You are going to read about the mesmerising beauty of the second-highest peak and the highest trekking point in Western Ghats-Meesapuliimala in Munnar. It is located at an altitude of 8,661 feet above sea level. The peak sits between the Anamalai Hills and the Palani Hills. A 20 km drive from Munnar and you will reach there.
Everything is there in a name
Let’s dissect the name. ‘Meesa’ means mustache. ‘Puli’ is the Malayalam name for tiger. ‘Mala’ simply means hills. Thus the peak looks like a tiger’s face. Hence the name Meesapulimala. But you cannot spot any tigers there. Instead, you can see Nilgiri Tahr, Sambar Deer, Wild Gaur, and Sloth Bear,to name a few.
Meesapulimala Trek -You’ll fall in love with nature and trekking.
It is a comparatively easy trek, or you can say a moderate trek. During the trek, you will witness lush tea gardens, cascading waterfalls, and blooming Rhododendrons, among other scenic wonders of Munnar. You will be trekking through rainforests and high-altitude grasslands.
The Trekking Trails
Meesapulimala is famous for its Rhododendron trees. Henc,e one of the valleys in Meesapulimala is named Rhodendron Valley. You can opt for an 8 km trek that starts from Rhodovalley. When you embark on the Rodovalley trek, you are about to trek through eight hills. These hills share the border of Tamil Nadu and Kerala. Or you can opt for the 9 hr Kurangini trek.
Rhodovalley trek
The Rhodovalley trekking trail is full of natural wonders. If it is the Neelakurinji season, you can witness the blooming Neelakurinji.To the left of the first hill, there is the Meesapulimala peak. You can also see Suryanelli and Munnar towns. While descending the hill, it is easy to catch a glimpse of the Anayaironkal Lake. Climbing all the remaining hills, you will reach your destination- the Meesapulimala Peak. From there, enjoy a bird’s eye view of the Kerala Tamilnadu border.
On another note, if you prefer to stay at night, once you reach the base camp, there is Rhodo Mansion. You can contact the Kerala Forest Development Corporation in Munnar to book the Rhodo Valley trek.
Kurangini trek.
You are starting your trail from Kurangini, a small village. It’s a steep trek. A 2- to 3-hour trek will take you to a peak where you can spot a single pine tree. Then, after another 2 to 3 hours, you will reach the 48 hairpin bends towards the Kolukkumalai tea estate. After the tea plantation, you will enter into Shola forests. Then there is a one-kilometer trek to the Meesapulimala peak.
How to reach Meesapulimala?
To reach Meesapulimala, first, you need to travel to Munnar in the Idukki district, The nearest airport to Munnar is Cochin International Airport. You can also resort to Indian railways. If it is a train journey, then you can hop off at Aluva or Ernakulam(Cochin) railway station. From there it is easy to hire a cab to reach Munnar.
