Mattupetty Dam sits 13 kilometres from Munnar at an altitude of about 1,700 metres, and the lake it impounds has become one of the most pleasant stops in the area. The concrete gravity dam, completed in 1953, was built to supply water for the Indo-Swiss dairy development project that established a research farm nearby. Today the lake is used for boating and is fringed by eucalyptus forests and tea-covered hills.
Pedal boats and speed boats are available for hire on the lake. The surrounding landscape is typical high-altitude Munnar — intensely green, with mist drifting through the eucalyptus — and the drive from Munnar through the tea estates is worth doing at a slow pace. The Indo-Swiss Dairy Farm nearby is open to visitors and sells locally produced dairy products, including cheese and butter that are distinctly worth trying. Echo Point, a short distance further up the road, is popular for the acoustic curiosity it is named for.