Munnar Trekking Manual: Meesapulimala Summit, Rhodo Valley & Chokramudi

Trekking the Roof of South India

While tea garden walks in Munnar are gentle and relaxing, the surrounding Western Ghats ridges offer some of the finest high-altitude trekking in peninsular India. Dominated by montane shola-grassland ecosystems, these rugged alpine trails reward adventurous trekkers with sweeping panoramic vistas extending into Tamil Nadu.

Iconic Munnar Trekking Circuits

• Meesapulimala Summit (2,640m / 8,661 ft): South India's second highest mountain peak (and the highest accessible without special national park bans). Known as 'Tiger Moustache' for its eight rugged interlocking mountain spurs. The 8-kilometer trek winds through mist-shrouded shola forests, crystal mountain streams, and vast alpine grasslands where wild elephants and sambar deer graze.
• Rhodo Valley & KFDC Camp: Situated at 7,200 feet, this high valley is named for thousands of blooming Rhododendron arboreum trees that burst into vibrant crimson flowers between January and March. Managed by the Kerala Forest Development Corporation (KFDC), guests sleep in alpine tents surrounded by cool mountain winds.
• Chokramudi Peak (2,180m): A demanding 4 to 5-hour day trek near Bison Valley offering dramatic views of the Idukki Dam reservoir and Anamudi peak.
• Top Station & Kurangani Trail: A historic colonial bridle trail connecting Top Station in Munnar (1,880m) to Kurangani village in Tamil Nadu (400m), descending 4,000 vertical feet through cloud forests.