Neyyar Dam- Thiruvanthapuram

Neyyar Dam

Neyyar Dam is a popular picnic spot with a lake and a picturesque dam site.  Neyyar Dam is situated 32 km away from the Thiruvanthapuram city. This place is a repository of some rarest medicinal herbs. 

The lake formed by the dam across the Neyyar River in the bluest of blue, making boating irresistible for tourists. This place is suitable for trekking.

The Neyyar Wildlife Sanctuary of which the dam is a part is the habitat of over a hundred species of funa including Asian Elephant, Tiger, Leopard, Slender Loris and reptiles like King Cobra, Travancore Tortoise etc.

A Crocodile breeding centre and a Lion safari park are also located in the dam site.

The kappukad elephant rehabilitation center is near the Neyyar Dam

Agasthyakoodam - Thiruvanathapuram

Agasthyakoodam

Agasthyakoodam is the second highest peak in Kerala. It is located in 61 kms north east of Thrivandrum. 

The mountain is reveres by both Buddhists and Hindhus, as it is believed to be the abode of the Bodhisattva Avalokitesvara as well as of the sage Agasthya a disciple of Shiva.

The forest of Agasthyakoodam is rich in rare medicinal herbs and plant, and hued orchids.

In 1992, an area covering around 23 sq kms was established as Agasthya Vanam Biological Park.  The intention was to restore the degraded forests and to use it for educational purpose.

Ponmudi - Thiruvanathapuram

Ponmudi

Another place to visit Thiruvanathapuram is Ponmudi. It is a hill station. The meaning of the Ponmudi is Golden Peak. Ponmudi is located 61 km away from the city.

Ponmudi is an enchanting hill station with narrow winding pathway and cool green environs. Along with a beautiful array of mountain, flowers, exotic butterflies and small rivulets. 

Ponmudi also has the advantage of being a hill station in close proximity to the sea and the famous beaches of Thiruvanathapuram. Ponmudi offers excellent opportunity for trekking. 

There is not a single visitor that has not been left spellbound by the cadence of the avian orchestra and the verdant shades of green that Ponmudi is known for. What more can you as for.

Devikulam and Nyayamakad Watterfalls - Munnar

Devi kulam

The name of the Devikulam is derived from name of Sitha Devi Lake. (Devi means – Sitha devi from Ramayanam and Kulam means Lake). Devikulam is located 7 km away from Munnar. Here are many myths surrounding the lake and it is said that Goddess Sitha bathed in this lake. 

This is a hill station with its velvet grass lawns, exotic flora and fauna and also the cool mountain air is a rare experience. The lake is ideal for trout fishing. There is a waterfall called that Pallivasal waterfall a nice spot to visit.

Nyayamakkad

The nyayammakad is a land of breathtaking waterfalls. It is located between Munnar and Rajamala. Nyayamakad is 10 km from Munnar. The waters flow down a hill from a height of about 1600 meters. 

The charming surroundings make an excellent picnic spot and trekking point. Walk up to the Nyayamakad Gap to take in brilliant views of the Munnar valley covered with green carpet of tea plantations. 

Kanthaloor- Munnar - Idukki

Kanthaloor 

Kanthaloor is near Marayoor in Idukki district. It is a real land of fruits and vegetables.  Kanthaloor is 5000 ft above from the sea level.

That’s makes Kanthaloor is good for the natural farming of fruits like Apple.  The Apple is not commonly cultivated in the State.  

Along with this, guava, gooseberry, orange, eggfruits, peach, passion fruit, cauliflower, cabbage, carrot, beans, potato and garlic grow here aplenty.

Nilakirunji flowers covering a hill

The Nilakurinji is blooms here once in 12 years. They bloom in plenty in the beautiful valley of Kanthalloor making them more beautiful. 

The Government of Kerala declared Munnar, Marayoor and Kanthaloor as the “Neelakurinji Sanctuary” in 2006.

Kanthaloor is very beautiful place, that beauty we can’t express in the words.  

Marayoor - Near Munnar - Idukki

Marayoor

Marayoor, we can call heaven on earth. Marayoor is located 44 km from Munnar and 55 km from Idukki. The meaning of MArayoor in Malayalam is hidden village. Exotic and unspoiled, Marayoor is a unique place. Here natural beauty meets adventure.

Marayoor offers diversity in every aspect of its land, beauty and culture. Marayoor is the only place in Kerala that has a natural growth of sandalwoods trees. 

There is sandalwood factory run by forest department is the attraction of Marayoor. Another attractions is Muniyaras, Childerns park lies under a Banyan tree (it cover hectors of land) and Thoovanam waterfalls.

Marayoor occupies a vast area on the slopes of the Western Ghats in Idukki district and is an importat pre-historic site in Kerala. Apart from the Dolmenoid cists (Dolmenoids were burial chambers made of four stones placed on edges and covered by the fifth one called the cap stone) in Muniyara.

We can see lush green tea estates in the road from Munnar to Marayoor, and also we can see waterfalls and sandalwood forest.

The relics of the new stone –age culture, consisting of caves, paintings and the underground tunnels, together with places connected with the legendary wanderings of Rama and Sita of Ramayana and the Pandavas of the Mahabharatha make this place archeologically prominent.

Marayoor is known for its tribal culture. We can see cardamom plantations, coffee plantation and Orange grove wild Greek on the way to Marayoor.

In Marayoor, we can see lot of things, we cannot say that to words, you come and enjoy the natural beauty and cultre.

Cheeyappara, Meenuli and Chithirapuram - Munnar

Cheeyappara

The Cheeyappara waterfalls are located between Neriamangalam and Adimali on the Kochi Madurai highway. The Cheeyappara waterfalls cascade down in seven steps. It is an excellent or breathtaking experience for us. This place is also good for trekking.

Meenuli

Meenuli is famous for a gigantic prehistoric rock spread over 500 ares. Meenuli is a ficture on the itinerary of mountaineers who visit Munnar. At the top of this rocks, offer a wonderful or superb view o the Lower Periyar area, Bhoothathankettu Dam and on a clear day we can see   parts of the Eranakulam (Cochin).

Chithirapuram

Chithirapuram is 10 km away from the Munnar. It is old-world little sleepy town with flakes of Cottages, old time bungalows and cold charm. It is also the home of Pallivasal hydro-electric power station. Chithirapuram has an added attraction of tea plantation and spices nurseries owned by Kerala Spices Board.

Pallivasal Dam & Chinnakkanal - Munnar

Pallivasal Dam

Pallivasal is the first Hydro Electric Project in Kerala. It is located 8 KM from Munnar. This place is beautiful place and often favoured by visitors as a picnic spot.

A panorama of waterfalls and rolling hills, Attukal, located between Munnar and Pallivasal, is a feast for our eyes.

Chinnakkanal Waterfalls

One of the places to visit is Chinnakkanal. It is near to Munnar town, and the waterfalls here, it is popularly known as Power House Waterfalls.

This point will give scenic view of the Western Ghat Ranges, and is an ideal place for a break on the way to the Thekkady from Munnar.

Echo Point- Munnar

Echo Point- Munnar

Another attractive place of the Munnar is Eco point. It is situated 15 KM away from the Munnar and very good adventure destination for the tourists. This scenic place gets its name from the natural echo phenomenon here.

Echo point is on the way to Top station from Munnar A suitable place to disembark for some time, shriek and scream and enjoy the pleasure of your voice coming back.  Echo point will give the panoramic view to our eyes, clean mountain air, mist covered hill makes this place worth visiting.

The popular activity of the Echo point is Nature walks. Also we can go for trekking through the nearby coffee plantation, tea plantation, spice plantation and grasslands. Cool, light wind along with clam surroundings makes Echo Point a favorite place for us.

I was enjoyed the beauty of this place last vacation.

Top Station & Anayirangal- Munnar

Top Station-Munnar

Top station is the highest point on the way of Munnar – Kodaikanal Road. It is 32 km away from the Munnar. The top station is around 1700 m above sea level. The rare Nilakuriji flowers belong over vast area of this region. I said about Nilakuriji some days before, The Nilakurinji blooms every 12 years, at that time all the hill sides covered by blue flowers like a beautiful blue carpet. 

The hill station also offers panoramic view of the neighboring state of Tamilnadu. We can see the Kundalai Dam on the way Munnar – top station road. 

Top Station was a transshipment point for delivery of tea from Munnar to Bodynaakkanur. Top Station derived its name from its being the uppermost located railway station on the Kundala Valley Railway, built in 1902 between Munnar, Kundalai and this hilltop location. A monorail goods carriage system was soon installed along this cart route. In 1908 the monorail was replaced by a 24 inch gauge railway. Middle Station (Kundalai) is 12 kilometers (7.5 mi) west from Top Station on the way from Lower Station Munnar. Some remains of Kundala Valley Railway can be seen at the Munnar Tea Museum.

Tea chests arriving at Top Station from the Kundalai Valley were transported by a ropeway from Top Station 5 km downhill to the south to Kottagudi, Tamil Nadu. The tea was then shipped 15 km by cart to Bodynaakkanur, and then by rail to other places in India and ship to England.Remains of the ropeway station at Top Station is still visible. Elevation at top of Bodi ropeway was 1,911 meters.

Anayirangal

The Anayirangal is the best another sightseeing place in Munnar. Anayiragal is located about 22 KM from Munnar.

We can see lush green carpet of tea plants in this place. Actually a dam is located here, it gives superb views of reservoir, and this dam is surrounded by tea plantations and evergreen forests.

The Anayirankal Dam is surrounded by the Tata Tea Plantation and evergreen forests. Anayirankal is an ideal picnic spot for the travellers from around the world.

If you are lucky enough you will be able to sight large number of elephants that comes to this place often to drink water from this lake.