Best Hill Stations in Kerala to Visit in Summer

Known For : Banasura Sagar Dam Wayanad Wildlife Sanctuary Chembra Peak

Replete with waterfalls, historical caves, comfortable resorts and homestays, Wayanad in Kerala is famous for its spice plantations and wildlife. Walking through the sprawling spice plantations, trekking to the pre-historic caves and experiencing a resort holiday are some of the many things you can do to get a taste of Wayanad.

Wayanad is best known for the wildlife reserves - Wayanad wildlife reserve which is home to an exquisite variety of flora and fauna. Wayanad wildlife reserve is an integral part of the Nilgiri biosphere reserve located amidst the serene hills of Western Ghats. It is home to a wide variety of wildlife like elephants, leopards, and bears.

Best Time: Throughout the year

34 Wayanad Attractions

Known For : Munnar Tea Plantations Atukkad Waterfalls Rose Garden Munnar

One of the most idyllic hill stations in Kerala, Munnar is famous for its tea estates, exotic lush greenery and craggy peaks. 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. The Eravikulam National Park, Salim Ali Bird Sanctuary and tea plantations are its major attractions.

Best Time: September to May

48 Munnar Attractions

Known For : Ulipooni Wildlife Sanctuary Vagamon Meadows Pine Hill

Located near Kottayam-Idukki Border, Wagamon, popularly known as Vagamon, is a quiet offbeat hill station in Kerala. With a pleasant climate throughout the year, this breathtaking tourist spot has meandering rivulets and lush green hills surrounding it. The tea garden, pine forests, waterfalls, mesmerising meadows are all that makes Vagamon the perfect getaway.

Vagamon is gradually gaining attention for being one of India’s topmost adventure tourism spots, with activities such as trekking, rock climbing and paragliding being offered to tourists. Cycling through the mountains is another interesting activity that visitors can participate in to get a better feel of the place.

Best Time: Throughout the year

16 Vagamon Attractions

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

Nestled in the lap of rolling hills of the Western Ghats, enveloped with tea plantations, lush green hills and valleys, waterfalls and streams; Ponmudi is a quaint little town in Trivandrum, Kerala. Trekking and mountain climbing on Agasthayarkoodam, the highest peak in the region is the most popular activity. To get the best of the two worlds, explore the wilderness of the Golden Valley and laze around along the freshwater springs and Kallari River. Don't forget to take a walk through the deer park and the Ponmudi crest.

Best Time: November to May

5 Ponmudi Attractions

Known For : Hill View Park Kulamavu Dam Idukki Arch Dam

Idukki, a landlocked district of Kerala, is one of the most nature-rich areas in Kerala with more than half of the area covered with forest. This rugged hill resort is known for its wildlife sanctuaries, beautiful bungalows, tea factories, rubber plantations and forests. Idukki's speciality lies in a 650 feet long and 550 feet high arch dam across the Kuravan Kurathi mountain, which is the largest in the country. Anamudi, which is the highest peak in India, south of the Himalayas, is also located in Idukki.

Best Time: Throughout the year

37 Idukki Attractions

Known For : Periyar National Park Periyar Tiger Trail Bamboo Rafting

Home to the country's largest Tiger Reserve- Periyar, Thekkady is an important tourist destination in Kerala. There are many resorts near the national park and an early boat safari within the sanctuary is a must-try to be able to spot wild elephants, bison, wild boars, various kinds of birds, etc.

Periyar National Park, being a major attraction, is one place where you can enjoy bamboo rafting in the catchment area of Mullaiperiyar Dam. Travellers can also experience night treks in the wilderness of Periyar.

Best Time: Throughout the year

17 Thekkady Attractions

Known For : Grampi Thrissanku Hills Peeru Hills

Blessed with lots of green covers, 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 sea level, the town has many hidden treasure troves waiting to be uncovered.

Peermede, lying in Idukki District also comprises sprawling spreads of tea, coffee, rubber and cardamom.  The town derives its name from a Sufi saint named Peer Mohammad who is said to be linked with the royal family of Travancore. With lots of beautiful trekking trails, this town is an ideal place for families, adventure buffs and honeymooners.

Best Time: April to June, September to November

8 Peermede Attractions

Known For : Thread Garden, Malampuzha Udan Khatola Malampuzha Dam

Also known as the Vrindavan of Kerala, Malampuzha hill station attracts thousands of tourists from across the country to an idyllic haven placed on the foothills of the majestic Western Ghats. The hill station boasts sparkling pools, aesthetic flower beds, the Japanese Garden, sprawling lawns, and fountains for a visual treat. You can enjoy picturesque views from a boat and explore the reservoir (dam), stroll to the telescopic tower, take the hanging bridge across the Malampuzha river or visit the freshwater aquarium, snake park and children's park for a fun outing.

Best Time: August to April

8 Malampuzha Attractions

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.

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 18 villages. The Pookot Lake, Chembara Peak, Soojipara & Meenmutty Falls and the Wildlife Sanctuary are its major attractions.

Best Time: October to Apr

5 Vythiri Attractions

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. Located in the Malappuram District of Kerala, this hill town is enriched with abundant vegetation, a unique blend of cultures, exquisite art forms and shadows of colonial rule.

Nilambur boasts of a colonial influence backed by vast stretches of rainforests, gushing waterfalls, royal mansions and ancient tribal settlements. There are plenty of sightseeing options in and around Nilambur. This includes Conolly’s Plot, The Teak Museum, Vellamthode Falls and Adyanpara Falls.

Best Time: October to March

12 Nilambur Attractions

Known For : Butterfly Safari Adventure zone Trekking

Snuggled in between dense woods of the Western Ghats, Thenmala is an ecotourism hill station in Kerala located in the Kollam district. A fetching fusion of pristine nature and fabricated design, it offers quietude unlike anyplace 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

7 Thenmala Attractions

Known For : Nelliyampathy Hills Nenmara Vallanghy Vela Parambikulam Wildlife Sanctuary

With plenty of unexplored treasures, Nelliyampathy is a hill station located near the Kerala and Tamil Nadu border offering bounty of nature and lush green surroundings of tea, coffee and cardamom plantations. A perfect place for eco-tourism and romantic holidays, the region comprises peaks of altitude ranging from 500m to 1600m providing an incredible trekking trail for adventure buffs. Apart from this, Nenmara Vellanghy vela take place in the month of April. It is one of the most colourful festivals celebrated in the state.

Best Time: October to March

14 Nelliyampathy Attractions

Known For : Devi Lake Pallivasal Falls Thoovanam Falls

This quaint little hill station located at an altitude 1800 m above sea level is best known for its mythical Sita Devi Lake, rolling hills, waterfalls and innumerable tea and spice plantations. The Sita Devi Lake, which is the prime attraction in the area is said to have been bathed in by Goddess Sita and hence assumes immense religious importance. Other than the lush green surroundings and breathtaking views, the Palivasal Waterfalls, Thoovanam falls and the tea plantations are places to visit.

Best Time: November to May

4 Devikulam Attractions

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 sea level, Kalpetta is a perfect place for nature lovers as well as honeymooners.

Encompassed with a mild fragrance of coffee and rustic lanes, the town is blessed with beautiful nature with scenic landscapes. It is also one of the major trading centres in Wayanad. Dotted with ancient temples, Kalpetta has a stronghold on Jain communities with over 500 settlements in and around the region.

Best Time: October to March

20 Kalpetta Attractions

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.

The Silent Valley National Park, with its lush green forests and beautiful views of the rich flora and fauna, is a popular destination for nature as well as wildlife lovers all across the globe. Spread across an area of 89 square kilometres, the Silent Valley National Park is located in the Kundali Hills of the Western Ghats in Kerala in southern India. With its long, detailed history and the unique status of a rainforest, this national park is indeed a sight to visit. The well-planned Safari and the beautiful stop-overs around the park only make a trip to this part of Kerala more worthwhile.

Timings : 8:00 AM - 1:00 PM

Time Required : 3 - 4 hrs

Entry Fee : Entry Fee: INR 50,
Still Camera: INR 25,
Video Camera: INR 200

Ranni is a quaint hill station in the Pathanamthitta district of Kerala. It is an up-and-coming tourist destination and rests quietly on either side of river Pampa. Ranni has grown to become a hub of history, pilgrimage, natural beauty, and politics. It is only 66 kms away from the famous Sabrimala Temple, and pilgrims like to rest in Ranni's beautiful surroundings before taking off on their spiritual journey.

The gentle hills of Ranipuram in Kerala are famous for its trekking trail. Situated at the height of about 750 meters above sea level, this destination has thick forest vegetation and lush green grasslands. The whole place is proposed inside the Ranipuram Wildlife Sanctuary which merges with Talakaveri Wildlife Sanctuary of Karnataka.

Malakkappara or Malakhappara is a small hill station in the Thrissur District of Kerala. The Sholayar River drains into this heavily forested region. It is also home to a Tata Tea estate, with the rest of the forests being managed by the local Forest Department. For those who love exploring forests and enjoy wildlife - this region is known to have rare, endangered, indigenous flora and fauna.

Boasting one of the most highly specialized dairy farms, the Mattupetty hill station is located 13 kms from Munnar, amidst acres of stunning greenery with green rolling hills, making it an ideal destination and a must-visit for a surreal getaway. Enjoy mesmerizing views across the beautiful Mattupetty Lake situated on the forest border by taking a slow speed boat, an ordinary motorboat or a speed launch. You can also drive about 7 kms to Kundala with aromatic tea plantations for a quaint picnic spot and admire the Kundala dam.