Lush green paddy fields, verdant hills, dense vegetation, and of course, the ubiquitous tea and coffee plantations make up the landscape of Wayanad. Dubbed the ‘Vagamon of Wayanad’, Muneeswaran Hills ranks high on the list of hill stations in the district. The view of dark clouds blending with the greenery of the hills is a sight worth beholding.
Five ghat roads connect Wayanad with the neighbouring districts. One of them is the Thamarassery churam or Wayanad churam which links Kozhikode with the hilly district. It is one of the steepest stretches, riddled with narrow hairpin bends. The other ghat road sections in Wayanad are Periya churam, connecting Kannur; Paalchuram, connecting Iritti; Kuttiadi churam, connecting Vadakara; and Nadukanichuram, connecting Malappuram district.
To reach Muneeswaran Hills, the easiest route is via the Paalchuram ghat road. The nearest town is Thalapuzha, located 3 km from the foot of the hill, while Mananthavady, the taluk headquarters, is about 15 km away.
The road to Muneeswaran Hills ends, literally, at its foothill. From there you will have to make a steep and winding 500-m climb across rolling green meadows to reach the scenic hilltop. There are parking spaces at the foot of the hills.
The view from the hilltop is worth the climb. Flanked by the hills of the Westerns Ghats, the undulating, green and serene Muneeswaran Hills offers splendid views of rolling hills around and the spectacular tea gardens veiled in mist.
From the hilltop, notable for its rustic charm and romantic ambience, experience the thrill of watching the valleys below and the clouds floating beneath your feet.
The feeling is just irresistible as you can lap up miles of wilderness stretching in a soothing display of green grandeur, with the wind in your hair and a song on your lips.
All these enchanting features make it a great place for both nature lovers and the shutterbugs.
The place derives its name from the Muneeswaran Temple atop the hill. It is said the shrine was construted by the descendants of the Tamil workforce brought by the British at the beginning of the 19th century to work on tea plantations.
Makkimala, standing majestically on the other side of the Muneeswaran Hills, has also copious greenery and mountain paths and is a favoured trekking destination. Popular spots on this route include Palchuram, Kottiyoor temple, and the Aralam Wildlife Sanctuary.
