Marayoor and Kanthalloor Day Trip from Munnar: Sandalwood, Dolmens and Fruit Farms (2026)

By Raja V., YatraKraft co-founder from Munnar. Last updated 21 October 2026.

Quick answer Marayoor and Kanthalloor make one of the best day trips from Munnar, Kerala. In one full day you can see Kerala’s only natural sandalwood forest, Stone Age dolmens, jaggery units and Kanthalloor’s fruit farms. Leave Munnar early, stop at Rajamala and Lakkom Falls on the way, and drive back before dark.

Marayoor and Kanthalloor at a glance

Munnar to Marayoor	About 40 km by road, through Rajamala and the edge of Eravikulam National Park
Marayoor to Kanthalloor	About 20 km further up into the hills
Kanthalloor altitude	Around 1,500 m
Climate	Rain shadow region, usually drier than Munnar
Known for	Natural sandalwood forest, dolmens, Marayoor jaggery, apple and strawberry farms
Time needed	One full day, or one night if you want a slower pace
Good for	Families, couples, history lovers and anyone who has already seen central Munnar

Why take a day trip to Marayoor and Kanthalloor?

Most visitors to this Kerala hill station only see the tea estates around town. Drive an hour or so north-east and the land changes: the green tea slopes give way to drier hills, sugarcane fields, sandalwood trees and orchards. Marayoor and Kanthalloor sit on the eastern side of the Western Ghats in a rain shadow, so the weather here is often clearer than in Munnar, even when it is cloudy back in town.

It is also a good way to add something different to a Munnar Kerala holiday: history, farms and quiet villages instead of busy viewpoints. If you have two or more days in Munnar and have already covered the main sights in our guide to places to visit in Munnar, this is the trip we suggest next.

What is there to see on the Munnar to Marayoor road?

• Rajamala and EravikulamThe road passes the entry to Eravikulam National Park. If you want to visit the park as well, read our Eravikulam National Park guide first, as it works best as a separate morning.
• Lakkom FallsA roadside waterfall about 25 km from Munnar, fed by a stream that flows down from Eravikulam. A short, easy stop on the way.
• Tea and forest viewsThe first half of the drive winds through tea estates and shola forest before dropping into the drier Marayoor valley.

What are the best things to do in Marayoor?

• Sandalwood forestMarayoor has the only natural sandalwood forest in the state, and the trees are protected and managed by the Forest Department. You will see them along the roadside around the town.
• Muniyara dolmensMegalithic burial chambers from prehistoric times, built from large flat stones topped with a capstone. They sit on a rocky hillside with wide valley views.
• Rock paintingsAncient rock art has been found in the caves and rock shelters around Marayoor. Ask a local guide to show you the accessible sites.
• Marayoor jaggeryMarayoor jaggery received a Geographical Indication (GI) tag in 2019. It is made in Marayoor and Kanthalloor by boiling sugarcane juice in large pans and hand-rolling it into balls. Many small units welcome visitors, and it makes a good gift to take home.

What makes Kanthalloor special in Kerala?

Kanthalloor is often called Kerala’s fruit bowl. Thanks to its height and cool, dry climate, farmers grow fruit that is rare in the rest of the state: apples, oranges, plums, peaches, passion fruit and strawberries, along with cool-season vegetables. Many farms let visitors walk through the orchards and buy fruit directly. Strawberries are harvested over several months from around the start of the year, and plums ripen around May and June, so what you see depends on the season.

• Fruit farmsWalk through a working orchard and pick up fresh fruit, jam or juice from the growers.
• Pattisseri DamA quiet reservoir surrounded by farmland and hills, good for a short stop.
• Keezhanthoor WaterfallsA small waterfall near the village, at its best after the rains.
• Anamudi Shola National ParkEvergreen shola forest close to Kanthalloor, one of the protected areas that ring the village.

A day-wise plan for Marayoor and Kanthalloor

• Day trip: Munnar, Marayoor, Kanthalloor and backLeave Munnar early after breakfast. Stop briefly at Lakkom Falls, then continue to Marayoor for the sandalwood forest, the Muniyara dolmens and a jaggery unit. Drive up to Kanthalloor for lunch and an orchard visit, add Pattisseri Dam if time allows, and start back towards Munnar in the afternoon so you are off the hill roads before dark.
• Slower option, Day 1: Munnar to KanthalloorDrive out via Lakkom Falls and Marayoor, see the sandalwood forest and dolmens, and stay the night in Kanthalloor or Marayoor.
• Slower option, Day 2: Kanthalloor and back to MunnarSpend the morning at the fruit farms and Keezhanthoor Waterfalls, then return to Munnar, or continue towards Chinnar Wildlife Sanctuary on the Udumalpet road if you are leaving the hills on that side.

Want to stay closer to this side of the hills? Our guide to where to stay in Munnar compares the main areas and how far each is from the Marayoor road.

Tips for a smooth Kerala day trip to Marayoor

• Hire a local driverThe road is narrow and winding, with mist on some stretches. A driver who knows the route makes the day far more relaxing.
• Start earlyClear mornings give the best views, and an early start leaves time for the farms without rushing the drive back.
• Carry cash and waterSmall farms and jaggery units may not take cards, and shops are spread out.
• Respect protected areasDo not pick or buy anything claimed to be sandalwood from the roadside. Sandalwood is strictly protected.
• Book ahead in peak seasonRooms in Marayoor and Kanthalloor fill quickly around Christmas and New Year.

Frequently asked questions

How far is Marayoor from Munnar?

Marayoor is about 40 km from Munnar by road, via Rajamala and Lakkom Falls. Kanthalloor is about 20 km further on from Marayoor.

Can I cover Marayoor and Kanthalloor in one day from Munnar?

Yes. With an early start you can see the sandalwood forest, the dolmens, a jaggery unit and a Kanthalloor fruit farm, and be back in Munnar by evening. Stay a night if you want a slower pace.

Why is Marayoor famous?

Marayoor is known for Kerala’s only natural sandalwood forest, its prehistoric dolmens and rock art, and Marayoor jaggery, which has a GI tag.

Are apples really grown in Kanthalloor?

Yes. Kanthalloor’s height and cool, dry climate let farmers grow apples, oranges, plums, peaches and strawberries, which are rare elsewhere in Kerala. What is in season depends on the month.

Is Marayoor drier than Munnar?

Usually, yes. Marayoor and Kanthalloor lie in a rain shadow on the eastern side of the Western Ghats, so they often get clearer weather than Munnar town.