Munnar
Munnar (Template:Lang-ml, Template:Lang-ta) is a town located in the southern state of Kerala in India. The name is most often used to refer to the whole tourist area, of which the town forms a part. The etymology of Muannar is believed to be derived from the Malayalam words Muunu (three) and aaru (river), referring to the town's strategic location at the confluence of the mountain streams of Muthirappuzha, Chanduvarai and Kundala. Situated at nearly 1,600 to 1,800 meters above sea level, the region is surrounded by vast jungles and remains wet and cold during most of the year. Nearby is the Mattupetty Dam. 10°09′N 77°06′E / 10.150°N 77.100°E The people of Munnar share in the culture and traditions of Kerala. Tamil immigrants from the neighbouring state of Tamil Nadu also figure significantly in the population.
History
During the British rule of India, Munnar was developed to cultivate tea plants. At that time, most of the people around the area were employed as labourers for the various plantations. In the early stages of development, only Tamilians and a few Malayalis inhabited Munnar.
Most of the top positions in the estates were occupied by the British "Managers". A few bungalows were built for them and these are still in use. It is also believed that Munnar was a favourite place for the British who sought a cooler climate. Munnar is sometimes referred to as the "Switzerland of India" for its natural surroundings and Old World architecture.[citation needed]
In 2000, the Government of Kerala declared Munnar as a tourist spot. This has helped in attracting more tourists to this beautiful hill resort.The two educational institutes in munnar are Govt Arts & Science College and Govt Engineering College Munnar.
Geography and climate
The region in and around Munnar varies in height from 1600 to 1800 meters above mean sea level. Munnar enjoys a salubrious climate. The weather ranges between 0°C and 10°C in winter and 15°C and 25°C in summer. The tourist season is from August to May. However, monsoons are lovely with little streams and rivulets all over the place.
Economy
The territory of Munnar is almost entirely occupied by tea estates and thick forest cover. Most of the people work in tea estates. The majority of the latter (approximatively 27/30) are owned by Tata Tea, one of the Tata Group of companies. The entire area is known as "high range" and rarely Kannan Devan Hills, from which the famous brand of the Tatas gets its name. In April 2005, the Tata Group decided to divest its holding in the Munnar tea plantations, after which the employees purchased the plantations and are now running the same as Kanan Devan Hills Plantations Company Private Limited.
