MUNDAKAYAM - 40 km. Taking the name from Mundis (Herons whose sanctuary it was) Mundakayam was one of the earliest waterholes of British planters. Henry Baker Junior, a member of the Royal Zoological Society, who arrived in Travancore in 1843 to spread Christian faith among the aboriginals like Mala Arayans, turned to plantation. It was John Daniel Munro, husband of Baker’s daughter Henreitta, who entered into a long lease agreement with the Poonjar Rajas to acquire 540.5 sq.km of the High Ranges to start the Kannan Devan Hills Plantation. George and Robert, brothers of Baker, later established the coffee estates of Hope, Stagbrook and Ashley. European Clubs thrived at Munnar, Peermade, Periyar and Mundakayam. The Mundakayam Club was founded by the legendary planter J.J. Murphy in 1912.