8 Must-Visit Places in Nelliyampathy, Kerala (2024)
Nelliyampathy is one of the hidden gems of Kerala. This enchanting hill station is the perfect hill escapade that you have been looking for. Also known as Nelliampathi, the hill station boasts of endless tea plantations, coffee plantations, orange gardens, and cardamom plantations. This breathtakingly picturesque hill station of Kerala is one of the least explored places even now and is considered to be the most well-preserved holiday retreat in all of Kerala.
Located around 1600 meters above sea level, Nelliyampathy is all about cloud-kissed peaks and mountains. This hilly abode offers plenty of unexplored treasures for all ages. Situated near the Tamil Nadu and Kerala border, Nelliyampathy is a bounty of nature. There is a wide variety of flora, fauna, and many unique tourist attractions.
Bestowed with incredible natural beauty all around, Nelliyampathy is the perfect vacation spot for people of all ages.
8 Must-Visit Places in Nelliyampathy, Kerala
Let’s take a look at some of the most popular tourist attractions in Nelliyampathy.
1. Nelliyampathy Hills
The first place you want to explore once you reach Nelliyampathy is the Nelliyampathy Hills. Surrounded in a shroud of wispy clouds, the Nelliyampathy Hills is a fantastic destination. The scenic beauty of the hills is mesmerizing. As you look around yourself, you will find the hills to be of varying heights – ranging from 467 meters to 1572 meters. The pleasant atmosphere at the Nelliyampathy Hills makes it ideal for those who want to trek through the hills.
To reach the Nelliyampathy Hills, you will need to drive up from Nenmara. This drive also proves to be a unique experience as you will get to pass through the many fragrant plantations of coffee, tea, and cardamom all the way to Nelliyampathy. The hills are especially famous for their delicious oranges, and you can easily make a stop at one of the many orange plantations and ask to take a tour and get a taste of the famous oranges of Nelliyampathy.
On your way up from the town of Nenmara to the Nelliyampathy Hills, you will see plenty of beautiful houses and resorts all set up against the perfect backdrop of the hills. The picturesque view looks as if it is straight out of a fairytale. The beautiful surroundings of the Nelliyampathy Hills are a sight to behold, and these memories will remain with you forever.
One of the most rewarding experiences of coming to the Nelliyampathy Hills is the view you get from the top. You get to see a gathering of fluffy clouds on top of your head, with mountainous roads snaking their way through a carpet of tea and coffee plantations. This is a must-visit destination if you are a nature lover.
2. Nenmara Vallanghy Vela
As mentioned above, visitors to Nelliyampathy should try to visit this quaint little hill station during the festival of Vallangi Vela Festival. Fireworks, colors, and cultural performances are all on display here as the hill station takes on a new life during this festival. This festival is hosted in honor of the Goddess Bhagavathy, who resides at the Nellikulangara Bhagavathy Temple. The festival actually marks the occasion of the birth of Goddess Bhagavathy in the summer. The festival takes place on the 20th day of Meena, which is the Malayalam month of April. During the festival, royally decorated elephants are taken out in a procession. There are beautifully decorated and illuminated tents that can be viewed from miles away.
This is one of the most colorful festivals of Kerala, and if you are planning a trip to Nelliyampathy, you must take out the time to coincide your visit with this festival.
3. Parambikulam Tiger Reserve
Another great attraction that you must visit in Nelliyampathy is the Parambikulam Tiger Reserve. The Parambikulam Tiger Reserve and Wildlife Sanctuary are known for their never ending efforts towards protecting and preserving the fast dwindling tiger population. Surrounded by the beautiful lush green hills and a mesmerizing river along with a wide variety of flora and fauna, this is also the best place for a trek and taking a jungle safari.
The Parambikulam Tiger Reserve is situated amidst the most protected ecological terrain in the Western Ghats, and therefore, a very important place in Kerala. Once you come here, you can immediately see the signs of minimum human interference.
Some of the most famous animals at the Parambikulam Tiger Reserve include the Royal Bengal Tigers, Indian leopards, lion-tailed macaques, sloths, wild boars, king cobra, the Travancore Kukri snake, and the Western Ghats flying lizard. Amongst the unique flora, you can see various trees like sandalwood, rosewood, neem, and teak trees.
This sanctuary becomes even more special once you know that it is home to four indigenous tribes of the area, including the Kadar, Muduvar, Mala Malasar, and Malasar.
4. Nenmara
Located around 25 kilometers away from Nelliyampathy, the beautiful village of Nenmara is divided into two parts – Vallangi and Nemmara. The town is surrounded by lush greenery, and you must make a stop here on your way to Nelliyampathy. Of course, the primary attraction of this village is the Nemmara-Vallangi Vela or Vela Festival.
Another very popular event here is the Trissur Pooram, which is celebrated after rice harvesting.
5. Palagapandi Estate
The Palagapandi Estate is a popular tourist spot in Nelliyampathy. The estate is home to a charming ancient bungalow that was built under the Britishers and gives you are a great glimpse of the architecture from that era. The estate is covered with layers and layers of tea, coffee, and cardamom plantations.
6. Padagiri
Padagiri is a famous picnic spot for locals and tourists. This is the tallest peak of the Nelliyampathy Hills and is often referred to as Nellikota. Standing tall at an altitude of 1500 meters above sea level, this peak is known for the striking teak plantation.
7. Seetharkundu Viewpoint
If you want to get some of the most stunning views of Nelliyampathy and the surrounding areas, this viewpoint is the perfect place to head to. The Seetharkundu Viewpoint is located just eight kilometers from Nelliyampathy. There is a legend attached to this spot as it is believed that this was the resting place of Lord Rama, Lord Lakshman, and Goddess Sita while they were in exile.
While you are here, you must check out the Seetharkundu Waterfall that comes crashing down from a height of 100 feet. Surrounded by paddy fields, the Seetharkundu Waterfall is the perfect spot to enjoy a full day’s outing amidst the aroma of coffee. You can even visit some coffee and tea plantations that are nearby.
8. Raja’s Cliff
Raja’s Cliff offers the complete experience that every tourist yearns for – breathtaking views of flora, fauna, and lush greenery. Raja’s Cliff is a small part of the Nelliyampathy hill station and is known for giving picture perfect views of the entire town and surrounding areas. Located at 5250 feet above sea level, Raja’s Cliff offers stunning views of reservoirs, waterfalls, mountain ranges, and forests.
The area around Raja’s Cliff is also home to animals like giant squirrels, elephants, sambar, and leopards. Beautiful coffee plantations, cardamom estates, and tea gardens are spread out all over the area.
What Is There To Shop Nelliyampathy?
Most people are not aware that Nelliyampathy is a great shopping spot. Since Nelliyampathy is famous for its tea, coffee, oranges, and cardamom plantations, it makes this town a great place to shop extensively for the same products. You can find many different varieties of coffee and tea here that you won’t find at other sites.
The town offers not only a delightful experience for your eyes but also for your olfactory senses as you take in the fragrance of tea, coffee, various spices, and oranges mixed in the air. This region is also a great place to indulge in buying some fantastic wine and virgin organic products.
When Is The Best Time To Visit Nelliyampathy?
To make the best of your holiday to Nelliyampathy, it is a great idea to visit Nelliyampathy during the month of April when the festival of Nenmara Vellanghy Vela takes place. This is one of the most colorful festivals to be celebrated on the shores of God’s Own country with great vigor and pomp.
Otherwise, the months of September to February are also considered to be great for visiting Nelliyampathy. The summer months can become too hot for many, and the monsoon season witnesses heavy rainfall, making it difficult to go on treks. So either April or between September to February are the best months to visit this mystical hill station.
How to Reach Nelliyampathy?
Nelliyampathy is situated on the border of Kerala and Tamil Nadu. Nelliyampathy can be reached by a network of well-connected roads. If you want to reach Nelliyampathy by flight, the nearest airport is the Coimbatore Airport, located around 120 kilometers from Nelliyampathy. This airport is well connected to all the major cities of India and international cities as well. And you can easily book a taxi from outside the airport to take you to Nelliyampathy.
To reach Nelliyampathy by train, you can head to the Palakkad Station, which is located just 60 kilometers from Nelliyampathy. The Palakkad Station is a major junction and connected to the major cities in South India. You can then take a taxi to reach Nelliyampathy.
You can also reach Nelliyampathy easily by road as it is well-connected to all the main South Indian cities. There are many bus services that connect Nelliyampathy to other cities. If you are driving down to this hill station, you can get on National Highway 47, which passes through Nenmara.
Nelliyampathy is not only perfect for family and romantic holidays but also for those looking to book an eco-tourism vacation. Surrounded by peaks of all altitudes, right from the tiny 500-meter peaks to the more awe-inspiring 1600 meters, the hill station provides incredible trekking opportunities for adventure lovers. So without any further delay, let’s book your trip to the breathtaking hill station of Nelliyampathy.
