Hyderabad to Munnar road trip is a lovely ride. When you have choice of three spectacular routes, it has to be one!
Without any hesitation, we would say Munnar is mesmerising. Lovely greenery, beautiful waterfalls, pristine lakes, awesome view points…..all these makes Munnar a place for anyone who loves outdoors.
We have read many questions on planning a Hyderabad-Munnar road trip like…….
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How can i go from Hyderabad to Munnar?
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What is the best route from for Hyderabad-Munnar road trip?
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Where can i stop for breakfast and lunch while going from Hyderabad to Munnar?
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What are the places to see on the way from Hyderabad to Munnar by car/bike?
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How is the road condition while driving from Hyderabad to Munnar?
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Is it safe to drive from Hyderabad to Munnar by car/bike?
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Is there a Hyderabad-Munnar road trip blog?
We hope all these questions will be answered by this post!
We always feel the best time to do a Hyderabad-Munnar road trip is during monsoon if you are comfortable with rains.
If not, then you should go there immediately after the rains. This is the best time to visit Munnar when nature is at its best. It is soothing green everywhere. Waterfalls are at their glorious best. Streams with crystal clear waters. Cascades everywhere! Lakes brimming with water.
If you are planning Hyderabad-Munnar road trip, it can be reached by 3 spectacular routes. We give you all details here in this step by step guide on how to reach from Hyderabad to Munnar.
Please check your FASTag account and recharge if necessary before starting the journey.
Route 1 – Bedazzled by Bodi Ghat!
The route via Bodinayakkanur is very picturesque. Especially during monsoon and immediately after that. As soon as you leave Bodi, you will start climbing. The winding roads offer beautiful views of the plains below. The road is curvy but there are not too many hairpin bends. You will see mighty hills with peaks rising to sky!
Once you cross Theni, you will see greenery all around. This is a beautiful countryside. Enjoy your drive as you climb up the Bodi Ghat. You will get many photo opportunities. Stop and experience the nature at its best. Enjoy the drive.
Check out these pictures below as a sample! Click on them to see in larger size.
Mountains beckon!!
Soaring peaks!
Love at first sight! First sight of Munnar valley
Colourful tea village!
Chinnakanal falls in monsoon!
The Details
- Route – Hyderabad – Bangalore – Salem – Dindigul – Theni – Bodi Ghat – Munnar
- Distance – 1102 KMs
- Route map – https://goo.gl/maps/NGK8dYXwKJz
- Time – 18 hours
- Road Condition – Very Good
- Suggested stops
- We recommend doing this over two days. Else, one would miss the spectacular vistas of mountains after Theni as it would be night.
- One can start from Hyderabad and stay in Salem – which has excellent stay options – for the night on day 1 and reach Munnar by afternoon on the next day.
- Breakfast on Day 1 – There are many restaurants on the outskirts of Hyderabad on highway for breakfast.
- Lunch on Day 1 – We always stop at Dashmesh Punjabi Dhabha after Pamidi ( See route map – next to HP Petrol bunk) for Lunch. Excellent food in typical dhabha style!
- Breakfast on Day 2 – One can have breakfast at many highway restaurants between Salem and Karur bye pass.
- Lunch – One can have late lunch in Munnar. If you are non vegetarian, then we recommend that you pack Biryani in famous Talappakatti Restaurant in Theni.
Route 2 – Ultimate joy of driving on Udumalpet ghat!
As soon as you leave Udumalpet, it is a blissful driving. The driving on the hair pin bends on Udumalpet ghat is exciting indeed! Add to that lovely landscape along the way.
You will get a chance to see many lovely waterfalls like Thoovanam Waterfalls, Lakkam Waterfalls and Karimutty waterfalls on the way. You can take a small deviation to go and see Amaravathi Dam.
Don’t miss to see lovely views of Chinar wild life sanctuary from Chinar Watch tower. Enjoy the beautiful vistas from Talaiyar view-point.
Check out these pictures below as a sample! Click on them to see in larger size.
Karimutty Waterfalls!
Panoramic view of Thoovanam waterfalls from highway!
Closer look of Thoovanam waterfalls
Lakkam waterfalls
View from Talaiyar valley view point
- Route – Hyderabad – Bangalore – Salem – Udumalpet – Munnar
- Distance – 1063 KMs
- Route map – https://goo.gl/maps/J4bmfCZ9tyw
- Time – 18 hours
- Road Condition – Very good
- Suggested stops –
- We would recommend doing this over two days. Else one would miss the spectacular vistas of mountains after Udumalpet as it would be night.
- One can start from Hyderabad and stay in Salem – which has excellent stay options – for the night on day 1 and reach Munnar by afternoon on the next day.
- Breakfast on Day 1 – There are many restaurants on the outskirts of Hyderabad on the highway for breakfast.
- Lunch on Day 1 – We always stop at Dashmesh Punjabi Dhabha after Pamidi (next to HP Petrol bunk) for Lunch (see map). Excellent food in typical dhabha style!
- Breakfast on Day 2 – One can have breakfast at many highway restaurants between Salem and Erode bye pass.
- Lunch – One can have late lunch in Munnar.
Route 3 – Spectacular drive from Thekkady!
If you are planning Thekkady with Munnar, this is the route to follow. Follow route No 1 above till Theni. From Theni, Kumili which is the Headquarters for Thekkady region is 58 KMs.
The drive from Thekkady to Munnar is a very picturesque drive. You can take small detours to see magnificent Kalvari Mount which provides a panoramic view of Idukki backwaters, Idukki dam, Karimban Kuthu Waterfalls on the way.
Check out these pictures below as a sample! Click on them to see in larger size.
Spectacular view of Idukki backwaters from Kalvari mount!
Idukki dam
Karimbu Kuthu falls in Periyar valley
The details
- Route – Kumili – Kattapana – Idukki dam – Munnar
- Distance – 189 KMs
- Route map – https://goo.gl/maps/ZaceM2ATNQ92
- Time – 4 hours
- Road condition – After the recent floods some parts of the road may not be in great condition.
- Suggested stops
- One can have tea/snack break at Idukki dam
Plan and embark on Hyderabad-Munnar road trip. You won’t regret it. We suggest that you plan to go by route No 1 and return by Route No 2. This will help you to experience both the routes.
Lastly, due to recent floods in Kerala, the road conditions in the state including Munnar may not be great. It will be good to join a road trip enthusiasts group HVK Forum managed by H V Kumar, the doyen of road trip in India. You can get the latest updates on the road conditions in this very active group.
We strongly suggest that you download customised Routo app from H V Kumar. HVK as he is fondly called, provides you customised route maps, live support on the road trip and will also help you with hotel accommodation as well. Check out all details here.
Routo – The Right Route & Travel Support For The Motorist Traveller
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