Plan the Unplanned at Top Station, Munnar

Munnar is nestled in the lap of unspoilt nature of Kerala at an elevation of about 1,450m (4757ft) above sea level. It is placed in Kerala's landlocked Idukki district and is very close to Tamil Nadu border. People mostly speak Tamil as well as Malayalam.

To explore nature at its best, Top Station, Munnar is a preferred destination for traveller. Known for adventure tourism as well as photography, the town will leave you with plenty of memories in terms of experience.

The Mount Carmel Church and Saint Anthony statue are the common orientation points which are in the centre of the town. Furthermore, you can find budget accommodation in this area which makes the stay even more enjoyable! If you want to know more about the tourism of the place, DTPC tourist office to the south of the town centre can help you with the details. Grab a local map and mark the places of your interest. One of the finest points of interest is Top Station, Munnar.

Charming Landscape from Munnar Top Station

History of Top Station, Munnar

The trans-shipment point for Munnar to Bodinayakkanur was known Top Station. It was built in 1902 and a monorail goods carriage system was introduced to connect the different routes to the main location. However, a gauge railway replaced the monorail in the year 1908. To see the remaining of the Kundala Valley Railway, you can visit the Tea Museum of Munnar.

After the tea processing was done, it was sent to Bodinayakkanur by cart which is about 15 km (9miles) away, and then it was sent to England and other parts of the country by rail. You will still be able to see the remains of the ropeway station at Top Station, Munnar.

Things to Do

• This is one of the best places to take photographs of the township of Munnar from the top view.
• Enjoy the panoramic sight of the surroundings.
• Indulge in the fun games hosted at the tourist point.
• Explore the mouth-watering local dishes and the indigenous culinary of the place.

Apart from visiting the tea estates, Neelakurinji flowers in a nearby sanctuary is yet another major reason of the main reasons to visit the region. The most interesting feature about these flowers is they bloom only once in 12 years making it one of the rarest sights for visitors. The beauty of the Western Ghats from Top Station is in itself spellbinding and what makes the course even more exciting is when you can spot a Neelakurinji bloomed.

Do you Need Guides?

Should you wish to have a professional guide who can help you tell the tale of the region, you need to schedule a booking. If not, you can always seek help from the local people who are always ready to provide any sort of guidance.

Plan a Trekking at Top Station, Munnar

The hills of Kurangan are one of the highest peaks of South India. It sees the footfall of hundreds of trekkers every year. The thick jungles, which are heavily unexplored by the conventional travelling circuit is one of the finest destination for the shutterbugs and the adventure tourists. As you walk down the trail of the Top Station, you will be crossing tea estates and many coffee plantations, which are often punctuated by turgid waterfalls. The picturesque valleys from Kurangani to the Top Station makes up the entire landscape.

Most people plan for an overnight journey from Bangalore to enjoy the trek in the region. The trail is mainly habituated with the local tribes however, you won’t see much folks around as you embark for the trial.

There are two most popular routes for this trail. The first one leads up to Top Station that goes en route to the Central Station. It is about 8,000 feet ascent to Kolukumalai where stands the world’s tallest standing tea estate.

The other route is through Kurangani Village which is about 12-kilometer (7.5 miles) trek to Top Station (through Central Station). In this route, you can initiate your journey from Munnar in Kerala. Walk through the densely wooded area that opens into the vast expanse of grassland of Kurangani Hills that finally takes you to the border of Theni. The down trek is a far more exciting experience.

Plan a Trekking at Top Station

How to Reach

Common transports available – get taxi, private cars or local bus from Munnar. It is round hour drive from the town and covers a distance of approximately 32km (20 mi).

You can take a local bus trip from Kodaikanal which takes around 3 hours.

Connectivity

• Nearest airport: Cochin International Airport is situated about 110 km from Munnar and is the closest airport.
• Nearest railway station: Ernakulam is around 130km (81mi) from Munnar, is the nearest rail head to Top Station, Munnar

What to Buy?

One of the most preferred souvenirs you can take back are the fresh locally grown spices which most commonly include pepper, cinnamon, cardamom, vanilla, clove and nutmeg.

Pro tip: There are no hotels or guesthouses in the region as all of the area is reserved forest.

Quick Facts

• Top station, Munnar is famous for – knowing the history, exploring the geography, looking for the splendid nature, and photography

• Entry Fee: there is no entry fee

• Best time to visit - from April to May

• Visiting Time: there is no strict timing as such but the preferable slot is 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. daily.

• Trip duration: Takes round 30 minutes to 1 hour.