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For
tea lovers, Munnar is as an attractive destination for it is surrounded
by as many as 30 tea estates. It is an important tea industry.
One can visit a tea factory and watch the unusual journey of tea
– from being picked in the gardens to being processed. If possible,
visit one of the large beautiful bungalows that managers of the
tea estates live in.
The
Christ Church in Old Munnar is very old. The exteriors have worn
out with time though the charming interiors still have a very
nice ambience. It was consecrated way back in 1910 and still has
14 original rows of pews. The first Catholic Church in the High
Ranges was Mount Carmel Roman Catholic Church.
Munnar
has some excellent cycling tracks. They lead you through the green
valleys, across sandalwood and cardamom plantations, into the
forest for some treasured moments with nature. At the boat club
you can enjoy a ride and appreciate the surrounding picturesque
landscape. Many people have made Munnar their summer retreat.
They have constructed large and beautiful houses that add to the
city's beauty. Munnar also has a lovely residential public school
that is well equipped with a swimming pool and a tennis court.
Mattupetty
13km from Munnar Mattupetty is located at a height of 1700m above
sea level. This is where the Kerala Livestock Development Board's
research and cattle breeding centre is located. It has a large
campus sprawling across green meadows. Within the campus are beautiful
bungalows. The scenery at this place seems to be straight out
of a picture postcard. A major portion of the campus has been
constructed using timber. The centre started as an Indo-Swiss
project. Presently, over 100 varieties of cattle are reared here.
Mattupetty
is also well known for the Mattupetty Lake. The lake is actually
a reservoir created by a hydroelectric dam, and is surrounded
by high hills and lush green woods that make it a hot picnic spot.
The lake provides for boat rides. You can get excellent views
of the landscape around you. And if you are in luck, you might
come across some elephants roaming around in the woods.
Top
Station 41km from Munnar
Located
at a height of 2200km, this place has some of India's highest
tea estates. It is the topmost point on the Munnar-Kodaikanal
road. Top Station derived its name from a ropeway that connected
it to the Lower Station through the Middle Station. The Neelakurunji
plant (Strobilanthes) which flowers for a month once every 12
years is found in this region. During the flowering season, the
hills in this region are a riot of colours.
Devikulam
15km from Munnar
Devikulam,
one of the main hill stations of the state, offers breathtaking
views of the highest ranges of the Western Ghats. An exemplary
picnic spot is the Sita Devi Lake with its mineral water springs
and picturesque surroundings. The cool breeze, rare flora and
fauna make it very popular with nature lovers.
Sabarimala
190km north of Thiruvananthapuram
Sabarimala
is one of the holiest Hindu pilgrimage centres. It has the Ayyappa
Temple. The temple is dedicated to Lord Ayyappa, the son of Lord
Shiva (the Destroyer in the Hindu Holy Trinity of Creator-Preserver-Destroyer)
and Mohini. Another name by which Ayyappa is known is Hariharaputra
or the son (putra) of Lord Vishnu (Hari) and Lord Shiva (Hara).
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