Kerala enjoys remarkable terrain, with the Western Ghats standing 500-2700 metres in the east, the Arabian Sea in the west, and 44 river streams connecting it, making it one of Asia’s most sought-after tourist destinations. It is a popular honeymoon resort for honeymooners as well as a great family holiday area. Any vacation to Kerala would be completed without a visit to the Cardamom Hills, which are among the many sights worth viewing.
A Quick Overview of the Cardamom Hills
The Cardamom Hills are a group of hills in south-east Kerala and south-west Tamil Nadu in India that are part of the South Western Ghats. Apart from pepper and coffee, the hill’s principal height is notable for growing cardamom spice in huge amounts, thus the name “Cardamom.” The Periyar sub-cluster, together with the Western Ghats and the Cardamom Hills, is being considered for UNESCO World Heritage status.
The Cardamom Hills comprise an area of around 2800 square kilometres, with deep valleys that include the drainages of west-flowing rivers such as Mullayar, Periyar, and Pamba. The hills connect the Aryankavu pass in the north, the Agasthyamalai hills in the south, the Palni Hills in the north, and the Anaimalai Hills in the north-west. The Cardamom Hills serve as the state border between Tamil Nadu and Kerala. In the winter and summer, the average temperature in the hills is 15 °C and 31 °C, respectively.
A large number of indigenous people live in the Cardamom hills’ western and eastern regions. The Urumban, Mudugan, and Irulan are the most well-known among them. To support themselves, these indigenous people labour on tea farms. They are still heavily reliant on forest goods for existence today.
Biking & Cycling
Cardamom Hills is a popular destination for cycling and bike excursions. A ride to these hills provides you with routes, trails, and vistas to relish the thrill of being near to nature, and it is a once-in-a-lifetime experience. Dams, big tea estates, shola forest, elephant parks, farms, and lakes are all part of the hidden pathways that lead deep into the heart of the hills. Biking and cycling are the finest ways to see the flora and animals, mist-covered hills, fresh mountain air, and panoramic panoramas.
Wildlife Adventure
Apart from admiring the natural beauty, you can also visit a variety of wildlife refuges and national parks that have been established to conserve endangered species and maintain natural forest biomes. The Periyar Wildlife Sanctuary, which covers 777 square kilometres and is a prominent ecotourism attraction, is located in the heart of the highlands. The Periyar Tiger Reserve and National Park covers around half of the sanctuary.
The konni, Ranni, and Achankovil forest divisions are situated to the south of the Tiger reserve, while the dry woods of Srivilliputhur Wildlife Sanctuary and Tirunelveli are found to the east.
The Indian elephant, slender loris, Bengal tiger, grizzled giant squirrel, Nilgiri tahr, Vindhyan bob butterfly, Salim Ali’s fruit bat, lion-tailed macaque, Hutton’s pit viper, and great Indian hornbill are among the endangered species protected in Megamalai Wildlife Sanctuary.
An elephant ride would also be fun, as it is the finest way to see the National Park. You may easily observe the creatures and photograph them up close. The park is also one of the best places to see birds. Cormorants, Kingfishers, Darters, Racket-tailed Drongos, and Great Malabar Hornbills are just a few of the unusual birds that may be seen with a pair of binoculars.
Trekking
Trekking might be one of the exhilarating activities to accomplish around the Cardamom hills for an inquisitive visitor and mountain enthusiast. The walk to the hills, which rise to a height of 2637m, is not tough, and even a novice climber may accomplish it successfully. The only thing you need to remember is that you are physically fit to embark on the hike and that you have a nice pair of funky shoes because the paths are extremely slick. Beautiful valleys, spice villages, animal parks, deep woods, tea plantations, and many more captivating views may be seen when hiking.
If you are visiting the Cardamom Hills for the first time, it is advised that you bring a tourist guide with you since it will give you a better understanding of the area.
Whatever the case may be, the Cardamom Hills have never let anyone down who has visited this magnificent location, which is why they are known as Kerala’s pride. So, if you’ve decided to visit the Cardamom Hills as your next tourist destination, you’re in for a once-in-a-lifetime adventure!
