My Visit to Munnar

Munnar is a hill station on the Western Ghats, a range of mountains situated in the Idukki district of the Indian  state of Kerala.

The name of Munnar is believed to mean " three rivers", referring to the town's strategic location at the confluence of the Madhurapuzha, Nallathanni and Kundaly rivers.

Munnar town is in Kannan Devan Hills (KDH) Village in Devikulam taluk and is the largest panchayat in the Idukki district having an area measuring nearly 557 km2

The nearest major railway stations are at Ernakulam and Aluva (approximately140 kilometers (87 mi by road). The nearest airport is Cochin International Airport, which is 105 kilometers ( 65 mi) away.

The region in and around Munnar varies in height from 1,450 meters (4,760 ft) to 2,695 meters ( 8,842 ft) above the sea level. The temperature ranges between 5 C ( 41 F ) and 25 C (77 F) in winter and 15 C (59 F ) and 25 C (77 F ) in summer. Temperatures as low as -4 C ( 25 F ) have been recorded in the sevenmallay region in Munnar. The mean maximum daily temperature is at its lowest during the monsoon months with the highest temperature being 19 C.

Most of the native flora and fauna of Munnar have disappeared due to severe habitat fragmentation resultant from the creation of the plantations. However, some species continue to survive and thrive in several protected areas nearby, including the new Kurinjimala Sanctuary to the east, the Chinnar Wildlife Sanctuary, Manjampatti Valley and the Amaravati reserve forest of Indira Gandhi Wildlife Sanctuary to the north east, the Eravikulam National Park and Anamudi  Shola National Park to the north, the Pampadum Shola National Park to the south and the proposed Palani Hills National Park to the east. These protected areas are especially known for several threatened and endemic species including Nilgiri Thar, the Grizzled Giant Squirrel, the Nilgiri Wood-pigeon, Elephant, the Gaur, the Nilgiri langur, the Sambar, and the Neelakurinji (that blossoms only once in twelve years).