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My Way On Highway: Day 37, Munnar, Here We Come

Saba Shaikh

Last updated: Apr 3, 2017

[button path="my-way-on-highway-day-36/" color="theme" size="medium" padding:"14px" target="_blank"]DAY 36[/button][button path="my-way-on-highway-day-38/" color="theme" size="medium" padding:"14px" target="_blank"]DAY 38[/button]

Travelling in the company of monsoons in Kerala is not a pain at all. On the contrary, it is a real treat to the senses. The washed up roads, rain-kissed flora, trees gently whistling to the cool breeze and the earthy scent of the red wet Kairali mud, just add to the charm of a road trip. Day 37 of MyWayOnHighway took us from the towering rainforests of Thekkady to the rolling hills of Munnar about 86 kilometres away. A journey that would typically take the average tourist three hours, took us almost half a day. Can’t blame us as the picturesque countryside with its unspoiled charm just had to be appreciated at every opportunity we got!

Mistress Of Spices

We took the Thekkady – Murukkady – Kattappana – Idukki – Munnar route and then forgot about the rest of the world. The first stretch of our journey got us a rendezvous with the many spice plantations that Kerala is famous for! Since cooking is yet another creative outlet for me, I was gleefully spotting the buds of cardamom accompanied by the dainty white flower that would one day meet its aromatic fate in our kitchens.

munnar my way on highway

There were green coffee beans to be spotted along with supari or beetle nut. And then there was young black pepper hanging like trinkets from a lady’s ear. The road is also lined with jackfruit growing in wilderness.

Why This Kalvari Di?

my way on highway

About 8 kilometres before Idukki, we came upon a humble village strangely called the 10^th Mile. A passerby pointed us to a concrete but narrow road moving away from the highway and going up the Kalvari Mount. We took the road in our car, Gulabo, till the point that vehicles could go. Then there was a steep stretch we had to cover on foot under our umbrella as the rain suddenly decided to make its presence felt. It was an effort well spent as we were soon to discover a spectacular vantage point. Almost always covered with mist and zephyr, the mountain gives you wondrous views of the nearby villages and the prominent Idukki Reservoir.

Oh Dam!

The Idukki Reservoir was quite a trailer for the Idukki Dam, the third tallest arch dam in the world. Gung ho to witness the awesome 554 feet tall structure, we sped on the highway. But soon our excitement was washed out. Nope, the dam was every bit the mammoth size that every Internet article said it would be, but it was closed for public viewing. Sniff! Our unhappy faces were gently told that the Idukki Dam is opened to the aam janta only during Onam and Christmas. For the rest of the days, you just get to see the dam top from the road along the way and the bottom from Idukki village.

Love At First Sight

munnar tea plantation

Please forgive the overuse of the word ‘love’ in my Kerala blogs but it can’t be helped; the place is such! Carrying a rich stamp of its colonial past, Munnar does full justice to being the most popular hill station in the Western Ghats. Located at a height of 6,000 feet, it is the epicenter of all things nice that the already generous Mother Nature bestows upon Kerala. The lush green landscape, sprawling tea and cardamom plantations and proud mountains make Munnar a hit with travellers of all kinds. You can just sit back and soak in the surroundings or head out to seek your adventurous side exploring the outback on foot. Today, we will stick to the former.

Soon we will be arriving at our abode for the next three days – the Grand Plaza courtesy MakeMyTrip. Tell you about it tomorrow!

(Photo Credit: Tariq Khan)

Saba Shaikh

Saba is a nomad at heart. Having lived in 12 cities, she looks to experience different cultures and is dying to trot all over the world in more than 80 days (what’s the rush!). Daydreaming and baking are her other love interests!

Comments

DELINA BABU | on 22 March 2018

awesome blog Munnar is a town in the Western Ghats mountain range in India’s Kerala state. A hill station and former resort for the British Raj elite, it's surrounded by rolling hills dotted with tea plantations established in the late 19th century. Eravikulam National Park, a habitat for the endangered mountain goat Nilgiri tahr, is home to the Lakkam Waterfalls, hiking trails and 2,695m-tall Anamudi Peak.