Peermade Hills, Kottayam

Peermade Hill Station Clouds drop gently on the peaks that flank the verdant slopes of Peermade. Rich with mile upon mile of plantation s falling away in precise steps. Coffee, tea, pepper, cardamom and rubber flourish in what is the most fertile part of the Western Ghats. Broken only by spectacular waterfalls in the distance and wide open grasslands in places. On a fairly warm day the mercury reads between five and ten degrees celsius. Little wonder then, that the former Re-jas of Travancore sought this tiny hill station out as their summer resort. SIDELIGHTS Periyar Wildlfe Sanctuary :One of the largest wildlife reserves in India, this is just 43 kms (travel time: 1hour) from Peermade. Herds of wild elephants frolicking iln its splendid lake forms major attraction. An anundance of other wildlife in-cluding sambar, tigers and laughilng thrushes can be observed at close quarters. GETTING THERE Peermade is 85 kms east to Kottayam (travel time : 2 hours), on the way to Thekkady. Wayanad Hill Station Luxuriant plantations of coffee, tea, cardamom, pepper and rubber stretch over the hills of Wayanad as far as the eye can see., With the fast-flowing rivers- Panamaram, Mananthavady and kabini- cutting across the undulating panorama and lending picture-postcard look to the whole region. The north eastern tip of Kerala. Its pretty image notwithstanding, perhaps what the visitor finds most endearing abnout this quaint little hill station is ilts large tribal population and their fascinating lilferstuyles. Including revered monarchs of barely fifty -strong tribes. An in -vogue barter system. And ancient rituals. Not surprisingly, based on evidences still found ofn these hills, historians contend that civilization existed in these parts at least a thousand years before Christ. GETTING THERE An enjoyable climlb of about 1100 metres through a distance of 90kms ( time taken: 2 hours) from Calicut brings you to the cool comforts of Wayanad. Deep withiln th sanctuary you will come across the massive Thkoovanam falls on the river Chinnar. Recently erected watch towers rise high above the vegetation and permit a fascinating view of the game.