IDUKKI

GENERAL INFORMATION

District Area	5150.89 sq.km.
District Population	1,078.066
Altitude	935 m to 2817 m above sea level
Temperature	Mean Min. 22.5 deg. C Mean Max. 37.5 deg. C
Rainfall	270 cm (annual)
Clothing	Tropical Cottons. Warm clothes and rain gear for places like Munnar and Thekkady
Tourist Season	August to March

ldukki, the unspoiled natural queen of Kerala is a tourist paradise. Idukki is the most gifted district of Kerala, with high ranges of altitude, varying between 900 and 2500 feet above sea level. Idukki, is the district where forests and wildlife abound. About 1500 sq. km. of its area is reserved forest, much of which is home to a variety of flora and fauna. These forests are sources to wild life like tigers, bears, bison and monkeys. Streams, valleys and hills combine to make Idukki an ideal year-round holiday destination.

For the people of Kerala, Idukki is always associated with power generation. About 60 % of the State's power needs come from the Hydro-electric Power Station at Moolamattom, the biggest in the State. The famous Idukki Arch Dam, the first of its kind in India, is built between two huge granite hills across the river Periyar. The district's name, 'Idukki', is supposed to be derived from the Malayalam word 'Idukku' which means a narrow gorge. That could be true for, narrow steep-sided valleys are not a strange phenomenon in this hilly district, flanked by the Western Ghats. 

The district is bordered by Kottayam and Pathanamthitta districts on the south, Trichur and Coimbatore districts on the north, Madurai, Ramanad and Thirunelveli districts on the east and Ernakulam district on the west. Graphical and climatological characteristics of Idukki district are unique. Anamudi in the Kannan Devan hills is the highest peak. There are 14 peaks in Idukki, which exceed a height of 2000 m above mean sea level.

The climate of the district undergoes a sudden variation as we go from west to east. In high peaks the temperature  falls down to freezing point in the winter. Occurrence of mist is usual in the highland regions. Idukki district experiences high degree of variation in the distribution of rainfall, temperature, humidity, etc.  Periyar and its tributaries, Thodupuzha and Pamba are the rivers of the district. Pamba is an east flowing river.

Idukki district was formed on January 26, 1972 carving out Devikulam, Peermade and Udumbanchola taluks from the erstwhile Kottayam district and Thodupuzha taluk from the erstwhile Ernakulam district. For purposes of developmental activities it is divided into eight Community Development Blocks namely Adimaly, Azhutha, Devikulam, Elamdesom, Idukki, Kattappana, Nedumkandam and Thodupuzha.

HOW TO GET THERE :

Air	The nearest airport is at Cochin, 132 km away.
Rail	The nearest railway station is at Kottayam, 133 km away.
Road	Idukki can be reached by motorable roads from most parts of Kerala.

PLACES OF INTEREST:

Cheruthoni

Cheruthoni is the area around the Idukki and Cheruthoni dams, near Painavu, the headquarters of Idukki district, situated 3917 feet above sea level. On a clear day one can see certain parts of faraway Cochin. You can reach Cheruthoni only by jeep. The Kerala State Electricity Board, which looks after the dams, rents out boats for the two hour cruise between Cheruthoni and Kulamavu.

Devikulam

Devikulam is a small hill station,  south-west of Munnar. Devikulam  literally means  'the pond of the Goddess'. According to the legend Sita, the consort of Lord Rama, once had a bath in this lake. It is a beautiful place with a lot of tea plantations.

Eravikulam - Rajamalai Wildlife Sanctuary

Eravikulam is another wildlife sanctuary proclaimed as a National Park. Anamudi peak, the highest point, south of the Himalayas, falls in the southern part of this park. The park is 135 km from Cochin and is accessible by road. A wide variety of plant life is present here. The popular Neelakurinji is one of the rare species that grows here.

The Nilgiri Tahr is seen in the highlands and rocky regions of this national park. Sambar, barking deer, gaur, giant Malabar Squirrel, tiger, leopard, pigeons, blackbird, jungle crow etc. are also seen here. The sanctuary is accessible by road, just 4 km from the Munnar Udumalapet road, and can be reached within 15 minutes by car from Munnar.

Idukki Arch Dam is the world's second and Asia's first Arch Dam, constructed across the Kuravan and Kurathi hills. It is 640 ft. in breadth and 550 ft. in height and this lies close to the much smaller Cheruthoni barrage. To the west is the Kulamavu Dam. The underground Power House at Moolamattam is another attraction. All spots offer unforgettable scenes of deep blue waters, surrounded by miles of vegetation. Idukki Wildlife Sanctuary is adjacent to this world famous arch dam.

Idukki Arch Dam

ldukki Wildlife Sanctuary  ldukki Wildlife Sanctuary is just above the ldukki Arch Dam. This comprises 70 sq. km. of forest land between the Periyar and Cheruthoni,  situated 40 km. from Thodupuzha. There is a scenic lake around the sanctuary. The wildlife here is similar to that of Thekkady.

Mattupetty At an elevation of 1700 mts. above sea level, Mattupetty is 13 kms away from Munnar. It is also the seat of the Indo-Swiss Dairy Project. The green meadows, the exotic cattle and the rose garden attracts a lot of tourists.

Munnar 

'Munnar' means 'three rivers', and there are actually  three mountain streams  - Muthirapuzha, Nallathanni and Kundala, converging at the heart of the town and meeting all the water requirements of the settlers and the visitors.

Peermade  Peermade is a small hill station on the way to Thekkady. It is a fertile land at an altitude of 914 metres. This tiny and cool hill station is full of rubber, tea, coffee, pepper and cardamom plantations, interspersed with waterfalls and open grasslands.

Thattekad Bird Sanctuary

This bird sanctuary in Devikulam Taluk lies on the northern bank of the Periyar river. The area of the sanctuary,  formed between the branches of the river Periyar, is 25 sq. km. The presence of more than 200 varieties of birds in this area attracted the world renowned Ornithologist Dr. Salim Ali, whose efforts are believed to be used in the formation of this sanctuary. Important birds found here include large falcon, grey jungle fowl, white breasted water hen, hornbill etc. The vegetation in this area consists of tropical evergreen, semi evergreen, moist deciduous forests and plantations of teak, rosewood, mahogany, etc. Further, more than 28 varieties of animals and nine varieties of reptiles have accepted this area as their natural habitat.

Periyar Wildlife Sanctuary, Thekkady

Periyar Wildlife Sanctuary at Thekkady is one of India's major sanctuary areas. The drive to Thekkady itself is enchanting as the road winds through tranquil countryside, rich plantations and thick jungles. The sanctuary offers a lovely and comfortable way to see the animals via boat rides on the man-made lake, which the wildlife areas encircle. In addition to the wild life, there are water and land birds  here and one can sometimes find dedicated bird watchers setting in for one  two weeks of serious observations.