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Nelliampathy

The beautiful cool hills of Nelliampathy (467 m) is in the midst of the majestic Western Ghats. It is the queen of Palakkad hills, clothed with the original beauty of picturesque mountains and enchanting valleys, interspersed with the panoramic tea, coffee, cardamom and orange plantations. The bracing climate and green magic of nature will provide an exhilarating and unforgettable experience.

The total area is about 82 sq km. The highest peak in the range is Nellikotta, also called Padagiri at 1585 m. The other major peaks are Vellachimudi, Valiyavana, Mayanmudi and Vela Vanchan, each about 1200 meter high. The annual average rainfall in the area is 47.24 mm. The temperature varies between 15 °C in December and 30 °C in April, the mean temperature being 22 °C.

Massive teak trees are on the way and the narrow zigzag road needs skillful driving. One can see rare species of birds like Grey-breasted Laughing Thrush, Great Pied Hornbill, Jerdon's Baza, Great Black Woodpecker, Oriental Broad-billed Roller, Nilgiri Flycatcher, Broad-tailed Grassbird and Nilgiri Pipit. The Pothundi reservoir glints in the distance like sapphire in a sea of emerald.

Seethakundu at Nelliyampathy offers a fantastic view of the valley below. The 1000 m high seasonal waterfall is one of the major attractions. Seethakundu got its name from the legend that Sita Devi, during the vanavasa period with Sri Rama, took a bath here. During Deepavali, a large number of devotees gather here. From Seethakundu, there is trekkiing route to Kollengode near Nenmara.

How To Reach

There is 3 bus services daily to Nelliampathy from Palakkad. Nelliampathy, 52 km from Palakkad town and about 30 km from Nenmara, adjoins the Parambikulam wildlife sanctuary where leopards, elephants, bisons and deers abound. The route is over over a dozen hairpin bends on the Ghat road passing through the jungles. Enroute is the Pothundi Reservoir, about 17 km from Palakkad. The hill station has a nice weather and good opportunities for trekking.