Place Details:
Located some 45 km from Munnar, the Muniyara Dolmens make for an interesting off-beat place to visit near the Kerala hill station. Less known than other popular points of interest in and near Munnar, the Muniyara Dolmens are also called the Marayoor Dolmens because they are part of the larger Marayoor area in Idukki district. Located on the Nilgiri hill slopes, the dolmens are actually a very important prehistoric site in Kerala according to archeologists and anthropologists. It dates back to the Megalithic Age, way before the kings and queens of ancient India came to be. Dolmens or dolmenoids are actually burial chambers used by these first humans, with four stones placed on edges and a fifth stone placed on top, called a capstone. Some dolmens contain multiple burial chambers.
The Muniyara Dolmens consist of burial cists and ancient rock painting made by our early ancestors. It doesn’t hurt that the ancient site is surrounded by scenic natural sandalwood forests. Well-preserved over the millennia, the Muniyara Dolmens are pretty magnificent sights, especially for those with a keen interest in our evolution over the ages. Our prehistoric origins can be difficult to comprehend given the lack of any monuments; this one in Munnar is a rare example of one that still survives to this day. You need to trek to Muniyara to reach the 15 dolmens, built between 3,000 and 14,000 BC. Take a few hours to explore these prehistoric monuments and soak in the beautiful view of the Nilgiris around you.
BEST TIME TO VISIT MUNNAR
The average minimum and maximum temperature of Munnar is as given below. The best time to visit Munnar is also specified.