NELLIYAMPATHY
HILL STATION
A
forest range 75 kms ( travel time: 2 ½ hours) from Palghat, the Nelliyampathy
hillls comprise a chain of ridges cut off from one another by valleys of dense
evergreen forests and orange plantations. The height of the hills ranges from
467 metres to the tallest peak Padagiri loomig at 1572 metres.
Accessing Nelliyampathy from Palght is a sensation on its own, as you negotiate
over a dozen haipin curves of the ghat road passilng through the fascinating
jungles of the Sahya Ranges. En rout, 17 kms from Palghat, the shimmering Pothundi
Reservoir and ilts manicured surroundings make for the ideal stop over.
Seethakundu at nelliyampathy offers 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 caping ground for
the trekkers.
Sidelights:
The Parambikulam Wildlife Sanctuary: Sprawling over 285 sq.kms, this
neighbouring sanctrary shelters the largest population of wild Gaur ( Bison)
The Cannimare Teak Tree, said to be the largest in the Asian continent towers
roughly 5kms away from
Thunakadavu-the
headquarters of Parambikulam.
Other wildlife Such as the Nilgiri langur, sloth nbear, the lilon- tailed macaque
and spotted deer abound along with a handful of tigers and leoards. Malampuzha:
The garden complex around the dam at malampuzha draws a large holiday and weekend
crowd to itself. A small garden done in Japanese style adds a touch of exotic
charm to the landscape. So does the hanging bridge across the canal.
Getting there: The hills of Nelliyampathy lie at a distance of 75 kms
from Palghat ( travel time: 2 ½ hours) and 126 kms from Calicut, ( travel
time: 4 hours).
