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Showing posts with label Munnar. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Munnar. Show all posts
Incredible India - Major Tourism Destinations Pictures
A boat house on the backwaters of Kumarakom, Kerala.
Kumarakom is a popular tourism destination located near the city of Kottayam in Kerala, India, famous for its backwater tourism. It is set in the backdrop of the Vembanad Lake which is the largest freshwater lake in the state of Kerala. It is 16 KM away from Kottayam City.
Boats and Kumarakom Boat Race
Kumarakom has a wide variety of houseboats and is well known throughout the world for houseboat experience. They are used only for tourists these days. A separate boat known as Kettuvallam is used by the people to go fishing or to transport goods. Apart from these, there are elegant special boats like Kochu-odi Vallam, Odi-Vallam, Iruttukutthi Vallam, Churulan Vallam and Chundan Vallam(Snake Boat), which take part in the boat races around Onam time. The Kumarakom boat-race is conducted in the big canal in the centre near the market. There is a private sailing club in Kumarakom, located on the shore of the Vembanad lake.
Modes of access
One can access Kumarakom by many means:- By air: via Cochin International Airport approximately 80 kilometres (50 miles).
- By rail: via Kottayam
- By boat: From Muhamma (near Alappuzha) to Kumarakom Jetty.
- By road:(16 kilometres) Buses and taxis are easily available at all times of the day from Kottayam.
Gaganachukki Falls, Mandya, Karnataka.
Vellore fort, Tamil Nadu.
Taj Mahal, Agra.
Munnar a haven of peace and tranquility and the idyllic tourist destination in God's own country.
Munnar (മൂന്നാര്) the nature lover’s paradise and the gateway to hill stations of Gods Own Country Kerala. Munnar has some of the biggest tea plantations in the world. This hill station more than 5000 feet above sea level with its mist and flowers breathtakingly beautiful and a haven of peace and tranquility. Munnar was the favored summer resort of the erstwhile British rulers in the colonial days. In the late 19th century, A.H. Sharp planted the first tea bush and since then tea has been the main agricultural crop in the region.
With its sprawling tea plantations, pristine valleys and mountains and cool air, it’s no surprise that Munnar has been rated the second-best Asian travel destination for 2010.
The mountain flower Neelakkurinji that bloom once in 12 years are both synonymous landmarks of Munnar. Playing mists, soul searching winds, hurling waterfalls, cold monsoons, picturesque towns, fragrant cardamom bushes, sprawling tea plantations, shaven silver oaks, indomitable elephant herds, long winding lanes, the bluish tint of the Neelakkurinji mountains, floating tunes of early morning radio, strangely uniform herds of plantation workers. With the mist covering in the valleys around, the plateau of a resorts sticking out, it is a heavenly feeling of being on the legendary flaying machine - Pushpak, floating over the cloud.
If you are a true admirer of nature who has a passion for driving, Munnar is your dream destination and cruising along winding smooth roads across mist-sheeted lush green tea gardens is the finest experience you can ever have.
Around every corner is another stunning view. You do not need a map or a guide; all you need is a good pair of shoes and the curiosity to see what is around the next curve. You need not necessarily be a shutterbug; random clicks can get you incredible photographs.
On the way to Munnar, some 22 kms before reaching there you can see Anayirankal dam, a vast expanse of water surrounded by green carpeted hills covered with tea gardens. The distant view of the reservoir follows you for another 15 kms and it’s an excellent location for photography.The dude who poses here is Varayadu or Nilgiri Tahr, stocky goats with short, coarse fur and a bristly mane. Nilgiri Tahr is an endangered mountain ungulate listed in schedule I of the Indian Wildlife (Protection) Act 1972. Eravikulam National Park which has the highest density and largest surviving population of this species is situated hardly 14 kms from Munnar town. Know more about this endangered species.
Does this picture suggest land’s end? It virtually is. This is Top Station, which is 41 kms uphill from Munnar. Located at the border of Kerala and Tamilnadu, this spot offers an ‘awebreathtakingsome’ panoramic view. Strolling down this pathway with steep abyss on both sides is adventurous, rather risky, but the view you get there is one of a kind.
At every other corner you will find women with baskets full of locally grown fruits and vegetables. Don’t forget to bargain and buy tender carrots, passion fruits and wild tomatoes, all farm fresh and delicious.
Anamudi is the highest peak in the Western Ghats situated at a height of 2,695 metres (8,842 feet) above mean sea level. It is located in the southern part of Eravikulam National Park, fifty kilometers from Munnar. It is also the ideal place for wildlife travelers and nature lovers. It literally means “Elephant forehead”.
13 kms away from Munnar, Mattupetty is famous for its highly specialised dairy farm, the Indo-Swiss project. More than 100 varieties of high yielding cattle are reared here. The Mattupetty Lake and Dam, just a short distance from the farm, is a gorgeous picnic spot. The sprawling Kundala tea plantations, Kundala Lake and the echo point are other attractions in the vicinity. A boat cruise on the lake is the best way to enjoy the leisure.Bristling with wildlife and crystal clear streams, the enticing charm of Munnar is simply irresistible. The area has many attractions within a short distance of the town of Munnar, including the Sandalwood Forest of Marayoor and the Chinnar Wildlife Sanctuary.
Source: Colorful.India
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