Top Hill Stations in Kerala

Kerala slopes from Western Ghats to Arabian Sea; as a result the eastern terrain is hilly and there are a number of evergreen hill stations amidst the ranges.

Munnar at 1600 m above sea level is the most popular; it provides a lot of tourist activities ; also there are many tourist spots around it.  These include Eravikulam National Park, Anamudi the highest peak in Kerala, Mattupetty Dam and lake, Chinnakanal waterfalls , Tea Museum among others among extensive tea plantations. Nearest airport is Cochin International Airport 125 km away. It is 110 km from Aluva Railway Station. (You can read this article for more information on Places to visit in Munnar )

Vagamon lies in the Idukki -Kottayam border area. The altitude is 1130 m, with cool summers. The place is immensely beautiful with many points of tourist interest. The meadows, forests and hills veiled in mists make it alluring. It is a must be seen spot. Nearest airport is Cochin; by rail Kottayam is closest. Palai, 33 km away is the nearest town.

Ponmudi is 58 km from Trivandrum, the capital. A road trip passing 22 hairpin curves and crossing many rivulets takes you there. Day trip will give you time to cool among forests and hills. KTDC runs a hotel for overnight stay and also a place for conferences. Peppara wildlife sanctuary, Golden Park and Kallara river are nearby places to visit. Waterfalls invite you to their cool green shade.

Lakkidi is the gateway to Wayanad the hilly district. From Calicut, a comfortable road with a lot of view points on the way takes you there. Wayanad experience starts from there. . Most of the tourist spots are around lakkidi, Vythiri and Kalpetta and all these places which are near each other offers plenty of places to stay. Hotels, resorts, cottages and even tree houses are available. Calicut Airport is the nearest, and Calicut is the railway station to embark. A distance of about 75 km exists between Calicut and the important parts of Wayanad.

Gavi, a hill station in Idukki is growing in popularity. It is a part of Periyar Tiger Reserve. The road trip starts from Vandiperiyar 28 km away, by jeep. It is an Eco-friendly spot where you experience the solitude of the wild. Camping is possible with permission, permanent  accommodation is increasingly being built. (More travel information on Gavi is covered in this article : My Travel Experience to Thekkady)