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Nelliampathi is a popular hill station 60 km away from Palakkad in Kerala
a small state in south India. It is famous for its tea and coffee plantations
and the excellent weather condition and is one among the best tourist spots in
Kerala. The journey to Nelliampathi itself is an
experience. The only route is from Nemmara, from where the first town of
Nelliampathi, namely Kaikatty junction, is at a distance of 26 km. At the 9th
kilometer is the Pothundi Dam,
a small irrigation dam which provides water for the rice fields in the
surrounding area. |
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The dam is at the foot of the Nelliampathi hills. From here, the road winds up
for the next 17 km, with many hairpin turns on the way. Immediately after
Pothundy dam, comes the government forest, where one can see massive teak trees.
The road is very narrow and requires a skilled driver behind the wheels. On the
way, one can see wild animals like monkey, deer and porcupine. The view of the
Pothundy dam from the height is a breathtaking sight.
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There will be many waterfalls by the roadside during the rainy season. The lush
valleys in the region have very valuable teak plantations with extraordinary
height and girth. The orange estates on the Nelliampathi Hills produce high
quality oranges. Nellikota or Padagiri is the highest peak in the region. A
picturesque picnic spot near the Sithargundu Estate offers a panoramic view of
the surrounding countryside. |
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Nelliampathi is a popular hill station with excellent trekking trails.
It is a 3 hour, 75 km trip away from Palakkad (Palghat) and, at 1600
mts above sea level, is surrounded by panoramic views of hills draped
by plantations of tea, coffee, orange and cardamom. On Nellikotta and
the other peaks grow huge great teak trees value for their wood.
Nelliyampathy hills comprise a chain of ridges cut off from one
another by valleys of dense evergreen forests and orange plantations. |
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The height of the hills ranges from 467 mts to the tallest peak Padagiri looming
at 1572 mts. Accessing Nelliyampathy from Palakkad (Palghat) is a sensation on
its own, as one negotiate over a dozen hairpin curves on the ghat road passing
through the fascinating jungles of the Sahya Ranges.
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En route, 17 kms from Palghat, the shimmering Pothundi Reservoir and its
manicured surroundings make the ideal stop over. Seethakundu at Nelliyampathy
offers a fantastic view of the valley below - a wide-angled vision of a third of
the entire Palghat area. Nelliyampathy has immense trekking potential. The
Community Hall at Kaikatty provides a good camping ground for trekkers. |
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