Munnar, a former hill station in central Kerala and favourite retreat for the British during the days of the Raj, is nowadays an idyllic tourist destination. Munnar is a great base for visiting tea estates, for taking treks of anything from a few hours to several days duration, and for visits to nearby National Parks. Munnar is situated at an altitude of over 1600 metres, meaning its climate is moderate even at times of the year when coastal Kerala is very hot and humid. The most famous vistas from Munnar are of an almost unending expanse of tea plantations, plunging into deep valleys and soaring to near the top of the high peaks which surround the town. Trekking around Munnar takes in many spectacular locations and programmes here can be tailored to suit any level of fitness and enthusiasm. The most famous National Park in this part of Kerala is Eravikulam which is home to the rare Nilgiri Tahr, a species of mountain goat endemic to this region.
The history of Munnar is quite interesting and takes us into the colonial era when the British used to rule this place. Scottish planters were the first ones to have discovered Munnar and the Duke of Wellington was the first notable personality to visit Munnar. The British developed this land for the purpose of tea plantations and as getaways from the oppressive heat of the cities. There are several prehistoric relics that point towards the existence of a Stone Age civilization in this region.