Kolukkumalai in the Theni district of Tamil Nadu is situated nearly 8,000ft above sea level and boasts the highest tea plantation in the world. As tea made of leaves plucked from tea plantations in higher altitude places tastes great, the views only get better as you go up the hills. And Kolukkumalai, which is 35km away from Munnar in Kerala, is no different as the vistas from atop the hill are amazing. One has to hire the services of off-road jeeps to reach Kolukkumalai, which has an old tea-processing factory.
It is worth noting that people from different parts of the world come to this picturesque place to see the sunrise. As lodging facilities are presently available atop the hill, the number of travellers visiting Kolukkumalai is on the rise. The mist-enveloped nights and the awesome sunrise provide a surreal experience to the tourists.
Paradise on earth
The sky will turn crimson as the first sun rays seep through the hills on the eastern horizon. As the sun goes up slowly, the beautiful mountains at a distance will come out of nature’s shroud and the hue will change from red to green. If you are standing behind ‘pulippara’ (tiger-faced rock) to view the sunrise, then you will get a feeling that the sun's rays are coming from the tiger’s mouth.
Kolukkumalai is a sought-after destination among tourists because of its exotic ‘neelakurinji’ flowers, alluring natural beauty, gorgeous sunrise, and misty rolling hills. People who go to the beaches to enjoy the beauty of sunrise and sunset should definitely once visit Kolukkumalai to soak in its charm. The low-floating white clouds’ rendezvous with the cold mist will convince you that Kolukkumalai is indeed a paradise on earth.
