Munnar to Boost its Strawberry Farms

The amazing hills of Munnar could soon be wearing a new colour as around 3,500 farmers are preparing to take up the commercial cultivation of strawberry to a higher level.

The Kerala State Horticultural Mission (KSHM) has come up an amazing project to cultivate strawberry in around 750 acres of land and for this, Minister for Agriculture K.P. Mohanan states that this project would be taken up under the hi-tech farming scheme which is announced in the recent budget.

The Minister also said that the farmers were expected to earn much better returns by diversifying into the high-value crop such as Strawberries and this  initiative is mainly because the cold climate in Munnar offers the most conducive environment for Strawberry farming.  Government has plans to extend the project to other parts of the Kerala by providing mist irrigation facility. A few planters in Nelliampathy in the Northern Kerala have already experimented with strawberry farming and tasted success.

KSHM Director  K. Prathapan said that the Rs.6-crore strawberry project was designed to provide the best value addition and market linkage for farmers. Horticorp will be procuring the strawberries from the farmers and Kudumbasree units will take up the responsibility of processing the fresh fruit. KSHM had identified a team of women for the same and they will be sent to the Central Food Technological Research Institute in Mysore, for training in fruit processing. The Vegetable and Fruit Promotion Council Keralam (VFPCK)  will help in  organising the farmers into societies.

On behalf of the project, the cold storage set up by Horticorp at Munnar 11 years ago had been revived and this comes mainly under the proposal to establish a State-wide cold chain. The unprocessed fruits will be transported to Kochi and these fruits will be carried in refrigerated trucks. Once it reaches Kochi, they will be sold through shopping malls and the strawberries from Munnar would be sold under the ‘Safe to Eat’ brand.

Planting of Strawberries are expected to commence by the first week of September and the necessary planting materials will be procured from accredited nurseries in the northern part of India.

KSHM has also prepared another scheme to promote homestead cultivation of low chill fruits such as apple,  plum, pear and peachin Munnar. Overall such activities will add more to the tourism industry in Munnar as a lot of travelers comes to Munnar to watch its amazing beauty, its breath taking tea plantation and the fresh fruits that are available in Munnar.

The Amazing Mattupetty Dam in Munnar

Those visiting Munnar for the first time should make sure that their trip includes a visit to the famous Mattupetty Dam, which is few kilometers away from Munnar Town. Mattupetty Dam is one of the most popular travel destinations in Munnar and it is mainly a storage concrete gravity dam     which is used for the conservation of hydro electricity. The dam which is situated around 13 kilometers away from Munnar is well known for its amazing beauty and as a perfect boating destination in Munnar.

Boating in Mattupetty is another major attraction of Mattupetty dam and people from different parts come here to enjoy an amazing boating experience. The fee for boating is starts from around Rs 75 per head and you can enjoy boating for around 15-20 minutes. The boating in Mattupetty dam is arranged by District Tourism Promotion Council (DTPC) Idukki and the boats include speed boats, row boats and pedal boats. The boating is conducted with highly skilled persons and all the safety measures are followed.

Apart from boating, the Mattupetty Dam also offers an amazing panoramic view which you are sure to enjoy. There are also some amazing natural species which you can see if you are lucky enough. The surrounding hills and landscape adds more to the beauty of Mattupetty dam and it is always better to visit this place when there is no rain. The best time to visit Mattupetty Dam is between October to March when the climate is very cool without any rain.

The Amazing Valara Waterfalls Near Munnar

The Valara waterfalls near Munnar is another major attraction  which is visited by a large number of travelers on their route to Munnar Via Neriyamangalam. Neriyamangalam is the getway to Munnar when coming from Kothamangalam and Munnar and it is from Neriyamangalam where the beautiful high range area starts. The Valara waterfall is near to Irumpupalam and is marked for its amazing step sized water fall which adds more to its beauty.


The Valara waterfalls is a major refreshment spot for travellers on their route to Munnar and majority of the travelers step down here for a short break. You can also take a shower under the waterfall when it is safe to do. The water is also amazing to drink as it gets purified due to the steep flow of water through rocks. People collect water from this waterfall for their drinking purpose and carry them on their trip towards Munnar hill stations.

During the summer season the water fall is not too dangerous and we can have a shower under it and even small kids can enjoy their stay at the waterfall under the guidance of the elders. There are also small temporary shops which offers light refreshment food and drink for the tourist who get down at Valara waterfalls. You can see a lot of midsized waterfalls on Neriyamangalam - Munnar route and the Valara waterfalls is just one of them. The Valara waterfalls is also considered as the most beautiful waterfall that you can see while on your way to the beautiful hill stations of Munnar.

The Valara water fall is one of the best place to take some photos or pictures along with your friends, family and dear ones, as it provides a picturesque effect for taking snaps. Enjoy some photos / pictures of the amazing and beautiful Valara waterfalls near Munnar.

A Great Tourism Season in Munnar So Far

Munnar has been experiencing a great tourism season so far, as per the information from reliable sources. Munnar is one of the finest hill stations in India and is located in the Idukki district of Kerala. This hill station is a pefect destination for summer vacation either with the family or with friends and dear ones. The best time to visit Munnar is between October to May when there is no rain and the hill station experiences a cool climate.

Once the rain starts after the arrival of monsoon, it is better to avoid traveling to Munnar as you could not enjoy the beauty of Munnar at its best. There are also possibilities of natural calamities during the monsoon season in Munnar. So if you want to travel to Munnar hill stations, then now it is the perfect time and you must do it before June.

 Since the tourism season 2011 -2012 for Munnar started in October last month, a lot of travelers from across the globe have visited this majestic hill stations and this has brought huge revenue to Kerala. The revenue from tourism in Munnar comes from many forms such as wildlife tours, sightseeing tours, accommodation, transportation, shopping, adventure activities etc.

Enthusiastic travelers do not hesitate to spend any amount of money to enjoy the pleasure of this hill station and hence money pours smoothly into the tourism industry in Munnar. There are only two months left before we can enjoy Munnar tourism at its best and more travelers from across the world are flowing towards Munnar.

Most of the hotels, lodges and resorts are booked in advance and most of the travelers really find it hard to get a hotel booking for their accommodation during the peak tourism season. Most of the travelers book hotel accommodation months in advance so that they do not face any issue in getting a comfortable accommodation in Munnar to enjoy their vacation tour.

Even if you don’t get an accommodation in Munnar, you can manage to get one in any of the nearby major towns such as Thodupuzha, Muvattupuzha, Ernakulam etc, but you have to travel a good distance from these places to Munnar. But in case if you don’t get accommodation in Munnar, then this would be the only option left.

Munnar Tourism Season 2011 - 2012, All Set to Begin

At last the rains seems to have receded for  a while in Kerala and this is altogether a good news for Munnar, which might be experiencing yet another amazing tourism season for the year 2011 - 2012. The rain always played havoc with the tourism prospects of Munnar and since the rains have weakened, Munnar is all set to welcome travelers from across the globe.

As we all know that the months from October to May is the most perfect time to visit Munnar as we would be able to explore Munnar at its best. In the rainy seasons we would be deprived from visiting the major attractions of Munnar due to the bad weather conditions, but during the tourist season we would not be deprived of enjoying the beauty of Munnar hill station.

The flora and fauna would be at its best in Munnar during the months of October to May and we can see a wide variety of plants and wild animals in Munnar at this time. All the hotels and resorts in Munnar has started being busy once the month of October has arrived, as they have started getting room bookings from different parts of the globe. The luxury as well as budget hotels and resorts in Munnar would be aiming to make the best out of this tourist season in Munnar.

The restaurants and other shopping centers also expect to get a big boom this tourist season, but before getting into any of the restaurants make sure about the credibility and reputation of these restaurants. This is because these days a lot of hotels have been accused of serving bad food items to its customers.

The local tourist guide also expects a fantastic tourist season ahead in Munnar and this would be the best time for them to get their pockets filled with some good money. Before visiting Munnar make sure that you download any online stuffs that helps you in getting the details of the major tourist destinations in Munnar that are worth visiting and plan your tour accordingly. It is always better to have a prior knowledge about the attractions and destinations that you are going to visit in Munnar.

Also make sure that you carry your own first aid kit with you as you might get affected by cold due to the unique climate in Munnar. When you reach Kochi airport or any other railway station via your trip to Munnar, the climate in those areas would be hot. But once you reach Munnar, the climate changes dramatically and it becomes too cool and chilly. So it may affect your health conditions if proper precautions are not taken. Carry few woolen clothes with you to tackle the cool climate of Munnar.

Kolukkumalai Tea Estate in Munnar

The Kolukkumalai Tea Estate in Munnar is yet another must to visit destination in Munnar which would give you an unforgettable travel experience. The Kolukkumalai Tea Estate which is situated around 35 km away from Munnar is situated on a precipitous ridge above the scorching plains of Tamil Nadu. The tea estate is situated around 8000 feet above sea level and is one of the highest tea estate in the World.

The tea produced at Kolukkumalai Tea Estate is well known for its amazing flavour and is of high demand. The processing of the tea is done at the top of the hill at around 7500ft and the tea processing takes place in factories that was  built in the 1930s. The visit to Kolukkumalai Tea Estate in Munnar is an amazing adventure experience as the drive up to the top of the mountain would leave you with a crazy travel experience. The best way of transportation mode is to hire a Jeep which is the best to climb the roads filled with mud and stone and moreover bumpy.

Once you get on the top of the mountain, you will witness one of the most amazing nature beauty you have ever seen and if you have a camera don't forget to take the beautiful snaps. Since it takes almost 90 minutes journey from Munnar, make sure that you take all the necessary items that is required for a adventure ride through the mountains.

5 Reasons Why I Love to Visit Munnar Again and Again

Munnar hill stations are one of the most perfect holiday destinations in Kerala and you would not become bored of Munnar despite visiting it frequently.  In my experience I have visited Munnar around 12 times so far and I still love to visit Munnar again and again. Most of the people have this same experience as they never get tired of visiting Munnar. Munar tour packages and plans always thrill everyone due to various factors and at the peak of the tourist season in Munnar you can see travellers from across the World visiting this beautiful hill stations.

Here are 5 of the major reasons that make Munnar hill stations one of my favourite tourist destinations in Kerala.

1) Natural Beauty
Natural beauty has been the hall mark of Munnar and it is one of the major reason why Munnar hill stations attract a huge amount of travellers. You would always love to watch the natural beauty of Munnar and it would always offer you a good photo session. The photos of Munnar hills which looks like covered by green blanket are a treat for all and you cannot experience this amazing beauty in any other part of Kerala. The natural beauty also offers a perfect Munnar sightseeing experience.

2) Cool Climate
Munnar's cool climate and weather conditions had made it the summer destination for the British rulers in the past and still the amazing climate in Munnar makes it a top tourist destination in Kerala. The hill stations of Munnar experiences a cool climate throughout the year and is also known as the "Kashmir of the South".

3) Rich Flora and Fauna
Munnar boasts of a rich and amazing range of flora and Fauna and you can see some of the most rare and unique plant and animal species in Munnar.  Munnar also has a well-known wildlife sanctuary which attracts a lot of travellers. The neelakurinji flower species which blossoms once in every 12 years.

4) Affordable Accommodation
Even though there are a number of top class hotels and resorts in Munnar, you would not find any difficulty in getting an affordable accommodation. The reason is that there are a lot of economy hotels and lodges which makes accommodation in Munnar affordable to all.

5) Trekking Spots
Munnar is one of the major adventure destinations in Kerala and one of the major adventure item that I have enjoyed in Munnar is trekking. There are some exceptional trekking spots in Munnar which would give you a memorable adventure experience.