Top Station
About Top Station
Far From City: 21 kms from city center
Cost:
About Top Station
Weather:
Time Required:1-2 hrs
Open Time:7:00 AM - 7:00 PM
Cost:No entry fee
Trekking and Nature Walk at Top Station
The pathways of the Top Station make up for a gentle trekking terrain, which is the perfect way to enjoy the surrounding landscape. With the low-lying clouds gently skimming the surface of the hills, the exquisite beauty of this place is enhanced with each step you take up to the highest point. Indulge in nature walks in this captivatingly beautiful landscape, and you will undoubtedly find yourself filled with a new zeal for life.
The best part about trekking in Top Station is the fresh air. Unlike the cities, the air around these hills is pure and non-polluted. Walks and treks on these terrains are not just a phenomenal experience but also an excellent exercise. It is one of the perfect ways to workout. Walking through uninhabited nature and taking in all its beauty while keeping your body fit.
Photography at Top Station
Owing to its picturesque location and towering height, this destination is a favourite for some candid shots of nature. The untouched beauty of this place is ideal to capture a few pictures of the plunging valleys and crystal clear waterfalls. With the perfect backdrop of the mighty Western Ghats in the background, Top Station is certainly a photographer's dream come true!
Mountain Biking at Top Station
Owing to its picturesque location and towering height, this destination is a favourite for some mountain biking. The regular rough and sandy terrains of mountain biking are not what one should expect here. The roadway of these hills is serene and calming. They jet through tea estates and hilly forests. The untouched beauty of this place is ideal for bikers who want to ride through plunging valleys and crystal clear waterfalls. With the perfect backdrop of the mighty Western Ghats in the background, Top Station is certainly one of the most adventurous rides that need to be on everyone's bucket list!
Neelakurinji Blooming Spectacle at Top Station
The entire Western Ghats are laden with a shrub locally known as the Neelakurinji, which translates into blue blooms; or Kurinji. These shrubs are very unique in nature as they produce a flower that blossoms only once in every 12 years. On the occasion of them blossoming the entire valley lights up with a blue tone. As far as your eyes can see, the hills look like they've been covered in delicate blue gems that glitter with the sun's rays. The Paliyan tribe that reside on the Kerala-Tamilnadu border calculate their age based on the blooming of these shrubs.
The next blooming season is 2018 and the best time to witness this phenomenon is between the months of July and December.
History of Top Station
Top Station is historically known as a transhipment point for the delivery of tea that Munnar produced to Bodinayakkanur. Its name was inspired by its location, as it is the upper terminus of the Kottagudi Aerial Ropeway. The Kundala Valley Railway was built to help transport the tea from Munnar to Kundalai, the lowest point in the crest above the cliffs. The terminal railway station for this railway line was also at Top Station. The initial installation was a monorail goods carriage system which was later replaced by 24-inch gauge railway in the year 1902. Kundalai is about 12 kilometres west of Top Station on the way to Munnar station. You can find remains of the Kundala Valley Railway at the Munnar Tea Museum.
The transportation process of tea was not an easy one. The tea chests that arrived at Top Station from Kundalai Valley were directed to Kottagudi through the ropeway on a 5-kilometre journey downhill. These chests were then transported to Bodinayakkanur by a cart which was a 15-kilometre long journey. From there the chests were sent within India by rail or shipped to England via sea routes. Remains of the ropeway can still be seen from Top Station. The elevation at the top of this ropeway was about 1,911 meters that are 6,270 feet.
How to Reach Top Station
This destination is located on the Munnar-Kodaikkanal highway. Cabs can be hired to reach the attraction. Bikers can drive down too.
Top Tourist Places in Munnar
Echo Point
Elephant Arrival Spot
Photo Point
Mattupetti Dam
Kolukkumalai Tea Estate
Top Station
All Tourist Places in Munnar
Tips
1. Best time to visit is in the morning or evening as it tends to become a little warm during the afternoons.2. Hiring a cab to reach Top Station provides a better view as the road goes through valleys.
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