The britishers are to be credited with the establishment of earliest tea plantations in the state of Kerala. Trying to built a profitable line of commerce with the Chinese traders, the East India Company found the climatic conditions of Kerala highly suitable for tea production. Let’s take a look at one of these beautiful tea plantations in the district of Munnar.
Kerala is famous for its spice production in the whole world. Its weather, soil and a long history of spice cultivation in the region is perfect for the cultivation of a large variety of tea as well. Opting for Kerala tour packages 2 nights 3 days of trip would perfect for exploring these tea plantations in Munnar. Lying on the slopes of the Western Ghats, the tea estates of Munnar is not only a large employment generator for the locals but also presents a scenic landscape for the tourists and nature photographers from all corners of the country.
If you haven’t heard about Munnar, it is a famous tea growing town in the Idukki district of Kerala. The town is one of the prominent hill stations in the state and attracts tourists almost all round the year. The town is located at an elevation of more than 1600 m above sea level and remains pleasant even during the hot and humid summers of South India. Munnar is situated on the hillocks of Kanan Devi Hills and have received its name as a confluence of three rivers called Kundalini, Mudra Puzhaa and Nallathanni.
Munnar consists of vast stretches of tea estates and forested valleys with the meandering flow of the three rivers, which gives it a heavenly appeal and makes it a popular tourist destination. During the British Raj, the town was a summer retreat for the officers who shifted to the cottages in the cooler realms of the hill station finding some respite from the scorching heat. The amazing weather and scenic beauty of the hill station will definitely entice your body and mind, and if you’ve got kids at home, planning a summer holiday in one of the estates would definitely be a learning experience for them.
Long before the English came here, the Scots has already established their tea plantations. A gentleman named JD Munro, a lawyer in the state of Travancore is credited with the establishment of tea estates in Munnar. The pattern of development is quite similar to what the Scots did in their native highlands. He leased a large piece of land from the regional king and established the Travancore Land Planting and Agricultural Society ventured into spices, coffee and tea growing. After series of tries and experiment, they found out that tea is the best yield and thus the long journey of tea growing began.
Later other plantations like Finlay Muir and Co. and the Devan Hills Produce Company created vast tea empires in the state. Seeing them the Indian bred Tata Group too jumped into the tea business and established the Tata-Finlay Group in 1964. Today, several of these tea houses have opened public co-operatives to ease trade and employment in the region. So, if you’re looking for a place that’s scenic and interesting, the tea plantations of Munnar is surely some of the good places to visit in Kerala.
