Chinnar Wildlife Sanctuary

Ninety square kilometres of dry thorn forest on the Tamil Nadu border, 55–60 km and about two hours from Munnar past Marayoor, and nothing like the green tea hills you drove out of. Chinnar sits in the rain shadow, so it stays usable through the monsoon. It holds one of the world's largest populations of the grizzled giant squirrel and India's only star-tortoise rehabilitation centre, with elephants and gaur seen regularly. The forest department runs guided walks from the roadside checkposts, including a three-hour trek along the Chinnar river to Thoovanam Falls: Rs 250 for Indians, Rs 600 for foreigners, morning and afternoon slots.

Dry-country wildlife two hours from the tea, plus a guided river trek to Thoovanam Falls