Hill Stations in Kerala That Promise To Be A Great Vacay!

Known For : Echo Point, Munnar Atukkad Waterfalls Pothamedu View Point

One of the most idyllic hill stations in Kerala, Munnar is famous for its tea estates, exotic lush greenery and craggy peaks. Munnar is located in the Western Ghats. It serves as the commercial centre for some of the world’s largest tea estates. In addition, Munnar has many protected areas which are home to endemic and highly endangered species like the Nilgiri Thar and the Neelakurinji.

Best Time: September to May

View packages starting from ₹ 4,498

Known For : Banasura Dam Wayanad Wildlife Sanctuary Chembra Peak

Replete with enchanting waterfalls, historical caves, comfortable resorts and homestays, Wayanad is one of the most popular hill stations in Kerala. It is also famous for its spice plantations and wildlife sanctuaries.

Best Time: Throughout the year

Known For : Ulipooni Wildlife Sanctuary Vagamon Meadows Pine Hill

1100 meters above the sea, far away from the loud city culture, lush greenery and serenity to gift every visitor, Vagamon is one of the more offbeat hill stations in Kerala away from maddening tourist crowds.

Best Time: Throughout the year

View packages starting from ₹ 2,986

Known For : Gavi Hill View Park Kulamavu Dam

With remains of Chera dynasty, Vembolinad Kingdom, and European plantations in the later years, this rugged hill station in Kerala is best known for its wildlife sanctuaries, beautiful bungalows, tea factories, rubber plantations and forests.

Best Time: Throughout the year

View packages starting from ₹ 6,000

Known For : Wayanad Wildlife Sanctuary Chembara peak Soochipara Falls

62 kms off Kozhikode is Vythiri, a popular resort town famous for its old-world charm with cottages, log huts, treehouse accommodations cosily nestled in the forests of Wayanad. Situated at an altitude of 700 metres, Vythiri in Wayanad comprises of 18 villages.

Best Time: October to Apr

Known For : The Elembalai Hill Adyanpara Waterfalls Teak Museum

Nestled at the bank of Chaliyar River in the proximity to Nilgiri Range, Nilambur is a small town, popularly known as Land of Teak Plantations. It is an ideal hill station in Kerala for a quaint and laidback holiday.

Best Time: October to March

View packages starting from ₹ 7,000

Known For : Butterfly Safari Adventure zone Trekking

Snuggled in between dense woods of Western Ghats, Thenmala is an ecotourism hill station in Kerala located in Kollam district. A fetching fusion of pristine nature and fabricated design, it offers quietude unlike any place else. Dotted with winding roads and rubber and tea plantations, Thenmala boasts of being the first planned ecotourism site in India. Spread over acres of dense timber trees, the name 'Thenmala' translates to Honey Hill suggesting the supply of high-quality honey from the region. This honey has medicinal properties because of the surrounding floral varieties and is exported in large amounts.

Best Time: December to February

Known For : Peppara Wildlife Sanctuary Golden Valley Mini Zoo, Ponmudi

Nestled in the laps of rolling hills of the Western Ghats, filled with tea-plantations, lush green hills and valleys, waterfalls and streams, Ponmudi is a quaint little town in Kerala and draws connoisseurs of mountain life.

Best Time: November to May

Known For : Nenmara Vallanghy Vela Nelliyampathy Hills Parambikulam Wildlife Sanctuary Nenmara Shopping in Nelliyampathy

If you see the mist floating in the air and a pleasant aroma of coffee teasing your nostrils, a chain of majestic mountains peaking from all around and a wonderful weather relaxing your nerves, then you are not dreaming, you are in a small beautiful hill station of Kerala known as Nelliyampathy.

Best Time: October to March

Gavi is a small town situated some 14 km away from the famed Periyar Tiger Reserve and is heaven on Earth. One can enter the Periyar Reserve through Gavi to spot the famed gopher trees, tigers, elephants and plenty of other wildlife. Gavi is a hill station in Kerala unlike any other.

Known For : Devi Lake Pallivasal Falls Thoovanam Falls

A lake with a legend of its own, greenest sceneries, waterfalls and tea plantations are what offer its charm to Devikulam, a hill station in Kerala.

Best Time: November to May

Known For : Grampi Thrissanku Hills Peeru Hills

Blessed with lots of green cover, beautiful rolling hills, wandering streams and gurgling waterfalls; Peermede is a small bewitching hill station of Kerala, pure and pristine. Perched at an altitude of 915 m above the sea level, the town has many hidden treasure troves waiting to be uncovered.

Best Time: April to June, September to November

Known For : Perunthenaruvi Waterfall Thriveni Sangamam Konni Forest Reserve

Pathanamthitta, in southern Kerala, is a town immersed in spirituality and mysticism. Blessed with several ancient temples, it is renowned as headquarters of pilgrimage in Kerala as Sabarimala is situated in the Pathanamthitta district. It is a land of untouched beauty awash with pristine rivers, lofty mountain ranges and sprawling coconut groves.

Best Time: September to February

Known For : Karapuzha Dam Kanthanpara Waterfalls Shopping in Kalpetta

Kalpetta is a quaint town with a backdrop of majestic hills lurking in the shadows, lush green surroundings, fresh air and picturesque beauty. Located in the Wayanad District of Kerala, at a height of 780 m above the sea level, Kalpetta is a perfect place for nature lovers as well as honeymooners.

Best Time: October to March

View packages starting from ₹ 6,500

Known For : Periyar National Park Periyar Tiger Trail Bamboo Rafting

Home to the country's largest Tiger Reserve- Periyar, this hill station in Kerala is a great way to enjoy a jungle vacation.

Best Time: Throughout the year

View packages starting from ₹ 7,464

Lakkidi Viewpoint is a high altitude point to get a breathtaking view of the city. The region mostly stays misty and offers a beautiful view of the hairpin turns down the hill. The thrill of driving up to the point is an experience in itself.

Known For : Thread Garden, Malampuzha Udan Khatola Malampuzha Dam

Malampuzha in Palakkad district a place with rich lush green vegetation popular for its scenic beauty as well as the dams and exotic wildlife that it offers as tourist attractions.

Best Time: August to April

Mattupetty Dam is a strong gravity dam which was constructed for power generation and water conservation. Located in the Munar hills near the Anamudi peak, the dam is situated 1700 meters high. The green valleys and pleasant ambience surrounding make up for a captivating site. The reflection of the tea gardens into the water is the most beautiful part of the dam. Speed boating too is organized here by the Tourism Promotion Council of the district of Idukki. Other water sports organized include motor boats, paddle boats, and rowboats.

With the enchanting Athirapalli waterfalls that can be viewed from many vantage points, this hill station in Kerala is one of the lesser-known hill stations in Kerala.

A favourite for nature and wildlife enthusiasts, Gavi has many activities that visitors can engage in. You can go trekking, bird watching or even just stay in your homestay and look for some interesting species of flora and fauna. It is also close to the Sabarimala Temple and you can trek to a point to get a fine view of this temple. 

Located 60 km from the Thrissur district of Kerala, Athirapally Falls is a marvellous cascade of frothy waters that makes its way from the Anamudi mountains of the Western Ghats. This 80 ft high and 330 ft wide marvel is the largest waterfall in Kerala and is often referred to as the "Niagara Falls of India". From here, the Athirapally falls flows through the verdant greenery of Vazhachal Forest toward the Arabian Sea, creating a spectacular vista of scintillating water, emerald jungles and azure sky.

The highlight of this hill station in Kerala is that it gives fantastic views of the other hill stations and waterfalls nearby. The green-carpeted mountains are just one element with many things like a majestic river flowing through the hills. You can also engage in mountain cycling, trekking and camping here.