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Take one of the many tour operators (such as Great Think Adventures) in Munnar and share a jeep with 4-6 other people to go to the Elephant Salt Ponds in Anakkulam. The drive is 1,5 hours, and your waiting time is only limited by your patience. Usually, one or more elephants come to the pool in the stream to drink - because they like the salty flavour of the minerals in the ground. But there's no guarantee you will actually see an elephant. Tourists and elephants are separated by a big meadow and some concrete steps or steel cables, so that the animals can go about their business undisturbed. Little stalls serve chai, snacks and even food.
© OpenStreetMap contributors
45 min from Munnar
See Nilgiri Thar (Hemitragas hylocres) - an endangered species of mountain goats, rolling grasslands and sholas, spread over 97² km in the Rajamalai hills, rare flora and fauna, Atlas moth (largest in the world), lion-tailed macaque, leopards, tigers, The Kurichi or Neelakurinji Flowers turn the hills of Rajamalai blue every 12 years. The next bloom will be in 2018. One can actually debate if going to the high peak just to see some goats is worth all the effort or not. However, the walk along the park is very romantic and has some breath taking view. Please be aware that this park remains closed every year around February–March due to the breeding program of the Nilgiri Thar. Before visiting Munnar please check if the park is open or not. Tickets can be bought from the counter or online. Please be warned that if you do not reach the counter before 8:30AM, the queue can get so long that it may take a couple of hours to get the tickets. The visit to the park is arranged by buses. While coming back after the visit, you'd again have to wait in queue. The entire process of buying tickets, visiting park and coming back may take 4-5 hours.
formerly Tata Tea Museum
Tourists can see a collection of odd bits from the colonial era. A very enthusiastic 30-minute film is screened, and visitors are then taken around the factory to understand how tea is processed. If you are not a tea connoisseur you can skip visiting this museum.
In this cultural centre you can see the local art of Kathakali, which is a drama showcasing thick face make up and face gestures. Also, there are Kalarippayattu performances, which is an ancient Martial Art that was used to train soldiers already before the Common Era started.
Also known as Hydel Park
Run by the Kerala Forest Development Corporation. A well-kept garden with a large variety of flowers and some herbal/ foliage plants, all against the backdrop of the tea plantations. Nice for taking pictures with pretty flowers.
A scenic waterfall amidst hills and jungles.