The gorgeous landscape of Kerala offers some of the memorable experience a person could ever have. A crown jewel of tourism in India, Kerala is laden with breathtaking backwaters, beautiful beaches and stunning hill stations that will leave you awestruck. Whether you are on a family outing or a romantic escapade, the hill stations in Kerala provide plenty of opportunities for an exciting and unforgettable trip amidst the ‘God’s Own Country’. Below are the best hill station destinations in Kerala.
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One of the most popular hill stations in Kerala, Munnar is situated at the confluence of three rivers – Mudhirapuzha, Nallathanni, and Kundaly. Situated at a towering elevation of 1600 m above sea level, Munnar offers a stunning view of the different shades of green that envelops the entire valley. Laden with scenic beauty, waterfalls, trekking trails, lakes and dams, Munnar is nicknamed ‘natural spa of Kerala’ as it is an ideal place to relax and rejuvenate amidst the greenery.
Places to see in and around Munnar include Eravikulam National Park, TATA Tea Museum, Mattupetty Dam, and lake. Munnar is also home to Neelakurinji, a flower that blooms every 12 years and covers the valley in a sheet of blue.
How to Reach Munnar:
Nearest Airport: Cochin Airport, about 119 kms
Nearest Railhead: Ernakulam Junction, about 120 kms
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One of the most diverse and nature-rich region in Kerala, Idukki offers diverse attractions like wildlife sanctuaries, spice plantations, mountain treks, and elephant rides. Idukki is also home to South India’s highest peak, Anamudi (2695 m), along with 13 other peaks with a height of over 2000 meters. In addition to that, Idukki has a large population of tribal who have unique customs and beliefs and maintain an ethos which is distinctly different from that of the mainstream culture.
Popular tourist attractions in and around Idukki are Idukki Arch Dam, Kalliyanathandu and Idukki Wildlife Sanctuary which is home to elephants, bison, sambar deer and jungle cats to name a few.
How to Reach Idukki:
Nearest Airport: Madurai Airport, about 140 km
Nearest Railhead: Kottayam, about 114 km
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Often called ‘Gateway to Wayanad’, Lakkidi is a beautiful hill station situated 700 m above sea level and is one of the places with the highest rainfall in India averaging 600-650 cm annually. The lush green hills, gorges , and streams are seen on both sides of the passage up the hill are breathtaking sights to the visitors. It is one of the richest biodiversity areas in the Western Ghats as there are a number of species including lion-tailed macaque, rare birds, Indian Shag, Little Cormorant and Little Green Heron.
Palappuram, Padur, Pazhayannur, Chelakkara, and Manissery are the other attractions located nearby Lakkidi. Trekking at Lakkidi is one of the popular activities apart from boating and water sports.
How to Reach Lakkidi:
Nearest Airport: Karipur International Airport, about 70 km
Nearest Railhead: Kozhikode Railway Station, about 59 km
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Still untouched by commercialization, the sleepy hill station of Vagamon with its scenic valleys, beautiful green meadows, enchanting pine forests, mists, fogs, tea estates, waterfalls offers serenity and calm atmosphere like no other. Vagamon offers perfect settings for trekking, paragliding, mountaineering and rock climbing for the adventure seekers. Best time to visit Vagamon is in summer from March to May as it provides a mix of both exciting and relaxed tourist spots to visit on your trip to Kerala.
Nearby places of interest include Mundakayam Ghat, Thangal Para, and Kurisumala Dairy Farm which is managed by Kurisumala monks and has the ambience of a rustic life untouched by modernity.
How to Reach Vagamon:
Nearest Airport: Cochin International Airport, about 120 km
Nearest Railhead: Kottayam Railway Station, about 64 km
Photo Credit- Sumeet Jain
Far from the maddling crowd, Thekkady is a picturesque hill station in Kerala and also one of the most visited tourist destinations in Kerala. Tourists can enjoy a peaceful vacation between the rich flora and varied fauna that is enveloped by the hills covered by the green meadows. One of the main attractions at Thekkady is the Periyar Wildlife Sanctuary that is home to plethora of elephants. Here, tourists can enjoy elephant safaris, trekking and boat rides.
Beside Periyar Wildlife Sanctuary, Mangala Devi Temple, Pandikuzhi, Vandiperiyar and Ramakalmedu are other places of interest in and around Thekkady.
How to Reach Thekkady:
Nearest Airport: Madurai Airport, about 140 km
Nearest Railhead: Kottayam Railway Station, about 68 km
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A wonderful hill station in the Palakkad district, Malampuzha, is noted as a perfect family holiday spot. This place has something for all, right from the fun-filled amusement parks to rock gardens, ropeway to fish-shaped aquarium. The main places of interest at Malampuzha that attract tourists a lot is a distinct bird’s glimpse, the sculpture of Yaskshi (an enchantress) and rock garden constructed by Padma Shri-decorated Nek Chand Saini adorn the region of Malampuzha.
How to Reach Malampuzha:
Nearest Airport: Coimbatore Airport, about 55 km
Nearest Railhead: Palakkad Junction, about 5 km
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Perched at an elevation of 1,300m above sea level, Vythiri in the Wayanad district of Kerala is known for its scenic beauty of the green-clad rolling hills, the cascading Kabini River, and rich avifauna, making it a perfect destination for nature lovers. In addition to that, various adventure activities like trekking, boating, and even rafting are available at Vythiri for thrill-seekers.
The main attraction at Vythiri is Neolithic age Edakkal caves inside which are pictorial writings believed to date to at least 6,000 BC. These Stone Age carvings of Edakkal are rare and are the only known examples from south India.
How to Reach Vythiri:
Nearest Airport: Calicut International Airport, about 43 km away
Nearest Railhead: Calicut Junction, about 45 km away
Photo Credit- raj
Mattupetty is a secluded hill station that has a very small interval from wonderful Munnar and well known for its shining lake, rotating grassy fields, spreading tea gardens and never-ending natural beauty. Apart from discovering the vast sight of green country sight, here tourists can enjoy activities like boating in the Mattupetty Lake and trekking to nearby places.
In addition to that, Mattupetty houses over 100 varieties of large yielding cattle at the cattle shed which shouldn’t be missed if you are visiting Mattupetty.
How to Reach Mattupetty:
Nearest Airport: Cochin Airport, about 125 km away
Nearest Railhead: Kodaikanal Railway Station, about 41 km away
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