WELCOME TO IDUKKI

Kerala’s largest district, Idukki is one of the most nature-rich areas of the State. A landlocked region, here, high ranges and wooded valleys are girded by three main rivers - Periyar, Thalayar and Thodupuzhayar - and their tributaries. Powering Kerala with one-third of the State’s electricity, Idukki is also famous for its gigantic arch dam. Predominantly populated by tribes, an astonishing 50 percent of its total area is covered by forests. As a tourist destination, the place offers diverse attractions like wildlife sanctuaries, hill stations, spice plantation tours, mountain treks, elephant rides etc. Idukki’s numerous trekking trails and spectacular landscape dotted with rich flora and fauna make it a dream destination for nature enthusiasts.

PLACES TO VISIT IN IDUKKI

KUMILI

Kumily (Malayalam: Kumaḷi) is a town in Kerala 

State in South India. It is in the Cardamom Hills near Thekkady and the Periyar Tiger Reserve, in the Idukki District. It is a major tourist destination and a spices trading center. Kumily is an access point for many Kerala bound merchants and labourers. The place is in close proximity to the bordering places in Tamil Nadu. Tourists flock to Kumily all through the year in order to take in the sheer beauty of its plantations and the rustic appeal of its old and charming markets. These markets are famous among the tourist community, with foreigners flocking to visit this town from various parts of the globe. Kumily is also located 6 km away from the town of Thekkady, which is yet another very popular tourist destination. With their long and winding plantation walks, diverse wildlife and something for the adventurous (including the tourist favorites of boating and trekking), Kumily and Thekkady offer tourists a wide variety of activities.

 THEKKADI

 Thekkady 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. Thekkady is located near to Kerala-Tamilnadu border. 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.The Periyar Wildlife Sanctuary is spread across 777 km2 (300 sq mi), of which 360 km2 (140 sq mi) is thick evergreen forest. The Wild Life Sanctuary was declared a Tiger Reserve in 1978. The splendid artificial lake formed by the Mullaperiyar Dam across the Periyar River adds to the charm of the park. The greatest attraction of Periyar are the herds of wild elephants that come down to drink in the lake. Sanctuary can be accessed through a trekking, boating or jeep safari.Thekkady is considered a heaven for natural spices such as black pepper, cardamom, cinnamon and clove.

PEERUMADU

Peermade is a hill station in the state of Kerala, India. It is high in the Western Ghats, 915 metres above sea level, and 85 km east of Kottayam on the way to Thekkady.The landscape of Peermade includes spectacular waterfalls, open grass lands and pine forests.It was once the summer retreat of the Maharajas of Travancore. Tamil people are the most majority in peermade .Periyar Wildlife Sanctuary, one of the largest wildlife reserves in India, is 43 km away. It has herds of elephants and other wildlife as well as lakes.The name is sometimes related to the Sufi saint, Peer Mohammed, or means "hill of the Peer".

MUNNAR

Munnar is a town in the southwestern state of Kerala, India. Munnar is situated around 1600 m above sea level, in the Western Ghats range of mountains and is a hill station.The name Munnar is believed to mean "three rivers",referring to the location at the confluence of the Madhurapuzha, Nallathanni and Kundaly rivers.Munnar town is situated on the Kannan Devan Hills village in Devikulam taluk and is the largest panchayat in the Idukki district in Kerala having an area measuring nearly 557 km².[citation needed].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.

ANAMUDI

The highest peak (2695 m) south of the Himalayas, towers over the sanctuary in majestic pride. The slopes of the hills abound in all kinds of rare flora and fauna. The Atlas moth, the largest of its kind in the world, is a unique inhabitant of the park. Other rare species of fauna found here are the Nilgiri Langur, the lion-tailed macaque, leopards, tigers, etc.
An ideal place for trekking, facilities are provided here and tourists are allowed to go on foot up to Anamudi.A protected area, the sanctuary is divided into three regions - the core area, the buffer area and the tourism area. Visitors are allowed only to the tourism area - Rajamalai - the region lying beyond the road entry into Eravikulam. Here one can observe the Nilgiri Tahr at close quarters.
Don't make this your destination for a monsoon visit because visitors are not allowed here during this season.

MATTUPETTY

Popular for its dam and beautiful lake, Mattupetty is a hill station situated at a height of 1,700 m in Idukki district of Kerala. Located about 13 km from Munnar, the village is known for its scenic splendour, green valleys and salubrious climate.Blessed by Mother Nature in abundance, Idukki district in Kerala boasts of wildlife sanctuaries, hill stations, spice plantations, trekking trails, waterfalls, salubrious climate and scenic beauty.Enchanting valleys, mist-laden hills, rolling grasslands, sprawling plantations and cascading streams have made Idukki a tourist paradise. Mattupetty like rest of Idukki on the border between Kerala and Tamil Nadu, is known for its spices.The Shola forest near the village is perfect for trekking and it houses varieties of birds and animals. Rivulets and cascades in the village make it more attractive.The main attraction of the village is the Mattupetty dam and lake. The dam was built to conserve water for producing electricity.Another attraction of Mattupetty is the dairy farm, run by the Indo-Swiss livestock project. The project was started around 1963 in collaboration with the Swiss government. The dairy farm also has a cattle and research centre.A visit to the Kundala tea plantations is mandatory. and Kundala Lake, which is located in the vicinity of the village.Tourists often combine their visit to Mattupetty with a trip to Vagamon, Munnar, Eravikulam National Park and Thattekad Bird Sanctuary.There are several accommodation options in Mattupetty. One can find budget and mid-range hotels with modern facilities. One can also opt to stay in Munnar, which is just 13 km away from Mattupetty.

MARAYOOR

Marayur or Marayoor is a town in Idukki district of Kerala, India. It is located 42 kilometers north of Munnar on SH 17 connecting Munnar with Udumalpet, Tamilnadu. 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.'MARAYOOR', also termed as ‘MARAYUR’, a nearby hill station, popularly chosen by honeymoon couples, research and scientific groups and movie makers, due to the silent and comfortable atmosphere to their holidays stay and related jobs, is ideally located at the foot hills of western ghats amidst kerala sandal wood reserves. the wind here is so medicated because of rare species of herbal plants in vast collections. marayoor is very easily reachable by munnar (one hour) and towards udumalpet, coimbatore road. tourists from both directions (east from munnar and west from coimbatore) specifically shows interest to stop here for its own specialities. above all, they have found the place to be free of contaminated pollution from that of the town. those from various stress of life find it to have a breath easy atmosphere and sure comfort from even that of ayurvedic facilities which eases their body, mind and soul. elevation is 3200 ft. above ‘msl - meters above sea level’. most part of the year is sunny and pleasant except during monsoons.

 MOOLAMATTOM POWER STATION

Moolamattom(മൂലമറ്റം) is the headquarters of Arakulam Panchayath in Thodupuzha Taluk, Idukki district in Kerala, India. It lies 22km from Thodupuzha, picturesque place on the banks of the Thodupuzha River. A lot of south indian language movies are filmed here. Also the place is famous as the site of Moolamattom Power Station, the biggest underground Hydro-electric power station in India.The water from the Idukki Dam is carried by the underground pipes to the power station. The installed capacity of the Power House is 780MW consisting of 6 generator units of 130 MW each.The regulated waters of Periyar falls through a drop of about 669.2 metres (2195 feet) while generating power in the underground power house. The tail waters makes Thodupuzha river at Thriveni sangamam which is 1 km. from Moolamattom Power Station. Visitors are restricted to enter the Moolamattom Power Station due to security reasons.

 

IDUKKI ARCH DAM

The Idukki Dam, located in Kerala, India, is a 168.91 m (554 ft) tall arch dam. The dam stands between the two mountains - Kuravanmala (839)m and Kurathimala (925) m. It was constructed and is owned by the Kerala State Electricity Board. It supports a 780 MW hydroelectric power station in Moolamattom.It is built on the Periyar River, in the ravine between the Kuravan and Kurathi Hills in Kerala, India. At 167.68 metres, it is one of the highest arch dams in Asia and third tallest arch dam. It started generating power on 4 October 1975. Technically, the dam type is a concrete double, curvature parabolic, thin arc dam.

 

CHERUTHONI

Constructed in 1976, the largest concrete gravity dam in Kerala, Cheruthoni, is located close to Idukki Arch Dam. Built across the Periyar River, it is also the third highest dam in India. You can reach Cheruthoni only by jeep. The Kerala State Electricity Board (KSEB), which looks after the dams, rents out boats for the two-hour cruise between Cheruthoni and Kulamavu. Visitors get splendid views of sunrise and sunset from here. With an altitude of about 3900 ft, Cheruthoni Dam is easily accessible from Idukki Wildlife Sanctuary.

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.This idyllic hill station with its velvet lawns, exotic flora and fauna and the cool mountain air is a rare experience. 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 Malayalam and Tamil. Nearby, are the scenic Pallivasal Waterfalls, dense, green tea plantations, and the natural vegetation of slim red and blue and yellow gum trees.

 

ERAVIKULAM NATIONAL PARK

Eravikulam, situated in Devikulam Taluk of Idukki district, etymologically denotes pools and streams. The National Park is important as a catchment area for both east (tributaries of River Cauveri) and west (tributaries of Rivers Periyar and Chalakkudy) flowing rivers.A protected area, the sanctuary is divided into three regions - the core area, the buffer area and the tourism area. Visitors are allowed only to the tourism area - Rajamalai - the region lying beyond the road entry into Eravikulam.  Rajamalai is the tourism zone of the National Park, where the visitors are taken in forest dept vehicles and introduced to the shola - grassland eco system unique to this region. There is a very informative interpretation centre at Rajamalai.Twenty six species of mammals, including Gaur, elephants, sambar, Golden Jackal, leopard and tiger are found in the park. Nilgiri Tahrs are the most famous residents and the park houses an estimated 750 Tahrs.As many as 132 species of birds including Black-and-orange Flycatcher, Nilgiri Pipit, Nilgiri Wood Pigeon and Kerala Laughingthrush reside in the park. As many as 101 species of butterflies including Red Disk Bushbrown and Palni Fourwing are found in the park.The shola-grassland ecosystem is rich in orchids. The mass flowering of Neelakurunji occurs in the grasslands every 12 years. Anamudi (2695 m), the highest peak in south India, is located within the park.

THATTEKAD BIRD SANCTUARY

Situated in the Devikulam Taluk of Idukki District, Kerala, the Thattekad sanctuary is spread over 25.16 sq.km area. Set up in 1983 at the instance of Dr. Salim ali, the sanctuary boasts of 253 kinds of birds(identified by BNHS) which include the rare frogmouth. Over 50 species of butterflies have been documented here by Madras Naturalists Society. The sanctuary is the catchment area of Bhoothathankett Dam. Undulating terrain, has mixed deciduous forest with patches of grassland. The teak trees with sparse leaves make bird watching easier even for untrained eyes. The birds commonly spotted are, Indian roller, common snipe, crow pheasant, jungle nightjar, kite, grey drongo, Malabar trogon, woodpecker, large pied wagtail, baya sparrow, grey jungle fowl, Indian hill mynah, Robin, babblers and darter. If you are lucky you may spot these rare birds too. Crimson throated barbett, bee-eaters, sunbird, shrike, fairy blue bird, grey headed fishing eagle, black winged kite, night heron. Grey heron, Malabar shama, Common grey hornbill and Malabar hornbill. The sanctuary has its share of fauna too. The elephant is an occasional visitor. Leopard, bear, porcupine, python and cobra are sighted. How to reach: Kochi, the nearest airport is 71 km from Thattekad. The nearest railway station is Aluva, 48 kms away. Travel by road from Kochi to Kothamangalam. The sanctury is 13 km north east of Kothamangalam along the Pooyamkutty road. A ferry operates across the Periyar river to take you into the sanctuary. Accommodation: Lodging facilities are available at the PWD rest house near Bhoothathanket Dam. Private lodges are available at Kothamangalam. For the avid bird watcher who wants to spend quiet days within the sanctuary, there is a tower house with double bed and bath which need to be booked in advance.

CHINNAR WILDLIFE SANCTUARY

 

A unique thorny scrub forest with xerophyte species, Chinnar is the habitat for the endangered Giant Grizzled Squirrel of India. Their total number here would be less than 200. Located in the rain shadow area of the Western Ghats, unlike other sanctuaries in Kerala, Chinnar gets only less than two months of rain every year. Rich in wildlife, the mixed deciduous forests here are ideal for trekking.An extensive Sandalwood forest nearby is an added attraction at Chinnar. This is also an ideal place for watching herds of gaur and elephants amble past. Dry deciduous forests, high sholas and some grasslands add to the diversity of the sanctuary. As one travels from Karimuthi to Chinnar, elephants, spotted deer, sambar, hanuman langur and even peacocks can be spotted on either side of the road.

 

MEENULI

Meenuli is where you could find a nature’s wonder. A huge rock here lies spreading over an area of more than 500 acres and on top of it is a green forest in two acres. For those who love mountaineering this is a not-to-miss destination. The rock top offers stunning views of the Lower Periyar area and Bhoothathankettu. 

 

THOMMANKUTHU                                                                                               

Thommankuthu is a very scenic waterfall near Thodupuzha, in the southern state of Kerala, India and is named after the great hunter, Mr. Thommachen Kuruvinakunnel, who let the world know of this beautiful waterfall in the jungle in the late 1920s. Thommachen also played a big part in the discovery of the site for the Idukki Dam. This panchayat, belonging to Thodupuzha Thaluk in Idukki District, is one of the major eco-tourism centres in Kerala. A song of the Malayalam movie Chattakaari was shot here.Thommankuthu waterfall is a seven-step waterfall located in forest. A trek of 12 km through the forests is possible.

MALANKARA DAM

Malankara situated at a distance of 6 km from Thodupuzha is an upcoming tourist destination. Malankara is famous for its irrigation project, the Malankara Dam and the Reservoir constructed across the tail waters of Moolamattom Power House. This artificial lake is located on the Thodupuzha – Moolamattom Road (State Highway 33) covering an area of around 11 km.Malankara Dam is a gravity dam and is a project of Muvattupuzha Valley Irrigation Project and KSEB ( Kerala State Electricity Board ). Constructed across the Thodupuzha river for the purpose of irrigation, this reservoir is a good picnic spot too. There is a also park nearby the reservoir, which is under construction. Visitors can enjoy a good time in boating and fishing at the lake.Visitors are allowed to enjoy a walk along the dam premises and experience the greenery around. The Malankara dam will be open for tourists round the year.                              

 

KUDAYATHOOR MALA

Kudayathoor mala is a picturesque hillock 6 kms from Malankara Dam site in Idukki and is ideal for trekking.