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HILLSTATIONS
OF KERALA |
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Nelliampathi
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Nelliampathi is a popular hill station with excellent
trekking trails. It is a 3 hour, 75 km trip away from Palakkad (Palghat)
and, at 1600 mts above sea level, is surrounded by panoramic views
of hills draped by plantations of tea, coffee, orange and cardamom.
On Nellikotta and the other peaks grow huge great teak trees value
for their wood. Nelliyampathy hills comprise a chain of ridges cut
off from one another by valleys of dense evergreen forests and orange
plantations. The height of the hills ranges from 467 mts to the
tallest peak Padagiri looming at 1572 mts. Accessing Nelliyampathy
from Palakkad (Palghat) is a sensation on its own, as one negotiate
over a dozen hairpin curves on the ghat road passing through the
fascinating jungles of the Sahya Ranges. En route, 17 kms from Palghat,
the shimmering Pothundi Reservoir and its manicured surroundings
make the ideal stop over.
Seethakundu at Nelliyampathy offers a fantastic view of the valley
below - a wide-angled vision of a third of the entire Palghat area.
Nelliyampathy has immense trekking potential. The Community Hall
at Kaikatty provides a good camping ground for trekkers.
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Peermade
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Clouds drop gently on the peaks that flank the
verdant slopes of Peermade. Coffee, tea, pepper, cardamom and rubber
flourish in the most fertile part of the Western Ghats. Broken only
by spectacular waterfalls in the distance and wide open grasslands
in places. The former Rajas of Travancore sought this tiny hill
station out as their summer resort.
Kottayam is on the `backwater' circuit. Kottayam is dominated by
the presence of the Syrian Christian community and is known for
it's churches. There are direct buses from here to Periyar Wildlife
Sanctuary and ferries to Alappuzha.
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Wayanad
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Wayanad stands as one of the loveliest hill stations
of Kerala. It is at a height of 700m to 2100 m above sea level.
Wayanad's climate and geography make it ideal for the cultivation
of coffee, tea, cardamom, pepper and rubber. Its pretty image not
withstanding, perhaps what the visitor finds most endearing about
this quaint little hill station is its large tribal population and
their fascinating lifestyles. Including revered monarchs of barely
fifty-strong tribes. Not surprisingly, based on evidences still
found on these hills, historians contend that civilization existed
in these parts at least a thousand years before Christ. Trekkers
would like to head for the Chembra peak which is highest peak in
Wayanad at 2100 m above sea level. It is 14 km west of Kalpetta.
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With lofty mountain peaks, gurgling streams and luxuriant vegetation besides the bird's eye view of the deep valley on the south with its winding roads, almost thick forests, Lakkadi is one of the tourist spots in Wayanad. The beautiful natural fresh water Pookkot Lake, 3 km from Lakkadi, is wide and deep and is surrounded by evergreen hills and meadows. Boating facilities and Children's Park are managed by the District Tourism promotion council. |
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