A look back. Munnar, Kerala, India. 03.19.2011

March 19, 2011 Munnar, Kerala, India

While in Kochi, we met a man who owned a travel agency. We knew we wanted to go to a hill station for our next stop and experience the tea fields and he told us he had just the place. He actually owned the house we were to stay in, a kind of bed and breakfast if you will, for there was a couple from Australia there also. He gave us the directions and told us the housekeeper, Dahs, would meet us and take care of us. The house was about 5km outside of Munnar and we could see many things from there, he said.

The house was situated on a steep hillside in a cluster of small homes, and we had to drive through some tea fields to get to it from the main road. The views were fantastic and we were welcomed with open arms.

the view from the rooftop

The area has a lot to see so small day trips can keep you busy. We visited a Tea factory, where they showed us the entire tea-making process.

Our guide showed us the furnace used to dry the tea leaves

One day we drove to a place called Top Station, elevation 8000 ft and we could see over the border into Tamil Nadu. The views from there were stunning and it was nice and cool! There were not that many people visiting that this time of year and it made for a nice quiet afternoon.

The view from the road to Top Station

Beautiful flora everywhere

Having a snack at 8000 ft. Nice and quiet getaway

This area is known not only for its tea, but for tons of other spices and herbs that grow here, some only grown here at this altitude, like cardamom. They also grow coffee here. There is a self-titled "Spice Museum" along the road before you get to Munnar. We drove back to see it one day. The owners gave us a guided tour, told us what we were looking at and even took photos of us in the gardens. This was about 1-2 acres of forested area, growing all kinds of trees and plants in a natural setting. Have you ever wondered where cloves comes from? Pepper, vanilla or cinnamon? They have all in their natural settings. It was quite educational.

a resident of Munnar

The sunrises and sunsets are spectacular here. This is a sunrise that greeted me one morning from the rooftop of our house

this little boy lived across the street

Kolam is a form of sand painting that is drawn using rice powder  or chalk by female members of the family in front of their home. Kolam are thought to bestow prosperity to homes. It is widely practiced by Hindus in South India. A Kolam is a geometrical line drawing composed of curved loops, drawn around a grid pattern of dots.

Every morning in Southern India, millions of women draw Kolam on the ground with white rice powder. Through the day, the drawings get walked on, rained out, or blown around in the wind; new ones are made the next day. Every morning before sunrise, the floor is cleaned with water, the universal purifier, and the muddy floor is swept well for an even surface. The Kolam are generally drawn while the surface is still damp so that it is held better.

Less than 100 yards away, we stepped into the tea fields

Munnar was one of my favorite places in India. It was a huge difference from the hustle and bustle of the big cities, and much more laid back and quiet than even some smaller towns. The lush greens, the cool air and the sounds coming out of the forest canopy at daybreak was unique. I can't wait to go back.