Surrounded by the Western Ghat Mountain ranges in its eastern side, Kerala is home to a number of charming hill stations. These hill stations attract tourists by its immense natural beauty and serenity. The misty roads, waterfalls in every turn of the mountains, meadows and mountain slopes decorated with tea gardens are what accompany you during your vacation in the hill stations in Kerala. So if you want to retreat your eyes to the beauty of nature or calm your soul amid the tranquility, head to the beautiful hill stations in Kerala.
The Kerala hill stations are year-round tourist destinations for offering amazingly balanced and comfortable weather. You can also experience the incredible wildlife in this lush state in southern India. While enjoying boating on charming lakes like the Periyar and Kundala Lake, a glimpse of the exciting wildlife is a common enjoyment. The dramatic hills of the Western Ghat also make for many trekking trails that create great adventure opportunities for travelers. Though famous for its backwater and Arabian coast, what famed Kerala as the ‘God’s own land’ is the lush beauty offered by the Western Ghat. The famous hill stations of Kerala like Munnar, Idduky, Vagamon, Wayanad, and Thekkady are blessed with the unique natural elegance of misty mountains while quaint rivers add more attractions to it.
A popular hill station Vyithiri is situated in the Wayanad district of Kerala. This beautiful hill station is famous for the spice plantation that spread a spicy aroma along with the eye-catching view of the greenery. You can also interact with the tribal community during a tour to Vyithiri. This hill station is also home to many charming lakes like Karalad Lake and Pookot Lake. Both are flourished with the evergreen forests that surround the lakes. The Pookot Lake is ideal for adventure lovers where you can enjoy Kayaking, pedal boating and row boating on the lake. There is also a children's park, spice emporium and handicraft market that attract the tourists in mass. A scenic place Lakkidi is located 700m above sea level from where you can enjoy the picturesque views. You can reach there by a drive through the windy and misty road rolling the mountain.
Idukki is regarded as the best hill station in Kerala. The place is blessed with the lush and evergreen beauty offered by the magical Western Ghats. Nestled amidst the immense beauty of nature the place is a treasure trove for nature lovers. Idduki is also the second-largest district in Kerala and is home to many famous hill stations like Munnar and Thekkady that you can wander around during your tour. The place is also a paradise for wildlife lovers as a number of national parks like the Periyar are located in Idduky.
For a wonderfulKerala sightseeing, you can head to Vagamon. Located on the Idukki-Kottayam border, this enchanting hill station is dotted with meadows and charming gardens. The place is home to some luxury resorts that are placed on the mountain slopes making a picture-perfect view. You can spend your day by enjoying the eye-catching views of the tea gardens, meadows and small waterfalls around the three hills Thangal, Murugan and Kurisumala Hill. Take a walk along with the grassy land and visit the beautiful hillside villages. Also, visit a dairy farm managed by the Kurisumala monks that offer a spiritual feel as well.
Thekkady is a place that always tops the must-visit Kerala hill stations list. Here you will find a number of viewpoints to enjoy the surrounding beauty. One of such spectacular viewpoint is Murikkady from where you can treat your eyes to the charming meadows, rolling mountains, and pristine water brooklets. The air is filled with the aroma of spices while the cool breeze will be blown from the hills. Another great viewpoint is Cellar Kovil from here you can view the plain land of Tamil Nadu as this is located at the border of Kerala and Tamil Nadu. A spiritual spot in Thekkady is the Mangala Devi Temple. The historic temple is located at the border of Tamil Nadu in the deep forest of Periyar Tiger Reserve. Built-in the beautiful Pandyan architecture, there are many legendary stories behind the temple that you can learn from the tourist guides.
The most cherished spot in Thekkady is the Periyar National Park. You can take a nature walk in the National Park. Also, you can go for bamboo rafting in the Periyar Lake to get a closer view of the wildlife. Here you can spot lion-tailed macaques, tigers, sambar deer, elephants, leopards, and Indian bison in the park.
Another hill station Munnar is one of the most scenic places in Kerala. The most exciting site in Munnar hill station is the Eravikulam National Park. Spanning over 97 square Kilometer of land along the Western Ghat Mountain the park is home to many rare and exotic animals. You can also spot langur, leopards and Indian Bison in the park. The park is famous for the exotic animal Nilgiri Tahr that could be viewed from the Rajamalai region of the park. Eravikulam Park is also home to the Anamudi the highest peak in South India. The lucky people only can take the opportunity of viewing the blooming Neelakurinji on the mountain slope as this special kind of flower bloom once in 12 years.
The other popular tourist sites in Munnar are the Shooting Point, Echo Point, and Mattupetty Dam. On the scenic Echo Point, experience the natural phenomenon of echo amid the breathtaking view. The adventurous people can take the opportunity of hiking to the top. Relax on the green natural carpet by the rivulets created by many waterfalls and don’t miss to catch the heaven in your camera.
The Mattupetty Dam is another must-visit. It is a water reservoir used for producing hydroelectricity. The main attraction here is the lake on which you can enjoy boating with the view of tea and coffee plantations on the surrounding mountain slopes. Another nearby attraction is the shooting point or photo point. The place is adorned with small woods, rivulets, rolling mountains with dense tea plantations on the slopes that create a great opportunity for photography.
Boating on the Kundala Lake is another exciting activity. Spot elephants drinking water by the lakeside. You can sail by the spice garden and enjoy the stunning sunset view from the boat.
Another must-visit place is Ponmudi to be included in the charming Kerala hill stations list. This beautiful and serene hill station is surrounded by fresh and lush environs making it an ideal holiday getaway. Tourists are attracted by its fresh atmosphere and green forest. As the place is located near Trivandrum you can reach there by a few hours scenic drive.
Wayanad is another fascinating hill station nestled in the Western Ghats. Located at a height of 2,100m, this is one of the most popular tourist destinations in Kerala. Surrounded by dense forest and pictorial hills the place is equally attractive for the honeymooners and backpackers. Also, this scenic hill station is home to a diverse range of wildlife.
