A major center of Kerala’s tea industry and close to Anaimudi, at 2695 m highest peak in South India, Munnar is the nearest Kerala comes to a genuine hill station. It is surrounded by about 30 estates, amount the highest in the world, and the forest that is still rich in wildlife, including the reclusive Nilgiri Tahr that continues to survive the increasing the commercial use of the hills. The surrounding hills are home to the rare Neelakurunji plant (Strobilanthes), which covers the hills in colour for a month once in 12 years.
