Far inland, lying on the windward side of the Western Ghats, Kerala has a long chain of lush, mist-clad hillstations that offer the most enchanting experience of nature in all its virgin beauty. Punctuating the forested hills are numerous waterfalls that roar, gurgle and splash down the mountain side. Almost all these scintillating cascades are the venues for honeymoon tours and excursions round the year.

Ponmudi in Thiruvananthapuram, located 915 m above sea level, is an idyllic hill resort with a variety of beautiful mountain flowers, exotic butterflies, small rivulets, springs, a deer park and excellent trekking trails.

Munnar in Idukki, 1600 m above sea level, is a tea plantation town and the most enchanting hill station in South India. Near Munnar are many other destinations worth visiting, like Top Station - the natural home of the rare Neelakurunji, scenic Mattupetty - location of the highly specialised diary farm - the Indo Swiss Livestock Project, Marayoor - the only place in Kerala that has a natural growth of sandalwood trees and Devikulam - famous for the Sita Devi Lake with its mineral water springs and picturesque surroundings.

25kms away from Munnar is Vagamon, a scenic place amidst grass covered hills and velvet lawns, Peermade, Kuttikanam, Pattumala, Thrishanku Hills and Peeru Hills are places nearby renowned for their natural beauty.

Going further north, you will have to negotiate at least 10 hairpin bends on the Ghat road that passes through the breathtaking evergreen forests of the Sahyadri Ranges on the way to Nelliyampathy the panoramic hill station in Palakkad. Attappady, also in Palakkad, is a beautiful synthesies of mountains, rivers and forests and is the natural home of many tribals like the Irulars and Mudugas.

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