Nestled high up at 4,790 feet in the Nilgiris, Photo Point Munnar is a picturesque destination offering the most refreshing experience of Munnar’s lush tea gardens, fresh mountain breeze, and breathtaking views. In this brief guide, you’ll find all the information you need to plan a visit to this charming spot, including the ideal time to visit, activities, getting there, timings, charges, and more.

Why visit Photo Point Munnar?

Photo Point in Munnar is the perfect place to relish the endless beauty, tranquility, and peaceful vibe of Munnar’s hills.

It’s the favorite haunt of adventure junkies, peace seekers, couples, families, nature lovers, and photographers for several reasons:

• It has an utterly photogenic natural ambiance that consists of rolling hills, lush valleys, and undulating tea plantations.
• Its towering silver oak trees add a distinct charm and a vivid contrast to the resplendent tea gardens around.
• Its untouched natural resources and serene ambiance create the perfect setting for those seeking relaxation and peace away from urban clutter.
• Its crisp mountain air and refreshingly chilly winds offer a respite from the scorching plains of Kerala and polluted urban centers in other parts of the country.
• It has a cinematic appeal courtesy of its idyllic scenery and high altitude which have made it a popular location for film shoots. You’ll find this location featured in many South Indian films and Bollywood movies.
• It’s a short drive away from Munnar city center.

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Best time to visit Photo Point Munnar

October to March is the best time to visit Munnar and its attractions, including Photo Point.

The weather here is cool and pleasant during this time, making it ideal for sightseeing, photography, and several outdoor activities like trekking and boating.

The summer, from April to early June, is also a great time to visit if you wish to avoid the crowds and are willing to climb this mountain early in the morning to avoid the blazing afternoons.

In the monsoon season spanning from June to September, the frequent showers add a misty aura to this location and revive its vegetation, making it more lush and scenic.

However, the monsoon is not a good time to visit Munnar hills. The terrain is slippery and dangerous, and photography can be challenging due to the thick mist and constant rain.

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Photo Point timings and entry fee

Photo Point in Munnar is best visited between 6 AM and 6 PM. The sunrise and sunset are the perfect time to visit this spot for photography, serenity, and enjoying the fresh mountain weather. Do not stay beyond the sunset as it gets too dark to return safely.

Entry is free of charge at Photo Point Munnar. However, there may be certain activities that require payment.

For instance, many professional photographers at Photo Point charge about INR 40 to click pictures of you and your loved ones against the lush backdrop. For an additional charge, they may develop those pictures and give them to you instantly.

You will also be required to pay if you wish to go tea tasting or purchase local tea from the outlets near Photo Point.

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How to reach Photo Point in Munnar

Photo Point is located in the Kannan Devan Hills of the Western Ghats amid scenic tea plantations. It’s right by the main highway a mere 3 km away from Munnar’s main marketplace.

Photo Point Munnar address: Munnar-Top Station Hwy, Ikka Nagar, Munnar 685612, Kerala

Its convenient location makes it easily accessible from anywhere in Kerala and its neighboring states.

Here’s how you can use different means of transport to get to Munnar. Subsequently, Photo Point near Munnar can be reached via taxi, tuk-tuk (autorickshaw), or local bus.

By car/taxi

Munnar is well-connected to major cities and towns in South India by road. Munnar makes for a great weekend getaway from nearby cities like Kochi, Trivandrum, Coimbatore, Bangalore, and Chennai.

A road trip to Munnar will reward you with a scenic journey through Kerala’s countryside and the winding roads of the Nilgiris.

You can drive, rent a private vehicle, hire a taxi, or book a prepaid cab online to get to Munnar. Several certified car rental companies in Kochi and Munnar offer affordable tour packages and comfortable vehicles to travelers, especially those traveling with kids and senior citizens.

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Prepaid cabs and outstation taxis will allow you flexibility in terms of the places you explore en route and the duration of your journey.

Estimated Kochi to Munnar taxi fare: Starting at INR 1,500 one-way
*Kochi is the nearest major city to Munnar.

Cities near Munnar	Distance	Travel time
Kochi to Munnar	125 km	4 hrs
Aluva to Munnar	109 km	3.5 hrs
Coimbatore to Munnar	155 km	4 hrs
Madurai to Munnar	160 km	4 hrs
Chennai to Munnar	589 km	11 hrs
Bangalore to Munnar	528 km	10 hrs 15 mins hrs
Alleppey to Munnar	164 km	5 hrs
Thekkady to Munnar	94 km	2.5 hrs
Trivandrum to Munnar	276 km	7 hrs 15 mins
Kozhikode to Munnar	280 km	8 hrs

By bus

Kerala State Road Transport Corporation runs a regular and reliable bus service connecting all its cities and towns in Kerala.

You can easily find a public or private bus in cities near Munnar like Kochi, Aluva, or Ernakulam, and ride to the Munnar Bus Station, a major bus stop in Munnar for outstation buses. Munnar Bus Station is only 12 km away from Photo Point and has plenty of cabs and auto rickshaws that you can take for the uphill journey to Photo Point.

You can find the schedule of all KSRTC buses on their official website and book seats as per a time slot convenient to you.

Estimated Kochi to Munnar bus fare: Starting at INR 100 one-way
*This fare is for a non-A/C public bus.

 

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By train

Aluva Railway Station and Ernakulam Junction are the nearest railway stations to Munnar located 108 km (3 hours) and 122 km (4 hours) away from it respectively. They’re connected to major cities across Kerala including Kochi, Trivandrum, Alleppey, Kollam, and Kozhikode.

You can take a train to Aluva or Ernakulam and a taxi or bus the rest of the way to Munnar. Sabari Express, Amritha Express, Rajya Rani Express, Mangalore Express, and Malabar Express are a few trains that connect these two railway stations to the rest of Kerala.

You can find their schedule on the IRCTC website online and make bookings accordingly. Trains usually take about 20-30 minutes to reach Aluva/Ernakulam from Kochi.

Estimated Kochi to Aluva/Ernakulam train fare: Starting at INR 250 one-way

By air

Cochin International Airport is the nearest airport to Munnar located 107 km (3 hours) away. It is connected to all major towns and cities across India, and many popular cities worldwide.

From the airport, you can hail a cab or rent a vehicle to drive to Munnar, and then further to Photo Point.

You can go to the Angamaly Bus Terminal located 8 km away from the airport and take a local bus to Munnar.

Things to do at Photo Point Munnar

It takes about 1-2 hours to fully explore Munnar Photo Point and enjoy all the activities it offers.

1. Photography

As the name suggests, Photo Point is one of the most photographed spots in Munnar and the favorite spot of most photographers and videographers! Set 4,790 feet above sea level, it offers the most vivid panoramas of Munnar’s hills and valleys draped in swaying tea plantations.

When here, you can take endless pictures of lush tea gardens, uniform strings of silver oak trees, clear blue skies, mist-cloaked valleys, rolling hills, and several waterfalls streaming down those hills in the distance!

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Photographers visiting Photo Point also love to capture local women picking tea leaves against the backdrop of rolling tea plantations. It provides a lovely contrast of colors against the resplendent green surroundings and offers an insight into the lives and livelihoods of the local people!

2. Tea tasting

This hilltop is surrounded by lush green tea plantations stretching into the horizon! The Tata Tea estates and Kannan Devan Hills plantations here offer tea-tasting sessions, plantation walks, and a chance to buy various flavors of tea and spices at subsidized rates.

There are several stalls and plantation outlets here that offer steaming cups of aromatic Munnar tea for tasting. You can try different varieties and purchase the flavors you like! Most popular flavors include black tea, white tea, ginger tea, cardamom tea, chocolate tea, Sulaimani tea, and herbal tea.

You can also dress up as a local tea-leaf picker and get your pictures taken inside the vast tea gardens for a nominal fee. You can either carry your own costumes for the same or wear the ones provided by the photographers here.

ALSO SEE – Top 5 Munnar Tea Estates That Are A Must-Visit For All

3. Picnicking

Photo Point Munnar is the most wonderful place in these hills for a fun picnic with friends or family.

You can sit here and eat light snacks, take in the beautiful surroundings, gaze at the views of Munnar’s hills and tea gardens, spend quality time amid absolute serenity, and inhale the fresh mountain breeze for as long as you like!

You can also snack on freshly plucked fruits and corn available at the stalls here or sip on sweet coconut water.

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4. Birdwatching

Needless to say, the tranquil and entirely natural avenue of Photo Point hosts several exotic bird species.

The trees and vegetation here provide shelter to a vast number of endemic and migratory birds year-round. If you love watching colorful birds, get your camera and/or binoculars and you’ll surely find several exquisite varieties of Munnar’s winged visitors!

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5. Hiking

While Photo Point isn’t popular for hiking, it does offer the opportunity to keen adventure enthusiasts. From here, you can walk uphill to Top Station through scenic tea estates or head to the nearby Mattupetty Dam.

Walking through Munnar’s refreshing tea gardens, lush surroundings, and winding roads is a truly refreshing experience!

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Places to Visit Near Photo Point, Munnar

There are several interesting places to explore near Munnar Photo Point. Don’t miss places like:

• KFDC Floriculture Centre: A popular botanical garden located 500 meters away filled with a variety of bonsai, succulents, cacti, blossoms, and flowering plants.
• C.S.I Christ Church: A historical marvel 10 minutes away from Photo Point bearing stunning architecture with European-style stained glass windows, sloping roof, stone edifices, and a glass-covered courtyard.
• Mattupetty Dam: A scenic dam and lake set in the forefront of undulating hills perfect for boating and picking.
• Echo Point: A stunning locale overlooking misty hills famed for its natural echo phenomenon.
• Kundala Lake: A tranquil lake tucked 20 km away from Photo Point offering serene views, boating, and shikara rides.
• Carmelagiri Elephant Park: A rescue center for wild elephants where visitors can watch these endearing beings being trained, bathed, and fed by local mahouts.
• Thirumeni Cultural Centre: A renowned cultural theatre showcasing traditional dance performances and martial art forms of Kerala.

Tips for visiting Photo Point

• Visit early in the morning to avoid crowds and escape the harsh afternoon light.
• Wear light cotton or linen clothing and carry a jacket or two as the weather there can get chilly, especially in the morning.
• Wear sturdy, water-resistant hiking shoes so that you can walk over the muddy trails and tea gardens of Photo Point comfortably.
• Carry a pair of binoculars and/or a DSLR camera to capture high-quality pictures of the stunning scenery.
• Keep an umbrella and mosquito repellent handy.
• Do not stay here post sunset as climbing down in the dark can be tricky and dangerous.
• You can buy snacks and bottled water at the stalls nearby.
• DON’T LITTER! Respect the environment and help the locals preserve its beauty.

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With its untampered beauty and scenic charm, Photo Point Munnar is an unmissable part of your Munnar tour. Whether you’re a professional photographer or simply seeking the perfect place for a fun family picnic, Photo Point will be the ideal stopover! Why wait? Book your trip to Munnar right away!