The name Munnar is believed to mean
“three rivers”, referring to the town’s strategic location at the
confluence of the Madhurapuzha, Nallathanni and Kundaly rivers.
The town has shared a strong cultural
link with Tamil Nadu and over 70% of the population of the town being
Tamils. The Munnar town is in Kannan Devan Hills ( KDH ) Village in
Devikulam taluk and is the largest panchayat in the Idukki district
having an area measuring nearly 557 km².
The nearest major railway stations are at
Ernakulam and Aluva (approximately 120 km by road). The nearest airport
is Cochin International Airport, which is 140 km away.
Geography and climate
The region in and around Munnar varies in
height from 1,450 meters (4,760 ft) to 2,695 meters (8,842 ft) above
mean sea level. Munnar enjoys a salubrious climate.
The temperature ranges between 5 °C (41 °F) and 25 °C (77 °F) in winter and 15 °C (59 °F) and 25 °C (77 °F) in summer.
Temperatures as low as −4 °C (25 °F) have
been recorded in the Sevenmallay region of Munnar.The mean maximum
daily temperature is at its lowest during the monsoon months with the
highest temperature being 19 C.
Flora and fauna
Most of the native flora and fauna of
Munnar have disappeared due to severe habitat fragmentation resultant
from the creation of the plantations.
However, some species continue to survive
and thrive in several protected areas nearby, including the new
Kurinjimala Sanctuary to the east, the Chinnar Wildlife Sanctuary,
Manjampatti Valley and the Amaravati reserve forest of Indira Gandhi
Wildlife Sanctuary to the north east, the Eravikulam National Park and
Anamudi Shola National Park to the north, the Pampadum Shola National
Park to the south and the proposed Palani Hills National Park to the
east.
These protected areas are especially
known for several threatened and endemic species including Nilgiri Thar,
the Grizzled Giant Squirrel, the Nilgiri Wood-pigeon, Elephant, the
Gaur, the Nilgiri langur, the Sambar, and the Neelakurinji.
