A Magical Munnar Experience: Chasing Wildlife Under the Starlit Skies

Have you ever noticed that the place you hail from would be the one you have explored the least? Being from Kerala, it never crossed us to travel to some of its exotic destinations as a tourist. So, this summer vacation, we were all set for Munnar. We had heard so much of its beauty, and now was finally the time to experience it.

Our family of four arrived at Cochin, from where we were picked up to head for Munnar. Though the roads were winding, the drive was lovely. The beauty of Munnar cannot be explained—misty mountains, chilly air, vast expanses of tea gardens all come together to paint a picturesque scene. My daughters could not stop clicking pictures; it was as if they were trying to capture each and every bit of the beauty in their cameras.

Tea-Plantation Visits Can Be Very Insightful

Once we checked into the hotel, we relaxed for a bit before heading out to the tea plantations at Devikulam. It was an insightful trip where we got to learn about the process of tea-making and also the art of drinking tea. I did not know that the correct way of making tea is to add tea-leaves only once the water starts boiling, after which it has to be turned off and the tea leaves are to be left to brew for a few minutes before straining for the flavour of the tea to emerge. Another learning was that too much green tea can actually cause harm!

The next day, after a half-day sight-seeing tour of Munnar town, we headed to Chinnar for the exciting night wildlife safari that was supposed to be the highlight of this trip. There were two safaris to choose from: 4 p.m. to 10 p.m. or 9 p.m. to 3 a.m. Being the adventurous kind, we opted for the 9 p.m. slot.

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A Wildlife Safari at Night is Altogether a Different Experience

The air was getting colder and we all were cosily wrapped up in our jackets, sweaters and caps, because the wildlife safari was to take place in an open jeep. The fact that we were entering the home of the wild animals, that too in the thick of the night was a little nerve-wrecking, yet thrilling. We spotted wild rabbits, deer, boar and bison. My daughter let out a squeal of delight—she had just spotted a giant squirrel.

The sky was clear and the sparkling stars lit our path. The jungle felt mysteriously charming! Suddenly there was a very loud rumble. Our driver immediately stopped the jeep and switched off the lights. Our hearts were in our mouths. What could it be? A panther, a tiger? Then suddenly they emerged majestically—one after the other, thumping the ground. We sat there completely mesmerized as seven elephants marched past us. It was like a royal procession. Despite having seen elephants before, nothing could have prepared me to see them like this in the wild. They looked magnificent! We resumed our journey amid animal-calls and insect-chirps. On our way back, we were rewarded by the presence of a star tortoise. It was a fascinating experience and we could not believe that we had actually spent one whole night in the jungle.

Read More: Once in a Lifetime Experience in Munnar: The Neelakurinji Blossom

All Good Things Have to Come to an End

The next day was spent in admiring the exhilarating flora and fauna at Eravikulam National Park. There is so much beauty in Munnar that you just can’t have enough of it.

When I look back at this trip, it was a brief one, yet filled with immense beauty. Thanks to the package I opted for from MakeMyTrip, which had everything covered to make for a complete, fun-packed holiday.

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