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Kerala

Ilaveezhapoonchira

Treeless grass hills above Melukavu, climbed for sunrise and camping

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Best time to visit Ilaveezhapoonchira

peak shoulder off-season avoid

  • Go: October to January
  • Shoulder: February to March and September, quieter, and the weather is less of a sure thing
  • Skip: no month is a write-off here

Planning a specific month? JanuaryOctoberNovemberDecember

Ilaveezhapoonchira season by season

Winter December to February Prime time

Dec-Feb is the whole point: 14 C at 4 am, a clear line along the Ghats and a few tents on the ridge waiting for the sun; February hazes up by late month.

Summer March to May Shoulder

March keeps the dawn view before the haze thickens; Apr-May afternoons are hot and dusty on the bare tops, so come for the 6 pm light, not for noon.

Monsoon June to September Shoulder

Jun-Sep the hills are green and sitting inside cloud, camping is suspended in heavy spells and the last 3 km of road turns slick and rutted.

Autumn October to November Prime time

Oct-Nov the rain stops, the grass is high, the three ponds are full and the sunrise finally clears. Book the tent early for a weekend.

What Ilaveezhapoonchira is actually like

Tents on the ridge and homestays at Melukavu; Kottayam students on weekends, silence midweek, and no shop past the last village

Things to do in Ilaveezhapoonchira

The local places worth your time in and around Ilaveezhapoonchira, with how far each sits from the centre. Tap a name to open it in Google Maps.

  • Kattikkayam Waterfalls

    Waterfall · 11 km out

    Falls of about 15 m in three tiers in Moonnilavu panchayat, about 3 km from Illikkal Kallu; do not swim in the pool

  • Malankara Dam

    Reservoir · 16 km out

    Reservoir on the Thodupuzha river beside the Thodupuzha to Moolamattom road, used for boating and fishing

  • Illikkal Kallu

    Viewpoint · 14 km out

    Rock hills of about 1,200 m; a natural bridge half a foot wide, Narakapalam, joins two of them

  • Poonjar Palace

    Palace · 25 km out

    Old palace of the Poonjar royal family on the Meenachil, beside the Meenakshi temple whose idol came from Madurai

  • Thommankuthu Waterfalls

    Waterfall · 40 km out

    Seven step falls in forest 18 km from Thodupuzha, part of a chain of 12 falls spread over about 5 km

Getting to Ilaveezhapoonchira

Kottayam railhead 55 km, bus to Melukavu or Kadanad, then 6 km up by jeep or an hour on foot

Practical ways in: trainroad

Trip facts

How long to stay
2 days
Budget
Shoestring
How busy
Steady at its peak
Solo travel
Fine solo
Altitude
926 m
State
Kerala
Coordinates
9.8085, 76.7775

Common questions

When is the best time to visit Ilaveezhapoonchira?

October to January is peak season in Ilaveezhapoonchira. February to March and September is shoulder season: thinner crowds, a bit more risk in the weather. No month is a write-off here. Oct-Nov the rain stops, the grass is high, the three ponds are full and the sunrise finally clears. Book the tent early for a weekend.

How many days do you need in Ilaveezhapoonchira?

2 days is the usual stay. Tents on the ridge and homestays at Melukavu; Kottayam students on weekends, silence midweek, and no shop past the last village.

How do you get to Ilaveezhapoonchira?

Kottayam railhead 55 km, bus to Melukavu or Kadanad, then 6 km up by jeep or an hour on foot. Practical ways in: train and road.

Is Ilaveezhapoonchira expensive, and does it get crowded?

Shoestring by Indian travel standards, and it runs steady at the busiest time of year. Fine solo.

What are the best things to do in Ilaveezhapoonchira?

Kattikkayam Waterfalls, Malankara Dam, Illikkal Kallu, Poonjar Palace and Thommankuthu Waterfalls. Falls of about 15 m in three tiers in Moonnilavu panchayat, about 3 km from Illikkal Kallu; do not swim in the pool.

Nearby, and where to go next

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