Kochi to Munnar Trip: (Best Time To Visit) Echo Point & Tea Museum

Embark on a mesmerizing journey from Kochi to Munnar, where spice plantations, dense jungles, undulating hills, cascading waterfalls, and abundant wildlife await you! This scenic route through the Western Ghats of Kerala promises an unforgettable experience, showcasing some of the finest treasures of South India.

Nestled in the Idukki district, Munnar is a charming hill station situated at an elevation of 1600 meters. Its endless rolling hills, picturesque landscapes, pleasant climate, and lush greenery have earned it the reputation of being Kerala’s most renowned hill station. Munnar captivates visitors with its breathtaking beauty, offering a haven of peace and tranquility.

Immerse yourself in the serene ambiance as you explore Munnar’s wild sanctuaries and forests, where exotic flora and fauna thrive amidst the spice-scented cool air. Every aspect of Munnar, from its mist-covered hills to its glistening streams, majestic waterfalls, verdant valleys, and vibrant biodiversity, promises to ignite your senses and fill your heart with joy and wonder.

Kochi to Munnar Trip

Munnar derives its name from its strategic location, nestled at the convergence of three rivers: Kundala, Nallathanni, and Muthirapuzha. In the local language, ‘Moonu‘ translates to ‘three,’ and ‘Aru‘ means ‘river.’ Once the summer capital of the British in South India, Munnar later evolved into a thriving hub for tea cultivation.

The allure of Munnar extends beyond its tea estates. The region boasts the Strobilanthus or Neelakurinji flower, which blooms once every twelve years, drawing tourists and researchers from across the globe. Munnar is also renowned for the Nilgiri Tahr and the Eravikulam National Park, both emblematic attractions of the area. Additionally, the towering Anamudi, the highest peak in South India, commands a stunning view from Munnar.

For those inclined towards shopping, Munnar offers a paradise of spices, including pepper, ginger, coffee, cloves, and cinnamon, among others. With a plethora of resorts and hotels, Munnar caters to every traveler’s needs. These accommodations provide diverse packages, ranging from family getaways to honeymoon retreats, ensuring an immersive and unforgettable experience in Munnar.

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Distance from Kochi to Munnar

The distance from Kochi is Munnar is around 130 km by road which can be covered in 3 and half hours to 4 hours. The aerial distance between Kochi to Munnar is around 90 km.

How to reach Munnar from Kochi

As Munnar is a small hill station there are very limited ways to reach Munnar from Kochi. If you want to reach Munnar from Kochi by road you can also hire a cab instead of using public transportation or by drive on yourself.

Here, is the details of the transportation ways;

Kochi to Munnar By Bus

Road trips are one of the best ways to travel from one city to another. The journey from Kochi to Munnar by road is full of scenic views. But there is no direct bus from Kochi to Munnar. However, you have to take a direct bus from Kochi to the Erankulam bus stand and then take a bus or hire a private cab from Erankulam to Munnar. The distance between Kochi to Erankulam is around 10 km which can take half an hour to be covered. Several buses are running between from Erankulam to Munnar which takes about 3 hours to reach Munnar. The distance between Erankulam to Munnar is around 120 km. The first bus from Erankulam to Munnar starts at 1.30 in the morning and the last bus from Erankulam to Munnar leaves at 10.30 pm which costs you around Rs 200 per person. These bus services are owned by states and also by private bus services.

But direct cabs are running between from Kochi to Munnar that costs you around Rs 1500 to 2000.

Kochi to Munnar By Car

Travel from Kochi to Munnar is not only just be convenient but also a very good option to explore two very interesting cities if India. Many taxi operators offer you a ride on this route also you can choose to drive a car by yourself. The route from Kochi to Munnar via NH 544 is Kochi- Athirappily– Vazhachal waterfalls- Kalady– Kodanad– Thattekad Bird Sanctuary- Neriamgalam Bridge- Kallar Vattiyar– Wonder Valley Adventure and Amusement Park – Munnar.

Kochi to Munnar By Air

There are no direct flights from Kochi to Munnar. So, traveling from Koch to Munnar by air is certainly a redundant option. No airline services in India offer service to connect these two destinations. Thus, a road trip from Kochi to Munnar is the best and convenient option.

Kochi to Munnar By Train

There is no direct train from Kochi to Munnar. But the only railway station that is closest to Munnar is Angamaly, which is situated at a distance of 120 km from Munnar. If you want to travel to Munnar from Kochi by train, then you have to hire a private cab from Angamaly to reach Munnar.

Tourist Attractions in Munnar

Munnar is nestled amidst the panoramic sceneries of nature, these best places to visit in Munnar promise a refreshing escape from your busy lifestyle.

Here is the list of some best places to visit in Munnar-

Echo Point Munnar

The Echo point of Munnar is located at a distance of 15 km from the main city of Munnar. This place is located at an altitude of 600 feet above sea level. Echo point got its name because of the natural echo phenomenon of the place which you can witness here. You can hear your voice reverberate back to you as an echo when you shout. Echo point is situated along the banks of the Kundala lake. You can also enjoy boating in this lake and choose between a paddleboat and a speed boat as per your choice.

You can visit this place from 7 am to 6 pm on all days of the week. There is an entry fee of Rs 30 for adults and Rs 15 for children.

Attukad Waterfalls

Attukad waterfalls are one of the most vivacious waterfalls in the western ghat mountains of India. It is located on the way from Munnar to Pallivasal, Attukad waterfalls cascading down roaringly is a thrilling spot to halt on this route. These waterfalls are recommended to visit in the season of monsoon as well as on sunny days. The cool speedy running waterfalls are just right to sit peacefully and enjoy the breath-taking views of the lush green forests and mountains of the western ghats. The Attukad waterfalls drop from a height of about 100 feet.

There is no entry fee applicable to this site you can enjoy the cascading flow standing on a bridge over the waters.

TATA Tea Museum

The history of the Munnar has been linked to tea plantations for over a century. Munnar is the perfect place to find some of the best tea estates in the world. Kannan Devan Tea Estate is a Tata–owned tea estate in Munnar which is the home to most of the tea estates in Munnar. The Tata Tea Museum is also known as the KDHP Museum. It is located at a distance of 2 km from the center of the Munnar, it is a part of the Nallathanni Estate of Tata Tea. Tata Tea Museum is one of its kind museum in the country. Tourists visiting here to know about the establishment and progress of the tea plantation industry in the country. This museum is the place where you can find the original tea roller produced during 1905. Pelton wheel and the Rotor vane are the major attractions of this section. In the end, do not forget to visit the demonstration room of this Tata Tea Museum where you will get the chance to taste the various types and flavors of tea.

You can visit this place from 9 am to 4 pm on all days of the week except Monday. There is an entry fee to visit this museum as Rs 75 per adult and Rs 35 for children.

Top Station

Top station of Munnar also known as the ‘Kashmir of South India’. This place is located around 32 km from the city of Munnar and it is the highest point in Munnar which can be seen from the Tata Tea Museum. The is 5500 high destination is the best viewpoint to enjoy the spectacular views of the western ghats and the beautiful valley of Theni in Tamil Nadu. Top station is also famous for its Neelakurinji flowers which bloom once in 12 years. Being the terminal of the Kundala Valley and the upper terminus of a ropeway this place got its name as a top station.

You can visit this place between 6 am to 6 pm. There is no entry fee to visit this place.

Eravikulam National Park

Eravikulam National Park is located at a drive of 50 minutes from the center of Munnar. This is the most sought place to visit in Munnar spread around the land to a stretch of 95 km. This National Park is part of the UNESCO World Heritage Site. Initially, this place was managed as a Game Reserve. Eravikulam National Park is also known as the Rajamalai Wildlife Sanctuary. There are around 19 amphibian species, 132 species of birds, 101 species of butterflies, and 26 mammalian species. A rare variety of the leopard and lions are also there. Atlas moth, small–clawed otter, Nilgiri langur Lion–tailed macaque are some of the wildlife to be spotted here.

This place is open from 7.30 am to 4 pm on all days of the week. There is an entry fee of Rs 125 per person and Rs 95 for children. There is an entry fee of Rs 420 for foreign tourists.

Marayoor Dolmens

This place is having 15 different types of Dolmens belonging to the Iron age and some of which belong to the Neolithic age. This tourist spot is situated at a distance of 55 km from the city of Munnar. This archaeological site is blessed with a rich history. Marayoor is also known for prehistoric paintings, sandalwood forests.

These are some of the best places to visit in Munnar you should visit these places when you are here in a beautiful hill station in South India.

Best time to visit Munnar

The best time to visit Munnar is from September to November and from January to March. Although, throughout the year is the best time to visit Munnar but these months are the best because of the pleasant weather of these months. In between September to November, the temperature is around between 14 degrees C to 25 degrees C. And from January to March the temperature is between 15 degrees C to 12 degrees C.