I had always thought Kerala was a good tourist attraction with lots of beaches, backwaters and unique greenery of coconut trees, etc. To know that there could be much adorable hills in the southern special state of India was indeed a pleasant surprise. We took the opportunity to explore the hilly vacation spot of Munnar.
Travelling from Mumbai we went by air to Cochin airport and then went up and up by road again surprised to note that we are still in Kerala! The Munnar hills are unique green, cleaner and lesser explored in comparison to the more popular hill stations in other parts of India. The hotel accomodation at Mahindra Gateway was excellent by virtue of a well thought of layout and plenty of indoor activities as well as sight seeing trips organised by the hotel friendly staff. IN close vicinity are other hotels too, so getting a place in any of these should be possible.
The tea gardens over the sloping hills offers a well-spread landscape keeping the beholder in the true grip of nature. One of the quiet spots we went was a much likeable too- called as Devi Koolam - a truely clean lake signifying the use by Goddesses. We were told that Sita Devi had been there during the period of Ramayana.
A visit to the tea factory is an educational and entertaining one and so is the brief trek to reach there. The Tamil Nadu border is in close proximity from one of the factories we visited.
Weather is nice and cool most of the year round and having been there in early winter enabled us lots snd lots of cloudy mornings - a total different experience for the Coastal Mumbaites!