MY MUNNAR VISIT

                                                                 MUNNAR

Visit my blog @ http://jasminjacob.blogspot.com/2016/07/my-visit-to-munnar.html

Munnar is a town in the Western Ghats Mountains in India’s Kerala state. Munnar, a hill station and former resort for the British Raj elite, is set within rolling hills dotted with tea plantations established in the 19th century. It is one of the top tourist’s favorite destination in India. Eravikulam National Park, home to the endangered mountain goat Nilgiri tahr, is a seasonal trekking destination encompassing the Lakkam Waterfalls and 2,695m-tall Anamudi Peak.

How to reach Munnar? 

AIR: Cochin International airport, also known as Nedumbassery Airport and CIAL is the nearest airport. It is 110 km away from Munnar by road. Madurai International Airport which is 140Km from Munnar (National Highway 49).

TRAIN:The nearest railway station is Aluva, 110 km. Ernakulam is 130 km and Madurai is 135km.

CAR:

From Kochi:Munnar is 130 km from Kochi. The road is blind in some places and there are a lot of trucks and buses that seem to drive as if they own the road. Although the road is smooth it is narrow, twisty and curvy. Kothamangalam is on the way and is 80 km away from Munnar. Between Kothamangalam and next town "Adimali", you can experience a beautiful cool drive through a natural forest. Alongside, you can see many refreshing waterfalls. Once reached Adimali, Munnar is just 30 kilometers away but it will take almost an hour to reach. This is the last place where you can spot a decent restaurant before Munnar. Around 22 km from Adimali, you can start seeing the tea plantations on both sides of the road and a panoramic view of the Western Ghats. The view is extremely beautiful during the early mornings.

From Aluva: Aluva is nearly 110 km from Munnar. Just outside Aluva railway station you can hire a taxi for Munnar for Rs 2000. There is a bus stand nearby as well which operates frequent buses to Munnar; ticket prices start from Rs 70 per person.

From Madurai:Munnar is about 135 km from Madurai and 80 km from Theni.  

From Coimbatore: Munnar is about 160 km from Coimbatore and 120 km from Pollachi. 

What is the climate of Munnar?

The temperature ranges between 5 °C and 25 °C in winter and 15 °C and 25 °C in summer.
Hotels and Resorts: There are many Famous Hotels and Resorts in Munnar as per once choice. 

Top 14 places to visit in Munnar.
1. Mattupetty Dam
 
Mattupetty dam and its reservoir is located 13 km away from Munnar.  This concrete gravity dam is built between the hill ranges and it is used mainly for water storage for hydroelectric projects. Its reservoir is an idyllic place to enjoy the serene nature. It is also said to be one of the waterholes where the elephants in the region often visit.

2. Mattupetty Dairy Farm

Mattupetty is also famous for the Indo-Swiss Farm. It is 14 km away from Munnar. This is a highly specialized dairy farm which comes under Indo-Swiss Livestock Project. Hundreds of high quality cattle are reared here and new varieties are scientifically developed.

3.Kundala Lake

Kundala Lake is an artificial reservoir of a minor arch shaped dam huddled between the mountain ranges. It is about a 20 km drive from Munnar. There is boating facility there. And don’t forget to go for a Shikara boat ride while you are there!

4. Top Station

It is about 40 km from Munnar and it is 1,880 meters above sea level. The panoramic view of the Western Ghats and the valley of Theni from Top station is simply breathtaking. Top station got this name from it’s being the uppermost located railway station on the Kundala Valley Railway.

5. Echo Point
 
Echo Point is about 15 km from Munnar. Go there and scream as loud as you can and wait for a minute. You can hear your echo back! It’s quite interesting. If you have kids with you they will love it. They can experience this natural phenomenon firsthand.

6. Rajamalai (Part of Eravikulam National Park)
 
Rajamalai, part of Eravikulam national park, is located at about 15 km from Munnar.  This region is the natural habitat of the Nilgiri Tahr. It was converted to a national park to provide a safe santuary  for the already endangered species of Nilgiri Tahr

7. Tea Museum

This tea museum is first of its kind in India. It is located at KDHP’s Nullatanni estate in Munnar. The aim of this museum according to its founders is to showcase the growth of more-than-a-century-old tea plantations in this region. Anyone visiting this museum will get a clear picture of how laborious this tea processing really is.
8. Marayoor Sandalwood Forests

This is located at around 42 km north of Munnar through the Udumalppetta route. Marayoor is famous of the natural sandalwood forest. Not only that, this place is said to be part of the ancient stone age civilization dated back to 10,000 B.C. Stone age paintings, rock edicts and dolmens found there vouch for this rich heritage.

9. Attukad Waterfalls

Now this is a scenic waterfalls located between Munnar and Pallivasal. It is just 9 km away from Munnar. But this waterfalls will be in its full glory only after the monsoon (Rainy season). During other seasons, it is just a trickling mountain stream.

10. Blossom Park

Blossom International Park is about 3 km away from Munnar town and it spreads over 16 acres. It is a peaceful location to enjoy a calm and relaxing nature walk admiring flowers and surrounding green hillside. The park offer many activities for tourists like boating, cycling, roller skating etc.

11. Chinnar Wildlife Sanctuary

Chinnar wildlife sanctuary is about 60 km from Munnar. It is situated on SH 17 in the Marayoor and Kanthalloor Panchayats of Idukki district. It is an ideal spot for trekking and enjoying wildlife closely. It is the habitat for endangered Grizzled giant squirrel in India. Almost 34 species of mammals including panthers, spotted deer’s, elephants and tigers can be found here. It is also a bird watchers paradise. 245 species of birds live here!

12. Tea Plantations

How can one resist a tea garden tour when you are in Munnar? Rolling hillsides covered with tea plantations is a sight to behold. The lush greenery and the soothing cold wind with a mild aroma of tea leaves totally rejuvenates you.

13. Lakkom Water Falls

This waterfall is about 25 km from Munnar on the way to Udumalaipettai. Lakkom waterfalls is part of Eravikulam National Park. The cascading waterfalls and the scenic surroundings makes it tourist’s favorite hideout in Munnar.

14. Devikulam

Devikulam is a small hill station about 5 kilometres from Munnar in the Idukki District of the southern state of Kerala, India. It lies 1,800 metres above sea level. 


Flore(plants)andFauna(animals)
Most of the native flora and fauna of Munnar have disappeared due to severe habitat fragmentation resultant from the creation of the plantations. However, some species continue to survive and thrive in several protected areas nearby, including the new Kurinjimala Sanctuary to the east, the Chinnar Wildlife Sanctuary, Manjampatti Valley and the Amaravati reserve forest of Indira Gandhi Wildlife Sanctuary to the north east, the Eravikulam National Park and Anamudi Shola National Park to the north, the Pampadum Shola National Park to the south and the proposed Palani Hills National Park to the east.

            CH:2- FOOD AND HEALTH

I Answer the following.

1. List down the major nutrients that are found in food.
ANS:The major nutrients in the food we eat are

• Carbohydrates
• Proteins 
• Fats
• Vitamins
• Minerals

2. What are carbohydrates? Give four examples.

ANS: Carbohydrates are energy giving food and it gives us energy to work and play. Cereals, pulses, sweet potato and sugar are examples of carbohydrates.

3. What are proteins? Give four examples.

ANS: Proteins are body building food which helps us to grow. Milk, egg, meat and fish are examples of proteins.

4. What are vitamins?

ANS: Vitamins keep our body fit, improve appetite and increase the body's ability to fight diseases.

5. What are minerals?
ANS: Minerals help in the growth and development of the body. They are needed in small amounts by our body.

6. What is roughage?

ANS: Roughage helps the body to get rid of undigested food. EG: Fruits and vegetables.

7. What is a balanced diet?
ANS: A diet which contains all the nutrients needed by our body in  the right amount is called a balanced diet.

8. What is posture?
ANS: Posture is the position in which we hold our body when we sit, stand or move. We must sit and stand straight. We must walk upright. A correct posture gives us a graceful appearance and improves the flexibility of our joints.

9. What are communicable diseases?
ANS: Communicable diseases are diseases that can be passed on from one person to another. They are spread by microbes like bacteria, protozoa, virus, etc. They can enter through our nose, mouth, of cuts in the skin while coughing, sneezing or spitting.

10. Mention any four diseases caused by contaminated food and water.
ANS:

• Jaundice
• Typhoid
• Cholera
• Diarrhea 

11. What are non-communicable diseases?
ANS: Diseases that are not passed on from one person to another are called non-communicable diseases.

12. Mention any four non-communicable diseases.
ANS:

• Night blindness
• Goitre
• Beriberi
• Rickets.

13. Write the sources of food and deficiency diseases of Vitamin A, B, C, D, Iodine and Iron.

Vitamins/Minerals	Deficiency diseases and Symptoms	Sources of Nutrients
Vitamin A	Night blindness (Cannot see in dim light)	Papaya, Mango, Green, leafy vegetables
Vitamin B	Beriberi (Affects circulatory and nervous system)	Cereals, Fish, Meat, Unpolished rice, Green leafy vegetables
Vitamin C	Scurvy (Bleeding of gums and swelling of joints)	Citrus fruits like amla, orange, etc, green leafy vegetables
Vitamin D	Rickets (Soft bones and bow shaped legs)	Milk and its products, sunlight
Iron	Anaemia (Low haemoglobin)	Spinach, liver, dates, jaggery, black grapes.
Iodine	Goitre (Swelling of the gland in the neck region)	Iodised salt, sea foods.

14. How do houseflies spread diseases?

ANS: Houseflies sit on garbage of other wastes and are carriers of disease causing microbes. they contaminate our food and water by transferring disease causing germs to our food by sitting on it. such contaminated food when consumed causes diseases like typhoid, cholera, dysentery etc.

What are the precautions you would take against the spread of malaria?
ANS: I would like to take the following steps against the spread of malaria.

• Doors and windows should have wire nets to keep away mosquitoes.
• Do not allow water to stagnate for the breeding of mosquitoes.
• Tanks and ponds must be sprayed with oil on top of it.
• Use a good mosquito repellent or net night.
• Clean bathrooms and toilets with disinfectants regularly.
• Drains must be covered properly.

              
PLANTS: INCREASING THE NUMBERS.

I- Define:-

1. GERMINATION:- The development of a seed into a seed into a seedling is called germination.

2. MONOCOT SEEDS:- The seeds of plants which have only one seed leaf or cotyledon are called monocot seeds.

3. DISPERSAL OF SEED:- The process of seeds or fruits being carried away from the parent plant by different agents such as wind, animals etc from one place to another is called dispersal of seeds.

4. SEEDLING:-  A small baby plant which comes out of a seed is called seedling.

II- Answer the following. 

1. How are plants useful to us?

ANS: - plants are useful to us in many ways. 

• Plants give us food, fiber, rubber, gum, tea, coffee etc. 
• Plants supply us with oxygen and makes the air fresh.
• Plants help to reduce soil erosion.

2. List down the conditions necessary for the germination of a seed.

ANS: - The conditions necessary for the germination of a seed are:

• Air
• Water
• Sunlight
• Soil

3. Name the different parts of a seed. Draw a diagram and label the parts.

ANS: - The different parts of a seed are

A. cotyledon

B. baby plant

C. seed coat.

4. Differentiate between monocot and dicot plants.

MONOCOT PLANT 

Seeds have only one cotyledon. 

Mostly has fibrous roots.

EX: Rice, Maize

DICOT PLANT
Seeds have two cotyledons.

Mostly ave tap roots.

EX: Mango, Carrot 

5.Why should seeds be dispersed?

ANS: - A plant produces many seeds. If all the seeds fall under the mother tree they germinate and grow close to each other. Then they will not get enough sunlight, water, nutrients or space to grow. Due to this some seedlings will die and others may have poor growth. Hence, seeds need to be dispersed. 

6.What are the different agents of dispersal?

ANS: - The different agents of dispersal of seeds are:

• wind- cotton, madar. 
• water- lotus, coconut. 
• animals- tiger nail, spear grass. 
• explosion of fruits- pea, lady's finger. 

7. Draw the different stages of Germination.

CROPS AND VEGABLES.

1. Define crops.

ANS:- Plants of one kind grown in a particular area or region during a particular period are called crops.

2. Differentiate between Kharif crop and Rabi crops.

KHARIF CROPS

Crops are grown from June to October.

They are called summer crops.

EX: Rice, Maize, Bajra.

RABI CROPS

Crops are grown from November to April.

They are winter crops.

EX: Wheat, Gram.

3. Define Agriculture.

ANS: The practice of growing plants on a large scale is called agriculture.

4.How do we get a gook and a healthy crop?

ANS:To get a good and a healthy crop we should

• Use healthy and ripe seeds for sowing. 
• Prepare the soil thoroughly. 
• Add manure or fertilizers to the soil. 
• Irrigate the soil properly. 

5. Why should we spray pesticides and insecticides on crops?

ANS:Pesticides and insecticides are sprayed on crops to protect the crops from pests like rats, moles, insects, grasshoppers, locusts etc. However too much of pesticides and insecticides can be harmful to our health.

6. What are the best ways of storing seeds?

ANS: The best ways of protecting the seeds and storing them is to store them in water proof, insect proof, air tight sealed plastic containers. They must also be kept safe from insects, rats, squirrels and birds.

NOTE:

Examples of fertilizers are

• Urea 
• Super Phosphate 
• Ammonium Sulphate 
• Ammonium Nitrate.