Munnar

This beautiful hill station is noted for its cool climate and tea plantation. This little town boasts of many colonial bungalows, tea factories, wildlife sanctuaries and lakes. Literally meaning 3 rivers, Munnar is situated on the confluence of three rivers - Mudrapuzha, Nallathanni and Kundala. 1600 m above sea level, this hill station was once the summer resort of the erstwhile British Government in South India.

Among the exotic flora found in the forests and grasslands here is the Neelakurinji (Strobilantus kuntianus ) . This flower that bathes the hills in blue every twelve years, will bloom next in 2006 AD. Munnar also has the highest peak in South India, Anamudi, which towers over 2695 m. Accommodation facilities are excellent. The altitude is 4000 feet.
Best Season: August to March
Emergency Details: District Tourism Office, Kumily and DTPC Information Centre, Old Munnar

For more information about IDUKKI: [*00012728click here*]
Transport Terminals: Boundaries- North: Coimbatore/ South: Pallivassal / East: Vattavada /West: Kuttampuzha
Location: 133 km from Cochin
How to Reach: Nearest Railway Station: Ernakulam Railway Station (4 Hrs from Munnar)
Nearest Airport: Cochin International Airport (4 hours 30 minutes from Munnar)

Rajamala

Fifteen km from Munnar, the famous hill station of Kerala, is the beautiful Rajamala. The natural habitat of the Nilgiri Tahr (Hemitragas hylocres), the Eravikulam - Rajamala region is now home to half the world population estimated at around 1300 - of this endangered mountain goat. But the Tahr is only one of the reasons to make a visit to Rajamala. The picturesque beauty of this mountain will make you want to tent here forever!
Best Season: October - March
Emergency Details: For more information about IDUKKI: [*00012726click here *]
Transport Terminals: Munnar (15kms away)
By road: Distance from Munnar to some tourist centres
Goa: 930 km; Chennai: 600 km; Malampuzha: 230 km, Kodaikkanal: 195 km, Kumarakom: 160 km, Top station: 34 km, Anamudi: 20 km.
How to Reach: Nearest Railway Station: Kottayam railway station, 142 km away
Nearest Airport: Cochin international airport, 130 km away and in neighboring Tamil Nadu, Madhurai airport, 142 km away

Kodanad

Elephants are an integral part of Indian mythology and culture. They are oftenreferred to as the sons of the 'Sahya'(the Western Ghats). Once a part of daily life, these animals are ornamental and auspicious pieces now. No festival or celebration is complete without rows of caparisoned elephants, replete with silk parasols.
Situated on the southern banks of the Periyar, amid the high ranges, nearPerumbavoor, Kodanad is one of the largest elephant training centres in Kerala. Earlier the animals captured from the Malayatoor forests used to be trained here. Since the ban on elephant capture Kodanad has been reduced to a training centre. The famous Malayatoor Church is nearby.

Muthanga in Wayanad district and Konni in Pathanamthitta district are two other centres. Another spot for elephant lovers is Punnathur kotta, of neighbouring Thrissur district, where 40 elephants of the Guruvayoor temple are groomed.
Best Season: September to May
Emergency Details: Divisional Forest Officer,
Malayattur Forest Division,
Kodanad, Eranakulam Dist.
Ph: 0484 2649052
For more information about ERNAKULAM: [*00121004click here*]
Transport Terminals: Malayatoor, Perumbavoor
Location: About 30 km from Ernakulam, in the high ranges on the southern bank of Periyar river.
How to Reach: Nearest Railway Station: Ernakulam, 30 kms away
Nearest Airport: Cochin International Airport, 65 kms away 

Vagamon

Have you visited beautiful, green Vagamon Are you thinking, 'In a green country, what's the attraction of yet another verdant spot' Well, the point is Vagamon is not just any other verdant spot. Of course, you can get grassy hills, velvet lawns and cool mountain air in many other places but not the Vagamon kind; not just this exciting blend of religious mysticism and European legacy.

Like a lot of other beautiful things in life, Vagamon too has to be experienced, not read about or its stories merely listened to. What you've got to do is get yourself some means of transport, head straight for Idukki district and then on to Vagamon. Once there, try taking off your shoes, closing your eyes and just listening to Vagamon.

And when you're through with the mystic getting to know session(!), you could take a trek across the chain of three hills - the Thangal hill, the Murugan hill and the Kurisumala, important for Muslims, Hindus and Christians respectively.

And don't miss the nice, little dairy farm of the Kurisumala monks.
Best Season: September to March
Emergency Details: For more information about IDUKKI: [*00012725click here *]
Transport Terminals: Peermede, the famous plantation town, is 25 kms away
How to Reach: Nearest Railway Station: Kottayam which is about 75 kms away from Peermede
Nearest Airport: Cochin International Airport, about 150 kms away from Peermede

Vandiperiyar

The River Periyar flowing through the centre of this town nourishes its vast tea, coffee and pepper plantations. A major trade centre, Vandiperiyar is also home to a number of tea factories. The Government Agriculture Farm and Flower Garden have a delightful array of rose plants, orchids and anthuria.
Best Season: September to March
Emergency Details: For more information about IDUKKI: [*00012719click here *]
Transport Terminals: Thekkady, 18 kms away
How to Reach: Nearest Railway Station: Kottayam
Nearest Airports: Madurai Airport (Tamil Nadu) and Cochin International Airport