12 Places to Visit in Marayoor-Kanthalloor: An A-Z Guide

If you’ve ever heard of Kerala, you’re already aware of Munnar. The hype is such that you’ll see it everywhere on YouTube, Instagram, and blogs.

But, as somebody who’s been there at least five times, I can confidently tell you that there are better places than Munnar that deserve more attention.

That’s where places like Marayoor and Kanthalloor come in. If you want to experience Munnar without the crowd, look no further.

And it’s not just fewer crowds. There are plenty of experiences in Marayoor-Kanthalloor that you won’t get anywhere else in Kerala, let alone Munnar.

For example, I had the freshest sugarcane juice to date and trekked through the densest forests in the Western Ghats at these places, to name a few.

I’ve visited Marayoor-Kanthalloor twice. In this guide, I share my experiences so you can make an informed trip to these underrated places. This is the only guide you’ll ever need on Marayoor-Kanthalloor.

Where is Marayoor-Kanthalloor?

Marayoor is a town famous for dolmens, jaggery, and sandalwood. Meanwhile, Kanthalloor is a village famous for its fresh fruits and vegetables.

The good news is that both these places fall on a single road from Munnar. You can easily find the signboards or rely on Google Maps.

Marayoor is 1 hour and 20 minutes from Munnar by road. And Kanthalloor is a further 35 minutes from Marayoor.

Both lie close to the Tamil Nadu border near Anamalai Tiger Reserve. And hence, you’ll find many Tamil influences in these regions.

An Exhaustive 3-Day Itinerary to Marayoor-Kanthalloor

I’ve listed all the experiences at Marayoor-Kanthalloor, a couple of which fall on the way. Feel free to modify the itinerary as per your liking.

But if you plan to experience everything on the list given below, set aside 3 days.

More importantly, focus on the journey as well because it’s one hell of a ride to Marayoor-Kanthalloor. You’ll be travelling through tall mountains, thick forests, and tea plantations. 

With that said, here are the 12 places you can visit in Marayoor and Kanthalloor in chronological order of their locations.

1. Eravikulam National Park: The Home of Nilgiri Tahrs

This is the first destination you’ll encounter on the way to Marayoor-Kanthalloor. And it is worth it if you want to see Nilgiri Tahr, an endangered goat found only in Kerala and Tamil Nadu.

Fun Fact: Nilgiri Tahr is Tamil Nadu’s state animal.

Located on a hill, the Eravikulam National Park was set up in 1978 to protect the Nilgiri Tahr. While this park has other animals as well, it is unlikely you’ll see them as they reside deep in the forests.

Also, there’s no guarantee you’ll see Nilgiri Tahrs because it depends. I was lucky enough to see a bunch of them when I went.

Fun Fact: Anamudi, South India’s highest peak, is in this park.

To experience this park, park your vehicle at the entrance. From there, buy a bus ticket from the counter. To avoid queues, you can also book your ticket in advance from their official website.

Note: The park doesn’t accept cash.

This bus takes you to the hilltop in 10 minutes. This journey is equally thrilling as it travels through tea plantations with a mini waterfall on the way.

From the drop-off point of the bus, you can walk a further kilometer to the top. I particularly enjoyed this hike due to the fresh air, panoramic views of tea plantations and hills, and finally, witnessing Nilgiri Tahrs.

I spent two hours here.

That reminds me. Please maintain silence so you don’t fend off the animals. Also, don’t try to get too close to the Nilgiri Tahrs or take selfies with them. These things go without saying, but unfortunately, common sense is rare these days.

Overall, the park is well-maintained with amenities like restaurants, souvenir shops, and washrooms. 

While it is open from 8 am to 2 pm, the best time to visit is early morning to avoid the crowd, enjoy the pleasant weather, and have a higher probability of seeing Nilgiri Tahr.

Note: The park is closed from February to April as it’s the birthing season of the Nilgiri Tahrs.

2. Lakkam Waterfall: A Refreshing Dip for the Soul

Lakkam Waterfall is also on the way to Marayoor-Kanthalloor, 35 minutes from Eravikulam National Park.

I loved taking a dip in these falls, and so will you. The water is so fresh and natural that it’ll energise you for the rest of the day.

Fun Fact: The falls here flow from the Eravikulam National Park.

Lakkam Waterfall is part of a forest area on the roadside. You have to walk a few steps to reach the water streams here, but be careful of the slippery rocks.

Swimming is not possible due to the shallow depth, but you can take a dip anywhere.  I went to the starting position of the falls where the force of the water is strongest. There were other people as well to give me company.

Tip: You can have your lunch from the restaurant here. I had their fish meal, which was delicious.

There are basic changing rooms for both men and women, and toilets, next to the falls.

The entry fee is INR 50, and like Eravikulam National Park, they also don’t accept cash.

You can spend up to an hour here, but expect a crowd during the day.

The only con about this place is that you need to park your vehicle on the sides of the main road, which can be a hassle, especially when there are many tourists.

3. Marayoor Sandalwood Forest: Kerala’s Only Natural Sandalwood

We finally enter Marayoor. And this is also my favourite part of the road trip. 

You’ll be driving through a scenic sandalwood forest, which has a strong woody fragrance. This explains why sandalwood is used in perfumes and oils.

If you’re lucky, you might even spot animals like deer and bison in this area.

For context, Marayoor is the only place in Kerala where sandalwood trees grow naturally. You cannot enter the forest on foot as it’s fenced, but you can stop your vehicle and take a pic.

Mornings and evenings are the best times to ride through this forest as the air is chilly.

Also, you don’t have to take a detour as this place is on the way to Marayoor town. And hence, you’ll experience it again as you return to Munnar.

4. Thoovanam Waterfall: Trek Through a Wildlife Sanctuary

This is where we start exploring Marayoor. And it begins with its main attraction: Thoovanam Waterfall.

You’ll spot this waterfall at a distance from the road multiple times. It reminded me of the famous Athirappilly Waterfall. 

But this isn’t just any waterfall. You have to do a 3 km adventurous hike through the forests of Chinnar Wildlife Sanctuary to reach here. If you’re lucky enough, you might see footprints of animals and maybe even spot them. 

This hike ends with the waterfall, where you can spend up to an hour. Overall, the entire walk can take up to 3 hours, depending on your speed.

Note: You can only hike with the help of a guide.

Here are a couple of other important things you should know about this trek:

1. Although the hike officially opens from 9 am to 2 pm, ensure you reach around 9-10 am. It’s because there are limited guides in this area, and hence, after 12 pm, it becomes difficult to get one.

2. You are clubbed with other tourists as part of the hike as the guide takes a group together. So expect some waiting time.

The aforementioned points are based on my personal experiences. I attempted to do the hike twice, but as I reached around 12 pm both times, they couldn’t find a guide for me.

The trek starts from the Alampetty Trek Guide Stand, from where you also buy the tickets, priced at INR 300 per person.

Fun Fact: All the guides are local tribes from this region.

Apart from the Thoovanam Waterfall Trek, they also offer a hike to cultural sites which have rock paintings and dolmens (more on them later). But I don’t recommend it because we’ll be covering something similar in another destination later in this blog.

On a side note, please have Sarsaparilla (Herb) Tea from the Alampetty Ethnic Cafe (Alampetty Trek Guide Stand). It’s a jaggery-infused tea made with spices. You’ll thank me later!

5. Chinnar-Koottar Trek: Relive The Jungle Book in Real Life

This is a hidden gem in Marayoor that is massively unexplored. Kerala Tourism/Kerala Forest Department needs to advertise it better. It was only because I’m a trek enthusiast that I discovered this one online. And unsurprisingly, you’ll hardly find any travellers here.

The Chinnar-Koottar is a 3-hour guided trek that takes you through the deep forests of the Chinnar Wildlife Sanctuary.

This trek is made of two halves.

In the first half, you trek through an open forest, which includes climbing the Chinnar Watch Tower. This watch tower gives you a bird’s eye perspective of the sheer size of Chinnar Wildlife Sanctuary. You’ll see a green carpet spread across all directions until you see hazy mountains in the distance.

As I trekked further, I also saw a family of elephants nearby. Not once, but twice. With all the time in the world.

The second half of the trek starts when you reach the Chinnar River in the forest. From thereon, you’ll be trekking in a thick forest with the river flowing right next to you. This particular section felt like a dream, almost as if I were in The Jungle Book.

Apart from Chinnar-Koottar, there are two other treks here:

• Chinnar- Pambar (3 hours)
• Chinnar- Vasyappara (6 hours)

I was eyeing the second trek, but due to operational reasons, it didn’t happen.

To do these treks, you need to visit the Amenities Centre, right next to the Kerala Forest Check Post (at the border of Anamalai Tiger Reserve). They offer different types of accommodations as well, if you fancy staying in the forest.

You can also visit their official website to book any trek or accommodation. In any case, contact them before planning any trek because they’re not always operational. The number is given on their official website.

While the entry timing for the three treks is from 8 am to 12 pm, reach the Amenities Centre at 8 am so you can trek in the best weather and have a higher probability of animal sighting.

6. Murugan Paarai: Get a Panoramic View of Marayoor

I won’t forget the constant breeze and the panoramic views of Marayoor during sunset from Murugan Paarai.

It is a rocky hill in the heart of Marayoor, surrounded by hills on all sides.

Apart from a small temple and a cross, you’ll also see a few dolmens here, which are ancient tomb-like structures made of stone. However, they lie damaged/destroyed.

Murugan Paarai is most famous for its jeep safaris, but not in the way you think. In this experience, the jeeps carry a group of tourists and drive up the uneven rocky terrains. 

It is a sight to behold as the jeep drivers make it look so freaking easy. However, I won’t recommend it because it’s just a 30-second adrenaline rush.

Moreover, on both occasions I visited Murugan Paarai, the tourists in these jeeps were college kids who just screamed and shouted for no reason. You’ll find it annoying if you value peace.

Instead, you can park your vehicle next to the hill. From there, you can climb this hill easily.

The best time to visit this place is during sunrise or sunset to avoid direct sunlight and enjoy the pleasant scenery.

There is no entry fee.

7. Irachil Para Waterfall: A Shower-Like Waterfall

If you look far enough, you can view these falls from Murugan Paarai. While technically it is a waterfall, the water falls as spray from a rock at a small height.

It is on a roadside and you can stand under the showers.

The biggest problem with this place, however, is the approach road to the falls. It is small and narrow with no space for two opposing four-wheelers to pass through. Hence, if you’re coming with a car, park it near the town and walk a kilometer to reach this place.

The other problem here is the crowd. Since the road is narrow, the place can fill up fast.

Overall, I didn’t enjoy Irachil Para Waterfall that much. But you can give it a visit one time.

There is no entry fee.

8. Muniyara-Anakottapara Park: A Burial Site from Stone Age

Like Murugan Paarai, this park lies on a rocky hill with panoramic views of Marayoor, surrounded by other hills. 

However, it is more expensive with a mini forest in the park. I enjoyed hiking through it.

Moreover, you’ll find 12-15 dolmens spread across this area, which are better preserved than the ones you see in Murugan Paarai. There are benches as well, and the crowd is smaller.

While I gave you a teaser of dolmens before, let me add a bit more context.

Dolmens were popular during the Neolithic Age (a part of the Stone Age) between 3000 and 14000 BC. Built with large stone slabs, these were burial chambers where bodies were cremated during that era. In Kerala, only Marayoor has dolmens.

You’ll also find information boards at this park that explain the concept of dolmens.

The best time to visit this place is during the morning/evening when the temperatures are low and the overall scenery is pleasant. 

It’s open from 7 am to 6 pm, and the entry fee is INR 20.

9. Marayoor Jaggery Making Centre: Taste the World-Famous Jaggery

Sugarcane is among my favorite natural drinks, and the one I had here was hands down the best I’ve had in India so far.  But it isn’t surprising because Marayoor Jaggery is world-famous and exported to different nations.

FYI – You’ll find a couple of other jaggery shops in Marayoor, but I suggest this place as it has the best ratings and reviews.

In case you didn’t know, jaggery is made by boiling sugarcane at high temperatures until it solidifies. Of course, I’m simplifying, but you get the point.

At this shop, they have a large vessel where they prepare jaggery live. You can also taste and buy different types of jaggery like chocolate, ginger, and masala. My personal favourite was masala.

Also, don’t forget to have sugarcane juice from here. I’m sure you won’t stop at one drink!

You can spot the sugarcane fields opposite this centre, along the mountain slope.

There is no entry fee, and you can park your vehicle on the roadside.

10. Kanthalloor Waterfall: A Private Waterfall in a Forest

This is the first destination in Kanthalloor, and I couldn’t have asked for a better start.

You have to trek through boulders and thick forests for 15-20 minutes before you reach a private waterfall. If you’re a trek lover, you’ll love this walk.

There’s a small pool underneath the waterfall where you can take a dip. Like Lakkom Waterfall, the water here is cool and refreshing as well. 

But it’s not just the waterfall that’s great; it’s the overall ambience because it’s bang in the middle of an open forest.

While you’re there, you’ll also see jeeps coming in from the other side. This is another option to reach the waterfall. But I don’t recommend it because you’ll miss the adventurous trek. Plus, the jeep drivers will only give you so much time at the waterfall.

Once you’re done with the waterfall, you can also have some refreshments at the temporary shops next to it.

Overall, I spent more than an hour chilling here.

There is no entry fee, and you can park your vehicle near the starting point of the trek.

Visit this waterfall before 5 pm as it gets dark soon in Kanthalloor.

11. Brahmaram View Point: A Famous Shooting Location

A few scenes from Mohan Lal’s movie Brahmaram were shot here, due to which this location is famous and hence, its name.

The locals manage this small park where you’ll get panoramic views of the nearby valleys and hills of Kanthalloor. I particularly loved the aroma of lemongrass, which is in abundance here.

Don’t forget to climb the two treehouses that give you a bird’s eye view of the surroundings.

The entry fee is INR 20.

To reach here, you need to park your vehicle on the main road. From there, walk 10 minutes to reach this place.

Once you return from this viewpoint, I recommend visiting the shop called Bhramaram Fruits & Vegetables Garden on the main road. It’s there on Google Maps.

I had the freshest strawberries to date from this shop. They grow it on their farm among other fruits. You should also try their fresh fruit juices, especially passion fruit juice, which again was the best I had.

Fun Fact: Vattavada, which lies next to Kanthalloor, is another village famous for fresh fruits and vegetables. To know more, read this Vattavada travel guide.

12. Tree Fern Trail: Hike Through the World’s Largest Shola Forest

This is another hidden trekking spot that the Kerala Forest Department doesn’t market well. And once again, I don’t understand why, given the huge potential of this place. Like the Chinnar-Koottar Trek, I discovered this place online only because I’m a trekking nerd.

The Tree Fern Trail trek is a 2-hour, 3 km walk through the thick forests of Anamudi Shola National Park. 

And here’s the best part:

The forest you’ll be trekking through, known as Mannavan Shola, is famous for being the largest shola forest in the world.

Shola forests are thick, evergreen rainforests found only in South Indian states like Kerala, Karnataka, and Tamil Nadu. They are biodiversity hotspots, meaning they have a wide variety of flora and fauna. This is why respective state forest departments protect these forests at all costs.

But there’s another reason why you should go for this trek. And, it’s a historical one.

The tree ferns that you’ll see in this trek are from the dinosaur era. It’s the reason why the trek is named so.

However, as a regular trekker, the composition of the forest fascinated me the most. 

Apart from a few patches, the majority of the trek is through thick forests where you hardly see any sunlight falling on the ground. And hence, the temperature is cool throughout the trek.

In some areas, it was so dark that I had to watch my steps. I have never trekked through such a forest in India!

The highlight of the trek is the waterfall towards the end. You can spend some time there taking pictures and even drinking the water. It’s the purest water there is!

Fun Fact: There’s a road that originates from here and connects Vattavada. It was operational earlier, but it’s under the forest department now.

To do this trek, visit the Perumala Forest Check Post at the end of Kanthalloor. It costs INR 300 per person, and a guide will accompany you.

Avoid this trek during monsoons as it will be closed. But it also closes on days with heavy rainfall, so contact the forest department before planning the trek.

Here are two numbers I found online:

• 8547603199
• 8547603222

The trek is open from 8 am to 4 pm.

Best Places to Stay in Marayoor-Kanthalloor

Marayoor has all kinds of accommodation, unlike Kanthalloor, where options are limited. Even if you do manage to find something in Kanthalloor, I recommend staying at Marayoor due to the ease of travel.

Here are a couple of suggestions based on my experience:

1. Marayoor Holidays

If you’re looking to stay in Marayoor town, this is your place.

The standout for me was their service. The owner and the support staff were friendly and helped me with my concerns. 

Another plus point is that it is the only accommodation in Marayoor with dorms (based on my research) with a good rating. The dorms are mixed, not gender specific.

They also offer private rooms.

I’ve heard their food is great, but I didn’t get a chance to try it.

2. Cure Monastery

Cure Monastery should be your priority if you love nature and peace.

This Ayurvedic resort is in a remote area of Marayoor with a mini forest in its compound containing a dam, reservoir, animals, trees, and plants. Go for a walk through this forest during the morning/evening to experience the best sounds and sights of nature.

The host is friendly as well, and he helped me plan my trip.

I stayed in one of their bedrooms, which is tastefully done. Apart from standard bedrooms, this resort also has tree and mud houses.

But more than a resort, it felt like a homestay as there were hardly any guests when I was there.

The food here was my favourite in Marayoor as it felt homely, almost as if my mom cooked for me!

Best Restaurants in Marayoor-Kanthalloor

Much like accommodation, you’ll find restaurants in Marayoor, not in Kanthalloor. So if you’re travelling to Kanthalloor, don’t forget to have a fulfilling meal from Marayoor.

Kanthalloor, however, makes up for its lack of food options with fresh carrots, apples, strawberries, oranges, and passion fruit. I survived on carrots and strawberries for much of the trip, which you can buy at one of the roadside shops in Kanthalloor. You won’t get these in Marayoor.

Sandal Breeze Restaurant

This restaurant in Marayoor serves Indian and Chinese food and is known for its chicken dishes. I had their kothu paratha, which was satisfactory.

How to Reach Marayoor-Kanthalloor?

Munnar acts as the base for Marayoor-Kanthalloor. So, reach Munnar by evening/night and stay there.

I booked a bed at an 8-bed bus dorm at the KSRTC Munnar bus stand, which was decent and affordable with separate, clean restrooms. For context, these are buses that have been converted into dorms with separate dorms for each gender.

The only con is that online booking is not possible at these bus dorms. However, I still managed to find a bed despite arriving here by 10 pm with just a couple of people in my room.

Alternatively, you can find plenty of affordable stays in Munnar town.

Thereafter, start your trip early next morning to Marayoor-Kanthalloor.

I recommend the above plan; otherwise, you’ll be exhausted if you reach Munnar and travel to Marayoor-Kanthalloor on the same day.

To reach Munnar, you’ll easily find government/private buses from anywhere in Kerala. I had booked an online bus ticket on the KSRTC website to travel from Kottayam to Munnar.

If you’re coming from a nearby city like Bangalore/Chennai, you can get direct government/private buses to Munnar. If not, take a train to Kochi/Ernakulam and board a bus to Munnar from there.

How to Travel Within Marayoor-Kanthalloor?

This is the tricky part.

While there are buses/jeeps/autos from Munnar to Marayoor-Kanthalloor, I recommend using your vehicle.

Why?

As I mentioned earlier, the journey from Munnar to Marayoor-Kanthalloor is also a significant part of the overall trip experience. You’ll be travelling through tea plantations and tall mountains on this entire route. Inevitably, you’ll want to stop at multiple places to take photos.

Besides, you’ll also need a vehicle to cover all the places in Marayoor-Kanthalloor at your own pace.

If you don’t have a vehicle, you can hire a self-driving car/bike in Kochi. You’ll find many rental companies in Kochi if you do a simple Google search.

Or you can try your luck at the following bike rental services in Munnar.

1. Munnar Bike Rental

2. Gokulam Bike Hire And Tour Operator Munnar

3. Shalom Bike Rental Munnar

4. Scootgreen Rentals Private Limited

5. Sam Rental

But note that success is not guaranteed because demand is huge in Munnar, and the bikes are almost always sold out, especially during peak season.

For example, I visited all these shops as soon as they opened in the morning. But I found a scooty only at the last shop. If it weren’t for this scooty, my trip to Marayoor-Kanthalloor would have been different.

Best Time to Visit Marayoor-Kanthalloor

You can go anytime, but for the best experience, visit these places after the monsoon season in Kerala. During this time, you’ll see all the tea plantations and mountains covered in green.

In other words, visit Marayoor-Kanthalloor from September to March.

Look Beyond Munnar For Fulfilling Travels

While Munnar gets all the attention in Kerala, it’s places like Marayoor-Kanthalloor that truly live up to the hype. 

This is not to say Munnar is bad. It’s just that it’s too commercialised and overhyped to the point where you don’t get value for money.

Marayoor-Kanthalloor, on the other hand, are relatively unexplored and underappreciated places. What I liked about them is that you get to experience everything Munnar has, in addition to the fresh fruits, world-famous jaggery, ancient dolmens, deep forest treks, and a lot more.

Most importantly, if you’re a nature-lover like me who enjoys peace, these places become a no-brainer. So the next time you plan to visit Munnar, start with Marayoor-Kanthalloor.