Idukki Tourism - God’s Own District

Meesapulimala is South India’s second highest peak in a height of around 8700 feet above sea level. Literally meaning ‘face of the tiger’, one can trek to the top of this mountain after meandering around eight hills in the shared border of Tamil Nadu and Kerala. The view of Meesapulimala resembles a tiger about to pounce. As a protected forest reserve, the only way to visit this hill legally is through the trekking packages offered by the Kerala Tourism Development Corporation. The adventure starts from Munnar town to the base of the hill through jeep....

Idukki dam is the biggest arch dam in Asia at the height of 554 feet. The idea of constructing a dam between the two mountains in Periyar river for power generation was first conceived in 1919. History says ‘Kolumban’, the head of Aryan tribal race during the early 19th century and his British superintendent Thomas were on a hunting spree in the forest. Kolumban explained the story of Kuravan and Kurathi hills. He was impressed by the sight of water flow between the mountains and which later materialised in the form of this dam....

Munnar is the picturesque hill station, which remains in the itinerary of every visitor to Kerala by default. It is synonymous with its tea estates, exotic peaks located in the Western Ghats at the height of 6000 feet. It was discovered by the British emperors and used as the summer resort. Dews on tea leaves make the appearance of this aspect of human indulgence even more beautiful....

Mattupetty dam is a strong concrete gravity dam constructed around 1940 for water conservation and power generation. The terrain here is covered with undulating tea plantations and beautiful rolling grasslands. It is located inside the hills of Munnar near Anamudi peak and lies at a height of 1700 metres. The District Tourism Promotion Council (DTPC) of Idukki arranges a lot of boating facilities for the people to get closer to the dam. The water here remains still, which reflects the tea garden around during day times....

Echo Point is the place where the visitors can hear loud voices echoing through the reservoir and coming back reverberated. The misty clouds and velvety slopes of the lake attracts the tourists naturally. The unique beauty of this place marks the confluence of three mountain ranges, Muthirapuzha, Nallathanni and Kundala. The calm and serenity of this place are enchanting here. It is located by a lake. A walk itself around the gentle slopes of the hills here, makes oneself feel rejuvenated....

Eravikulam National Park is spread across an area of 97 sq km which is a protected area. It is also called ‘Rajamalai’, as it is a small portion of the national park which is open for tourists. Private vehicles are not allowed to the top of the mountain. This region is considered to be the natural habitat of the endangered ‘Nilgiri Tahr’, as nearly half of the world's population of this rare species is found here. The park was once a hunting place for the British....

Anayirankal Dam, located around 20 KM from Munnar besides Madurai main road, this dam is an ideal setting for photography enthusiasts as the landscape is stunning. It is one of the largest earthen dams, built in 1960. The place is surrounded by thick forests and tea plantations. Thus, Anayirankal dam wears the prime colour of nature all around. Since a portion of the dam is into the reserve forest, the dam is also a major source of water for the wildlife living within the forests....

Located at an altitude of 700 metres above the sea level, the very sound of the word Thekkady (Periyar) compiles the images of elephants, unending hills and spice plantations to every person who studied about this destination. Thekkady lies exactly at the Kerala - Tamil Nadu border enabling it to enjoy a distinct culture and tradition. This strategic location gives the region remarkable accessibility from both the states. Periyar National Park (also known as Periyar Wildlife Sanctuary / Periyar Tiger Reserve), which attracts millions of tourists every year, is the major attraction in Thekkady...

At an altitude of 1100 metres above mean sea level in the districts of Kottayam and Idukki, Vagamon is divided into Thangal hills, Kurisumala and Murugan hills. Perched high among green tea plantations and gurgling streams, Vagamon ensures an exhilarating and soothing haven for trekkers. This quiet town has none of the usual maddening tourist crowds and offers a peaceful retreat. This place was discovered by the British who found it ideal for tea plantations and they were followed by Christian missionaries, who built their abode of service at Kurisumala....