Munnar: Exploring the Tea Plantations by Motorbike

We visited Munnar in April of 2023 as part of a southern India trip, exploring the tea plantations and other local attractions. For us, this beautiful part of Kerala is best discovered via motorbike. This article will tell you everything you need to know to rent a bike and explore the mountains, tea plantations and other top spots yourself. Read on as we break down the best things to see in Munnar by motorbike below;

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 serenity 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.

Renting a motorbike in Munnar

We rented a motorbike for around 8 euros per day for our Munnar adventures from Gokulam Bike Hire in Munnar Old Town. There aren’t many other places to rent motorbikes from in Munnar. Others we found were;

• Sangeetha Bikes & Scooter, located in Munnar Old Town
• Shalom Bike Rental, located in the new part of Munnar

Prices seem to be similar across the board, but as with all bike rentals, it helps to haggle. Make sure you get a properly fitting helmet and give the bike a thorough check before choosing to rent it.

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.

What to see in Munnar

Interactive Map

Mount Chokramudi

Chokramudi Peak is a mountain situated about 30 minutes drive from Munnar town. Its 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. Check out our full article on Chokramudi Peak below;

Chokramudi Peak: Hiking in Munnar

Read our full write up about hiking Chokramudi Peak in our article here.

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Laxmi Tea Plantation (Letchmi Hills)

The Laxmi Tea Plantation was the highlight of our motorbike adventure in Munnar. This massive plantation stretches for kilometres throughout the hills around Munnar, offering incredible view of the verdant green tea fields in all directions. It is a popular area for trekking also, with tours offered in Munnar that will take you into and around the surrounding area with a guide to give you more information.

There are waterfalls and scenic viewpoints along the road through the plantation, with plenty opportunities to get off your motorbike and take some pictures, and soak in the surroundings. We enjoyed the Viripara waterfalls, and stopped for a chai tea at the Seven Springs Plantation Resort, who also offer some very comfortable accommodation options.

Top Station Viewpoint

Munnar Top Station is a viewpoint area around 40 km East of Munnar Town. The drive there is very scenic and passes vast forests and lakes, Kundala Dam and even has the potential for seeing wild elephants! (sadly we were not that lucky).

The views from the top vary greatly depending on the time of year and weather conditions. Situated over 1,700 meters above sea level, the station offers towering, 360-degree views of the local landscape of tea plantations and wild flowers. Access to the viewpoint costs a few hundred rupees for foreigners, or no more than 2-3 euros each.

Remember to wrap up warm when visiting areas at this altitude, as even in the peak of the Indian summer, temperatures here can drop significantly and a t-shirt just wont cut it. Before setting off make sure to grab a hot cup of chai from one of the restaurants! If you want to spend a night here and enjoy the views of sunset over the mountains, we recommend Chandys Drizzle Drops resort. They offer very nice rooms with incredible views of the area.

Eravikulam National Park

Eravikulam National Park is about a 20-30 minute drive north of Munnar town. This national park boasts South India’s highest mountain peak, Mount Anamudi, and is home to a diverse array of flora and fauna. Tourists cannot hike Mount Anamudi for safety reasons, but the park has a variety of activities for tourists, including hiking and trekking trails, jeep safari tours, and the chance to see the endangered Nilgiri Tahr.

The park offers a number of package options, including some with overnight stays in the national park. You can expect to pay 400-500 rupees, or 4-5 euros for a guided trail. And to stay overnight in the park prices are around 3000-4000 rupees, or 30-40 euros for a pair of foreign tourists.

During our time here we spoke to one of the park rangers who recommended we go and hike Mount Chokramudi as an alternative to the inaccessible Mount Anamudi.

Local Chocolate Producers

Chocolate lovers rejoice! Unbeknown to us before visiting, Munnar is not only famous for its tea plantations and majestic scenery, but also for its local, handmade chocolates. When driving around the area by motorbike you can spot dozens of roadside shops advertising homemade chocolates, in a number of delicious flavours.

Make sure you visit one of these shops as part of your motorbike adventure around the area and sample some of the sweets. Prices are based on weight. We asked for a selection of different flavours for 100 rupees, which is about 1 euro, and it was more than enough for us to try them all. Paired with a hot, sweet cup of chai tea, it was the perfect sweet snack to warm us up.

Safety, Concerns and Useful Information

• When picking up your motorbike rental, get to the rental shop as soon as it opens. This is usually around 9am. If not you may find that all the bikes are rented out, or only the more expensive ones are available.
• 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 motorbike rentals abroad, especially in Asia. Although problems rarely arise, ensure you are covered in case they do. We use SafetyWing 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 days adventure. Best to book before you arrive to avoid any issues!

Final Thoughts

Exploring Munnar by motorbike is a incredible way to discover the breathtaking scenery of the area. 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, and rented a motorbike, let us know in the comments!

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