 |
| Grassland treks |
Munnar is a hill station located
in Idukki District of Kerala State, India. The nearest Airport is Cochin
International Airport (135km) and railway station is at Ernakulam and Aluva (130km).
The town is connected by road to many cities of Kerala and Tamil Nadu. Munnar
is famous for its tea and spice plantations, high mountains, shola forest and
few important Natioanl Parks. It has well developed accommodation facilities
for all classes of tourists. It is an ideal location for hiking, trekking,
mountaineering, bird watching, and forest camping, outdoor camping and leisure
trips. Munnar is also a popular destination for honeymoon holidays.
Geography and Trekking potential of Munnar.
Munnar is the highest town in
Kerala, perched on the roof of Western Ghats in the state of Kerala. The Munnar
plateau is surrounded by high mountain ranges between 1800-2694 MSL. The
Anamudi peak, highest peak (2694MSL) in South India is located in North West of
Munnar. The region is located in Anamalai zone of Western Ghats with an eastern
offshoot called Palani Hills. The plateau of Munnar is carrying many streams
and watercourses. The mountains of Munnar are a challenging destination for
trekkers. Though many high peaks including Anamudi is under protected area ,
few of them like West ridge mountains, Lakshmi mountains, Kulirumalai and
Rhodohills, etc give ample scope for multiple days hard trek, where as the tea
gardens , spice plantations and mountain villages etc provides ideal trails for
soft and medium treks.
History of Trekking Trails: Munnar plateau was connected to Anamalais
in the North-West through Grassland pass from per-historic time. Migrants of
Megalithic cultures explored this land first approximately between 2nd
and 5th Centaury CE. Their exploration passages were from East and
North East of the hills.
In history, the earliest account
about this high altitude passage is from Lord Wellesley’s advent searching Tipu
Sultan. Early planters like Goldsberry , Fulky Marin etc explored these
mountains. During colonial plantation era many English trekkers, naturalists
and planters walked along the mountain passes and accounted its natural wealth.
After the forests were taken over by the Forest Department no fare through is
allowed in protected areas. Now unprotected mountain areas, plantations, permitted
forest area etc are open for hikers.
There are many agencies offering
trekking in Munnar region, including the forest department. Major trekking
Trails are
- Trekking in Alampatty
and Champakad of Chinnar Wildlife sanctuary (55kms from Munnar)
- Trekking in
Pampadumchola National Park (40km from Munnar)
- Eravikulam
National Park (10km from Munnar)
- Trekking in
Top Station (35km from Munnar)
- Trekking in
Kolukkumalai (28km from Munnar)
- Rhodovalley
Trek (35km from Munnar)
- West Ridge
Trek (5km from Munnar)
- Chokkanad Trek
(20km from Munnar)
- Lakshmi Hill
Trek (5km from Munnar)
- Munnar-Mankulam
Trek
- Munnar
Apart from the above
trails, numerous short trekking trails are offered by local guides.
How to choose a best trekking
trail in Munnar?
First of all you have to identify
your requirements to choose a trekking trail suitable for your requirements. Otherwise
there is chance of clash of interest between participants and conductors, or
between participants themselves. To list
out requirements before choosing a trekking option identify the following
- Your health
condition and physical fitness- suitable for soft/Medium or hard trek
- Type of
landscape and trail you prefer – undulated terrain or flat or cliff or Rocky
patches or grassland etc and well maintained path/forest trails/difficult trail
etc.
- Duration of
the walk – short , medium , long or multiple days
- If multiple
days which type of accommodation preferred
- Your interest –
nature watch and enjoying scenic beauty/ bird watching/ wildlife watch/
sporting/
Look at the
popular trekking trails and its features
Trekking
in Chinnar Wildlife sanctuary.
 |
| Thoovanam waterfalls |
 |
| Pre-historic rock art |
: The Eco Development Committee of Chinnar
Wildlife Sanctuary offers wildlife trekking and walking safaris inside forest.
There are two points where they conduct day hike, one at Alampatty and the
other at Chinnar. Alampatty is located in the south range of the sanctuary,
about 50kms from Munnar. They offer trekking through riparian forest to a
massive waterfalls inside the sanctuary called ‘Thoovanum’. The duration of the
trek is 3-4hrs. The path is well maintained and passing through riverside
forest. There is good chance of sighting of wild animals like elephants, gaur,
giant squirrel and a good number of birds. The second of this kind short trek
is to dolmen field and prehistoric cave art site inside the forest. The path is clear, but the first phase is a
climb through narrow forest path. The trek offer wildlife sighting. It is also
ideal for bird watching. Both the trails are through undulated terrain and a
possible risk from wildlife.
Chinnar is the head quarters of the sanctuary where the EDC
offer a series of walking safaris. A trek to
Kootar, confluence of Chinnar and Pampar rivers is ideal for wildlife watch and
 |
| Chinnar |
bird watching. The trail passes through the riparian forest, open savannah type
scrub forest and hills overlooking the open forest valley. The trail is smooth and paths are well
defined. But there is always possible risk of wildlife. It is ideal for birders
and nature lovers. There is one more trail to the west side of the forest with
small hillocks, valley view points and open forest. This trail is also
potential for birding.
The sanctuary offers full day exploration trek and
camping in different areas of the forest for small group. It is one of best
walking safari available in India. The full day waking tour in this programme
offers wildlife encounters with elephants, gaur, sambar, spotted deer and even
leopard.
2. Trekking in Pampadumshola National Park:
PampadumShola is nearly 35 Km from Munnar town. It offers nature trails ranging from
3-4hrs trekking through shola forest. The popular trekking trail in the forest
is through the abandoned Munnar-Kodaikanal road. It is an adventurous nature trail
to enjoy bird life, wildlife and natures. This trek is the best for
experiencing Chola/Shola forest under clear sky. If it is misty and rainy the trekking
is not worthy. The forest floor and wet areas of the trek path are leach infested.
The peak
climbing is strenuous trekking through narrow trek path. The trail is through
grassland and rocky patches, cliff edges and mountains peaks. The destination
is at 2350MSL. The medium trek is
through proper trek path covering farmforest, cardamom plantations, spice farms
and planters villages. Those who cannot walk long can opt for jeep transfer. 
