Idukki - An Amazing Tourist Place in Kerala
Idukki which is a landlocked district is blessed with nature’s beauty. The nature attractions in Idukki include hills, valleys, rivers and waterfalls.
The hill stations here offer adventurous activities like trekking, elephant rides etc. There are extensive reserve forests which are rich in a wide variety of flora and fauna.
The main hill stations in Idukki are Munnar, Devikulam, Chithirapuram, Mattupetti, Peermede etc. There are numerous waterfalls here and some of the main include Attukal falls, Cheeyapara falls, Chellarkovil falls, Nyayamkadu falls, Thommankuthu falls, Powerhouse waterfalls etc. The wildlife reserves in idukki are Eravikulam, Idukki wildlife, Chinnar and Periyar wildlife. These places are all attracted by a large number of tourists. The main places of interests in Idukki are given below
Sightseeing at Idukki...
Sightseeing at Idukki...
Vagamon : Vagamon is a hill station that lies in the Kottayam Idukki border. It has a height of 1100 m above sea level. This comprises of three hills Thangal hills, the Kurisumala and the Murugan hills. All these three hills are dedicated to the three religions Muslim, Christianity and Hinduism respectively. The Thangal hills also called as Thangalppara is located at a distance of 5 kms from Vagamon. This is a famous centre of Muslim pilgrimage as the Mausoleum of Sheik Fariduddin is on top of this hill.
The rock formation at this hill is worth seeing. The Kurisumala is at a distance of 10 kms from Vagamon. This is a centre of Christian pilgrimage as there is a church there. The famous Kurisumala Ashram which is a monastery is located here. The people who visit here is a community who believes in Christianity combined with Indian customs and Gandhian principles. There are 14 crosses on this hill which are kept at certain distance apart. The diary farm located here is also an attraction to the people. The Murugan hill is a Hindu pilgrim centre as there is a Murugan temple which is carved out of rock situated here.
Chinnar Wildlife Sanctuary : Chinnar Wildlife Sanctuary is located in Devikulam in Idukki district. The area around this sanctuary is a protected area and it was declared as a sanctuary in the year 1984. The main vegetation found here are dry thorny forests; it is because this area receives rain only 48 days in a year. Besides there are other vegetative types such as deciduous forests, shoals, grasslands etc. Due to the variation in altitude the area will be plain or covered with rocks and cliffs.
Some of the local birds found here include waterfowl, cuckoo, heron, duck etc and the migratory birds include teal, flycatcher etc. The best time to visit here is during the months June to August. In order to watch the migratory birds one has to come during the months November to February. The birds get ready to leave the forest in the dawn and it is the best time to watch them. So the bird watchers can take a trek in the early morning to have a look at them.
Chinnar Wildlife Sanctuary : Chinnar Wildlife Sanctuary is located in Devikulam in Idukki district. The area around this sanctuary is a protected area and it was declared as a sanctuary in the year 1984. The main vegetation found here are dry thorny forests; it is because this area receives rain only 48 days in a year. Besides there are other vegetative types such as deciduous forests, shoals, grasslands etc. Due to the variation in altitude the area will be plain or covered with rocks and cliffs.
Some of the local birds found here include waterfowl, cuckoo, heron, duck etc and the migratory birds include teal, flycatcher etc. The best time to visit here is during the months June to August. In order to watch the migratory birds one has to come during the months November to February. The birds get ready to leave the forest in the dawn and it is the best time to watch them. So the bird watchers can take a trek in the early morning to have a look at them.