A Chill Road Trip from Bangalore to Munnar
Just got back from a relaxing trip to Munnar and wanted to share our itinerary and a few tips for anyone planning a similar drive from Bangalore! We kept the vibe very slow-paced and didn't try to cram too many places into a single day.
The Drive Down
Start Time: We left Bangalore right at 6:00 AM. Highly recommend this timing as we completely skipped the infamous city traffic and hit the highway smoothly.
Breakfast: Stopped at the classic Murugan Idli Shop on the Bangalore-Salem Highway (NH 44). Great spot to fuel up early on.
Lunch: As we neared Theni, we took a well-deserved lunch break at Dindigul Thalappakatti Restaurant. If you eat meat, do yourself a favor and order their Mutton Biryani—it is absolutely the best choice on the menu!
The Journey: The rest of the drive was breezy. We took a few small pit stops at roadside coconut stalls to stretch our legs, hydrate, and take in the changing scenery.
Where We Stayed
We booked our stay at Chediyar Belvedere. Honestly, it was a great choice—the property offered incredible views of the Munnar landscape, and the in-house food was surprisingly good, which meant we didn't have to hunt for restaurants after a long day of driving.
Sightseeing & A Pro-Tip for Eravikulam
Eravikulam National Park: We headed here on our second day. Pro-Tip: If you are traveling in a group of 7 or fewer, book the private buggy/cart! It costs around ₹7,000, but it is 100% worth it. The driver stops at all the scenic spots so you can get out and click pictures at your own pace. We got some great sightings of the Nilgiri Tahr.
Tea Gardens & Waterfalls: We wrapped up our local sightseeing with a visit to the Ripple Tea Garden and took a drive down to the nearby Chinnakanal Waterfalls. Both are beautiful and relatively easy to access.
Overall, if you are heading to Munnar, don't feel pressured to visit every single viewpoint. Keeping it chill, enjoying the weather, and taking in the tea estate views from your balcony is sometimes the best way to experience it!