awesome place to enjoy the backwaters. .just don't get fooled by the houseboats. ...skyrocketed prices in season- not at all worthy. .Instead go and stay in the traditional home stay on the banks of backwaters..
Go only to enjoy the amazingly beautiful road between kumily to Munnar. .breathtaking scenery
Go to take blessings of Godess Meenakshi (wife of Lord Shiva) in the sleepy and golden town of Madurai. .The grandness of the temple is worth awe inspiring. . Don't forgot to have the delicious idli's of Murgan Idli house. ...had best idli and chutney(s) of my life...just walking from temple. .ask anybody for directions. ..They'll be more than happy to help you. .. may be buy some gold..as main market is flooded with jewel shops. .
P.S.- some jewel shops even run clearance discount too (upto 50%)
Go there for lovely drive on Pamban bridge (courtesy - Chennai Express) and of course to visit one of the char dham, and one jyotirlinga of the twelve- didn't know this till now... The breathtaking temple view ..The grand vista and the big gopuram will take your breath away. ..no quite literally, because you will be walking and walking and walking. .don't forgot to have the delicious prasada inside the temple premises.. You can also visit the GHOST TOWN of Dhanushkodi- Google it and you'll know (approx 18 km)...The road between two towns is quite scary..at least we were feeling scary (not because Google say so) but personally was not feeling positive..
but worth a visit at least once in lifetime to see two oceans meeting (Indian ocean and Bay of Bengal) and also to see the Ram setu (stone bridge built by Lord Rama & Hanuman & his Vanaar Sena)..not visible though from the last visiting point...Sri Lanka from there is just at stone away distance..