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Hill Stations
The mystic and misty mountains of Kerala take you to another plain of experience.
The National Geographic Traveler magazine in its 15th Anniversary issue, rated Kerala, as one of the 50 must see places on earth. The prestigious magazine has put Kerala under "Paradise found" category and described it as one of the ten most beautiful places in the world. There are few places on earth that can match Kerala in its natural beauty. And there are even fewer places to match it in History and Culture. For a traveler, Kerala can be broadly divided into three categories of destinations. Holiday spots, Cultural and Historical sites and other places of interest.
Devikulam
Situated at a height of 1500 meter above sea level Devikulam is a dainty town 16 kms southwest of Munnar. A picture perfect scenic beauty can be enjoyed here. Lush greenery, rare flora and fauna make this place intriguingly beautiful. Devikulam has a cool and salubrious climate.
Access: Devikulam is just 16 kms from Munnar. From Kochi Devikulam is a 150 km drive that takes less than 5 hours.
Other Places:Chinnar Wildlife Sanctuary: North of Devikulam, around 60 kms away (90 mins
travel) lies the Chinnar Wildlife Sanctuary. With a sandalwood forest on the nearer end, it falls away as a thorny, rain-shadowed scrub jungle found nowhere else in India.
MUNNAR
Munnar, pioneer planters opened up the nature lover’s paradise out of virgin forests a century ago. Situated at an altitude ranging from 1600 to 1800 meters above sea level, Munnar has one of the largest tea plantations in India. The highest peak in South India, Anamudi - which towers over 2695 meters - is an ideal place for trekking. The tropical forests beyond have a sizable population of elephants, bisons, langurs and macaques. Further Munnar offers the best opportunity to see the tea plantations, tea leaves being picked and being processed. Don't forget to take your share of garden fresh tea back home.
Access: Munnar is accessible only by road. A scenic four-hour drive from Cochin (132 kms) brings you to Munnar.
Other Places:The Kundale Tea Plantation is an area surrounding a lovely lake that offers some of the most stunning views of the region.
Eravikulam National Park: By driving north of Munnar for 30 mins and then hiking a few kilometers, you reach this sanctuary, which is home to over three thousand free-roaming ibex.
NELLIYAMPATHY
A forest range 75 kms from Palakkad, the Nelliyampathy hills comprise a chain of ridges cut off from one another by valleys of dense evergreen forests and orange plantations. The height of the hills ranges from 467 meters to the tallest peak Padagiri looming at 1572 meters. Accessing Nelliyampathy from Palakkad is a sensation on its own, as you negotiate over a dozen hairpin curves on the ghat road passing through the fascinating jungles of the Sahya ranges. En route, 17 kms from Palakkad, the shimmering Ponmudi Reservoir and its manicured surroundings make for the ideal stop over. Seetakkundu at Nelliyampathy offers a fantastic view of the valley below - a wide angled vision of a third of the entire Palakkad area. Nelliyampathy has immense trekking potential. The community hall at Kaikutty provides a good camping ground for the trekkers.
Access: Nelliyampathy is 75 kms from Palakkad (Travel time two and half hours) and 126 kms from Kozhikkode (Calicut) (4 hours).
Other Places:Malampuzha, the garden complex built around the dam of Malampuzha draws a large holiday and weekend crowd
The Parambikkulam Wildlife Sanctuary, sprawling over 285 kms, shelters the largest population of wild Gaur (Bison). Other wildlife like the Nilgiri laguar, sloth bear, the lion-tailed macaque and spotted deer are also found here.
PEERMADE
Situated at an altitude of 914 meters, Peermade is one of the most scenic and fertile parts of the Western mountain ranges. Peermade has vast expanses of tea plantations, interspersed with waterfalls and open grasslands.
Access: Peermade is 85 kms east of Kottayam (travel time 2 hours) on the way to Thekkady.
Other Places:Periyar Wildlife Sanctuary one of the largest wildlife reserves in India is just 43 kms from Peermade.
PONMUDI
Rising from the foot of a thick tropical forest are the Ponmudi Hills. Ponmudi means golden crown, named because of the golden glow cast over the Ponmudi crest by the evening sun. Trekking is a passion with the visitors to Ponmudi, lying within easy driving distance from Thiruvananthapuram charming deer park is only 3 kms away. Golden Valley another pretty picnic spot endowed with natural springs, is a little further down the hill.
Access: Ponmudi is 65 kms northeast of Thiruvananthapuram (2 hours road). Bus services are frequent.
Other Places:Kovalam the famous beach resort.
Veli and Akkulam the lagoons becoming increasingly popular among tourists
WAYANAD
Ensconced in the northeastern tip of Kerala, Wayanad is renowned for coffee, tea, cardamom, pepper and rubber plantations. With picturesque hills, gurgling streams and lush vegetation, Lakkidi is one of the highest spots in Wayanad. Fresh water lakes, Tea and coffee plantations, Ancient temples, Caves with ancient carvings, Wildlife sanctuary... all make this place a nature lover's delight.
Access:An enjoyable climb of about 1100 meters through a distance of 90 kms (time taken 2 hours) from Kozhikkode (Calicut) takes you to Wayanad.
Other Places:Edakkal Caves are two rock caves at Abukuthy Hills 12 kms south of Sultan's Battery. They contain ancient carvings and pictorial writings.
Pookot Lake is a fresh water lake surrounded by meadows and trees on all sides. You will find it in your way from Kozhikkode (Calicut) half an hour ahead of
Kalpeta.
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