Periyar Tiger Reserve
A very popular destination amongst travelers visiting Kerala, the Periyar Tiger Reserve also serves as a showcase of India's Tiger conservation initiatives. The wildlife park with the River Periyar flowing through and spread over the Cardamom and Pandalam Hills in the Western Ghats Mountains is also a 'World Heritage Site' notified by the UNESCO and is home to a fascinating diversity of flora and fauna besides Tigers, including Sambar, Barking and Mouse deer, Elephants, Gaurs, Leopards, the Indian Wild Hogs, all residents amidst tropical and sub-tropical, moist broadleaf forests, montane grasslands and montane savanna. The sanctuary wraps around the Periyar Lake, a reservoir formed when a dam was built across the river in 1895 and get to view numerous animals that arrive at its banks to drink.
Gavi
Nestled amidst the lush Rani Reserve Forest and extension of the rainforest in the Periyar Tiger Reserve Gavi is a destination that offers a plethora of options for nature enthusiasts, lush vegetation, a fascinating diversity of flora and fauna including NilagiriThars, an endangered species of mountain goats, Lion tailed Macaques and over 260 species of endemic and migratory birds. The Eco-tourism complex managed by the Department of Forests offers treks through forest trails into the hills and boating on a lake. Guests opting to stay overnight could stay in the wooden cottages provided or else in the camp sites provided here.
Sathram
Satram is a mountain top view point situated between Vandiperiyar and Gavi, part of the tourist trail around the forests and mountains that are a part of the Periyar Tiger Reserve. The word 'Satram' is derived from its meaning in the vernacular where the destination once served as a resting point for devotees on a pilgrimage to a mountain top shrine nearby. A narrow road to the top winds uphill and being rutted for most part, the journey feels like an off road experience. The panoramic views from the summit are stunningly beautiful. The rainforest drapes itself around mountains, into valleys, and around plateaus covered with grasslands, past spice and tea plantations. On a clear, quiet day, the landscape echoes with a poignant silence, and an insistent breeze is your only companion.
Mangaladevi Temple
The Mangaladevi temple is believed to be about 2000 years old, situated on a hill top within the Periyar Tiger Reserve. Built of granite in the Pandiyan style of temple architecture, the presiding deity is Kannagi also referred to as Mangaldevi, a legendary figure in Tamil mythology symbolising the spiritual energy of women. The shrine is opened on nights when the moon is full, when rituals are performed. Besides its architectural and religious significance, being situated at an elevation of 1337metres above sea level, the area around the temple also offers visitors uninterrupted views of the densely forested landscape and the Western Ghats Mountains extending towards the horizon in every direction.
Parunthumpara
A scenic view point on the Western Ghats mountains, the name of the hill in the Malayalam vernacular translates to 'Eagle Rock' an allusion to its shape resembling a bird in flight. The all around panoramic views from the peak, the highest point in the area, are stunningly beautiful, especially early morning and late afternoon. The surrounding hills, some carpeted by spice and tea plantations, others forested and interspersed with rocky outcrops, stretch towards distant horizons in every direction. On a clear day guests could view the forested hill top named Shabarimala that bears an ancient Hindu shrine where devotees undertake an annual pilgrimage. A visit to Parunthumpara will be memorable for guests who are landscape and nature photographers, bird watchers and trekking enthusiasts.
Pullumedu
An area amidst the Western Ghats that is popular among visitors for its natural beauty with panoramic views of the surrounding hills draped in meadows, dense forests with the glimpses of the River Periyar snaking through. Pullumedu is also rich in its bio-diversity, home to elephants, deer and numerous species of flora, birds and butterflies. Trekking is a popular pastime among visitors with trails winding through the forests and hills around Pullumedu, that offer levels of difficulty ranging from easy to moderately difficult. The meadows around Pullumedu also offer several spots that are ideal for camping outdoors besides attracting nature photographers, birdwatchers and visitors interested in nature walks.
Ramakkalamedu
Hindu mythology narrates that a deity Rama from the epic Ramayana set foot here on his epic journey to Sri Lanka, hence the name, which translates from the vernacular to 'Land of Rama's Stone'. It is also an area where the Western Ghats mountains in Kerala abruptly descend to the plains in the neighbouring state of Tamil Nadu and offers spectacular views of the towns below on a clear days and late evenings when lights are switched on. The eco-system around Ramakkalumedu is for most part composed of Shola forests and grasslands interspersed by large thickets of bamboo. Numerous rock formations in the area attract visitors besides beautiful landscapes and salubrious climate.
Chellarkovil
A little village tucked away in the Western Ghats mountains, Chellarkovil is popular with visitors for the spectacular views of the plains from an escarpment on one end and lush forests and mountain slopes on the other. Numerous sprightly springs flow the mountains here, sources of the many beautiful waterfalls that visitors gravitate towards. The scenic beauty of the landscape and the many trails that wind through the forests and mountains are magnets that draw trekking enthusiasts besides stunning sunrises and sunsets. Chellarkovil is also popular with birding enthusiasts and naturalists who arrive to study the numerous species of birds and flora in the forests here. Kumily, a town nearby and a commercial hub for the trade in fresh spices is popular with visitors.
Kadathanadan Kalari
Kalaripayittu is an ancient form of Indian martial arts that traces its origins to Kerala and one of the oldest fighting systems in existence the world over. A 'Kalari' is a space that is the venue of training students in Kalaripayittu as well as space for practice and staging demonstrations. The KadathanadanKalari is a venerable institution dedicated to preserving and showcasing Kalaripayttu. With its distinctive Kerala style of architecture and situated amidst the embrace of the Western Ghats, the Kalari not only offers glimpses of Kerala's martial arts traditions but also serves as hub for cultural enthusiasts and tourists.The Kalari also conducts daily demonstrations in weaponry, bare handed combat, interactive sessions and a range of programs that reflect Kerala's vibrant cultural expressions.