Munnar, at about 1,600 metres in Idukki district, sits where three mountain streams meet; the name is usually said to mean three rivers. British planters developed tea here in the late 19th century, and today the town is surrounded by some of the largest tea estates in India, their neat rows of bushes covering entire hillsides.
The things to do in Munnar include tea estate walks and factory visits, Eravikulam National Park with its Nilgiri tahr, dams and lakes, viewpoints looking down into Tamil Nadu, a sunrise jeep ride to one of the highest tea estates in the world, waterfalls and the rain-shadow forests of Chinnar and Marayoor.
Two to three days is ideal. September to March is the best time; the monsoon (June to August) is lush but wet, with landslide risk.
For how to get there, when to go and where to stay, see our Munnar travel guide.
Quick answer: best things to do in Munnar
- Walk through the tea estates
- Visit the Tea Museum
- See Nilgiri tahr at Eravikulam National Park
- Visit Mattupetty Dam and Echo Point
- Boat on Kundala Lake
- See the view from Top Station
- Take a sunrise jeep ride to Kolukkumalai
- See Attukal and Lakkam waterfalls
- Visit Chinnar and Marayoor
- Tour a spice garden
Going by road? See our guide to the Kochi to Munnar road trip.
Comparing hill stations? See our guide to hill stations in Kerala.
Tea country
Walk through the tea estates
The tea estates around Munnar, many run by Kanan Devan Hills Plantations, cover the hills in every direction. Walks along estate roads, especially in the morning mist, are one of the best things to do. Many homestays and resorts are set among the tea.
- Best time
- Early morning
- Good for
- Couples, photographers
Visit the Tea Museum
The Tea Museum at the Nallathanni estate explains the history of tea in Munnar with old machinery and photographs, and has a working demonstration of tea processing and a tasting.
- Time needed
- 1 hour
- Good to know
- Closed on Mondays
Take a sunrise jeep ride to Kolukkumalai
Kolukkumalai, often described as one of the highest tea estates in the world at around 2,100 metres, lies just across the Tamil Nadu border. Jeeps leave Munnar before dawn on a very rough track to reach it for sunrise over the clouds. Its factory still uses traditional methods.
- Best time
- Sunrise, September to March
- Good to know
- Very bumpy ride
Stay on a working estate
Several tea estates around Munnar and Chinnakanal offer bungalow or homestay accommodation, where you can walk the estate at dawn, see the pluckers at work and visit the factory. It is a quieter experience than staying in town, and many have views across the valleys.
- Good for
- Couples, slow travellers
National parks and viewpoints
See Nilgiri tahr at Eravikulam
Eravikulam National Park protects high grasslands and shola forest, and is home to the largest population of the endangered Nilgiri tahr, a mountain goat. Visitors take a shuttle bus to the Rajamala tourism zone and walk a paved path. Anamudi, the highest peak in South India at about 2,695 metres, rises within the park, though climbing it is not allowed.
The park usually closes for a few weeks in the calving season, roughly February to April. Neelakurinji, a shrub that blooms only once every 12 years, turned the hills blue in 2018; the next bloom is expected around 2030.
- Time needed
- 2–3 hours
- Good to know
- Closed in the calving season; book tickets online
Visit Mattupetty and Echo Point
Mattupetty Dam, about 13 km from town, has a reservoir with speedboat rides. Echo Point, a little further, is a lakeside spot where voices echo off the hills, and the Indo-Swiss dairy farm is nearby.
- Good for
- Families
Boat on Kundala Lake
Kundala Lake, beyond Echo Point, has pedal boats and shikaras on a calm reservoir surrounded by tea and eucalyptus.
See the view from Top Station
Top Station, at the Kerala–Tamil Nadu border about 32 km from Munnar, looks down steep slopes to the plains of Tamil Nadu. It was once the top of a ropeway carrying tea down the mountain. Views are best on clear mornings.
- Best time
- Morning
See Attukal and Lakkam waterfalls
Attukal Falls, between Munnar and Pallivasal, is a series of cascades best after the monsoon. Lakkam Falls, on the road to Marayoor, has a pool where bathing is sometimes allowed.
More viewpoints and walks
Walk to Pothamedu and Lockhart Gap
Pothamedu viewpoint, a few kilometres from town, looks over tea, coffee and cardamom plantations and the valleys. Lockhart Gap, on the road to Kochi, is a pass with sweeping views and strong winds, near the Lockhart tea estate.
- Best time
- Morning
Trek Chokramudi or Meesapulimala
Chokramudi, a peak on the Bison Valley road, is a short but steep trek with views of Anamudi. Meesapulimala, the second-highest peak in the Western Ghats, is reached on a longer guided trek organised through the forest development corporation; permits are required.
- Good for
- Trekkers
- Good to know
- Permits and guides needed
See Anayirangal Dam and Chinnakanal
Anayirangal Dam, surrounded by tea estates, is a calm reservoir where wild elephants sometimes come down to drink. Chinnakanal nearby has viewpoints and a waterfall.
Visit the Blossom Park and Photo Point
The Hydel Park (Blossom Park) near the town has gardens and play areas, and Photo Point on the Mattupetty road is a popular stop for pictures of the tea estates.
- Good for
- Families
Shop for tea and homemade chocolate
Munnar's town market and estate outlets sell tea, cardamom, pepper and other spices, and many shops make homemade chocolate. Buy from established shops for quality.
Beyond Munnar
Visit Chinnar and Marayoor
The road north-east to Marayoor and Chinnar drops into a rain-shadow area. Marayoor is known for sandalwood forests, a jaggery made from sugarcane, and prehistoric dolmens. Chinnar Wildlife Sanctuary is home to the grizzled giant squirrel, a rare species, and offers guided treks.
- Time needed
- Full day
Tour a spice garden
Spice gardens on the road to Munnar and near Thekkady show cardamom, pepper, cloves and vanilla. Buy spices, tea and homemade chocolate in town.
Watch Kathakali or kalaripayattu
Small theatres in Munnar hold evening shows of Kathakali and kalaripayattu for visitors.
- Best time
- Evening
Munnar by season
Winter (December to February)
Cool and clear, with frosty mornings at higher points such as Sevenmallay. It is the most popular time and also the busiest.
Post-monsoon (September to November)
The hills are green, waterfalls are full, and crowds are lighter. A lovely time to visit.
Monsoon (June to August)
Heavy rain, mist and occasional landslides. The estates are at their greenest, but viewpoints are often clouded.
Things to do in Munnar by type of traveller
Couples: A tea estate stay, the Kolukkumalai sunrise and evening walks in the mist.
Families: Eravikulam, Mattupetty and Kundala boating, the Tea Museum and a spice garden.
Nature lovers: Chinnar treks, Eravikulam and birdwatching in the shola forests.
Weekenders from Kochi: Two nights is enough for Eravikulam, the dams and lakes, Top Station and a tea estate walk.
What to do in Munnar with one day
Visit Eravikulam National Park early for the tahr. After lunch, see the Tea Museum and drive to Mattupetty, Echo Point and Kundala Lake, ending with the view at Top Station.
Practical tips for Munnar
- Kochi airport is about 110 km away, around four hours by road; Aluva is the nearest major railway station.
- Book Eravikulam tickets online in season.
- Carry a light jacket; evenings are cool all year.
- Roads can be affected by landslides in the monsoon.
- Avoid driving the ghat roads after dark; mist and sharp bends make them tricky.
- Book Kolukkumalai jeeps a day ahead through your hotel.
Plan the rest of your Munnar trip
Munnar things to do: FAQs
What are the best things to do in Munnar?
Walk the tea estates, visit the Tea Museum and Eravikulam National Park, see Mattupetty, Echo Point and Kundala Lake, go to Top Station and take a sunrise jeep ride to Kolukkumalai.
When is Eravikulam National Park closed?
It usually closes for a few weeks during the Nilgiri tahr calving season, roughly between February and April. Check exact dates before visiting.
When will Neelakurinji bloom next in Munnar?
The last mass bloom was in 2018, and the next is expected around 2030.
How many days are enough for Munnar?
Two to three days.
Is Munnar good for a honeymoon?
Yes. Tea estate resorts, misty mornings, sunrise at Kolukkumalai and quiet walks make Munnar one of Kerala's most popular honeymoon stops.
Things to do near Munnar
- Things to do in Thekkady: Periyar and spices, about three hours south
- Things to do in Kochi: about four hours away
- Vagamon: meadows and pine forests
- Things to do in Kodaikanal: Tamil Nadu's hill town
More things to do in Kerala
Published by the Kudozz Club editorial team · Last updated · How we research our guides
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