Munnar, Kerala

July 10, 2008 | 26 Comments

Waiting for the fish to bite
or waiting for wind to fly a kite.
Or waiting around for Friday night
or waiting perhaps for their Uncle Jake
or a pot to boil
or a better break
or a string of pearls
or a pair of pants
or a wig with curls
or another chance.
Everyone is just waiting.
~ Dr. Seuss

That’s the feeling one gets in Kerala on the southernmost tip of India. It’s the lush, green strip sandwiched between the Sahyadri mountain range and the Arabian Sea. It’s a small area the size of Maryland criscrossed by 44 rivers. It’s the place where time stands still.

A GLIMPSE OF KERALA

Our friend Shankar took these pics on a recent visit.

Munnar is a hill station that lies at the confluence of three rivers in the Sahyadris and is home to 30 tea estates. The mountains here are called the ‘Nilgiris‘ (blue mountains). The distant hills are enveloped by a misty blue haze. Besides, every 12 years, the hills are bathed in violet-blue by the blooms of the Nilakurinji (Strobilanthes Kunthiana).

CLICK: Coffee and Tea

Photographer: Shankar Subramaniam

Indian teas from Darjeeling and Assam are known and available worldwide. Nilgiri tea grown in the south is lesser known. It is dark, richly aromatic, and ideal for blends like Orange Pekoe. In November 2006, at the first ever tea auction held in Las Vegas, a Nilgiri Tea fetched a world record price of $600 per kg.

His quaint little hotel

Niligiri Tahr (a type of mountain goat)

Ready for a ride

Further south: a houseboat on the Kumarakkom backwaters

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26 Comments

  1. Mythili says:

    Wow lovely article! I never get tired reading about Kerala. Thanks for bringing this to us.

  2. OhioMom says:

    Lovely, thanks so much for sharing …

  3. Sonu says:

    Hi,
    OMG…fantastic pixs…!!! U reminded me my Kerala trip. The Kerala state possess beautiful nature with highest greenery in India. I always would love to visit again.
    Thank you sharing these pictursques snaps.
    Sonu:)

  4. farida says:

    These photos are so beautiful! What a beautiful place. So lush, colorful, exotic, just amazing.

  5. Cham says:

    I ve been before to those places except Kumarakkom, looks like peaceful place the backwater, awesome pictures….

  6. Dee says:

    God’s own country , heaven on earth.. I can never forget my trip to kerala .. one of my bachelorette party trips!!! we girls had a blast!!

  7. Pragyan says:

    Awesome pics! My best friend goes there often on vacation..would like to join her some day on a trip to Munnar..God’s own country for sure!

  8. lakshmi says:

    We spent a week on a houseboat – gently wading from Kumarakkom almost upto Quilon. I don’t think I’ve seen the world pause for a moment at any other place.

  9. Maheswari says:

    Beautiful place. Visited almost 10 years ago,but still remember ever moment. Thanks for this lovely article.

  10. nags says:

    oh no! u have made me terribly homesick now :(

  11. Shibani says:

    Wonderful clicks bee.I had heard about Munnar is a great escape.Looks so tempting.May be go there someday.

  12. Rachna says:

    hmmmm, nostalgia nostalgia….i have been to munnar….it is indeed beautiful…….and all these pics really make me miss amma’s house…..sigh

  13. Jayashree says:

    Beautiful pics, Bee….esp the last one…

  14. Raaga says:

    I was looking at Munnar for our annual vacation in Aug-Sept this year… I think we’ll go there for sure :-)

  15. sushma says:

    headr so much about the place and never been there. lovely clicks…

  16. Veda says:

    Fantastic pics Bee! I have been to backwaters, cochin ….but yet to visit munnar! after seeing your snaps….Its definitely one place I should include in my holiday lists.:-)

  17. Nabeela says:

    Kerala has always been my favorite ‘green’ place in India. The pictures above prove it…thanks for the wonderful post!

  18. richa says:

    beautiful! the greenery soothes the eye :)

  19. Bharti says:

    So beautiful and serene! Enjoyed looking at the pictures, thanks for posting.

  20. amar says:

    awesomepcs

  21. Miri says:

    Went two years back and this brought back so many lovely memories…..the hotel looks like Sterling where we stayed, but it was anything but quaint!

  22. Hey – I was born and brought up in Munnar. The pictures brought back some beautiful memories… thank you.

  23. rashmi prabhu says:

    hello im new to your blog, and i thoroughly “relish” reading your write-ups…these pics brought back my HM memories :) we had covered thekkady, munnar & kumarakom. hope to go again

  24. Marie says:

    you mentioned “Shankar’s quaint little hotel”

    what is it called ? maybe my hubby and I can book there when we visit Munnar

  25. nimi says:

    hi Jai n Bee,
    pictures are breath taking, fantastic. it shows the real beauty of Kerala. And glad to see the Tahr, which is said to be seen rarely in Munnar.
    I frequently visit your site and I appreciate your works.
    Very informative, beautiful blog. And esp the Click is really interesting.Wish to participate soon,:-).
    Thank you.



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