 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. 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. 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. There will be
many waterfalls by the roadside during the rainy season.
Fauna of
Nelliampathy(Nelliampathi) Hills
 Lying
at the southern tip of Palakkad(=Palghat) gap,
Nelliampathy hills are known for its exquisite fauna.
About 215 species of birds and 90 species of butterflies
has been recorded from these hills. Some of the rare
species of birds include 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.
Primates including Lion-tailed Macaque, Bonnet Macaque
and Nilgiri Langur are seen here. A small population of
endangered Nilgiri Tahr is also seen in the grassy
peaks.
Places
near Kaikatty
 A
small mountain stream in the Nelliampathi mountainsThere
are many places worth seeing near Kaikatty. One such
place is Kesavanpara, which offers a panoramic view of
the land below. The tea producer A.V.Thomas & Company
has a large tea garden under its Manalaroo Estate
nearby. Manalaroo Estate is the highest yielding Tea
estate in India. One can buy fresh tea from their garden
outlet in their factory. The Orange and Vegetable Farm,
run by the Government of Kerala has its office and farm
near Kaikatty. The Farm sells squashes and jams of
fruits like pineapple, orange, passion fruit and guava.
Vegetables like brinjal, bean, chilly and spinach are
also sold. Further ahead, there is another tea garden
and factory owned by Veekay Tea Company under its
Chandramala Estate. All the tea and coffee plantations
were originally started by the British. These were later
on sold to the natives. The British were very conscious
and responsible about the ecology of the area, utilizing
the natural resources what was absolutely necessary.
The houses
built by the British for themselves and their managers
were constructed taking into consideration, the cold
climate of the region. The walls and floors are wood
lined to provide insulation, with fireplace to provide
heating. They also maintained good gardens in front of
these houses.
 Another
famous tourist attraction is the Seetharkundu. It is
believed that Rama, Lakshmana and Sita of the epic
Ramayana had lived in the place and Sita used to offer
worship with the water from a small stream. This is the
Seetarkundu,which can be viewed from the top of the
mountain. Far away, the dams at Chulliar and Meenkara
and the town of Kollengode can be seen.
Even though
the place is far away from the mainland, there is
excellent communication facility provided by the
Telephone exchange of Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited. The
telephone exchange is of the latest digital technology,
connected to the outside world by optical fiber cable.
Now a mobile tower also in place with range right
through the ghats. The ghat road which was very narrow
and scary is being widened and the work is expected to
be completed within a year or two. The workers in the
plantations are mostly of Tamil origin. They are
provided with labor quarters comprising of four to five
units in one line, 'padi' in local language. Manalaroo
Estate runs a school and a hospital for the workers and
their children.
 Nelliyampathy, spread over 82 sq km, has the highest
peak at Nellikotta which is also called Padagiri. The
hills dipped in the pristine beauty of nature are
sprinkled with picturesque tea, coffee, cardamom,
vegetable and orange plantations.
The
hills of Nelliyampathy are a delight to adventure lovers
and trekkers. The Community Hall at Kaikatty serves as
an ideal camping place for trekkers. The temperature at
these ranges vary from 15 degree celsius in December to
30 degree celsius in April. The lovely climate and green
magic of the hills provide an exhilarating and
unforgettable experience.
 How to
reach
Nearest
Airports: Cochin International Airport and Coimbatore
Nearest railway stations: Palakkad and Trichur.
From
Airport: Come to Trichur - 30 km, Take a taxi to Nemmara
or by bus from Trichur bus stand to Nemmara - 35 km.
From Palakkad: By taxi or bus to Nemmara - 30 km.
From
Nemmara you can take a taxi or better four wheel
vehicles.
|
