Chokramudi Peak: Hiking in Munnar

Chokramudi peak lies near the hill station of Munnar, in Kerala province, southern India. It’s peak sits at around 2200 metres above sea level and it is one of the tallest peaks in Kerala. It is surrounded by endless tea plantations and abundant wildlife, providing 360-degree views of the surrounding area. For passionate trekkers, it’s a must-visit destination.

We hiked Chokramudi peak in April of 2023 whilst spending a week in the Munnar area, exploring the tea plantations and other mountain peaks. Information on how to hike this peak is scarce online, so this article will include all the information you need to hike it yourself, including how to get there, how much it costs and how long roughly it takes!

Getting to Munnar

If Munnar isn’t already part of your itinerary around Kerala province, it should be. We visited it as part of a 2 week trip around Kerala in April 2023, and we can’t recommend the area enough. The altitude makes the climate a welcome escape from the tropical and humid lowlands, offering a cool breeze and more temperate weather. And compared to more popular tourist hotspots, like those in beach areas, prices are very low for everything compared to western prices.

Kerala is well-connected by several bus companies, with varying levels of quality. We chose to use the Kerala State buses (KSRTC) for our journey, and although they were budget-friendly, they left much to be desired in terms of safety and comfort. In fact, we experienced a bus collision on our way to Munnar, where our bus collided with an oncoming vehicle. Fortunately, no one sustained serious injuries, but it was not the most favorable introduction to Indian bus rides for us. Despite this, we did continue to use these state-run buses during our trip. However, it’s important to be aware that unforeseen incidents can occur.

Note: Locals told us that the KSRTC state buses are the most dangerous, and have the worst drivers. They are however the most frequent and easy to find. Whilst we had one crash the other journeys we took were without incident (if only a little terrifying at times). Get to the local bus station and see what your options are for private buses.

The safest and quickest way to get around in Kerala is always by taxi. These prices are affordable compared to Western prices but still significantly higher than the cost of buses. For a 5 hour bus ride you can expect to pay 40-50 cents on a public bus, or 10-20 euros by taxi. You can check bus times and taxi prices on 12go.asia, and we recommend it for booking all travel in this part of the world.

Where to stay in Munnar

Munnar is split into 2 areas, Munnar old town and Munnar the new town. We stayed in Munnar Old town, which was nice and quiet and had 5-6 small restaurants and a number of accommodations to choose from. Munnar new town is far more populous, loud and full of locals. Whilst there are far more places to stay and eat in Munnar new town, we much preferred the calm and peacefulness of the old town.

We stayed in Munnar Days for 4 nights, and we really liked it. It was only around 10 euros for a double room, including breakfast, and situated just off the main road on a quiet street. There were views of the tea plantations from the room window, and it was nice and cosy with blankets for when the temperature drops overnight.

From this area you need to walk about 20 minutes to the new centre of town to reach the local bus station, or hail a tuk-tuk to drive you there for about 1-2 euros.

Getting to the base of Chokramudi Peak

From Munnar there are a few options to reach Chokramudi peak. One is to get onto a bus heading in the direction of the peak, and jump out when you drive past. Another is to rent a scooter for the day and drive there yourself. We rented a scooter for 8 euros per day for an adventure around the tea plantations from Gokulam Bike Hire. 

Note: We could not rent the bike without a valid international driver’s permit, so make sure you get one before you leave your home country if you intend on renting a motorbike in India.

The easiest option is to hike a tuk-tuk to take you there, but expect to pay 4-5 euros instead of 40-50 cents for the bus.

Trekking up Chokramudi Peak

The trek starts from a small ranger station at the base of the trailhead. When you arrive, if the ranger station is occupied, you will be required to fill in the visitor booklet and pay a small national park fee to do the hike. This booklet just ensures that if you don’t make it back the rangers will go looking for you, so great for peace of mind. The cost when we visited was 500 rupees or roughly 5 euros. The ranger will then offer you a walking stick, water and a pack of biscuits, and you are free to start the hike.

After a steep first ascent through the treeline the trail opens up and you are quickly walking up areas of exposed rock with drop offs to either side of you. To ensure you are heading in the correct direction, keep an eye on the white paint cross markers on the floor. Getting lost would be challenging, but it’s still important to stay on track. After around 1km you reach the first small peak, and then head down and through some woodland before making the final ascent.

At this point in the hike we ran into some large groups of Indian hikers, who were amazed to see some westerners doing the hike. They all wanted to take pictures with us, as with most places in India, and after a short stop we began the final ascent.

You should reach the peak after about 1.5-2 hours depending on your fitness level. The views from the top offer stunning 360 degree views of the tea plantations in all directions. We spent a good 30 minutes at the top taking in the scenery and snacking on some biscuits to refuel before starting our descent.

Because of the angle of the slope, you need to be careful during your way back down. The trail has very steep sections, so one should approach them with caution. If you find it easier you can zig-zag from side to side instead of heading directly down on some of the steeper areas. After another 1.5-2 hours you will be back at the ranger station where you can sign out of the trail with the park ranger. Well done, you hiked to Chokramudi Peak!

How to get back to Munnar from Chokramudi

There are a few options for getting back to Munnar from the start of the trail at Chokramudi. You can hail any bus going past in the direction of Munnar by sticking your thumb out and they will most likely stop for you. Expect to pay 40-50 rupees for a local bus. This is by far the cheapest option, but the buses don’t seem to be very frequent, so you might be waiting for up to an hour before one goes past.

Note: There is a small roadside cafe on the main road by the start of the trail, where you can get snacks and chai (tea). It’s a great place to sit whilst you wait for a bus or car to drive past.

One other option is to hail one of the 4×4 vehicles that go past taking passengers. We took this option because we had been waiting for a bus for over 30 minutes. We squeezed into the back with about 5 other people, and within 20 minutes we were back in Munnar. This ride cost us 100 rupees each, or roughly 1 euro.

The final option, if took a tuk-tuk, would be asking the driver to wait at the base to take you back again. Expect to pay considerably more for this privilege.

Once arriving back at Munnar it is just a short 20 minute walk back to Munnar old town where you can enjoy some hot food and chai!

What to bring and prepare

This trek is relatively straight forward, and only takes a few hours. As with all mountain trekking, being prepared remains important.

• Rain jacket or warm clothes – Weather can change quickly on the mountain and you should have at least some warm clothes and ideally a rain jacket in case it rains. Due to the elevation of Munnar it can be deceptively cold at times. A t-shirt might not be enough if the wind picks up. Check weather forecasts before you do the hike!
• Suitable shoes – Either hiking boots / shoes, or at least trail running shoes with good grip. Trainers or sandals are not suitable for the trek.
• Food and snacks – Whilst only a 3-4 hour hike, it is important to still bring some snacks to refuel. You can get some in Munnar, or at the small roadside shop at the start of the hike.

Safety, Concerns and Useful Information

• Before starting the hike, it is important that the park rangers and or your friends or family know where you are going, and when you should be back. If anything happens to you during the hike you want to be secure knowing that someone will come looking for you if you don’t return by a certain time.
• Bring sunscreen and apply liberally, as it can be hard to tell at altitude when you’re getting sunburn.
• Travel insurance is a must for any extreme activities abroad, especially in south east Asia. Although problems rarely occur, it’s important to have coverage in case they do. We use SafteyWing and recommend it for anyone travelling around the world.
• When spending money abroad we use the WISE international debit card. You can withdraw up to 200 euros in cash per month free of charge. After that, you only pay a very low withdrawal fee.
• If you don’t have your accommodation booked for your next destination, best to do so to ensure you can have a hot shower and relax after the trek. Best to book before you arrive to avoid any issues!

Final Thoughts

Hiking Chokramudi peak, and the Munnar area in general, is a breathtaking place with incredible scenery. You could (and we did) spend a week or more here just exploring the different peaks and tea plantations, and enjoying a more peaceful and calm side of India. If you have been to Munnar, or have hiked Chokramudi, let us know in the comments!

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