Munnar takes the Tea

The last leg of my Kerela travel ended with a heady entry into the greenest tea plantations I've ever seen anywhere in the world -Munnar. You know you are in Munnar when the whirling roads stop becoming a migraine and the views get so fantastic that they convince you that nothing in the world can be devoid of life!

The road at Munnar

After settling for a day, I knew for sure that I had to visit a Tea Estate. What's the point of visiting Munnar and not knowing their tea! I assumed it to be a very touristy affair, but nonetheless I was curious. After talking to a few local people, I settled for a visit to the Kolukkumalai Tea Estate. Visiting it came with some essentials though - a strong jeep to sustain the terribly bumpy road and a happy, informative and patient driver. I think I got it all because the visit was fantastic. A word of caution though, the ride is very uncomfortable and can leave you with an aching body so go for it only if you think you can handle it!

Kolukkumalai Tea Estate Info

The jeep ride to Kolukkumalai Tea Estate

Tea Plantations 

Some of the must do on the way to the tea estate -

• Stop by the plantation workers, borrow their gear and learn the art of leaf plucking. Their daily wages are very low (less than $1) and will be happy if you tip them for teaching you.

• Get out of the jeep and walk though the tea plantations or on the road. The plantations are on a slope so walking through them can be risky sometimes.

• Stop by the point from where you can see the mountain ranges separating Kerela from Tamil Nadu. It is a beautiful sight.

• Drink the tea prepared by locals at the estate. You will be convinced to buy some after trying it.

• Just stay calm and enjoy and beautiful views of the tea plantations. The green color is very calming and you will often see them freckled with sparkling butterflies.

The road is not as good as it looks!

Interacting with the tea plantation workers

Kerela and Tamil Nadu seen from the Kolukkumalai Peak

Drinking tea at the Kolukkumalai Tea Estate

The Kolukkumalai Tea Estate is one of the highest tea estates of the world. It is a long drive away from Munnar (over an hour) and actually falls in the Tamil Nadu region. The tea manufacturing process in Kolukkumalai is still done using the orthodox method. It is interesting to to see the green leaves go through different processes to turn into an aromatic black tea favored by people the world over.

Kolukkumalai Tea Factory

Withering Process of Tea Leaves

Fiber Extraction Process

Munnar has many other commercial places of visit such as the Anayirankal Dam and the Eravikulam National Park. I did not visit them. However while walking around the place I was staying, I did see a co-existence of orange and tea plantations which are great to walk through. I remember passing through these fenced orange tree areas and did something that I had always wanted to do. Yes, I entered a private property, jumped until I could grab a tree branch and plucked an orange off it. Some things we never enjoy living in cities!  

Oranges for sale

Munnar also has private estates where they grow spices in their own gardens. Kerela is known for it's spices and therefore it is recommended to visit these spice gardens because you learn a lot about how the spices grow. You can also purchase high quality spices at very reasonable rates from the same gardens.  Some of the spices you can purchase include cloves, pepper, cardamom and cinnamon all which go into daily Indian cooking.

The Spice Garden

The Spice Garden

Coffee beans

Pepper