4 Best Sights in Kerala, India

This well-maintained 97-square-km (24,000-acre) sanctuary, 15 km (9 miles) northwest of Munnar, is home to the endangered Nilgiri tahr (Nilgiritragus hylocrius), an ibex-like goat that inhabits the highest, wettest reaches of the Western Ghats in Tamil Nadu and Kerala. It has lost numbers to poaching and shrinking habitat, leaving a population of just 700--800 in the park, roughly half of the world's total number. Here you can get quite close to this endearingly tame creature, pushed to the brink of extinction in part because of its utter lack of suspicion of humans. There are often long lines in season to buy your ticket, so it's a good idea to book in advance, or head early. From the entrance a park bus takes you about 7 km (4½ miles) into the hill, from which you can walk nearly 1½ km (1 mile) farther, to a higher lookout point. No vehicles are allowed in the park, so be prepared to walk along the trails and footpaths. The craggy mountain views and gushing waterfalls in the monsoon add to the allure of this park.

The sanctuary is closed for about 90 days during the calving season, roughly from February to April (check ahead of time) and occasionally for a day or so during the monsoons if there have been heavy rains.

At one of the only museums of its kind in India, you can learn about the history of local tea growing and view the antique furnishings of an estate manager's bungalow. Another highlight is the 2nd-century BC urn found at one of the tea estates nearby. You also can sample this area's famous blends in the tasting room.

Take a drive to see the highest lookout points around Munnar, which offer great views of the tea estates below—one of the best is Top Station, 32 km (20 miles) and 40 minutes) from Munnar town and 1,700 feet above sea level, across the border in Tamil Nadu, in the Kanan Devan hills. It gets its name from once being the highest point of a ropeway from which tea from Munnar was sent down to the town of Kottagudi.