Local FavouritesWidely recommended; good value
Saravana Bhavan (Munnar)
A dependable pure-veg stop for a traditional South Indian meal; it gets crowded at peak times and parking is tight.
Order Banana-leaf meals; dosa; filter coffee
South India · India
Munnar
Rolling tea hills, misty viewpoints and rare mountain wildlife in Kerala's high range, best enjoyed slowly with plantation walks and cool evenings.
Best timeSeptember to March
Ideal trip2–4 days
Budget level₹₹₹₹
Getting thereCochin International Airport (about 4 hours); Aluva railway station
Great Okay Not ideal
Tea estatesHillsCouplesNature
Four ways to see Munnar
Touristy, offbeat, local or hidden?
Every traveller is different. Browse by style, then let the planner mix them into a day-by-day plan.
The famous must-sees
Eravikulam National Park≈ ₹400
Home of the endangered Nilgiri tahr, with grassy hills and the peaks near Anamudi. Book online.
wildlife · about 3 hrs · best in the morningFree alternative: Lockhart Gap viewpoint — Free hill viewpoint with sweeping mountain scenery, though no tahr sightings.
Tea Museum≈ ₹125
Old machines and photographs explain the history of Munnar's tea, with a short factory demo and tasting.
culture · about 1.5 hrs · best in the afternoonFree alternative: Tea estate roadside walk — Free stroll among tea bushes to see plucking in action, without the factory exhibits.
Mattupetty Dam and lake≈ ₹50
Reservoir surrounded by hills, popular for boating and stops at nearby dairy farms.
scenic · about 1.5 hrs · best in the morningFree alternative: Anayirankal reservoir viewpoint — Free lake and tea-terrace views, quieter than the boating hub.
Top Station viewpointFree
Highest point on the Munnar-Kodaikanal road, with huge views over the Tamil Nadu plains.
scenic · about 2 hrs · best in the morningEcho PointFree
Lakeside spot where shouts bounce back off the hills, with pleasant strolls and snack stalls.
scenic · about 1 hr · best in the afternoonAttukal WaterfallsFree
Roadside cascade between lush hills; fuller in monsoon season, a good stop on the way into town.
nature · about 1.5 hrs · best in the afternoonPothamedu viewpointFree
Quiet hilltop above Munnar with cardamom, coffee and tea slopes spread beneath you.
scenic · about 1.5 hrs · best in the morningQuieter, still easy to reach
Kolukkumalai sunrise jeep trip≈ ₹1,800
Bumpy ride to one of the world's highest tea estates, for sunrise above the clouds.
adventure · about 5 hrs · best in the morningFree alternative: Top Station sunrise — Free road viewpoint with early light above clouds; lower and less remote than Kolukkumalai.
Marayoor sandalwood forestFree
Rare sandalwood forest east of Munnar with ancient dolmens and sugarcane-jaggery makers.
nature · about 3 hrs · best in the morningLockhart Gap viewpointFree
Valley viewpoint along the Munnar-Bodinayakanur road with a sweeping view over layered hills.
scenic · about 1.5 hrs · best in the morningAnayirankal reservoir and tea estateFree
Emerald lake ringed by tea terraces, quieter than other dams and perfect for gentle walking.
scenic · about 2 hrs · best in the morningRose Garden and spice plantation≈ ₹100
Flower beds and a small spice garden, giving easy introduction to the plants of the region.
nature · about 1.5 hrsFree alternative: Echo Point — Free scenic spot for stretching your legs; no flower beds but wider views.
Food, markets, crafts and people
Tea tasting at a small factoryFree
Sit with a tea maker and learn to taste different grades of local leaf.
food · about 1.5 hrs · best in the morningHomestay Kerala lunch≈ ₹500
Share a home-cooked meal with a family: appam, stew and vegetable thoran.
food · about 2 hrs · best in the afternoonMunnar town bazaarFree
Browse homemade chocolate, spices, tea and woollens, and snack at roadside stalls like locals.
shopping · about 1.5 hrs · best in the eveningCardamom farm walk≈ ₹300
Join a farm guide for a stroll beneath shade trees to see how cardamom is grown and dried.
nature · about 2 hrs · best in the morningKathakali and kalari evening show≈ ₹300
Compact cultural show with make-up, drum music and martial art displays, a good rainy-evening choice.
culture · about 1.5 hrs · best in the eveningSpots most visitors miss
Meesapulimala trek≈ ₹1,500
Day trek to the second-highest peak in the Western Ghats; needs forest permission and a guide.
adventure · about 6 hrs · best in the morningVattavada vegetable terracesFree
Cool-climate farming village growing strawberries, carrots and cabbages in neat hillside terraces.
nature · about 3 hrs · best in the morningKanthalloor apple orchardsFree
Rare Kerala orchards of apple, plum and pear, with homestays and some of the area's best weather.
nature · about 3 hrsChinnar Wildlife Sanctuary≈ ₹350
Dry forest sanctuary with grizzled giant squirrels and treehouse stays; a book-ahead eco experience.
wildlife · about 4 hrs · best in the morningFree alternative: Marayoor sandalwood forest roadside — Free forest views and walks along the road; fewer wildlife encounters.
Entry fees and times are approximate, per adult, and change often — we confirm everything before you book. Last reviewed November 2026.
Specialities
What Munnar is famous for
drink
Munnar tea
Fresh high-altitude leaf from estates, tasted at small factories and shops.
food
Homemade chocolate
Local chocolate shops use cocoa grown in the nearby hills.
food
Kerala parotta and beef or veg curry
Flaky flatbread with spicy curry served at hill-town eateries.
souvenir
Cardamom, pepper and cloves
Freshly packed spices grown in surrounding plantations.
souvenir
Eucalyptus and aromatic oils
Locally made oils and herbal balms sold in the bazaar.
experience
Tea estate walk at sunrise
Walk beside tea bushes in mist, then breakfast in a plantation home.
experience
Spotting Nilgiri tahr
Rare mountain goat seen on the grassy slopes of Eravikulam.
Where to eat
A taste of Munnar
From the stalls locals queue at to the tables critics travel for — chosen for flavour, character and a warm welcome.
Must try
- Kerala meals on a banana leaf vegRice with sambar, rasam, thoran, avial and pickles — the simplest, most reliable meal in town.
- Kerala parotta with beef or chicken fryFlaky layered flatbread with a dry, pepper-and-coconut-sliver roast; the hill-station comfort meal.
- Puttu and kadala curry vegSteamed rice-and-coconut cylinders with black-chickpea curry, a classic breakfast.
- Fresh estate tea (and cardamom tea) vegMunnar is tea country — taste estate teas at the Tata tea museum or plantation stalls.
- Home-made chocolates and spices vegLocal shops sell home-made chocolate, cardamom, pepper and other Idukki spices — popular take-home gifts.
Street food trail
Munnar town market and tea-stall trail (small hill town, not a street-food city)
- Best time
- 8–11 am or 4–6 pm
- Takes
- 2 hours plus the drive to a tea museum
- Start at
- Munnar Main Bazaar (town centre)
- Budget
- ₹300–600
- Munnar Main BazaarTown centre
Try Puttu-kadala or appam-stew breakfast at a veg hotel (veg); local tea (veg)
Simple 'meals hotels' here are clean and cheap; busiest 8–9 am.
₹80–150Map
- Homemade chocolate and spice shopsMain Bazaar and approach roads
Try Homemade chocolate, cardamom, tea packets (veg)
Quality varies; taste first and buy small packs.
₹100–300Map
- Roadside tea and snack stallsMunnar–Mattupetty road
Try Pazham pori (veg); parippu vada (veg); hot tea (veg)
Stop where there are many locals and a fresh batch is frying.
₹40–80Map
- Tata Tea MuseumNallathanni Estate, about 2 km from town
Try Tea tasting (veg)
Closed Mondays; check times before going.
about ₹200–250 entryMap
Eat smart · every traveller
Diets & dietary needs
- Vegetarian
- Easy: many veg 'meals' restaurants in town.
- Vegan
- Manageable with appam, puttu and kadala curry; ask about ghee.
- Jain (no onion, garlic)
- Difficult; carry snacks and ask resorts in advance.
- Halal
- Available at Muslim-run hotels in the bazaar; ask.
- Gluten-free
- Good with rice-based Kerala breakfasts; avoid parotta.
- With children
- Chocolate shops, fritters and tea-estate walks are a hit; the cold evenings mean hot snacks are welcome.
- Spice level
- Medium; ask 'erivu kurachu'. Tamil is also widely spoken; English and basic Hindi work in shops.
Say it like a local
Useful phrases
- I am vegetarianNjan sasyaharam mathram kazhikkumnyaan sus-ya-haa-rum maa-thrum ka-zhik-kum
- No meat, no fish, no eggIrachi venda, meen venda, mutta vendai-ra-chi vain-da, meen vain-da, moot-ta vain-da
- Less spicy, pleaseErivu kurachu mathieh-ri-vu ku-ra-chu maa-thi
- How much?Ethra aayi?eth-ra aa-yi
- This is a short, honest market walk; most good eating is at resorts or estate homestays.
- UPI works in town; mobile signal drops on estate roads, so carry some cash.
- Evenings are cool in November; drinks and snacks are freshest early.
- Avoid buying 'organic' spices in unlabelled bags from roadside touts.
Trail stops, hours and prices are approximate and stalls move — check locally. Pronunciations are simplified guides. Last reviewed 9 November 2026.
Where to eat, by budget
Street food, markets and humble legends
Acclaimed cafés and celebrated mid-range tables
Smart & StylishRecommended for Kerala food with hill views
KTDC Tea County Restaurant
A dependable sit-down restaurant at Kerala Tourism's hilltop resort, chosen as much for the valley views as the food.
Order Kerala thali; appam with stew
Smart & StylishFodor's pick; noted for its glass-roof nature setting
Hill Spice (Tall Trees resort)
A more elegant alternative to the bazaar restaurants, set among tall trees with a transparent roof.
Order Kerala dishes; set meals
Restaurants change hours, menus and prices often; awards are as published at the time of checking. Approximate — verify before you go. Last reviewed 9 November 2026. All our food picks
Local tip: Eravikulam is shut roughly February to March during calving season; check dates and pre-book tickets online.
Make Munnar yours
Build a free itinerary in a minute, or let our team plan it all — stays, transport and a clear price.