Munnar

Munnar sits high in Kerala's Western Ghats, where hillsides of manicured tea estates roll into the distance and the air stays noticeably cooler than the coast below. It's one of the most photogenic stretches of the South India circuit.

Beyond the tea gardens themselves, the surrounding hills offer genuinely good short walks, a tea museum that explains the region's plantation history, and some of Kerala's best sunset viewpoints.

Highlights

• Sweeping tea-estate landscapes across the hills
• A tea museum covering the region's plantation history
• Short walks and viewpoints with Western Ghats views
• Noticeably cooler air than coastal Kerala

Best Time to Visit

September to March for the clearest views; the monsoon (June–August) is lush but often cloud-covered.

Getting There

A 4–4.5 hour drive from Kochi, typically the first hill stop after arriving in Kerala.