Munnar

Accommodation

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West Wood Hotels & Resorts
Munnar , Kerala
Phone - 91-4865-230884, 230885, 230886
Fax - 91-4865-230886
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Royal Retreat
Kannan Devan Hills,
Munnar-685612, Kerala
Ph- 91-4865-230440,231112,231113,
231114, 231115
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Hotel Hillview
Kannan Devan Hills
Munnar 685 612, Kerala, India.
Ph : 91-4865- 230567 , 230882
Fax : (04865) 230241
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Las Palmas Resorts
N.H. 49, Devikulam
Idukki - 685613 Kerala,
Ph : 91-4865 264218, 264258, Mob: 09447056421
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Issacs Residency
Munnar, Kerala State, India,
Phone: +91-4865-230501/502/503,
Fax: +91-4865-230265
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Munnar Tourist Home
Munnar Tourist Home
Devikulam Road,
Munnar, Idukki
Kerala 685612
Ph - 91-4865-230353, 230862
Fax - 91-4865-231385
Contact Now : E-mail 1, E-mail2

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Camelot Resort
Munnar P.O., Idukki
Kerala - 685 612
Ph - (91)4865-231195, 230540
Fax : (91)4865-230540
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Great Escapes Resorts
Chinnakkanal (Munnar)
Idukki - 685 618, Kerala,
Tel : 00914865 285899, 9446605145, 09447006724
Email1,E- mail 2

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Deshadan Mountain Resorts
Pothamedu, Munnar
Pin 685612
Tel : 0091 4865 232910
Mobile : 94474 59912
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Olive Brook
P. B. No:62,
Pothamedu,
Munnar,
Idukki(Dist.),
Kerala - 685 612,
Tel:91 4865 230588, 231079
Mob: 94470 71076
Contact Now - E-mail 1,E-mail 2

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Forest Haven Resorts
Vattiyar P.O, Mankulam Road
Kallar, Munnar, Kerala,
Ph- 91- 4864-278401
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Sisiram Cottage
1X / 18 A,
M.S.A. Road,
Munnar, Kerala
Pin 685612.
Ph: 91-4865-231908, 91-484-2348352
Mob: 94475-12128
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The Siena Village,
Chinnakanal, Munnar-685 618, Kerala,
Tel: 91 4868-249261,249461
Fax:91 4868 -249328
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Munnar

Place: Idukki, Kerala
Significance: A quiet hill Station
Best Season: September to May Picture Gallery

Munnar, also known as the Kashmir of South India is a peaceful hill station with its impeccable beauty has become the most sought after destination for a holiday. Munnar was the erstwhile 'Summer Capital' of the British Government in South India. It is the luxuriant gift of nature to the Western Ghats, the eastern border of Kerala and an adjoining parts of Tamilnadu. The very name 'Munnar' means three rivers and there are actually three of them, confluence of three mountain streams-Mudrapuzha, Nallathanni and Kundala 5000ft above sea level. Munnar consists of vast sloping areas of tea, most of which mostly are owned by Tata Tea. Coffee and cardamom plantations give it a simplistic and smooth appearance. Munnar is a perennial favourite of Indian honeymooners.

Dense forests, wildlife sanctuaries and major cash crop plantations cover most of the region. Among the exotic flora found in the forests and grasslands here is the Neelakurinji. At that time, the hill side will appear bluish in colour. This flower bathes the hills in blue once every twelve years, will bloom next in 2006AD. Munnar also has the highest peak in South India-Anamudi, which towers over 2695m. Anamudi is an ideal spot for trekking. Munnar abounds in animals like elephants and Nilgiri langurs. Traditions of the British Tea Plantation town are still preserved in this heavenly and un-spoilt hill station.

Places to Visit

Potheamedu (6km from Munnar)
Pothamedu offers an excellent view of the tea, coffee and cardamom plantations in Munnar. The rolling hills, the cool mountain and the breathtaking scenery here is ideal for trekking and long mountain walks.

Devikulam (7km from Munnar)
This small hill station with its velvet lawns, exotic flora and fauna and the cool mountain air . It is a beautiful place with lot of tea plantations. The Sta Devi Lake with its mineral waters and picturesque surroundings is a good picnic spot. The lake is also ideal for trout fishing.

Pallivasal (8km from Munnar)
This is the venue of the first Hydro Electric project in Kerala. It is place of immense scenic beauty. On working days it is possible to visit Hydro Electric project. (Permission should be taken from the electricity department)

Attukal (9km from Munnar)
A panorama of waterfalls and rolling hills, Attukal, located between Munnar and Pallivasal, is a feast for the eyes. The place is also ideal for long treks.

Nayamakad (10km from Munnar)
Located beween Munnar and Rajamala, Nyayamakad is a land of scintillating waterfalls. The waters cascade down a hill from a height of about 1600 meters. The enchanting surroundings makes an excellent picnic spot and ideal trekking point..

Mattupetty
Driving through the Kodaikanal Rd, Mauttupetty just 13km from Munnar situated at a height of 1700m. Mattupetty is known for its highly specialised dairy farm. -The Indo Livestock Project. Over 100 varieties of high yielding cattle can be seen here. Mattupetty has a beautiful rose garden. Visitors are allowed into three of the 11 cattle sheds at the farm. Visit time 9 to 11 hrs and 1400-1530hrs. The Mattupetty lake and dam is just a shot distance from the farm, is a very beautiful picnic sport. The sprawling tea plantations and the Kundala lake are other attractions in the vicinity. DTPC Idukki provides boating facilities in the Mattupetty dam. Speed launch, slow speed boat and motor boats are available for hire. The famous Eco point is very near and this scenic place gets its name from the natural echo phenomenon here.

Chithirapuram (10km from Munnar)
A small village with sleepy little cottages, bungalows, old playgrounds and courts. Chithiripuram still reminds us of an old world charm. Home of the Pallyvasal hydel power project, this hill town is also famous for its picturesque tea plantations.

Lock Heart Gap (13km from Munnar)
This is an ideal place for adventure tourism and trekking. The fresh mountain air, the mist clad hills and panoramic view make it worthy of a visit.

Eravikulam National Park/Rajamala (15km from Munnar)
Eravikulam National Park lures the travellers with its irresistible grace and beauty. The 97 sq km park is situated in the Devikulam Taluk is a home to the Nilgiri Tahr, Nilgiri Langur, sambar and the Lion-tailed Macaque. click here to know more ..

How to get there

Air: Nearest Airport Kochi (139km), Madurai(142km) Coimbatore(167km), Kozhikode(287km), Thiruvananthapuram(302km). Daily IA flights to Nedumbassery Airport near Ernakulam from Mumbai, Bangalore, Delhi and Goa and four flights from Chennai. Jet has daily flights from Mumbai.

Rail: Nearest Railway Stations Kochi (13km), Kottayam (147km), Madurai(162km), Thiruvananthapuram (302km). Trains that connect Kochi with important cities and tourist destinations in the country are Kerala Express, Trivandrum-Chennai Mail, Nizamuddin-Ernakulam Express, and the Trivandrum Rajdhani Express.

Road: The place is well connected by a well developed network of road transport. Buses run by the KSRTC start from the Central Bus Stand in Ernakulam. One can access Munnar by road from Kottayam (147 km), Thekkady (110 km), Madurai (160 km) and Thrissur (158 km).

Tourist Information Offices
District Tourism Office, Kumily. Ph: 91-4865-322620.
DTPC Information Centre, Old Munnar Ph:91-4865- 530679, 530682.

Tourism

Tourism is travel for predominantly recreational or leisure purposes or the provision of services to support this leisure travel. The World Tourism Organization defines tourists as people who "travel to and stay in places outside their usual environment for not more than one consecutive year for leisure, business and other purposes not related to the exercise of an activity remunerated from within the place visited". Tourism has become a popular global leisure activity. In 2006, there were over 842 million international tourist arrivals.[1]
Tourism is vital for many countries, due to the income generated by the consumption of goods and services by tourists, the taxes levied on businesses in the tourism industry, and the opportunity for employment in the service industries associated with tourism. These service industries include transportation services such as cruise ships and taxis, accommodation such as hotels, restaurants, bars, and entertainment venues, and other hospitality industry services such as spas and resorts.

Definition

One of the earliest definitions of tourism was provided by the Austrian economist in 1910, who defined it as, "some total of operators, mainly of an economic nature, which directly relate to the entry, stay and movement of foreigners inside and outside a certain country, city or a region."
Hunziker and Krapf, in 1941, defined tourism as "the sum of the phenomena and relationships arising from the travel and stay of non-residents, insofar as they do not lead to permanent residence and are not connected with any earning activity."[2] In 1976 Tourism Society of England defined it as "Tourism is the temporary, short-term movement of people to destination outside the places where they normally live and work and their activities during the stay at each destination. It includes movements for all purposes." In 1981 International Association of Scientific Experts in Tourism [3] defined Tourism in terms of particular activities selected by choice and undertaken outside the home environment.
The United Nations classified three forms of tourism in 1994 in its Recommendations on Tourism Statistics: Domestic tourism, which involves residents of the given country traveling only within this country; Inbound tourism, involving non-residents traveling in the given country; and Outbound tourism, involving residents traveling in another country.
The UN also derived different categories of tourism by combining the 3 basic forms of tourism: Internal tourism, which comprises domestic tourism and inbound tourism; National tourism, which comprises domestic tourism and outbound tourism; and International tourism, which consists of inbound tourism and outbound tourism. Intrabound tourism is a term coined by the Korea Tourism Organization and widely accepted in Korea. Intrabound tourism differs from domestic tourism in that the former encompasses policymaking and implementation of national tourism policies.
Recently, the tourism industry has shifted from the promotion of inbound tourism to the promotion of intrabound tourism because many countries are experiencing tough competition for inbound tourists. Some national policymakers have shifted their priority to the promotion of intrabound tourism to contribute to the local economy. Examples of such campaigns include "See America" in the United States, "Get Going Canada" in Canada, and "Guseok Guseok" (corner to corner) in South Korea.
Before people are able to experience tourism they usually need disposable income (i.e. money to spend on non-essentials); time off from work or other responsibilities; leisure time tourism infrastructure, such as transport and accommodation; and legal clearance to travel.
Individually, sufficient health is also a condition, and of course the inclination to travel. Furthermore, in some countries there are legal restrictions on travelling, especially abroad. Certain states with strong governmental control over the lives of citizens (notably established Communist states) may restrict foreign travel only to trustworthy citizens. The United States prohibits its citizens from traveling to some countries, for example Cuba.

History

Wealthy people have always traveled to distant parts of the world to see great buildings or other works of art, to learn new languages, to experience new cultures, or to taste new cuisine. As long ago as the time of the Roman Republic places such as Baiae were popular coastal resorts for the rich.
The terms tourist and tourism were first used as official terms in 1937 by the League of Nations. Tourism was defined as people travelling abroad for periods of over 24 hours.

Pilgrimage

The history of European tourism can perhaps be said to originate with the medieval pilgrimage. Although undertaken primarily for religious reasons, the pilgrims in the Canterbury Tales quite clearly saw the experience as a kind of holiday (the term itself being derived from the 'holy day' and its associated leisure activities). Pilgrimages created a variety of tourist aspects that still exist - bringing back souvenirs, obtaining credit with foreign banks (in medieval times utilising international networks established by Jews and Lombards), and making use of space available on existing forms of transport (such as the use of medieval English wine ships bound for Vigo by pilgrims to Santiago De Compostela). Pilgrimages are still important in modern tourism - such as to Lourdes or Knock in Ireland. But there are modern equivalents - Graceland and the grave of Jim Morrison in Père Lachaise Cemetery.
During the seventeenth century, it became fashionable in England to undertake a Grand Tour. The sons of the nobility and gentry were sent upon an extended tour of Europe as an educational experience. The eighteenth century was the golden age of the Grand Tour, and many of the fashionable visitors were painted at Rome by Pompeo Batoni. A modern equivalent of the Grand Tour is the phenomenon of the backpacker, although cultural holidays, such as those offered by Swann-Hellenic, are also important.

Health tourism

Health tourism has always existed, but it was not until the eighteenth century that it became important. In England, it was associated with spas, places with supposedly health-giving mineral waters, treating diseases from gout to liver disorders and bronchitis. The most popular resorts were Bath, Cheltenham, Buxton, Harrogate, and Tunbridge Wells. Visits to take 'the waters' also allowed the visitors to attend balls and other entertainments. Continental Spas such as Carlsbad (Karlovy Vary) attracted many fashionable travellers by the nineteenth century.
It could be argued that Britain was the home of the seaside holiday. In travelling to the coast, the population was following in the steps of Royalty. King George III made regular visits to Weymouth when in poor health. At the time, a number of doctors argued the benefits of bathing in sea water, and sea bathing as a widespread practice was popularised by the Prince Regent (later George IV), who frequented Brighton for this purpose.