Munnar
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| Munnar | |
| — town — | |
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| Coordinates | 10°05′21″N 77°03′35″E / 10.08917°N 77.05972°ECoordinates: 10°05′21″N 77°03′35″E / 10.08917°N 77.05972°E |
| Country | India |
| State | Kerala |
| District(s) | • Idukki |
| Population • Metro |
• 68,205 (2001[update]) |
| Time zone | IST (UTC+05:30) |
| Area |
557 km2 (215 sq mi) • 1,450 metres (4,760 ft) |
| Website | keralatourism.org/destination |
Munnar is a hill station in Kerala and in southern India. Munnar is located on the Western Ghats, situated in the Idukki.
The name Munnar is believed [1] to be derived from both Malayalam and Tamil words Munnu (three) and aaru (river), 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. [2]
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.
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[edit] 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.[3] Temperatures as low as −4 °C (25 °F) have been recorded in the Sevenmallay region of Munnar.[4]The mean maximum daily temperature is at its lowest during the monsoon months with the highest temperature being 19 C.
[edit] 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 (that blossoms only once in twelve years). [5][6]
[edit] See Also
[edit] References
- ^ http://www.munnarweb.com/munnar-history.html
- ^ http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-national/tp-tamilnadu/article2833706.ece
- ^ [1]
- ^ Frost hits plantations in Munnar
- ^ Government of Kerala, Forest and Wildlife Department, Notification No. 36/2006 F&WLD (6 October 2006) retrieved 5/12/2007 Kerala Gazette
- ^ Mathew Roy (Sep 25, 2006) "Proposal for Kurinjimala sanctuary awaits Cabinet nod" the Hindu, retrieved 5/12/2007 the Hindu
[edit] External links
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Wikimedia Commons has media related to: Munnar |
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