Lockhart Gap, tucked between two mountains at 7,200 feet, is a heart-shaped gap with winding roads overlooking a scenery of rolling tea gardens, misty hills, and green valleys. Located 13 km from Munnar town, Lockhart Gap View is a great location for a scenic drive or a beautiful trek! Read on to know what makes it special and what to explore here!

Why visit Lockhart Gap View?

Also called Lockheart Gap, this photogenic area offers uninterrupted views of the Nilgiri Hills mountain range along with several activities like hiking, picnicking, and plantation visits.

Here are some amazing features of Lockhart Gap that bring a large influx of travelers here every season!

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Unique geographical features

Shaped like a heart, this petite valley located near Mattupetty on the Munnar-Madurai National Highway has a distinctive topography and the most dramatic view in Munnar!

The towering hills on either side of this gap are enveloped by dense Tropical Evergreen, Evergreen, and Shola forests with diverse ecosystems and rare flora and fauna. Much of its flora consists of herbal plants, lichens, orchids, and moss among other types. You will also find the caves of Malayil Kallan Guha on this mountain.

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Breathtaking views

This heart-shaped gap offers unobstructed views of undulating slopes carpeted with tea plantations, distant valleys, blue hills covered with wisps of mist, and winding roads meandering through it all.

A trek uphill through Lockhart Mountain’s thick jungles takes you to this very point where the most surreal views await!

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Adventures aplenty!

Lockhart Gap View is a haven for trekkers and hikers! Youngsters and couples, who know about this otherwise hidden locale, see it as the perfect picnic spot in Munnar where they can also explore tea plantations, spice gardens, and an ancient rock cave!

You’ll also find several landscape photographers here trying to capture the mystical charm of this high-altitude meadow with expensive cameras and drones!

Misty sunsets and sunrises!

Lockhart Gap is most scenic during twilight and dusk! You should visit it when the whole valley is draped in a pink early-morning glow and low-hanging wisps of mist!

Or when it is bathed in the reddish-orange light of the setting sun!

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Thriving biodiversity

This valley and its adjoining forests shelter a range of exotic flora, fauna, and avifauna. You’ll be able to spot different kinds of plants and trees, colorful wildflowers, orchids, rare birds, butterflies, and animals like elephants, deer, sloths, wild boars, Indian bison, and more.

Sprawling plantations of tea and spices

The verdant plantations covering this valley add a touch of drama to the whole landscape! Regardless of the season you visit, you’ll be able to see locals draped in colorful attire plucking tea leaves here!

Try interacting with these native tea pluckers to gather an insight into their day-to-day lives. You can also participate in the tea-plucking process with their permission, an experience that’s far richer and more refreshing than just watching these estates from a distance!

Don’t forget to visit the valley’s cardamom and pepper plantations bathed in the intoxicating aroma of these spices!

Colonial-era architecture

Munnar, the erstwhile summer capital of the British, boasts of a rich colonial history and tea cultivation legacy. A part of this legacy still exists here in the form of handsome structures like the Lockhart Bungalow and Lockhart Tea Museum built in 1879 and 1936 respectively.
They are located beside the charming Lockhart Tea Estate, one of the oldest tea plantations in this valley. They’re a must-visit for an insight into this region’s rich tea production legacy!

Friendly local community

The local settlements in and around the valley have some of the most amiable people in all of Munnar! They welcome visitors with warm smiles and allow them to be a part of their rich culture, celebrations, and local customs.

A visit to the Lockhart Tea Factory offers more than just an insight into the tea cultivation process. It gives you a chance to interact with the local community and buy their handcrafted goods like different tea flavors, local tea equipment, traditional nettles, handmade chocolates, spices, artwork, souvenirs, and more.

Things to do in Lockhart Gap Munnar

Several recreational activities suited for people of different ages and walks of life are available at Lockhart Gap Munnar. Some of these include:

1. Trekking & nature walks

Lockhart Mountain is a great trekking destination in Munnar with moderately easy trails!

Packed with rich biodiversity and scenic views far from the touristy and crowded locales of Munnar, this place offers an offbeat trekking and hiking experience through undisturbed tropical evergreen forests and visually stunning tea plantations!

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Whether you’re hiking uphill to Lockhart Gap through an enchanting forest and its numerous dirt trails, or walking amid dense tea and spice plantations overlooking blue-green Nigiris, you’ll end up having the most adventurous trekking experience in Lockhart Gap View! Hire a local guide for a better experience.

2. Picnics

The best way to soak in the gorgeous views of Lockhart Valley and its estates is through a fun picnic with your loved ones.

The company of lush surroundings, fragrant tea leaves, cool mountain breeze, and the changing colors of the valley before you will make your picnic the most memorable experience of your Kerala trip!

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3. Watching the sunset and sunrise

Lockhart Gap View paints the most vivid tapestries of the sunset and the sunrise every day! From a hazy sunrise with a pink afterglow to a warm sunset bathed in hues of red and orange, these two are the most picturesque moments of the valley!

You’d regret not witnessing the beautiful sunset or sunrise at this point with a cup of freshly prepared Munnar tea in hand!

4. Photography

This dreamy valley with rolling hills, misty tea gardens, and tall trees is among the most photogenic tourist places in Munnar. It’s a paradise for photographers, filmmakers, travel bloggers, and artists!

If you love photography, you should definitely visit this spot to click it during the sunrise or sunset!

5. Tea-tasting

You cannot visit this enchanting sea of aromatic tea leaves and not treat yourself to a hot cuppa!

Visit the Lockhart Tea Factory or any of the tea outlets located here to enjoy a steaming cup of Munnar tea in various flavors like herbal, masala, white, black, cardamom, and more.

6. Cave exploration

Lockhart Gap View is also famed for the famous rock-cut cave called Malayil Kallan Guha located here. This ancient cave on the Munnar-Thekkady route is associated with an interesting tale! It is believed that a thief called Thankayyan once lived in it and caused all kinds of trouble for passers-by!

The cave is also famous for its prehistoric carvings, rock sculptures, and the fact that it was featured in the 1954 Tamil film Malaikallan! It’s so narrow that only one person can fit inside at a time!

7. Driving on the winding roads

You’ll surely enjoy driving on the many winding roads meandering through the Munnar Lockhart Valley with hairpin bends and gorgeous views at every turn!

Just make sure you drive slowly and carefully as these roads can be treacherous to navigate and covered in thick fog most of the year!

Best time to visit Lockhart Gap Munnar

Though it’s open throughout the year, October to February is the best time to visit Lockhart Gap View. The weather is cool, pleasant, and windy during this time with chilly mornings, even chillier nights, misty mountain breeze, and clear skies.

The temperature during this time remains between 10°C to 28°C, which is ideal for trekking, picnicking, and plantation tours, among other activities here.

The summer brings hot afternoons, while it rains frequently in the monsoon, making both these seasons not so ideal for a visit. If you plan to catch the sunrise here, you can consider visiting it in the summer months of March, April, and May.

There are no specific timings or entry fees for Lockhart Gap. However, one must not stay here post sunset for safety reasons.

Lockhart Gap reviews & traveler feedback

Past visitors of Lockhart Gap Munnar have mostly given it positive feedback and stellar reviews! Many even share heartfelt stories of their wonderful experiences here in personal blogs or through detailed reviews on travel portals and forums.

Most people who’ve been here use words like “beautiful”, “awe-inspiring”, “scenic”, and “picture-perfect” to describe this place and its surroundings.

While a few have complained about the lack of public facilities at this place like toilets and food stalls, most view the absence of these amenities as a boon considering the growing need to conserve the natural wealth of this place and protect its flora and fauna.

A large share of online reviews about Lockheart Gap also reveal that it has had tons of returning visitors over time, considering its peaceful environment and stunning views! Several people also talk about the friendly nature of the locals settled here and the hospitable treatment they have received during their visit!

People have often described it as the best destination in Munnar for a drive, trekking, and photography!

Lockhart Gap conservation efforts

The preservation of the Lockhart Gap Viewpoint is a top concern among environmentalists. Considering it shelters rare plant and herb species, it’s of paramount importance to protect this fragile ecosystem!

Through careful monitoring, strict vigilance, anti-poaching laws, regulation of tourism practices, and the involvement of local communities, the Kerala government ensures the protection of this natural ecosystem and its indigenous flora and fauna.

Lockhart Valley’s local community too actively participates in protecting the forest, encouraging travelers to not litter, and promoting sustainable practices.

The hiking trails around Lockhart Gap have been built with minimal impact on the forest and its inhabitants. Visitors are instructed to follow these designated trekking trails and encouraged to hire experienced local guides to navigate this forest, valley, and plantations to ensure it remains undisturbed.

While unregulated tourism and Global Warming still pose a challenge, both governmental and non-governmental organizations are continuously coming up with ways to protect this natural habitat and its local communities. There is a need for stricter laws against littering, damaging flora, harming wildlife, and bringing toxic elements into the forest.

So, if you’re planning to visit the beautiful Lockhart Gap View, make sure you practice Responsible Tourism and leave your surroundings as clean and untampered as possible! And for the best Munnar travel experience, reach out to our team at once!