India. Kerala. Ghats, Munnar and Tea Plantations

Travels

Apr 13, 2012

At the time, while the street is the summer heat and storm the coastal resort visitors , we continue our Indian trip. Today you will see the familiar labels of tea idyllic landscape — green tea plantations that stretch to the horizon. To do this, we went to the mountains called Western Ghat and their pearl — Munnar:

From Munnar to Cochin buses, but go preferably in the morning or even for dinner — a distance of 130 km mountain streamers — a good 5 hours of road. However, in this there are also pluses. You can fully enjoy the beautiful landscapes that float outside the bus and occasionally socialize with friendly Indians.

Along the road are equipped with a neat head channels:

The same channels are caught and fields, although there they can perform the function reclaimed.

The bus we brought a useful introduction to a remarkable Indians who invited us to stay at his house. It turned out that night except our new friend offers other services, one of which includes a jeep tour of the terrain. Exactly what we need.

By destination we arrived in the evening, and after a light dinner, went to bed.

While our vehicle in every possible way preparing for the trip:

… We decided to walk around a bit and almost immediately found a banana garden.

This small stone quarry:

Providing our friend with stones to build paths, canals and other architectural forms.

Local mountaineers to lay their estates here are the tracks:

Our jeep ready, so ready to go. The roads are very narrow, especially in turns, makes a good coverage position:

Due to the huge amount of rain that normally falls in the area between June and October, roads are repaired each year. We were lucky to visit Ghat rainy season, so the roads were still in relatively good condition.

Along the road stunning views, on the one hand — highland tea plantations:

On the other hand our car overhanging rocks:

In some places there are rivers and lakes:

We pass another dangerous turn and get straight to the tea plantations:

We are faced with such amazing beauty for the first time in my life. On top of this recalls the boundless green maze:

As you probably know, growing tea bushes, but collectors are interested only in the leaves. Over time, the old bushes are cut, and place them immediately occupy youth

All mountains everywhere you cast an eye covered with tea plantations, startling sight:

Collectors tea live here in these small towns:

Picked tea immediately sent to the factory, which in the local vicinity of a considerable number:

Occasionally fragile Indian women pick tea, according to our advertising, we have to walk several kilometers to the factory obiynyavshys with a 15-pound bags.

The mandatory attribute of any Indian landscape — cows:

There are single and proud:

Cows also have another major obstacle on mountain roads. It seems that the most delicious grass is growing on sharp turns:

Kerala and its mountain areas can justly be called pure region, especially when compared to the rest of India. The garbage on the roads are not so easy to lying, make an exception only for sacred animals that it is not averse to eat:

Once we quietly drove to one of the largest dams in the area — Mattupatti Dam:

Locals say that in the dam is also a little more, but it is in a very poor condition and has long been a serious threat.

Here, so far so good:

In India, domestic tourism is very developed and the dam is a mandatory stop traveling in Ghat. In passing, we diversified boring Indian tour and worked pretty well change the monkeys on the beach:

Here the lake, and for which built the dam:

It was hard to resist the temptation not to swim:

In the vicinity of Munnar has several parks where you can see incredible biodiversity, many local species are endemic and not found in other parts of India.

By this park we did not call in because the day planned visit another, but with the prices, why not read (50 rupees — $1).

A little rest, we climb higher and higher:

And here we are on the site, Top Station — located 27 km from Munnar boasts fantastic views. Remember that in India Hoteliers called the place where you can eat, and not live:

Very few, bypass wild bees come to the edge and…

Enterprising Indians rented a small plot of land, built a ladder and now safely take the visitors on a few rupees for passage to a viewing location. But we are not mad — views that are worth.