Tag: Hill station

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God’s own Country

Munaar

Munnar is a small town in the Idukki district along the Western Ghats. In Tamil, Munnar means three rivers. There are many other villages and towns around the area, people residing here are mostly Tamilians and Malayalees. With an elevation of 1,700 meters (5,577 feet) above sea level, Munnar is located at the Western Ghats and is one of the finest hill stations in Kerala. If you are interested in flora and fauna, Munnar will offer a plenty of exciting species to look for. Munnar is rich with exotic flora and fauna because of its climate. The Neelakkurinji flowers are most famous among them as they bloom once every 12 years. The whole valley turns violet ,and offer tourists to witness this nature’s one of most elegant gifts

This hill station is famous for trekking and the favorite trekking spot is the Aanamudi, which is the highest peak in the Western Ghats. The Munnar hill station was once a summer resort for British Officials at the era of pre-Independence. They played an important role in developing the tea-estates there.

Interesting Facts:

  • Munnar Echo Point is a scenic location which is lapped amidst the picturesque mountains of Munnar.  Listen to your own voices hitting the ravines and coming back to you, it is a magical experience and the beautiful clean lake formed just beside the hillock, makes the place even more splendid.Located close to the Top Station is another must-see spot, the Echo Point, known for its natural resonance. The echoes are not all that this point is popular for, the beautiful river flowing through the green grassy valley with tea and coffee plantations makes it a perfect spot for nature lovers. This is an amazing spot for photography.
  • Munnar is considered as the hill station which was once the summer resort for the British Government Elites.
  • Munnar has the highest peak of the Southern part of India called Anamudi Peak, which makes for an ideal spot for trekking. So, if you are a trekking enthusiastic, put your shoes on and trek away!
  • Munnar, today is the commercial centre for some of the world’s highest tea-growing estates.

Munnar has a wide range of adventurous sports to offer including rock-climbing, paragliding, trekking, cycling is just to name a few. Because of the natural beauty of the hills, these activities become more enjoyable.

Munnar is famous for the wild Neelakurinji orchids, which bloom once in twelve years when the entire valley turns violet.

You must not miss the Top Station. This is the highest point in Munnar, offers gleaming views of the hills, rivers and valleys surrounding the Western Ghats.

Munnar is a food haven for food lovers! All dishes here are cooked in coconut oil and garnished with crushed coconut.From puttu and kadala curry to appams with stew, Munnar offers a variety of food.

  • Best time to visit Munaar
  • Munnar enjoys pleasant weather throughout the year. It is a perfect place to visit between April and mid-June for a summer vacation and October and February for winter holiday. In the monsoon season, due to rains, Munnar’s landscape comes to life.

How to reach Munaar:

  • Via Air:

The closest air terminal is Cochin International Airport, which is around 125 km far from Munnar.Once you arrive at Cochin airport, you can hire a cab to Munnar.

  • Via Train:

The closest railway station from Munnar is situated in Kochi or Ernakulam. You can book a train from any part of the country to this railway station in Kerala. There is also Aluva Railway Station which is closer to Munnar. Once you reach either of this station, book a cab and journey by road to the beautiful hill station of Munnar.

  • By Road:

The final journey to Munnar can only be completed by road. State-run or private transports, handling from different towns in Kerala and Tamil Nadu, are the most ideal approach to get to Munnar by street.

Picturesque landscape, refreshing lush green tea plantations, wonderful climate with a Misty clouds , rich abundant flora and fauna. If you are looking for a peaceful and rejuvenating holiday in the hills, then book yourself a hotel in munnar right away! Munnar is the ultimate destination for the most relaxing time ever. There are plenty of interesting activities to do and absorb the beauty of the lush green scenery everywhere with a steaming hot cup of freshly brewed tea! We bet the first thing that comes to your mind when you hear the word Munnar is the tea estates, sprawling across the town .

We went to Munaar from by Car. The distance from Bangalore to Munaar is around 480 kms . There is a good connectivity of roads.

It will take around 10 hours to reach Munnar if one begins early in the morning ,We started our journey at 3 am to avoid the traffic . The journey will go via

Bangalore → Hosur → Krishnagiri → Salem → Avinashi → Udumalpet → Marayoor → Munnar

We packed a lot of food and water to avoid unnecessary breaks ,as the journey is long ,Roads are in a very good condition and once you enter the chinnar wildlife , the adventure begins. Breathtaking views narrow roads and the steep mountains is how I can describe the distance from Chinnar wildlife to Munaar .

It is definitely a place of tranquility and peace. You will find neverending tea plantations, pristine valleys, hill ranges, forests, waterfalls, rare flora, and fauna. I had an incredibly wonderful time in Munnar not just because of its breathtaking landscape but because people are so nice in the region.

.’Road trips are always fun. You can play your favourite music and enjoy the magnificent views outside your window. Take short stops to admire scenic spots and taste the local cuisine. The overall experience can be refreshing and lift your spirits.The route goes through the thrilling Chinar wildlife sanctuary with narrow and steep roads ,one can enjoy the nature at its fullest .Once you cross the wildlife Sanctuary you will be surprised to see the tranquillity of Munaar,truly a ‘God’s own Country

Thankyou

Posted on in Travel, Trips and Travel

        God’s own Country

Wayanad

Wayanad is unique as it is situated in an elevated picturesque mountainous plateau in the Western Ghats, known as ‘The Land of Paddy Fields‘ by the native tribes of this region, Wayanad lies in the Western Ghats at an altitude of 2100m. This is the only district of Kerala that borders both Tamil Nadu and Karnataka. The most attractive feature of Wayanad is the forests, which are as old as 3,000 years.Wayanad is the perfect definition of an adventurer’s paradise.

Wayanad district is bordered by Karnataka (Kodagu and Mysore districts) to the north and north-east, Tamil Nadu (Nilgiris district) to the south-east, Malappuram to the south, Kozhikode to the south-west and Kannur to the north-west.

Kerala’s least populous district, Wayanad offers the most spectacular view  with misty mountains, splendid forests, pristine rivers, and cascading waterfalls, Wayanad is ‘the’ hill station  in South India.Wayanad, the green paradise is nestled among the mountains , forming the greener part of Kerala. Clean and pristine, enchanting and hypnotizing, this land is filled with history and culture. Located at a distance of 76 kmfrom  the sea shores of Kozhikode, this hill station is full of plantations, forests and wildlife. Wayanad wildlife sanctuary is contiguous to Mudumalai in Tamil Nadu and Bandhipur in Karnataka, thus forming a vast land mass for the wild life to move about in their most natural abode.Rich in bio-diversity, the sanctuary is an integral part of the Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve, Which has been established with the specific objective of conservating the biological heritage of the region , the sanctuary is very rich in fauna and flora.

Interesting Facts :

  • Lakkidi, Vythiri and Meppadi are the high rainfall areas in Wayanad. High altitude regions experience severe cold .The misty environment of Wayanad offer a wide range of trekking opportunities, plantation visits and wildlife tours.
  • Wayanad district has the largest population of Adivasi in Kerala.
  •  Due to its pleasant climate and picturesque views, Wayanad is often referred to as the Ooty of Kerala
  • Wayanad has no Railway line.

Tourist Destination :

  • Edakkal Caves
  • Wayanad Wildlife Sanctuary
  • Sri Mahaganapathy Temple at Thiruvangoo
  • Muthanga Wildlife Sanctuary
  • Jain Temple at Sultan Bathery
  • Karappuzha Dam
  • Kuruva Islands
  • Soochippara Waterfalls

Shopping in Wayanad:

Shop for Spices, coffee, pepper, honey, tea, bamboo products, ivory craft and coconut shell craft.

My stay in Wayanad was like visiting a fairy world amidst verdant and Misty Surroundings .We went from Bangalore ,it takes around  6-7 hours to cover the distance,  most of the path passes through hilly terrain.The journey from Bangalore to Wayanad is easy and as you enter kerela you can witness  the lush green blessing of nature. It is one of the most memorable  road trips I had .We booked two properties  , Chateau woods resort   and Vythri village resort ,Both were located at  harmonious and lush  green surroundings ,offering   the splendid views of forest and the tea plantations,which can refresh your soul from deep within.

Chateau woods

Cliff Cottage Chateau woods
Chateau woods
View from Chateau woods
Vythri village resort Wayanad
Vythri village resort

There is something to satisfy the wanderlust of every adventurer. It is a place you need to add to your travel bucket list today.

Thankyou

Posted on in Travel, Trips and Travel

Ooty

Ooty is a town and hill station in the Indian state of Tamilnadu The name “Ooty” is short for Ootacamund (officially Udhagamandalam). Ooty is located in the Nilgiris, or Blue Mountains, a mountain district. Ooty stands at about 7,500 feet above sea level.

The town of Ooty is tucked in the heart of the Nilgiris, making it a part of the Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve. Owing to its perfect geographical location on the hills, it has remained an all-time favorite retreat for travelers.The lush green landscape covered with tea estates, valleys, and forested lands on one hand and the classic vibes of the good old days make this hill station the perfect place to escape. The expansive greenery, the pleasant weather, and the endless adventure options are what Ooty is famous for.The quaint and quiet hill station is one of the most popular mountain destinations in South India. Ooty is the headquarters of the Nilgiris district, with Doddabetta as the highest point. It is located 86 km from Coimbatore and 128 km from Mysore.Ooty enjoys a pleasant weather all through the year and is also the most popular destination in South India.

Ooty pine forest

Few interesting facts:

  1. When the East India Company formed the Madras Presidency, Ooty served as its summer capital. The officers of the company would retire to this hill-station to evade the blazing summer of south India.
  2. Ooty has a small-scale industry based on oil extracted from eucalyptus trees. These huge timbers grow in abundance across the Nilgiri Mountains.
  3. The Dodabetta Peak, about 10 kilometres from Ooty, is the highest peak of south India at 2,623 metres from the sea level.
  4. The famous Botanical Garden of Ooty has a preserved fossil of a tree-trunk which is approximately 20 million years old.
  5. The Ooty Lake is actually an artificial lake. It is one of the very few artificial lakes of India situated at an altitude of 2,000 metres or above.
  6. The Nilgiri Mountain Railway is UNESCO world heritage site and has one of the last few working steam engines in the world: 
  7. Nilgiri Mountain Railway mountain route has  16 tunnels,  250 bridges, 205 sharp curves and extraordinary natural scenery of the Nilgiri Hills visible all along the way.
  8. Due to this amazing experience with nature UNESCO announced this in World Heritage List as Mountain Railways in India in 2008.
  9. Home of the largest squirrel (The Malabar squirrel), the tallest wild cattle (The Indian Bison), Nilgiri thar and a huge host of other Flora and fauna Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve
  10. No plastic Zone ,Tamil Nadu is a pioneer in the field of banning single-use plastic altogether.This preserves the beauty and the biosphere of the place.

Most popular tourist places:

Pykara falls
  1. Ooty Lake
  2. Nilgiri Mountain Railway.
  3. Pykara Lake.
  4. Pykara Falls.
  5. Doddabetta Peak.
  6. Avalanche Lake.
  7. Mudumalai National Park.
  8. Government Rose Garden.
  9. Tea plantation,tea factory , Chocolate factory.
Tea estate
Nilgiri tea

I recently visited the place and to my surprise found it to be the cleanest and greenest Hill station I have ever seen ,it lured me by its calm and quaint atmosphere.

We started early morning from Bangalore around 6 am and reached Ooty by 3 pm noon.The road was good and Quiet scenic.The route which we took was: Bangalore – Mandya – Mysore – Gundlupet – Bandipur – Mudhumalai – Masinagudi – Ooty.

Crossing The National park was a cherry on my Cake.We had a chance to discover the nature in depth.Though we could not spot a Tiger but were lucky enough to see the group of deer and fawns,Elephants and Peacocks.Once we crossed the National park then was the turn to climb 36 Hairpin Bends,the curvy road to Ooty.As we were crossing the Bends the ambience was getting more cleaner and brighter .Once you are on the Hills you can feel the magical spell it offers.

Things to Shop:

  1. Ooty’s famous Tea .
  2. Do not forget to buy the home made Ooty Chocolates with ample choices.
  3. Mouth melting Ooty cookies known as Varkey.
  4. Spices
  5. Eucalyptus Oil
Ooty Chocolates
View from Sinclair Retreat Ooty
Pine Forest

Thankyou

Posted on in Travel, Trips and Travel

A perfect weekend Gateway From Delhi.

Nanital

Nainital, the well known Hill station of Uttarakhand known for its panoramic view, beautiful lake and wonderful atmosphere. Nainital is located in the Kumaon region in the state of Uttarakhand. It shines like glazing beauty in the Himalayan mountains because of the many lakes reflecting the sunlight. Nainital is a paradise for nature lovers.Set amidst the towering peaks of the Kumaon Hills, the lake resort of Nainital has a lot to offer. From boating to  picnicks on the hills to exploring Jim Corbett, Nainital has all that you could hope for in a hill station.

Nani Lake

Located at an altitude of 1,938mts above sea level, Nainital derives its name from Naini Lake. Nainital is located in the Kumaon region and is popularly known as the Lake District of India. is set in two parts, Tallital and Mallital, with the lake separating them. Tallital is the southern side of the lake, while Mallital consists of the northern upper reaches.

Nainital is a famous tourist destination of India, attracting hundreds of both domestic and foreign tourists every year.  Some of the important places in the district of Nainital are Haldwani, , Ramnagar, Bhowali , Ramgarh, Mukteshwar, Bhimtal, Sattal and Naukuchiatal.

Few Interesting facts:

  1. It is believed that the Naini Lake is one of the 51 Shakti Peeths or The most popular is based on the story of the death of the goddess Sati. The goddess Shakti is worshiped at the Naina Devi Temple, known by locals as Naini Mata Temple on the north shore of the present-day lake.
  2. The golf course in Nainital dates back to the year 1926. The 18-hole golf course happens to be among the oldest ones in the country. However, the golf course was made available for public use from the year 1994.
  3. It was a British sugar merchant by the name of P. Barron who discovered Nainital Lake in 1839.
  4. The  Naukuchia Tal has nine corners. It is believed that anyone who can see all the corners at once will disappear.
  5. Due to the lake on its northern end, it rains almost every afternoon in Nainital. It sounds funny but it’s true.

If you are planning to visit  Nainital, the best time to visit there is   between May to July.

Naukuchiyatal

Eco Cave Garden

Eco Cave Gardens is a network of inter-connected natural underground caves and hanging gardens. Located  near Sukhtal, the gardens offer an enthralling journey of narrow winding roads and weathered caves. The site has an enchanting garden with musical fountains. A stroll across the Garden stretch and passing through the underground cave definitely makes for an exciting family or friends hangout. It is a great place for Children with lots of fun activities to be enjoyed.

I went to this place a long back but can still feel the enchanting beauty of this Lake District and would definitely like to witness it again. Nanital is a best place to get rejuvenated and a destination away from the hustle bustle . From Delhi it is a 7 to 8 hours road trip , and perfect weekend Gateway for a family .

Thankyou