Archive for September, 2007
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Aakash Shah on September 30, 2007
It was only towards the end of the year 2000 that Munnar was finally declared as a tourist destination by the government of Kerala. Since then many residents are being employed by hotels and resorts for the tourism business. This has in turn helped in attracting more and more tourists not just from India but from around the world to this beautiful hill resort. There still are many protected wildlife sanctuaries around the vicinity which contribute to the popularity of the place among tourists. The British who was in charge lived in huge colonial bungalows. Today most of the Victorian styled bungalows have been converted into resorts and hotels for the tourists who frequent the little paradise. There are luxurious accommodation options, such as the Hotel Club Mahindra Lakeview, Fort Munnar and the Tea Country Hill Resort. There are many hill resorts in and around Munnar, such as the Blackberry Hills resort, Tall Trees Resort, Ranger Woods Hill Resort. The stay in these resorts can cost anywhere between Rs 2500 to 8500 per night, depending upon the choice of resort and room. Munnar has a number of budget hotels and small resorts, such as the Springdale and stay in these small resorts will cost approximately Rs 500 to 1500. Most of the accommodation choices in Munnar come with the food package. It is best to opt for a hotel or resort that has a package that includes breakfast and dinner.
Kerala, which is also commonly referred to as Gods own country has been voted as one of the top must see destination in a life time by the National Geographic Travellers comity. And also as one of the top 10 paradises of the world, which is a great honour. Munnar, which is a part of Kerala is one of the most beautiful and popular spots to be visited. The tranquillity, environment and the scenery makes this place an ideal retreat to anyone who wants to take a break off from the hectic life in the city. The deep gorgeous valleys, mountain streams, dense forests, vast beautiful tea gardens, wildlife and the flora makes Munnar one of the most sought after hill stations in India. So, pack your bags and get prepared to rejuvenate your body, mind and soul.
This beautiful place is also home to the highest peak in south India- Anamudi which stands at a majestic height of 2698 meters tall. The mountain is also a top favourite among trekkers just for the natural beauty and the pleasure it offers. Apart from the diverse fauna and flora Munnar has to offer in the grasslands and forests, there is one particular flower which blossoms only once every 12 years. The Neelakurinji, an exotic blue flower that grown in the natural surroundings. The last time it bloomed was in the year 2006, so the next time one would get to see it will only be in the year 2018. Definitely a sight you cannot afford to miss.
Lately due to the extreme commercialization most of the native fauna and flora of Munnar have disappeared. The extreme plantation is also one the main reasons that has contributed to this tragedy. However, the government has been taking appropriate action by maintaining protected parks like the new Kurinjimala sanctuary in the east, Chinnar wildlife sanctuary, Manjampatti Valley, and the Indira Gandhi wildlife sanctuary in the north east, Eravikulam national park and Anamudi shola national park to the north, PampadumShola national park in the south and the newly proposed Palani hills national park again in the east where most of the exotic species of plant as well as animal life can survive. These protected areas are home to the Nilgiri Thar, Nilgiri wood pigeon, The Indian Elephant, Guar, Sambar, Grizzled Giant squirrel and also the rare flower, Neelakurinji.
Munnar is an ideal treat for everyone, be it young couples, family, friends, students, or just plain nature lovers. It definitely has a fair share of beauty and joy for just about everyone. Mattupetty for example is a beautiful picnic spot with a beautiful view of the lush green tea gardens and a crystal clear lake on the background to crown its beauty. It is situated at an elevated height of about 1700 meters above sea level making this picnic spot more than just beautiful as it is covered with mist and dew most of the time. This place is also famous for the Indo Swiss Live Stock Project, which is a specialized dairy farm. One should definitely pay the farm a visit to know how the process of dairy farming works, which is a very interesting process.
A little away from Mattupetty is Rajamala which is home for the Nilgiri Thar, a rare breed of mountain got which is fast becoming extinct. It is surprising to know that half the world population of the Nilgiri Thar is found only on Munnar.
Echo Point in Munnar is fast gaining attention for the phenomena it creates by resonating sound across the mountains and plains which is so melodious almost sounding in unison with nature. One feels free after liberating all the energy through the lungs and finding it echo as if u were the only one around. Truly a great experience.
Munnar is located at a distance of about 140 kilometres from Kochi that is
approximately a 5 hour drive mainly because of the ghat sections and the narrow slippery winding roads though the NH 49 a very smooth road free of pot holes making the drive a real pleasure. The drive is very scenic due the natural forests and beautiful waterfalls alongside. Once you reach Adimali, a small town, Munnar is only 30 kilometres away from here. The panoramic views are simply mind blowing with magnificent tea plantations in every direction, the mist just rising up in the early mornings and the mild rays of the sun adding to the beauty and love Mother Nature has bestowed this place with. One can also reach Munnar by hitting the Mudurai, Pollachi or the Kodai mail road. The drive through the ghat sections is about 2 hours long making every minute a memory that would last.
Introduction (A Glance)
Munnar is a small little town located towards the southern part of Kerala in South India. It is basically a chain of beautiful hills and mountains situated at an altitude of 6000 to 9000 feet above sea level. This by itself would give you a fair idea about how cold and popular this place could be with regards to tourism. The name Munnar meaning ‘Three rivers’ is derived from the two common languages spoken in the area, Malayalam and Tamil. As a matter of fact there are three rivers called, Madupetti, Nallathanni and Periavaru which flow through the town and join a few kilometres away from the town. Like the many other famous hill stations in India, Munnar too was the one of the most preferred summer retreat for the British government in south India. The beauty of this place is so captivating that it has inspired many a mind including poets, artists, film makers, and even honeymooners young and old. The sprawling tea gardens reaching out to the horizon, the deep winding lanes, the picture perfect landscapes and sceneries make this a place ideal for everyone who is looking for a destination to lay back and let time pass.
The history of Munnar is quite interesting if u look at it. The place originally was developed mainly to cultivate tea by the British who then ruled India. Many people from the surrounding localities were solely employed to cultivate tea mostly comprising of Malayalis and Tamilians. Between the late 1890’s and 1921 the tea cultivated here was of high export quality and was shipped across the world. Soon there were plantations for coffee too. Munnar is almost entirely occupied and owned by the Tata Group of companies. The entire landscape owned is called the high range, also known as the Kanan Devan Hills from which the company named its famous tea brand. In April 2005, the Tata group divested its holdings on the tea plantations area soon after which the employees who worked there purchased most of the land and are still running the business under the mighty Kanan Devan brand name
There main centre of the city is the Police Bazaar and there are number hotels in and around this place. The good budget hotels include Elgin and Embassy. Royal Heritage Tripura Castle located in the Tripura Castle Road offers all the modern amenities in serene environment. The rooms here cost anywhere between Rs 2000 to Rs 4000. The luxury hotels include Alpine Continental and Hotel Pinewood. There are a number of restaurants in Shillong serving, Indian, Chinese and Tibetan cuisine. The food in north-eastern states differs greatly from the rest of India. The native recipes usually involve boiled food and contain very less spices; the food can have a pungent taste of local herbs. Unlike most Indian cities, pork and beef are the more popular meat in Shillong and are easily available here. To get the true essence of the native cuisine, one can venture into the small local shops and the good ones are located near the Police Bazaar. In Shillong, you will never run short of places to drink, there are number of good restaurants and bars, some serving local beers made of rice.
The eight north-eastern states of India are perhaps the least visited places in India. These states are very different from the rest of India in terms of culture, people and food habits. Shillong is one of the many hidden splendours of northeast India. The people are very hospitable and the city is very rapidly growing. It’s not very commercialized as most hill stations and there are virgin woods and meadows to explore here. One would be amazed at the offering of this capital city in the north east.
Shillong and its nearby areas are filled with lakes, parks and waterfalls. There is the man-made lake in the centre of the city, known as Ward’s lake. This lake has a beautiful garden around it and houses boating facilities. Approximately 17 kilometres off Shillong is the Umiam Lake. This lake houses a resort and water sport facilities, such as kayaking, water cycling, water skiing and many more. Approximately eight kilometres away from Shillong is the very steep Sweet Falls. The Elephant Falls is located approximately 12 kilometres from the main city and is perhaps the most scenic waterfall in Meghalaya. This waterfall also has a small path that leads to a lake that is formed at the bottom of the waterfall. Spread Eagle falls literally resembles an eagle with its wings wide spread. Bishop and Beadon Falls are equally scenic. Within the main city is the beautiful is the Crinoline Falls, which also houses a swimming pool.
The botanical garden and the Lady Hydari Park are both located within the city limits and offer a huge variety of rare and exotic species of flora. There is also a mini zoo and a deer part adjacent to the Lady Hydari Park. Both the parks have a descent collection of orchids too. Glen Eagle of the East is a huge 18-hole, natural golf course situated in close proximity to the botanical garden. Shillong houses two museums: the State Museum and the Butterfly Museum. The State Museum mostly houses artifacts from the tribes of Meghalaya and other north-eastern states. The Butterfly Museum houses a good collection of butterflies and moths.
The highest point in Shillong is located approximately 5 kilometres from the main city and is at an altitude of approximately 6,400 feet. It’s called the Shillong Peak and is accessible via road. It is usually very misty, but offers a panoramic view of the city especially at night. The Shillong peak also houses the radar station for the Indian Airforce. Near to the Umiam steam is the Diengiei hill. The path to this hill offers picturesque sights and is excellent for trekking. Being a Christian dominated place, Shillong has its share of beautiful churches; the most popular among them being the All Saints Church and the Cathedral of Mary Help of Christians, both these churches are very attractive in their own way. Meghalaya also has a number of caves in and around its hills that are mostly hidden from the tourist eyes. Most of these caves, such as krem mawmluh and krem phyllut have stream and river passages. Krem dam is a huge sandstone cave and a stream passage makes it very picturesque. Shillong is an excellent place to purchase woollen garments and handicrafts, especially the ones made with bamboo. One can also find a range of meat and bamboo shoot pickles. Shillong is best explored by foot. However, buses and taxis are readily available.
About 40 kilometres from Shillong is the Umroi airport. However, the main airport and railway station is located approximately 100 kilometres away in Guwahati in Assam. Buses and taxi services are easily available from Guwahati to Shillong. The journey from Guwahati to Shillong cuts across the pineapple plantations and through the alpine tress and takes approximately 3 hours. The climate of Shillong is characterized by heavy rainfall during the monsoon and humid in summer. The winters in Shillong are cold, although it does not snow. Right after the cold winters, that is from March to beginning of May or after the monsoon that is from October to November is the best time to visit Shillong.
In the year 1972, the north eastern state of India, Assam was divided into two. This division lead to the creation of a new state, Meghalaya with Shillong as its state capital. Meghalaya consists of the Garo, Khasi and Jaintia hills, each of these hills named after the respective tribes that inhabit them. There have been many theories regarding the origination of the name Shillong, one of them is that the name Shillong comes from the word Leishyllong, which translates to the supreme power. Shillong evolved from a small village to a summer retreat during the colonial rule, and then it was the capital of Assam till 1972, and now the capital of Meghalaya. The plateau of Shillong is situated at an altitude of approximately 4900 feet and has the hills of Assam and Diengiei that bound it from northeast and northwest, respectively. The Umiam gorge is towards the north of Shillong.
Shillong’s landscape and climate is often compared with that of the highlands in Scotland. It experiences one of the heaviest rainfalls in India. Although the place is so picturesque, Shillong has never been the most popular or most visited tourist destination. That is the reason why it is comparatively less commercialized compared to the other hill stations in India. That is not the only difference between Shillong and other popular hill stations, unlike the other hill station; the influence of the British rule is not prominent here. The hills and places still maintain the original ethnic and tribal culture.
The dominant tribe in Shillong are the Khasis, with a strong majority of Jaintias and Garos. There is of course a population of Nepali, Assamese, Bengali, Bihari and Tibetan population in Shillong. Christianity is the dominant religion in Shillong, with a minority of Hindus and Muslims. Before the missionaries came to Shillong, the people worshiped nature, which is still followed by a minority section. The interesting thing is that even people belonging to other religion still follow and maintain the original religious beliefs and culture of this north-eastern part of India. A very unique aspect of Meghalaya is the fact that the three tribes: the Khasis, the Garos and the Jaintias are matriarchal societies. The children carry the mother’s surname and property is owned by the girl child. Shillong celebrates the normal Indian festivals, as well has its own share of unique festivals, such as Wangala, Shad Suk Mynsiem and Lahoo dance.
Tourism is one of the main industries in Darjeeling. Thus there are number of accommodation choices for every budget. The Windamere is a heritage hotel and is situated in chowrastha. Apart from that there are many star hotels, such as Mayfair Hill resorts, the Sterling Resorts, Cedar Inn, Sinclairs and New Elgin, the stay in these hotels will cost anywhere between Rs 1000 to 4500 per day. There are a number of budget hotels too catering too all kinds of budget, starting from Rs 300 per day. The diverse culture is reflected in the food served in the restaurants too, the most popular dish being the Tibetan dumplings or momos. There are many restaurants in Darjeeling, which still have that colonial charm, such as Cevenders, serving continental food; Glenary’s, which houses a bakery, a British-styled pub and a multi-cuisine restaurant, and many other restaurants, which offer Indian, Chinese, Nepali, Tibetan, continental and fast food. Apart from food and tea, Darjeeling also offers tongba, a local alcoholic drink that is unique to the Himalayan regions. Darjeeling does not have a great night life but has some nice pubs, a multiplex and shopping malls.
The best time to visit Darjeeling is from September to November, with festivals and carnivals taking place. The winters in Darjeeling are characterized by occasional snowfalls and the snow coverts Darjeeling into a picture perfect sight. Be it adventure sports, the beautiful tea gardens, the picturesque landscape, the serenity of the hills, the diverse Himalayan flora and fauna, the colonial charm or even education in one of the best boarding schools in India, Darjeeling has something to offer all its visitors.