WELCOME TO IDUKKI

 This beautiful High range district of Kerala is geographically known for its Mountainous Hills and Dense Forests. For the people of Kerala, Idukki is always associated with Power Generation. About 66% of the State's Power needs come from the Hydroelectric Power Projects in Idukki. Idukki accounts for 12.9 percent of the area of Kerala and only 3.7 percent of the population of Kerala.Idukki district was formed on 26 January 1972.The district consists of Devikulam, Udumbanchola and Peermedu taluks of the erstwhile Kottayam district and Thodupuzha taluk (excluding two villages Manjallore and Kalloorkadu) of the erstwhile Ernakulam district. At the time of formation the district headquarters started functioning at Kottayam and from there it was shifted to Painavu in Thodupuzha taluk in June 1976, where it is proposed to build a new planned forest township.

MAIN ATTRACTIONS

HILL VIEW PARK

Hill View Park is a popular tourist attraction in Idukki and is known for offering panoramic views of the Cheruthoni and Idukki Dams. A well maintained park sprawling on an area of 8 acres, it is 1.5 Km from the Idukki town and at about 350 ft above the dam water level. Neatly constructed on a hillock, accommodation managed by KTDC is available and the tariff is also very economical. Don’t forget to carry your binoculars and enjoy sighting animals like elephants, deers and bisons in their natural habitat.

CHITHIRAPURAM

Chithirapuram is situated in Idukki district at a distance of about 10 kms from Munnar. This is a hill town and is famous for the tea plantations here. Chithirapuram is on top of the Sahyadri. It is here that the Pallivasal Hydel Power Project is located. Even then it is not much explored by the tourists and most part of this hill station still remains undiscovered.There are hills, mountain streams, cottages, bungalows, large tea plantations etc that are worth seeing. A walk through the tea plantations will be relaxing. The Indo-Swiss farm here is also another tourist attraction. A trip to Chithirapuram is really a memorable one.

THEKKADY

Thekkady (Idukki district) is the location of the Periyar National Park, which is an important tourist attraction in the Kerala state of India.Situated in Kerala, close to the Kerala - Tamil Nadu border town - Kumily, it is located about 257 km (160 mi) from Trivandrum, 114 km from Madurai City and Madurai Airport, 185 km from Cochin International Airport and 114 km from Kottayam railway station. The sanctuary is famous for its dense evergreen, semi-evergreen, moist deciduous forests and savanna grass lands. It is home to herds of elephants, sambar, tigers, gaur, lion-tailed Macaques and Nilgiri Langurs.

MUNNAR

Munnar is a hill station on the Western Ghats, a range of mountains situated in the Idukki district of the Indian state of Kerala.The name Munnar is believed to mean "three rivers", referring to the town's strategic location at the confluence of the Madhurapuzha, Nallathanni and Kundaly rivers.Munnar town is in Kannan Devan Hills ( KDH ) Village in Devikulam taluk and is the largest panchayat in the Idukki district having an area measuring nearly 557 km².The nearest major railway stations are at Ernakulam and Aluva (approximately 140 kilometres (87 mi) by road). The nearest airport is Cochin International Airport, which is 105 kilometres (65 mi) away.

VAGAMON

 

Vagamon  is a hill station located in Kottayam-Idukki border of Kottayam district of Kerala, India. It has a cool climate with the temperature between 10 and 23 °C during a summer midday. It is situated 1,100 meters above sea level. Vagamon also known as the 'Scotland of Asia', was discovered by the British who found the place ideal for tea plantations and they were followed by Christian missionaries who built their abode of service at Kurisumala in Vagamon. National Geographic Traveler has listed Vagamon on their directory of the '50 most attractive places to visit in India’.

 

THOMMANKUTHU FALLS

 

Situated 17 km away from Thodupuzha in Idukki district of Kerala, Thommankuthu waterfall is a small and beautiful waterfall where one can always pay a visit. Its name is taken from a tribal leader Thomman who was washed away in this waterfall while crossing the river. Thommankuthu waterfall comprises of seven steps along with cascades down from a height of 1500 m. A major feature of this waterfall is that at each step of the fall a pool is formed. It is an ideal spot for adventurous activities including trekking and rock climbing. One can also indulge in activities such as boating, horse riding and fishing.

DEVIKULAM

 Devikulam is a small hill station about 5 km from Munnar in the Idukki District of the southern state of Kerala in India. It is 1800 m above sea level.According to legend, the goddess Sita Devi of the Ramayana epic bathed in the beautiful Devikulam lake waters surrounded by lush, green hills, now named Sita Devi Lake. The lake draws tourists not only because of its sacredness but also for the curative powers of its mineral waters. Most of the inhabitants in this town speak Tamil. 

MALANKARA 

 

The Malankara Reservoir is situated at a distance of around 6 km from Thodupuzha. This artificial lake is considered ideal for boating and fishing. The site is backed by a tail-gate of the Moolamattom Power House, constructed for managing the water of the Malankara Dam and the Malankara Reservoir.It spreads over an area of around 11 km and is part of the Muvattupuzha Valley

PEERMEDE

 

Peermede is a hill station, located south of the Idukki District and in the midst of the Cardomom hills of the Western Ghats. The region is renowned for the production of various kinds of spices. The name of the destination is derived from the name of a Sufi Saint, Peer Mohammad.The region offers beautiful views of tea, cardamom, rubber and coffee plantations, situated close to waterfalls, sculptural rocks and meadows. Tourists visiting the destination can also visit monuments like the Summer Residence of a royal family that has been converted into a government guest-house.

THATTEKKAD BIRD SANCTUARY  

 
 

The Thattekkad Bird Sanctuary was established by Dr. Salim Ali, a renowned ornithologist of India, in 1983. It is situated in the Kothamangalam region of the Idukki District and is home to around 500 species of rare birds.It is covered with thick tropical deciduous and evergreen forests and spreads over an area of 25 sq km. The tributaries of the Periyar River are the prime source of water for animals residing in the sanctuary.Numerous species of bee-eater, jungle fowl, black-winged kite, falcon-grey, shrike, crimson-throated barbet, Ceylon frog moth and sun bird can be spotted inside the sanctuary. The region is also home to night heron, white-breasted water hen, blue-winged parakeet, rose-billed roller and hornbill. It is a habitat for around 28 species of animals and many species of reptiles, making it an ideal site for birdwatchers and nature lovers.

CHINNAR WILDLIFE SANCTUARY

 

 Chinnar Wildlife Sanctuary, (CWS), is located 18 km north of Marayoor on SH 17 in the Marayoor and Kanthalloor Panchayats of Devikulam Taluk in the Idukki district of Kerala state in South India. It is one of twelve Wildlife Sanctuaries among the Protected areas of Kerala.It is under the jurisdiction of and contiguous with Eravikulam National Park to the south. Indira Gandhi Wildlife Sanctuary is to the north and Kodaikanal Wildlife Sanctuary is to the east.

ERAVIKULAM NATIONAL PARK

 
Eravikulam National Park  is a 97 km² national park located along the Western Ghats in the Idukki district of Kerala in India.Eravikulam National Park is administered by the Kerala Department of Forests and Wildlife, Munnar Wildlife Division, together with the nearby Mathikettan Shola National Park, Anamudi Shola National Park, Pambadum Shola National Park, Chinnar Wildlife Sanctuary and the Kurinjimala Sanctuary.The Western Ghats, Anamalai Sub-Cluster, including all of Eravikulam National Park, is under consideration by the UNESCO World Heritage Committee for selection as a World Heritage Site.

MARAYUR

Marayur or Marayoor is a place in Kerala state, South India. 42 kilometers north of Munnar through the Udumalppetta route, Marayur is the only place in Kerala that has natural sandalwood forests. Ancient dolmens and rock paintings in Marayur date back to the Stone Age.Ancient rock paintings are part of Marayur heritage at Attala, Ezhuthu Guha (literally means “cave of writing”), Kovilkadavu and Manala in Marayur panchayat. Attala is situated in the west part of Marayur Township and more than 90 painted motifs can be seen here. The rock paintings of Attala are situated in a colossal east facing rock shelter 1500 meters above mean sea level.

 

MATTUPATTI DAM

Mattupatti Dam, near Munnar in Idukki District, is a storage masonry dam built in the mountains of Kerala, India to conserve water for hydroelectricity. It has been a vital sources of power, yielding along with other such dams, huge revenue to the states. The large amount of perennially available water allows wild animals and birds to flourish. However salinity caused by irrigation and water-logging are of concern to environmentalists.





CHERUTHONI DAM

Cheruthoni Dam is another famous dam of Kerala which is situated in Idukki district. The dam is constructed across the Cheruthoni River. This river is an important tributary of the Periyar River. This dam generated hydro-electric power which is supplied to the nearby places. The villages that are powered by this dam are Karimban, Manjappara Vazhathope, Thadiyanpadu, and Maniyarankudi. It is the third dam of the Idukki Reservoir Project. This is a nice place for photography.

 ANAMUDI

 

Anamudi is located in the Indian state Kerala. It is the highest peak in the Western Ghats and South India, at an elevation of 2,695 metres (8,842 ft), and a topographic prominence of 2,479 metres (8,133 ft). The name Anamudi literally translates to "elephant's forehead," a reference to the resemblance of the mountain to an elephant's head.

IDUKKI PILGRIM CENTERS

URAVAPPARA TEMPLE

Uravapara is very beautiful hillock temple located in the nature rich district, Idukki of Kerala. The temple situated at Olamattom near Thodupuzha, at a height of 500 ft above sea level attracts a lot of devotees and nature lovers. The drizzling drops of snow and the cool breeze early at the morning evokes the happiest moments of a lifetime.The presiding deity here is Lord Muruga as Bala Subramanya Swami. The temple is also known as Malayala Palani. The name comes from the very famous Subramanya Swami Temple at Palani in Tamil Nadu.  A lot of devotees climb the rock to feel the power of Lord Muruga’s blessings wrapped in the hands of nature.

ST. JUDE CHURCH – KANAKAKUNNU

 


The tiny village of Kanakakunnu is  three kms. away from the main road. The people of this locality had been migrated from different places of High range and met their livelihood through the agriculture.In 1990 under the leader ship of Rev. Fr. George Nedumkallel, the Vicar of Thopramkudy Parish had started the work of the Kappela and it got completed on 12th August 1999. Fr. George Nedumkallel offered the first Holy Massin the Kappela. 

NAINAR MASJID AT KARIKODU

 
This is the largest and the oldest mosque in Idukki. Some of the main attractions here are stone steps with various inscriptions, water tank made out of a single rock, old pillars etc. The mosque was reconstructed in the year 1979. This mosque is dedicated to Vavar who was a friend of Lord Ayyappa. So people irrespective of caste and religion visit this mosque.