History and Myths of Parunthumpara

July 27, 2024

Parunthumpara, which translates to ‘The Eagle’s Rock’, is a highland bordered by the mountain ranges of Idukki. The name was lovingly bestowed to it owing to its large rocky projection that looks like an eagle acutely scanning the Western Ghats Mountains. Depending on how cloudy and misty things get, visitors of Paranthumpara can get a view of the Sabarimala forests and its Makarajyothi celestial light.
It is a part of the annual Makaravilakku festival held at Sabarimala and the Hindu deity Ayyappan is said to assert himself as the celestial light to bless his devotees. An estimated ten million devotees make their pilgrimage to Sabarimalla every year to witness this. For this reason, you can find many pilgrims in the area during the pilgrimage seasons. It is also home to a famous rock that looks like the great poet, Rabindranath Tagore’s head, hence being eponymously named Tagore Head. Tagore was a vital figure in developing nationhood sentiments against the British with his poems in Bengali, which led to him winning the Nobel Prize in Literature.
If you would like to revel in the greatness of the Bengali poet, but cannot head to Kolkata, Paranthumpara can more than make up for it! Here are some other activities and attractions to do around Paranthumpara that add to the history of the place and Munnar as a whole.

Attractions and Nearby Places to Explore

Abraham's Spice Garden

A famous tourist spot, tourists can learn about spice cultivation and organic farming with the garden’s in-house agriculturalists –and if you are lucky, from Abraham himself. Their experience is backed by generations of repeated testing and experimentation, so visitors are in for a truly enlightening experience about their farmed spices and their prevalence in Indian culture, for example in the Ayurveda industry. You can also purchase their spices and Ayurvedic medicines at an affordable price point, for your cooking and holistic health needs.

Connemara Tea Factory

Founded in 1919, this factory’s repertoire contains not only legacy teas like Orthodox Tea and CTC tea but also white and green tea. Tourists, therefore, have a lot to try from. Their tour guides are famous for being incredibly enthusiastic and knowledgeable about tea, the process of tea-making, and the history of the factory itself. Their tours also end with a tea tasting session: whichever flavor you find delectable, you may buy them at their outlet attached to the factory itself, where they are sold for retail price.

Valanjamkanam waterfalls

This waterfall is quite different from the ones tourists might usually see —it is quite petite, standing at only 23 meters in height. But this is alluring in its own way: it is very pretty during the monsoon as it gets quite misty and it is safe enough to frolic about with a group! To top it all off, you can enjoy hot tea and munch on snacks such as banana bajis from the various stalls nearby.

Kadathanadan Kalari And Navarasa Kathakali Centre

This Kalari and Kathakali centre is a spacious and beautiful gallery that not only entertains its audience but also teaches them self-defense in compact sessions. For the uninitiated, Kathakali, ‘play of stories’ in Malayalam, is a classical dance from Kerala that incorporates elements of literature, art history and music to tell stories from Indian epics; Kalaripayattu is a traditional martial art and one of the oldest of its kind in the world. These performances are accentuated by the thrilling narration and impactful lighting of the arena. Visitors are in for a treat at the end as they can head down to the arena and get photos of themselves holding the weapons and shields.

Barren Hills

Vagamon Meadows, also known as Barren Hills, is a set of cute, interlinked meadows ideal for walks, picnics, and photography. Fun fact, there is a major film shooting spot right by the valley with plenty of small, interlocked ponds, so if you are a film enthusiast and you like chasing set locations, this place is a must see! Since the hills have a capricious terrain, they are also famous for trekking, rock climbing, and paragliding amongst thrill seekers.

How to Reach Parunthumpara

Munnar is easily accessible by road, making the journey to Parunthumpara straightforward. From the national highway, a rugged road from Kallar junction leads you to this enchanting highland. You can drive to the top, or if you are unsure about driving, taxis and local buses from Munnar are available.

The Best Time to Visit

June to January is the best time to visit Paranthumpara; the monsoon adds a distinctive beauty to the mists of the waterfalls and the tea at the factories are all the more comforting in the cold. As the sunsets here are spectacular, do stick around till the evening if you are here.

Accommodations around Paranthumpara

There are plenty of premium resorts and hotels located around Paranthumpara and in Munnar, with luxurious accommodations, services, and dining. They can help you completely immerse yourself in the history and culture of Munnar with facilities such as Ayurveda treatments and antique shops.