If there is something else Kerala is known for apart from backwaters and > 90% literacy, its the picturesque hill town of Munnar. So a trip to Kerala is definitely incomplete without a visit to Allepey and Munnar if not Thekaddy and Kovalam. However Munnar is not that near to Kochi. Its around 120 kms that too hilly route and not at all a day excursion place. It is to be experienced, to be savoured and to be felt. However we did the unexpected (like everytime) We did a day trip to Munnar from Kochi!
If you have been following our Malabar diaries, you must be knowing that we were on a very short trip to Kerala (5 days to be precise). So we had barely squeezed Allepey and Munnar into our itinerary. Munnar was on our third day. We could have easily made it a two days trip but I did not want to miss out the luxuries what Kochi had to offer. I am still in love with our hotel!
So we boarded the 7 AM bus to Munnar. The ride was rather bumpy. All the other passengers were local and they were astonished that we were on a day trip to Munnar; that too with such a small kid! Since Kerala is unbearably hot for most months of the year, Munnar offers the much needed respite. However we overestimated the expressions of our driver and the locals when they said that it was very cold over there. Now how could I have ever imagined that in the midst of December it would be warm on the hills? So I packed according to what our driver said long coats and sweaters. His hometown was in Munnar; so i believed every word he said about the weather there.
It was a five hour bumpy ride to the hills. We were relieved that we finally got to breathe the fresh air. The weather was unexpectedly warm. Actually we Delhiites are used to harsh winters and I had imagined the same in the hills. But since I had not packed substantial warm weather clothing, I and my daughter had to roam around in our sweaters! Poor us!
The first Aha moment was when we started spotting infinite acres of Tea Plantations. I had seen tea gardens in Darjeeling before (10 years ago) and had been in love ever since. Women were harvesting tea leaves (which is the tea bud: the first three leaves). A kind lady handed us over a bunch of tea leaves. Too bad they did not smell anything like tea!
We then decided to do an excursion of Munnar or whatever was possible in the next five hours. We hired a taxi which promised us to show all the important points. The first stop was the Botanical garden. Apart from satiating the latent botanist in me, the place had thousands of pretty photo ops! Rest of the spots of Munnar in the next post! Stay tuned!
Sweater: Zara
Sunnies: Fastrack
Skirt: Levi's
Boots: Forever 21
11 comments
These are such beautiful photos! You all look stunning!
ReplyDeleteKiss
Maggie D.
IndianSavageBlog by Maggie Dallospedale
What an amazing experience and such sweet family images.
ReplyDeleteHi!!
ReplyDeleteSo beautiful and interesting post ;)
Kiss
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thanks for sharing babe<3 i love this and hope you're having a good time!!
ReplyDeleteXO, Jessi
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I have seen tea gardens of Darjeeling. They were amazing. Well tea gardens of Munnar also look appealing. Would love to visit one day. The whole south India circuit is in my bucket list. Thanks for sharing :)
ReplyDeletenice pictures. Some minimum post processing can make them even better
ReplyDeleteBeautiful narration of a beautiful place !!
ReplyDeleteWonderful pictures :)
ReplyDeleteExcellent post. Munnar is one of the most beautiful hill station in Kerala. The climate of Munnar will give an amazing experience to the travellers. Visit Website
ReplyDeleteMunnar is one of the best idyllic tourist destination in Kerala...Thanks for sharing this wonderful post.selected pictures are awesome..
ReplyDeleteHelllo nice blog
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