Tea Museum at Munnar

The KDHP Museum (Kanan Devan Hills Plantations Company) is India’s first Tea Museum. Situated at KDHP’s Nullatanni Estate is at close proximity from the Munnar Town.

See also 5 Beautiful Tea Plantations in Kerala

Tea Museum, Munnar, India

Munnar, which is one of the finest tourism destinations of Kerala sees the footfall of hundreds of tourists. One of the must see attractions of the place is the vast stretches of tea plantation which has an amazing greenery around it. The Tea Museum is places in the Idukki’s High Ranges which is the home to this ancient tea plantation district. From the elementary tea roller to the completely self-regulating tea factory at Madupatty of today’s time, the Munnar tour gives you a complete insight about tea processing and the operation activities further.

Interesting facts about the museum

The entrance of the museum has an interesting granite sundial which was made by the Art Industrial School at Nazareth in Tamil Nadu in 1913. Greeting thetouristswith this grand sundial at the entrance, you can look out for the memorabilia exhibited in the museum. You will also come across a prominent display of an iron-age burial urn. This burial is from the 2nd century BC, and it was unburied in 1970s near the Periakanal Estate. The other interesting displays include the original tea roller of 1905, the Pelton wheel that helped in power generation plant and was commonly found in Kanniamally Estate in the 1920, the rail engine wheel of the Kundaly Valley Railway,the rotor vane.

As you explore the museum, you can find the story of Munnar displayed that speaks of how an unoccupied piece of land was transformed to this plannedplantation town. Plenty of photographs and old machines which were in use in the early days are also displayed which clearly documents the endeavours of planters.

Tea tasting at Tea Museum, Munnar

One of the most interesting parts of the museum tour is thetea-tasting unit where you can enjoy several flavours and varieties of the beverage. One of the old tea roller processors that was used in the CTC type tea, Rotorvane is displayed and is a must-see. As and how you proceed with the tour, you can clearly understand the stages of development in tea manufacturing and processing.

Tea Museum at Munnar

The other ventures around Tea Museum, Munnar

• Tea Sanctuary

Kanan Devan Hills Plantations Co. Pvt. Ltd., Munnar owns and manages the Tea Sanctuary bungalows. These heritage bungalows, some of which are more than a century old,offers an interesting stay where visitors can experience the lifestyles of the pioneer planters. The Bungalows are situatedinside the biosphere reserves of the Western Ghats in the High Ranges at an elevation of around 4000 - 7000 feet. Wake up to the call of wild Fowl, Barking Deer, Malabar Thrush. You might also spot Elephants,Indian Gaur, Malabar Squirrels or even Leopards.  While here, do not miss sipping the fresh garden tea in God’s Own Country.

The bunglows of the Tea Museum, Munnar have arrangements for golf and fishing.

• Medicinal & Aromatic Plants

Kundaly Natural Extracts was started in 2006 as the Medicinal and Aromatic Plants Project. It is one of the leading diversification projects of KDHP, and has plans to become anagri-corporate. The intention of KNE was entirely on the cultivation and production of medicinal and aromatic plants. With rolling of time, it also included production of concretes and absolutes of floral crops such as Acacia Decurrens, Jasmine Sambac, Rose Damascena, Tube Rose, Jasmine Grandiflorum, and more
67 hectares of rose was planted in the high elevation Top Station as a part of this initiative. There are works going on for the production of oil, rose water, concrete and absolute of rose damascene.

• Vetiver Grass Technology

Vetiver Grass Technology (VGT) or Vetiver system (VS) is the establishment of a narrow live grass barrier. A well-established grass hedge helps in slowing down the erosion due to rainfalland also trapthe runoff sediments to make natural terraces.VGT has been extensively used for soil and moisture conservations, watershed development, pollution control, engineered structure stabilization, groundwater improvement, land rehabilitation, flood control, disaster mitigation, control of water borne erosion in coastal regions, and more.
The Company is a pioneer in adopting VGT in tea plantations of the High Range (Kerala) and is has been successful in preventing soil erosion and moisture conservation.

• Sales Outlet

A visit to the Sales Outlets of KDHP, of the Tea Museum, Munnar is strategically located across various tourist hangouts in the city. In fact, this is one of the finest souvenir you can take back home. Shop for the exclusive plantation fresh products to enjoy the best taste of Tata Tea. Tourists can also choose various flavours of specialty teas, spices, chocolates and more.

Quick facts

•  Timings: 10:00 am to 04:00 pm (Closed on Monday)
•  Duration of Visit: 2-3 hours (approx.)
•  Best Months: September to May
•  Photography : Allowed but with charges
•  Famous for : tourism, photography, experience seekers and learners

If you need guides

In Tea Museum, Munnar, there are boards and workers who can take tell you about the details of the objects in the museum. Although there is no dedicated guide, the officials and workers there will help you explain whatever queries you might face.

Nearby Attractions

•  RC Church
•  Catholic Church
•  Lord Muruga Temple
•  Kannan Devan Tea Museum
•  Subhramanyam Temple
•  Nyamakad Waterfall
•  Sethuparvatipuram Dam

Reaching there

•  Nearest railway station: Aluva which is about 112 km
•  Nearest airport: Cochin International Airport which is approximately 72 km away from the town

See also Kerala Transportation: How to Get in & Get around

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