Trekking in Munnar
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Time Required : 4-5 hrs
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Trekking in Munnar, Munnar Overview
Perched atop the undulating peaks of the great range of Sahyadri, a World Heritage Site declared by UNESCO, Munnar is a mesmerising hill station in Kerala that offers a plethora of trekking trails for the trekkers to explore. The whole range is covered with carpets of greenery, low slopes covered with some of the world's highest tea plantations and rainforests rich in biodiversity, endemics and spice plantations and hills with their crests hidden behind a blanket of fog along with stretches of rugged terrains.
You can choose among the many existing trek routes, some of them very popular, some not so known. There are some which can be done in a day, and some take longer as the routes are interconnected to form a web of trek trail for a more adventurous and exciting experience for the trekkers. The treks vary in difficulty, but they offer equal exuberance nonetheless.
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Trekking Routes in Munnar
1. Lakshmi Hills Trek Route
Difficulty: Moderate
Not the highest neither the most famous trekking route in Munnar, Lakshmi Hills trail is definitely among the most enriching ones with spectacular landscape and a moderately steep climb. Starting from a point around 3 km from Munnar towards Kochi on NH 85, the 14 kilometers climb takes you through tea plantations, revenue lands and then open green grasslands and some undulating rocky slopes. You can get a chance to witness the native fauna and even some rare endemic species of birds and butterflies. At some point in the walk, you will get a glimpse of Anamudi - the highest peak of South India as well as the Western Ghats.
2. Chokramudi Peak Trek
Difficulty: Moderate to high
A part of the Eravikulam National Park, the trek to Chokramudi peak engulfs you in its serenity throughout the walk. Initially, a walk through some plantations starting from the base at Pothamedu, the trail gives way to some difficult ridges, grasslands, and patches of evergreen Shola forests. All the while a cool mountain mist and the emerald green Anaimalai range in the background accompany you to the highest elevation. The usual 4-5 hours trek can be extended by covering an extra 1 km walk through very steep and difficult terrain. Being located inside a national park, you will have to complete the formalities and follow their rules strictly. You might meet some wild animals like gaurs and elephants and face a leech attack inside the Shola forests, but with some caution, those should not be a problem in this enticing experience.
3. Mathikettan Rainforest Trek
Difficulty: Moderate
All those hours you spent watching the rainforests on National Geographic - if you want to make them a reality for you, this is the trek you need to get on with. This trek takes you from Thondimala to Shantanpara through the dense Shola forests, rich in biodiversity and endemic flora and fauna. Do not miss the opportunity to witness the great reserve of wilderness that the South Indian forests have to offer and observe them in their natural habitat. Keep an eye out for sambars, elephants, spotted deer, gaurs, and giant squirrels as well as some rare variety of birds. Maintain silence and let the quaint sound of the forest fill your ears.
4. Meesapulimala Trek
Difficulty: Moderate to High
No trek is of extreme difficulty in the cozy and comfortable land of Munnar, but Meesapulimala being the second highest peak of Sahyadri range, is one of the more challenging and adventurous ones. Peaked at 2640 meters, the ascent to the top is marked with wild forests, waves of green plains, patches of rugged terrains and stretches of rhododendron, all nestled in between the old and mighty peaks of Sahyadri standing sentinels to the sprawling wilderness for ages. Like all other treks, this too will take you through a variety of trails, through tea gardens and grasslands and forests dotted with species native to the region. The clearings in the higher altitude offer spectacular view of the mist-covered valleys below covered with woods and cobwebs of trickling mountain brooks, all giving the place a mystical look.
Difficulty: Moderate
Not the highest neither the most famous trekking route in Munnar, Lakshmi Hills trail is definitely among the most enriching ones with spectacular landscape and a moderately steep climb. Starting from a point around 3 km from Munnar towards Kochi on NH 85, the 14 kilometers climb takes you through tea plantations, revenue lands and then open green grasslands and some undulating rocky slopes. You can get a chance to witness the native fauna and even some rare endemic species of birds and butterflies. At some point in the walk, you will get a glimpse of Anamudi - the highest peak of South India as well as the Western Ghats.
2. Chokramudi Peak Trek
Difficulty: Moderate to high
A part of the Eravikulam National Park, the trek to Chokramudi peak engulfs you in its serenity throughout the walk. Initially, a walk through some plantations starting from the base at Pothamedu, the trail gives way to some difficult ridges, grasslands, and patches of evergreen Shola forests. All the while a cool mountain mist and the emerald green Anaimalai range in the background accompany you to the highest elevation. The usual 4-5 hours trek can be extended by covering an extra 1 km walk through very steep and difficult terrain. Being located inside a national park, you will have to complete the formalities and follow their rules strictly. You might meet some wild animals like gaurs and elephants and face a leech attack inside the Shola forests, but with some caution, those should not be a problem in this enticing experience.
3. Mathikettan Rainforest Trek
Difficulty: Moderate
All those hours you spent watching the rainforests on National Geographic - if you want to make them a reality for you, this is the trek you need to get on with. This trek takes you from Thondimala to Shantanpara through the dense Shola forests, rich in biodiversity and endemic flora and fauna. Do not miss the opportunity to witness the great reserve of wilderness that the South Indian forests have to offer and observe them in their natural habitat. Keep an eye out for sambars, elephants, spotted deer, gaurs, and giant squirrels as well as some rare variety of birds. Maintain silence and let the quaint sound of the forest fill your ears.
4. Meesapulimala Trek
Difficulty: Moderate to High
No trek is of extreme difficulty in the cozy and comfortable land of Munnar, but Meesapulimala being the second highest peak of Sahyadri range, is one of the more challenging and adventurous ones. Peaked at 2640 meters, the ascent to the top is marked with wild forests, waves of green plains, patches of rugged terrains and stretches of rhododendron, all nestled in between the old and mighty peaks of Sahyadri standing sentinels to the sprawling wilderness for ages. Like all other treks, this too will take you through a variety of trails, through tea gardens and grasslands and forests dotted with species native to the region. The clearings in the higher altitude offer spectacular view of the mist-covered valleys below covered with woods and cobwebs of trickling mountain brooks, all giving the place a mystical look.
Best Time To Visit Trekking
Veteran and adventurous trekkers usually prefer the monsoon season because of the great challenge they offer, but since the Munnar routes are more or less covered with rainforests and rugged terrains, they tend to get very slippery and dangerous in the immediate season time. So a better option would be to visit the place right after monsoon till summer chimes in - that is, from September to March.
Tips For Visiting Trekking
1. The treks of Munnar are not that difficult to find your way through, but there are certain administrative procedures in certain places. Some places might pose a lack of safety for trekkers to tread alone. So it is advisable that you opt for an agency or company that offers trekking packages and follow their itinerary.
2. Always use good shoes; they are your best friends while trekking no matter the duration or terrain.
3. Carry salt with you in your rucksack to fight the leeches that will most definitely bite you while walking through the forests.
4. Carry light food and lots of water.
5. Unleash the shutterbug in you. Carry your camera as there will be ample opportunities to capture wildlife, breathtaking views from atop the highest points and otherwise sprawling tea plantations and grasslands.
2. Always use good shoes; they are your best friends while trekking no matter the duration or terrain.
3. Carry salt with you in your rucksack to fight the leeches that will most definitely bite you while walking through the forests.
4. Carry light food and lots of water.
5. Unleash the shutterbug in you. Carry your camera as there will be ample opportunities to capture wildlife, breathtaking views from atop the highest points and otherwise sprawling tea plantations and grasslands.
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