear near us and looked very anxious.

If staying at Periyar house try and take a travel alarm, the staff woke us up an hour earlier than we had asked for a treck. We spent two nights at Periyar which was just right. The staff weren't terrible, but they were the least helpful out of all the places we stayed.

Munnar was beautiful and the temperature was cooler. I did get stared at the most here though, although once I'd been through the bazaar a couple of times and I'd bought a big shawl the stares were more curious than rude. We stayed at a hotel called The Westwood (www.hotelwestwood.com) it was along a quiet road with fantastic views from our room. The food, room and staff were very good, no alcohol served there though. There was a tourist info centre next to the hotel which was useful. We got a rickshaw to the tea plantations, waterfalls, Top Station, echo point and a boat ride at Mattupetty Dam. We spent 3 days in Munnar.

In answer to Chris we met a lady who had stayed in Munnar and was travelling through India on her own. She did find things hard going at times. Personally (Idon't know if you are male or female) I would not fancy wandering around Munnar on my own and would try and arrange to meet up with another traveller (but I'm a tall pale blonde female coward and stand out like a sore thumb).


You don't need permission to walk up the roads that overlook the tea plant covered mountains/hills. Take a rickshaw up to Top Station its to far too walk.

Other places we visited were ; Kottayayam (just visited temple), Verbanad lake, Kannur,Gurayvoor, Trichur, Fort Cochin, on the last day went to Cherai beach and just relaxed. If I can help anyone by sharing our experience please ask.

stringyfing

I just tried the web link for hotel Westwood (I got the link from their leaflet) it doesn't work. So here is their address instead;
West Wood Hotels
Munnar
Near M.S.A., Munnar. Pin-685612,Kerala
Telephone; 0486-530884,530885, 530886

It also has an e-mail address on leaflet, don't know if it works though; E-mail; info@hotelwestwood.com

steven_ber

Dmitri

About getting to topstation , there are buses which do the 41 km trip from Munnar to Topstation ....they go on to a village to koiloor further down the road . Its a much cheaper way of getting there ..Rs 17 one way . The same bus picks you back up from topstation in about 1.5 hrs .

qualo

periyar- bad
munnar- great
my personal limited experience.