travel india with choose india travels.
states maps circuits pilgrimage hillstations beaches historical adventure wildlife
.
hillstations
HILLSTATIONS OF KERALA
Nelliampathi

Nelliampathi is a popular hill station with excellent trekking trails. It is a 3 hour, 75 km trip away from Palakkad (Palghat) and, at 1600 mts above sea level, is surrounded by panoramic views of hills draped by plantations of tea, coffee, orange and cardamom. On Nellikotta and the other peaks grow huge great teak trees value for their wood. 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 mts to the tallest peak Padagiri looming at 1572 mts. Accessing Nelliyampathy from Palakkad (Palghat) is a sensation on its own, as one negotiate over a dozen hairpin curves on the ghat road passing through the fascinating jungles of the Sahya Ranges. En route, 17 kms from Palghat, the shimmering Pothundi Reservoir and its manicured surroundings make the ideal stop over.

Seethakundu at Nelliyampathy offers a fantastic view of the valley below - a wide-angled vision of a third of the entire Palghat area.

Nelliyampathy has immense trekking potential. The Community Hall at Kaikatty provides a good camping ground for trekkers.

Peermade

Clouds drop gently on the peaks that flank the verdant slopes of Peermade. Coffee, tea, pepper, cardamom and rubber flourish in the most fertile part of the Western Ghats. Broken only by spectacular waterfalls in the distance and wide open grasslands in places. The former Rajas of Travancore sought this tiny hill station out as their summer resort.

Kottayam is on the `backwater' circuit. Kottayam is dominated by the presence of the Syrian Christian community and is known for it's churches. There are direct buses from here to Periyar Wildlife Sanctuary and ferries to Alappuzha.

Wayanad

Wayanad stands as one of the loveliest hill stations of Kerala. It is at a height of 700m to 2100 m above sea level. Wayanad's climate and geography make it ideal for the cultivation of coffee, tea, cardamom, pepper and rubber. Its pretty image not withstanding, perhaps what the visitor finds most endearing about this quaint little hill station is its large tribal population and their fascinating lifestyles. Including revered monarchs of barely fifty-strong tribes. Not surprisingly, based on evidences still found on these hills, historians contend that civilization existed in these parts at least a thousand years before Christ. Trekkers would like to head for the Chembra peak which is highest peak in Wayanad at 2100 m above sea level. It is 14 km west of Kalpetta.

With lofty mountain peaks, gurgling streams and luxuriant vegetation besides the bird's eye view of the deep valley on the south with its winding roads, almost thick forests, Lakkadi is one of the tourist spots in Wayanad. The beautiful natural fresh water Pookkot Lake, 3 km from Lakkadi, is wide and deep and is surrounded by evergreen hills and meadows. Boating facilities and Children's Park are managed by the District Tourism promotion council.

back to states
states maps circuits pilgrimage hillstations beaches historical adventure wildlife
www.chooseindia.com back to home page