Best trekking trails in Munnar

Grassland treks

Best Trekking in Munnar

Where is Munnar (at 10°05′21″N 77°03′35″E)

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 2^nd and 5^th 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

1. Trekking in Alampatty and Champakad of Chinnar Wildlife sanctuary (55kms from Munnar)
2. Trekking in Pampadumchola National Park (40km from Munnar)
3. Eravikulam National Park (10km from Munnar)
4. Trekking in Top Station (35km from Munnar)
5. Trekking in Kolukkumalai (28km from Munnar)
6. Rhodovalley Trek (35km from Munnar)
7. West Ridge Trek (5km from Munnar)
8. Chokkanad Trek (20km from Munnar)
9. Lakshmi Hill Trek (5km from Munnar)
10. Munnar-Mankulam Trek
11. 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

1. Your health condition and physical fitness- suitable for soft/Medium or hard trek
2. 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.
3. Duration of the walk – short , medium , long or multiple days
4. If multiple days which type of accommodation preferred
5. 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.