Idukki

Destination Theme
Ayurvedic Centers, Yoga Retreats, Hill Stations, Wildlife Sanctuaries,

Best Suited For
All kinds of tourists and travellers, especially nature lovers.

Recommended Duration
Five to Fifteen Days

Quick Info

Idukki is the second largest district of Kerala, lying in the Western Ghats. The most popular tourist destinations of Kerala like Munnar, Thekkady and Vagamon belong to Idukkki. With lush plantations, majestic waterfalls, magnificent mountain peaks and amazing wildlife sanctuaries, the district of Idukki is a nature lover's delight. The nearest airport to Idukki is Cochin International Airport which is about a 100 kilometres away.

Rankings & Ratings

Everything that makes Kerala special can be found in this beautiful district.

Editor's Rankings

#6 in 33 Destinations in & around Kerala
#3 in 10 Hill Stations in & around Kerala
#2 in 2 Yoga Centers in & around Kerala
#2 in 8 Wildlife Sanctuaries in & around Kerala

Editor's Review

Idukki is undisputedly the best district in Kerala when it comes to tourism. Most of the important tourist locations of Kerala are placed in Idukki. So it is no wonder that the place offers a wide range of activities and tourist attractions. But since it is a large district, you cannot really cover the entire place that easily.

PROS

Ideal destination for nature lovers.
A number of activities around the place like boating, paragliding etc.
Too many amusing tourist attractions like wildlife sanctuaries.
Amazing weather throughout the year.

CONS

During peak season, it is difficult to get good accommodation.
It is not that easy to move around the entire place.
Some of the tourist places get too crowded sometimes.

Itinerary Tips

There are several famous tourist destinations in Idukki including Munnar, Vagamon and Thekkady. All of them are a must-visit when travelling to Idukki.
Vagamon offers good adventure sports like paragliding and rock climbing.
Thekkady is famous for boating and some other nature-related activities.
There are several wildlife sanctuaries in Idukki with Eravikulam National Park and Periyar Wildlife sanctuary being very famous.
Cheeyappara waterfalls are a good place for trekking.
Thommankuthu is also a very scenic waterfall.
Munnar and Thekkady offer various cultural shows showcasing traditional art forms.

Detailed Info

Lying in the Western Ghats, Idukki is the most naturally-rich place in the state of Kerala. The name Idukki means 'Narrow Gorge' in the local language. Most of Idukki is covered with rocky mountains and thick forests. The place is a dream destination for nature lovers around the world with a variety of flora and fauna spread across an eye-catching landscape. Most of Kerala's popular tourist destinations like Munnar, Thekkady and Vagamon are located in the district of Idukki.

The tallest peak in South India, Anamudi Peak is in Idukki. With the picturesque plantations of Munnar, the mist-covered mountains and lakes of Vagamon, the sporadic bamboo forests of Ramakkalmedu, the pristine river and wildlife santuary of Thekkady, the rustic village of Marayur and nearly 50 waterfalls all around the place, Idukki strikes just the right cord for all nature enthusiasts. The district has a mixed culture of native tribal groups and migrated settlers. The list of tourist attractions in Idukki is very long, all of which are bound to leave you fulfilled.

Altitude

The average elevation of Idukki is 1200 metres(3900 ft) above mean sea level.

Weather

The weather is pleasant or cold throughout the year with plenty of rains during the monsoon.

Best Time to Visit?

Any time of the year.

How to Get There?

By Air

The nearest airport to Idukki is Cochin International Airport which at a distance of about 100 kilometres from the district. The airport is well-connected to major cities across the country and abroad. From the airport, you can hire a taxi or book a cab to reach the destination.

By Train

The nearest railway station to Idukki is Kottayam Railway station. The station is well-connected to other cities in Kerala and also the major cities in India.

By Road

The district of Idukki has several bus stations that are connected with other cities in Kerala and some of the cities outside Kerala too.

Local Cuisines

The local cuisine includes both vegetarian and non-vegetarian dishes. The most famous dish is Sadhya, a vegetarian meal with boiled rice and a number of side dishes including sambar, parippu, rasam, avial, kalan, pachdi, kichadi, thoran, pulishery, olan, pappdam, moru, pulinji, upperi, pickle, banana and paayasam served on a banana leaf.