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Beautiful Hill Stations Near Kochi To Explore
Kochi is a cosmopolitan city that has emerged beautifully in the past few decades. It has a lot to offer to its residents, from shopping malls to cinema halls, skyscrapers to vibrant streets, and a lot more. It has been a commercial city since ages, but also has an old city charm in its narrow lanes. The city is a hub for multiple communities including Gujaratis, Jews, Christians, Konkanis, and Keralites. If you love Kochi, then you will also like its nearby areas. In case you like to explore the hill stations around Kochi, then there are innumerable options for you. If you are coming here to explore the greener and colder side of Kochi, then make sure you are coming for more than a week so you are not just sightseeing but experiencing the culture of the city.
Hill stations near Kochi
Though there are too many hill stations in and around Kochi, we have shortlisted a few for you. Make sure you add them in your itinerary so you collect beautiful memories from here.
Idukki: This hill station is popular for its huge mountains, dams, and a lot of spice gardens. It also has a well-known spot called Anamudi peak that is known as the second highest point in the entire southern India. There are even boats available here for a good evening ride. You can even enjoy the sight of the famous Periyar river along with the Kurati and Kuravan rocks. Some other attractions in Idukki that you should not miss are Periyar national park, Mattupetty dam, and also Ernakulam park. There are many hotels and resorts here where you can enjoy a comfortable stay with your loved ones.
Munnar: It is the most famous hill station in Kerala for its pleasant weather and breathtaking beauty. To reach here, you need to take a flight to Kochi or Thiruvananthapuram, and from there take a cab. In fact, this place is so people that it is also called Swiss town of Kerala. It is large in space and is at the Kannan Devan hills. You will not only find hills here, but there are stunning waterfalls, deep forests, and acres of tea estates to explore. Not many know that in every twelve years, the Neelakurinji flowers bloom here which is a treat to watch. This place is nothing less than a paradise.
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Thekkady: This pretty hill station is located around 140 km away from the main city Kochi and is nearby to Kumily. You should visit the place in summers as the backwater trips will overwhelm you with their beauty. There is a wildlife reserve that is famous for the boat safari here and you can even go to the Mullaperiyar dam for a calm and relaxed time. If you are lucky, you can spot some wildlife and taste the authentic Kerala food here. It is always better to plan your trip ahead so you can get some cheap flights and save much on your budget.
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Ponmudi: This enthralling hill station is at 60 km distance from Thiruvananthapuram. The drive to this place can give you chills and thrills. The natural flora and fauna of this hill station will surprise you to the core. You can even go on a Varayadumotta trek and get the best view from the to most point of the hill. Do not forget to catch a glimpse of the Meenmutty waterfall when you are here.
Wayanad: Located at around 1200 feet above the sea level and just 250 km at a distance from Kochi, this hill station has many paddy fields all around. While coming here, you can even visit a few spice gardens and check out how their production is done. Do not forget to buy some for your house as these are organic. There is Ampukuthimala cave that reflects the ancient history and some Thingvellier temples are a must to visit. You can even check out Edakkal caves and Chembra peak when you are in Wayanad.
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If you are impressed with what is around Kochi, then plan your trip here as soon as possible. The monsoons are best but you can even plan during summers and winters.