Munnar is the most popular mountain resort in South India offering ample opportunities for all types of sight seeing, eco-tourism, adventure tourism, plantation tourism, hydel tourism. It is one of the highest areas on the Western Ghat mountain ranges with rocky cliffs, velvety savannas, manicured tea gardens, wooded valleys, gushing streams and placid lakes. Munnar is urbanised minimally, without destroying the natural environment and has a climate that is cool and salubrious throughout the year. The shops and establishments in Munnar do not fleece the tourist charging exorbitant rates. The following are just few of the places of tourist interest in the vicinity. As its name signifies it was a hill covered with potha grass, now under tea cultivation. It offers an excellent view of the tea, coffee and cardamom plantations in Munnar. The rolling hills, the lush mountains and the breathtaking scenery here are ideal for short and long treks along the mountain paths. Devi (Sita Devi), meaning goddess Sita, is believed to have bathed in the kulam (pond) here. Its velvety lawns, exotic flora and fauna and the cool mountain air are a rare experience. The Sita Devi Lake with its mineral waters and picturesque surroundings is a good picnic spot. It is also ideal for trout fishing. Devikulam is the administrative capital of Munnar area with Devikulam taluk headquarters, Revenue Divisional Office, Munsiff and Magistrate Court, Subjail, etc. This is the site of the first Hydroelectric project in Kerala and a place of immense scenic beauty. The view from Munnar - Adimaly road is very charming. The old style quarters and a backdrop of undulating hills all around will refuse to fade from memory. It can be seen as a glorious combination of man's achievements and the incomparable loveliness of nature. Athukad waterfalls is situated near Pullivasal and is a breathtaking view even from the distant Munnar-Adimaly road. The place is ideal for short and long treks. These waterfalls cool down one's mind and provide a soothing experience to the disturbed minds. The manicured tea gardens, wooded valleys, flowering trees and the panoramic view all around add to the heavenly atmosphere. Nyamakad is another paradise nature offers with its waterfalls, tea gardens, steep hills and gurgling stream. Located between Munnar and Rajamallai, Nyamakad is a land of breathtaking beauty. The waters cascade down a hill from a height of about 1600 metres. The enchanting surroundings make an excellent picnic spot and trekking point. Sri Chithirathirunal, Maharaja of erstwhile Travancore state, had come here in the thirties to witness for himself the working of the first proposed hydro electric project of his state. The name Chithirapuram, meaning the Chithira place was given to the place where the Maharaja stayed during his visit. With its sleepy little cottages, bungalows, old playgrounds and courts, Chithirapuram still exudes an old-world charm. Home of the Pullivasal Hydel Power Project, this hill town is also famous for its picturesque tea plantations. Kundalai is 20 kms from Munnar on the way to Top Station. The construction of Sethuparvathy Dam at Kundalai was completed in the year 1946, as a part of Pullivasal Hydro Electric Project, when it was found that the reservoir at Munnar was not getting adequate water. Pedal boats and Kashmiri Shikaras are available for tourists as a part of the hydel tourism projects of the Kerala State Electricity Board. Cherry blossoms, which bloom twice a year, make Kundalai a heaven on earth. Kurinji flowers, though seasonal, also provide ecstatic delight to visitors. DTPC Idukki provides boating facilities on the Mattupetty Dam. Speed launch and motorboats are available on hire. Situated at a height of 1700 m, Mattupetty is also known for the Indo Swiss Livestock Project. Over a 100 varieties of high-yielding cattle are reared here. There is a beautiful garden with more than 250 varieties of roses in Mattupetty. We can also see here 64 varieties of dianthus, innumerable dahlias and many other flowers. Lock Hart Gap is on the Kochi - Madurai National Highway, clinging precariously on a rocky slope for over 2 kms, with mist-wrapped villages 2000 ft. below on one side and steep rocky crags on the other. Rare wild flowers like Kurinji seasonally embellish the slopes on either side. The cave believed to have been used by Malaikkallan, a legendary Robin-Hood - like highway robber is a cave of great tourist interest. The gap is now being widened to make the passage safer. Rajamallai is the natural habitat of Nilgiri Tahr, and is the 'king of hills' as its name suggests. Half the world population of the rare mountain goat (Hemitragas bylocres) which is fast becoming extinct, is now found here. Other rare fauna and flora including Neealakurinji are found here. When Neelakurinjis blossom, Rajamallai offers unforgettable scenic beauty. So far as eyes can see one can only see the blue painted beautiful hills. These lilac kurinji flowers will glitter and glow in our mind's eye years afterwards. Echo Point is on the way to Top Station from Munnar. The outer reaches of Mattupetty lake with tree covered hills all around is a picture perfect scenery. This scenic place gets its name from the natural echo phenomenon here. We can hear interesting reverberations of sound here when we shout out loud standing on the bank of the lake. It is the highest point on the Munnar-Kodaikanal road and was the terminal station of the now extinct Kundalai Light Railway and Roapway. The view of the beauty of Tamilnadu on the eastern side and the sight towards the Arabian Sea on the western side is really striking. The best climate to visit is preferably February to May. The renowned Neelakurinji, which flowers once in 12 years only, can be seen in this region also. Eravikulam National Park was originally meant to protect the Nilgiri Tahrs, the endangered species of the mountain goats. It covers an area of 97sq. kms of rolling grassland and rocky peaks. Aneimudi, the highest peak in South India (2695 mts) is inside the park area. Endemic rare flora like the Neelakurinji and fauna including rare butterflies are seen in plenty. Chinnar wildlife sanctuary lies contiguous to the Eravikulam sanctuary and is a unique semi-arid tropical forest situated in the rain shadow region of the Western Ghats. Rare fauna like the endangered giant grizzled squirrel and white bison and rare endemic flora like the critically endangered albizia lathamii are found here. It has also the largest number of reptilian fauna in Kerala including the mugger crocodile and 225 recorded species of birds. With an area of 90.422 sq. kms, Chinnar has the unique thorny scrub forest with Xerophytic species. As the altitude varies from 500 to 2,400 mtrs. within a few kilometre radius, there is a drastic variation in the climate and vegetation. Falling from a great elevation, this waterfalls comes down from the high hills and meanders through the tea gardens to reach the Anayirankal lake. The water is believed to have divine curative properties as it is the overflow from Devikulam lake, in which Seetha Devi (wife of Rama) is believed to have bathed. The Anayirankal reservoir is a vast expanse of water nestling among the green carpeted hills covered with tea gardens. The dam site is a popular picnic spot with blue hills in the distance forming a backdrop to the verdant hillocks and occasional sightings of elephant herds that come down to the lake to quench their thirst. At a height 2640 metres, Meesapulimala is the second highest peak in South India. From here we can see the eastern side of Gap Hills. On the eastern side we can have the full view of Tamil Nadu. When the sky is clear we can see Idukki Reservoir, Mattuppetty Reservoir, Mattupetty Dam and Anayirankal Dam from here. Tourists who like adventure and risk can attempt to climb this peak. It is the highest peak in India, to the south of the Himalayas with the height of 2695mts. Aneimudi with its endemic flora and fauna is, perhaps, one of the most neglected places of Kerala where beauty dwells in harmony with nature. 'Vagavurrai' means a mountain covered with vaga trees (Abhizzia Lebbek). Between Chattamunnar checkpost and Vagavurrai factory these trees blossom and make an ever-glowing sight. The blue sky and a steep hill with waterfalls provide the sublime background for this. It was here that oranges and pepper were cultivated for the first time in the High Ranges. The first mini hydel project was also started here. The sandal wood of Marayoor, the only natural sandal wood forest in Kerala, is said to be the finest in the world. There are tell-tale signs of an ancient civilisation which had existed in Marayoor and had become extinct mysteriously. Caves and tunnels with paintings of very distant past are the only relics at present. The people of this area also believe that Rama and Sita of Ramayana had wandered through these forests. Situated on the Tamil Nadu border, Kolukkumala is the highest tea garden in the world. Though the climate is misty throughout the year the view all around is charmingly scenic. It is very popular as one of the best locality for trekking and mountaineering. Apple, plums, and other cold climate fruits are harvested in this high altitude area. It is 5000 feet above the sea level. Kanthalloor and its neighbouring areas of Perumala and Puthoor are renowned for fruit and vegetable cultivation. Cauliflower, cabbage, beans, garlic and onion are cultivated here in abundance. Periyar Wildlife Sanctuary at Thekkady is the most popular wildlife reserve in India and one of the largest. The tiger reserve forming a part of the sanctuary is a great crowd puller. A boat ride on the placid Periyar Lake is the easiest way to experience the sanctuary. Herds of wild elephants, which come to drink the water and frolic in the lake, bewitch the viewers. Bison, spotted deer, sambar, leopard, stripe necked mongoose, Malabar flying squirrel etc. are frequently sighted.