Tea Gardens in Munnar

Munnar, often referred to as the “Kashmir of South India,” deeply intertwines itself with its tea estates, and visiting the Tea Museum at KDHP’s Nallatanni Estate takes you on a captivating journey through Munnar’s rich tea history.

History of tea garden

In 1857, Munnar’s journey into the world of tea began when John Daniel Munro, a British resident, arrived.

Initially, they established a society to cultivate coffee, cardamom, and cinchona. However, the captivating allure of Munnar’s tea plantations soon took center stage. The first tea cultivation in Munnar commenced in 1880, led by A.H. Sharp, a European planter, on the 50-acre Parvathy estate, which is now part of the Seven Mallay Estate.

Specialty of Munnar

Munnar Tea Gardens, open from early morning to evening, are a must-visit for tea enthusiasts. Beyond its picturesque landscapes, Munnar is famous for its vast tea plantations, known as tea gardens, spread across rolling slopes. Private tea estates in Munnar offer guided tours, providing insights into tea cultivation and production stages.

Tea Heritage

Munnar’s identity is closely intertwined with tea. It is a place where you can immerse yourself in the pure essence of tea.

Spectacular Tea Gardens

Munnar is globally acclaimed for its stunning tea estates, boasting some of the most picturesque tea gardens in the world.

Prominent Players

Over 50 tea estates can be found in and around Munnar, with many managed by renowned names like the Tata Group. This makes Munnar a significant hub in India’s tea trade.

Livelihood

The tea plantations are not just a scenic wonder but also a source of livelihood for many locals. The majority of Munnar’s population depends on employment in these tea plantations, highlighting their socioeconomic importance.

Kolukumalai Tea Garden

Situated amidst steep, rugged terrain, Kolukkumalai in Munnar stands as the highest tea garden in the country, perched at an astounding 7900 ft above sea level. This unique estate is accessible solely by jeep, and a visit to Kolukkumalai includes an adventurous drive through the breathtaking tea fields and an informative tour of its factory. The tea produced here is distinctively flavored, likely owing to the exceptionally high altitude of this remarkable location.

Kannan Devan Tea

The Nullatanni Estate is home to KDHP’s renowned Kannan Devan Hill Plantation, a historic tea estate dating back to the British Era, spanning 2461 hectares. It’s famous for housing India’s first-ever tea museum, the Tata Tea Museum, which is a must-visit during your Munnar Tea Plantation tour.

The museum features a fascinating array of tea production machinery spanning the early to late 20th century. Exhibits include the original 1905 tea roller, a rotor vane, a peloton wheel from the 1920s Kanniamally Estate power plant, and artifacts from the Kundale Valley Light Railway, which once connected Munnar and Top Station in the early 1900s.

Sevenmallay Tea Estate

Sevenmallay Tea Estate is one of the best Munnar tea estates to visit.

This Tata Tea plantation in Munnar is in the southwest of the Kannan Devan Hills, covering hundreds of acres.

A beautiful bungalow smack in the middle of the estate adds to its appeal. The tea estate has emerged as one of the most popular destinations in Munnar because of its picturesque surroundings, verdant tea gardens, and colonial mansion in the middle. The Munnar Church, Munnar workshop, Ropeway station, Gymkhana Ground, Cenotaph, and KDH Club are here.

How to reach: The distance from Ernakulam to Munnar is 125.6 kilometers.

Where to stay: Madhu Manthra is the best option to stay.