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Attappady
Located 38 kms from Mannarkkad, the place consists of mostly hilly
highland terrain, fed by the tributaries of the River Cauvery. An
extensive mountain valley above the crest of the Ghat ranges with
numerous rivulets of the Bhavani River, Attapady is inhabited
mainly by tribes and some settlers from Tamil Nadu. A beautiful
synthesis of mountains, rivers and forests, Attapaddy is of great
interest to anthropologists, as this is the habitat of many tribes
like the 'irolas' and 'mudugars'.
Devikulam
Located 16 kms from Munnar, this gorgeous hill station symbolizes
nature in her pristine glory. The crisp and cool mountain air
heavily laden with the fragrance of wild flowers and rare herbs is
any nature lover's paradise.
Topstation
The idyllic hill station is located 32 kms from Munnar, on the
Munnar-Kodaikanal Road. Perched at an altitude of 1700 m above sea
level, it is the highest point on Munnar-Kodaikanal Road. The rare
Neelakurinji (Strobilanthus), the flower that blooms once in 12
years, belongs to this region.
Munnar
This hill station, located at an altitude of 1600 m above sea
level, was once the summer resort of the erstwhile British
government in South India. Sprawling tea plantations, picture book
towns, winding lanes and holiday facilities make this a popular
resort town. Among the exotic flora found in the forests and
grasslands is the 'Neelakurinji'.
Peerumedu
It is a small hill station, snuggled at an altitude of 914 m above
sea level, on way to Thekkady. The famous plantation town takes
its name from Peer Mohammad, a Sufi saint and close associates of
the erstwhile royal family of Travancore.
Nelliyampathy
Located at a distance of 52 kms from Palakkad, the cool hills of
Nelliampathy, nestling atop the Western Ghats, offer a
breathtaking view of the misty mountains and enchanting valleys
interspersed with sprawling tea, coffee, cardamom and orange
plantations.
Pakshipatalam
It is located 7 kms north east of Thirunelli Temple in Brahma Giri
Hills is a challenging tourist spot. A trekkers' paradise, this
place is accessible only by trekking. Located at an altitude of
1740 m above sea level, this hill station offers great
opportunities for bird watching. One has to trek 17 kms through
the wild forests, to reach 'Pakshipathalam'
Ponmudi
The salubrious hill station of Ponmudi is at a distance of 61 kms
from Thiruvananthapuram. Perched at an altitude of over 100 m
above sea level on the Western Ghats, the shimmering green waters
of the winding streams and verdant woods of Ponmudi do not spare
anybody. Trekking is a passion with the visitors to Ponmudi, lying
within easy driving distance from Thrivandrum.
Wayanad
The forests of Wayanad are a veritable treasure house of Flora &
Fauna. Wildlife freely roams in the sanctuaries of Matthunga,
Begur and Tholpetty. Home to stunning orchids, pepper, cinnamon,
cardamom, rubber, bamboo and coffee, Wayanad has a surprise in
store for you at every nook & corner. Tucked in the verdant
tropical womb are the twin lakes of Vythiri & Lakkidi. 3 Km from
Lakkidi is the Pookote Lake, covered in parts with lotus, a
picture out of a fairy tale book. At 6,890 ft is Chembra Peak just
24 Km from Vythiri.
Silent
Valley
One of the least disturbed forests of 'God's own country' the
Silent Valley. It is popular that it is named so because it is
devoid of the most common sound found in the Rain forests; The
incessant chirping of cicadas. The local name of the forest is 'Sairandhri',
another name of Draupadi, the wife of the Pandavas. Some believe
its name is derived from the lion-tailed Macaque, whose scientific
name is Macca Silenus. Due to its topographic isolation no human
being has ever made it their home. Places to see around Silent
Valley, Attapady (35 Km) -- a tribal settlement for the Irulas and
Mudugars, Malleshwaram Peak -- worshipped as a Shivaling by the
Tribals.
Malampuzha
Malampuzha Dam is in the foothills of the Western Ghats. It is
known as the abode of Yakshi, because of the exquisite sculpture
of Yakshi in the landscaped gardens of the irrigation dam at this
popular picnic spot. The central attraction of this town is the
unabashed yet enticing sculpture created in concrete by Kanai
Kunhiraman, Kerala's best-known contemporary sculptor. Referred as
the Vrindavan of Kerala, the place derives its name from the
Malampuzha River a tributary of Bharatpuzha, the state's second
largest river. The Rock Garden here, created by the fames
re-cycling artist Nekchand, is particularly worth spending time.
Also boating on the reservoir is another favourite sport.
Snake Park
(Malampuzha)
Set up in 1984 by the state govt. the park houses several snakes
like the Forsten's cat snake, the brown vine snake and of course
the King Cobra, Indian rock python, kraits, the trinket snake and
the rock pit viper, the wolf snake, and a variety of vipers like
the saw scaled viper and Russel viper. There are various types of
cobra like the common cobra, the monocled cobra, and the
spectacled cobra. Also in the park are some varieties of water
snakes, crocodiles and the American green iguana. Also in
Malampuzha is the thread garden, a museum of a replica of nature,
all made of thread.
Palakkad
Palakkad the rice bowl of Kerala is a gateway between Kerala &
Tamil Nadu. The Palakkad Fort built by Hyder Ali of Mysore in
1776, is popularly called Tipu's fort. The once proud Granite fort
of strong bastions & thick walls and a drawbridge, maybe crumbling
with age, yet is worth a visit.
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