Munnar: Tourists have been flocking to the beautiful hill station of Munnar ever since the Madras High Court ordered to restrict entry to Ooty by issuing e-passes. Munnar has been experiencing the biggest crowd since 2006, tourism operators say. So much so that many places experienced traffic snarl-ups on Saturday morning. On Sunday, it took vehicles around 5.5 hours just to cover 13 kilometres.
According to tourism stakeholders, the past two days were the most crowded in Munnar since 2006, when the neelakurinji (strobilanthus kunthiana) flower bloomed.
If you are looking to enjoy the hill station without getting trapped in the traffic, here's what you can do:
How to enjoy the region?
According to tourist guides and tour operators, the Munnar town is experiencing the maximum congestion. But there are ways to enjoy the place evading the crowds. Munnar-based tour operator Jothis Rajan says, “The hill station sees heavy crowds during weekends the most. Traffic and crowds are manageable during weekdays. Those coming to Munnar from outside of Kerala, via the Udumalpet route, reach Marayoor and Kanthalloor area , which are around 45 km before their destination. They can explore the area, alongside Vattavada, rather than heading to Munnar on busy days. You can have a mesmerising before Munnar too.”
As for those heading to Munnar from the nearby districts in Kerala, Mankulam, Chinnakanal, Bison Valley and Kunjithanny areas are some of the other options, he says. “Those coming to Munnar from Kochi can consider taking an accommodation at the Chithirapuram, Second Mile region, which is around 15 km away from the town. This stretch has many hotels, homestays, safari and trekking options and even has a fantasy amusement park. The tourists can also easily check out the Powerhouse Waterfall, many tea plantations, Attukadu Waterfall, spice plantations and shops from here,” explains Jothis.
The crowded spots
The Eravikulam National Park, which is home to the Nilgiri Thar, The Mattupetty Dam, Eco Point and Top Station areas are the most crowded areas of Munnar in this season. "Tourists can enjoy these regions too without experiencing big crowds if they go on the weekdays. If they have time only during weekends, avoid evenings. Also, they can consider reaching Munnar the previous day rather than allocating the same day for exploration and travel," Jothis suggests.
