MUNNAR DIARIES – DAY 2 – 7 SEPTEMBER 2022 - IN MUNNAR

I had mega plans for the day and, therefore, it was unsettling to hear the pitter patter of rain on a tin roof shed next to my third floor room. Through the night it went on and every time I looked out of the window it was disappointing. I was ready to make last minute changes as the weather warranted, though. Come morning and things were not so gloomy as I had expected it to be. The day panned out to be perfect for the outdoors, in the end. But, I certainly wished for bluer skies; talk about greed! The farthest I would go this day was Top Station with many sights I had handpicked along the way. In the final selection of the itinerary I was assisted by information contained in a leaflet given by the kind gentleman at the hotel reception.

The Flower Garden, also known as Munnar Rose Garden, is just a couple of kilometres from Munnar in the way to the Top Station. It is a superb initiative of the Kerala Forest Department Corporation. The entrance fee is a nominal Rs. 50. Use of professional camera attracts a fee of Rs. 500. The garden has a large collection of flowering plants, cacti, roses and many more. Though there are a large number of Rose plants it was not yet the season for its blooms. Managed efficiently, the flower beds and stands are well laid out. One can also buy plants from here. The staff are friendly and quite dedicated.

Further up, beyond the Flower Garden, is the Photo Point, which is a lovely stretch of tea plantations with  misty mountains in the backdrop. Very picturesque, the location is ideal for amateur and professional photography. Vehicles were lined up alongside the road with tourists trying to capture their best shots, sometimes aided by professional photographers. As is to be expected in such places, there were many food stalls, photographers, and horses for rides. The weather was not ideal though, with intermittent drizzle and must.

I skipped the Carmelagiri Elephant Park and the Carmelagiri Botanical Garden and drove through to the 83 metre high concrete gravity Mattupetty Dam. A parking fee of Rs. 20 is levied for parking at the Dam site. The dam, built in 1953 to conserve water for hydroelectric power generation, was full and overflowing. The grey sky was not great for photography but the filled up dam and the gushing spillways were quite a sight. Because the dam was full another attraction of that area, the Echo Point, was a damp squib. Only when the dam has less water does it produce any echo!

The Mattupetty boating and entertainment centre are private developments in KSEB leased land further up from the Dam site on the Top Station Highway. The surroundings are quite well maintained with adequate parking and a canteen. There is a resort in the premise with very good views of the Mattupetty Dam. Tourists come here for boat rides and entertainment centre. The speed boat ride costs Rs. 910 for 15 minutes for a group of five, including children. A large pontoon boat that can take 20 people is also available. The problem with the boat ride is that the tariff is tailored for groups and families. A solo traveller like me would find the tariff too steep for the fun!

On the other hand, I found the Cowboy Park and entertainment centre worth the entrance charge of Rs. 500 for an adult. I thoroughly enjoyed the activities there. Beside the Sky Cycle and Zip Line rides I enjoyed the Mirror Maze, Swing Chair, The Vortex and the 12D movie thoroughly. There are many more activities for adults and children such as trampoline, tyre walk, climbing wall, V net, horizontal ladder and multivain. The cricket simulator was under maintenance. All in all, time well spent. There is also a restaurant serving delicacies.

About 15 km from Mattupetty Dam is the 46 metre high Kundala Arch Dam that was completed as part of the Pallivasal hydroelectric project in 1946. It is considered to be Asia's first arch dam. If one has the time one can walk across the arch dam and explore a part of the surrounding forest. I did not have that luxury and hence, sought temporary refuge in a food stall as the drizzle got a bit heavy. I had lunch of Maggie noodles and omlette, the staple in such touristy places. It tasted so good that I was tempted to have another portion. I resisted the temptation and wound up with a cup of hot ginger tea.

It was less than 10 km to Top Station from the Kundala Dam in the Munnar-Kodaikkanal road. While the Top Station is in Kerala at a height of 1700 meters above MSL, the Top Station viewpoint is in Tamilnadu. This border area affords panoramic views of the Western Ghats and the valley of Theni District. A short walk with vendors flanking both sides in light drizzle and billowing winds brought me to the forest department lookout point, for which one has to pay a nominal entrance fee. The views of the Western Ghats and Bodinayakkannur are awesome. Top Station got its name from it being the uppermost railway station that had once been a transhipment point for tea with a railway line  built for it. Naturally, the best time to visit these picturesque location is the summer months of April and May.

After I returned from the Top Station to the hotel by evening, I still had time to explore the Blossom Hydel Park, just a kilometer from the hotel. The Park seemed to have suffered from the incessant rain and walking through it was a dicey proposition with slush and puddles. The park looked unkempt and it was certainly not worth a visit in the state in which it was. The Ramaswamy Aiyer Headworks Dam, aka Munnar Headworks Dam, is a small check dam situated close to the Blossom Hydel Park. This is the oldest dam built in Munnar - 1944 - as part of the Pallivasal hydroelectric project, the first hydroelectric power project of Kerala. The pathway over the dam connects Munnar city with nearby villages.

Just over a kilometre from the Headworks Dam is the fantastic view point of Pothamedu. The views were so captivating that the biting cold winds didn't bother me as much as it did some of the other tourists. The refreshing vibes, undulating tea plantations, evergreen meadows and misty hills combine to produce sheet magic for the soul. When I tore myself away from that awesome place it was getting to be dark. That signified the end of a satisfying sightseeing trip in and around Munnar. It was time for rum and coke!