Tucked away in the enchanting Western Ghats, the paradisiacal hill stations in Kerala are gifted with pleasing weather, cool winds, misty green valleys, dense woods, shimmering rivers and lakes, azure waterfalls, and blooming meadows dotted with tea and spice plantations. Offering a heavenly respite from Kerala’s hot and humid plains, the hill stations of Munnar, Wayanad, Vagamon, Vythiri, and Thenmala are perfect for a refreshing holiday in Kerala!
Each of the famous hills in Kerala has unique terrain and offers myriad experiences to travelers. While they are frequented by all kinds of travelers, hills in Kerala are an absolute favorite of couples and newlyweds.
Most of our Kerala honeymoon packages take honeymooners to surreal places like Munnar, Thekkady, Ponmudi, Wayanad, Ramakalmedu, Nelliyampathy, Vagamon, and Thenmala, all of which are located between the altitude of 1,000 to 2,500 meters above sea level.
Whether you’re on a family outing or a romantic escapade, these high-range places in Kerala provide ample opportunities for an exciting and unforgettable trip. Take a break from Kerala’s famed backwaters and beaches for a trip to one of these top 10 hill stations in Kerala offering an endless bounty of fresh mountain air, scenic views, and adventure!
10 Best Hill Stations In Kerala
Most of these hill stations had once served as the Summer Capitals of the British during the colonial era courtesy of their cooler temperatures. With picturesque lakes and dams as their focal point, many are excellent places for boating activities.
Kerala hill stations have several alluring tourist attractions, viewpoints, and adventure activities for travelers like trekking, safaris, rock climbing, caving, visiting waterfalls, staying in treehouses, and toy train rides.
Here is a list of some of the most famous hills in Kerala that you must explore on your trip.
1. Munnar
Elevation of Munnar: 1,450 meters (4,760 ft) to 2,695 meters (8,842 ft) above sea level
Distance of Munnar from Kochi: 126.6 km (3 hours by road)
Munnar is the most beautiful district in Kerala and is known for its lush green forests, pristine valleys, and exotic flora and fauna. Green and surrounded by the serenity of spectacular hills, Munnar is a beautiful hill station in Kerala that redefines nature like never before. Our holiday packages in Munnar are one of the most popular in India, drawing a wide variety of people with the lure of its picturesque landscapes nestled on verdant slopes of tea plantations.
Munnar is located at a height of 1,600 meters and offers breathtaking views of the surrounding hills carpeted with tea plantations. Whether you are a newlywed couple planning a honeymoon in Munnar or just wish to holiday in Munnar with your family, all the beautiful tourist places in Munnar promise a charming experience!
Munnar is characterized by being the confluence of three rivers, the Mudrapuzha, Nallathanni, and Kundala, which in turn give the district its name as the word Munnar means “three rivers” in Tamil and Malayalam. Clean and pure, the district is also home to the famous Neelakurunji flowers, which bloom only once in 12 years. Munnar, also known as the “Kashmir of South India”, tops the list of Kerala hill stations.
ALSO SEE – Munnar Vs Wayanad – Which Is Better?
2. Wayanad
Elevation of Wayanad: 700 meters (2,296 ft) to 2,100 meters (6,890 ft) above sea level
Distance of Wayanad from Kochi: 267 km (6.5 hours by road)
Nestled among the Western Ghats, Wayanad is one of the most idyllic hill stations in Kerala and a treat for nature lovers and wildlife enthusiasts. Wayanad is in Northern Kerala and is surrounded by lush green, sloping plains of spice plantations. A trip to Wayanad provides a panorama of undulating mist-clad hills and scenic dales. One also gets to stay at the summit of the Deccan Plateau on its southern side with the Western Ghats running through it!
Blessed by nature with lush, tropical forests, undulating slopes with several smooth-flowing rivers running across, and a climate that promises to charm, the serene hill station of Wayanad remains uncorrupted by modernity even today. Thus, it is generally considered one of the most popular tourist destinations in Kerala.
It is bounded on the east by the Nilgiris and the Mysore districts of Tamil Nadu and Karnataka respectively. It shares its borders with the Coorg district of Karnataka on the north, on the south with the Malappuram district, and on the west with the Calicut and Cannanore districts.
ALSO SEE – Wayanad or Coorg – Your Complete Guide
3. Vagamon
Elevation of Vagamon: 700 meters (2,296 ft) to 1,100 meters (3,610 ft) above sea level
Distance of Vagamon from Kochi: 103 km (2 hours 40 mins by road)
A virgin hillscape in the Idukki District of Kerala 1,100 meters above sea level, Vagamon is one of the most scenic Greenfield hill stations in India with moderate winter, pleasing monsoons, and a salubrious climate around the year. The room temperature does not usually rise above 22 degrees Celsius even during the hottest season in these high range places in Kerala.
With a combination of meadows, forests, and hills, there is a lot of natural beauty to explore in one of the most paradisiacal hill stations in Kerala. Perched high among green tea plantations and gurgling streams, Vagamon or Wagamon ensures an exhilarating and soothing haven for trekkers and hikers. While indulging in strolls or nature walks in Vagamon, you might come across elephants frolicking in pools just like that.
ALSO SEE – Vagamon Tour Packages
With a rich and varied range of flora and fauna, Vagamon is ideal for all those seeking a travel experience with a difference. Tourist attractions in Vagamon include Kurisumala (mountain of the holy cross), Vagamon meadows which are a favorite for movie shootings, pine forests, and the Thangal Hills.
4. Vythiri
Elevation of Vythiri: 1,100 meters (3,610 ft) to 1,300 meters (4,265 ft) above sea level
Distance of Vythiri from Kochi: 243 km (5 hours 45 mins by road)
Vythiri hill station is located in Northern Kerala near Wayanad in the Sylvan Northern High Ranges. Since Vythiri is located in the high range places in Kerala at an altitude of 4,000 feet above sea level, the climate here is pleasantly cool throughout the year.
Vythiri is another beautiful district in Kerala that gives you a chance to rejuvenate amidst nature. Spread over an area of 150 sq. km, Vythiri is known for its pleasant climate and unparalleled beauty.
Bestowed with natural wonders like hilly terrain, lush green forests, meandering streams, and beautiful waterfalls, it’s among the most scenic hill stations in Kerala.
ALSO SEE – Top 11 Premium Resorts in Vythiri Wayanad
5. Athirapally
Elevation of Athirapally: 300 meters (984 ft) to 680 meters (2,230 ft) above sea level
Distance of Athirapally from Kochi: 67 km (1 hour 40 mins by road)
If you enjoy scenic landscapes, lush green environs, cascading waterfalls, and exotic wildlife, a trip to Athirapally should top your list of Kerala hill stations to visit.
Athirapally, located east of Chalakudy in Thrissur District, is situated on the fringes of the Sholayar forests of the Western Ghats, which are the rainforests of Kerala. Athirapally is famous mostly for its 42-meter-high waterfalls.
Athirapally, lying at an average elevation of 300 meters above sea level consists of 14,850 hectares of tropical wet, evergreen, semi-evergreen, and moist deciduous riparian forest ranges. Photographers who visit this most beautiful district in Kerala can capture some stunning landscape photos.
The Athirapally forest is one of the five territorial ranges of the Vazhachal Forest Division, the others being Charpa, Vazhachal, Kollathirumedu, and Sholayar. The forestland of Athirapally is one of the world’s top biodiversity hotspots, as it is home to endangered as well as threatened species of flora and fauna.
Athirapally also draws the attention of biologists as its forest ranges are situated at a low altitude, which is a unique phenomenon in the whole of Western Ghats.
The picturesque Athirapally waterfalls are situated in River Chalakudy, which originate in the upper ranges of the Western Ghats called Anamudi Mountains. River Chalakudy flows down through the Vazhachal Forest Division till it reaches Athirapally.
The rocky riverbed at Athirapally makes the river water turbulent and it gushes forward around big rocks to form segmented water cascades. The Athirapally waterfalls consist of three waterfalls, the biggest of which is 42 meters high and 220 meters wide.
ALSO SEE – Athirapally Falls Visit Guide- Photos, Timings, Entry Fee, Images & Routes
6. Ponmudi
Elevation of Ponmudi: 915 meters (3,001 ft) to 1,020 meters (3,347 ft) above sea level
Distance of Ponmudi from Trivandrum: 53 km (1.5 hours by road)
Ponmudi, which is one of the best hill stations in Kerala, is a great place to experience nature at its best. Ponmudi is one of the few hill stations in Northern Kerala located within a short driving distance of Thiruvananthapuram.
Along with a beautiful array of mountain flowers, exotic butterflies, and small rivulets, Ponmudi offers excellent opportunities for trekking. With its tea estates and mist-covered valleys, Ponmudi is a fast-developing hill station. Popularly called Golden Peak, Ponmudi is surrounded by scenic hills, spice plantations, tea estates, natural springs, and winding streams.
Ponmudi was founded by Rishi Parshuram, a prominent Indian mythological figure. Some notable tourist attractions located in Ponmudi are Peppara Wildlife Sanctuary, Echo Point, and various trekking spots. Mist-laden valleys, especially Golden Valley near Kallar River, also draw tourists here. Travelers can find a deer park and wood and stone cottages colored in bright hues during their visit here.
ALSO SEE – Ponmudi Hills – Best Places To Visit & Things To Do
7. Ramakkalmedu
Elevation of Ramakkalmedu: 1,200 meters (3,937 ft) to 2,019 meters (6,625 ft) above sea level
Distance of Ramakkalmedu from Kochi: 143 km (4 hours by road)
Located close to Thekkady, Ramakkalmedu is a beautiful view spot on the Tamil Nadu-Kerala border, giving breathtaking views of Kombai villages in Tamil Nadu on one side and the surreal villages around Nedumkandam in Kerala on the other side.
Kuravan mountain, which has the Kuravan Kurathi statue, is among the most scenic hill stations in Kerala and the legend is that Rama and Sita came there during their exile and rested on the rock in Ramakkalmedu. Other than the religious factor, its rolling green hills and fresh mountain air also make Ramakalmedu an enchanting retreat.
The hilltop also offers a panoramic view of the Tamil Nadu towns of Kumbum, Theni, Kombe, Thevaram, Uthamapalayam, Bodinaykannor, and Vaiga.
8. Thenmala
Elevation of Thenmala: 500 meters (1,640 ft) to 650 meters (2,165 ft) above sea level
Distance of Thenmala from Trivandrum: 72 km (1 hour 40 mins by road)
One of the most charming hill stations in Kerala lying in Southern Kerala near Kollam district, Thenmala is one of the highest places in Kerala that boasts of being India’s first planned ecotourism destination.
“Thenmala”, meaning “the hill that yields honey” in the local Malayalam language, is known for its vast network of bee-rearing farms and high-quality honey export.
It is essentially a small village at the foothills of the Western Ghats and predominantly a forest area. The hilly areas in Kerala encompassing the famous Shenduruny Wildlife Sanctuary are the most important nature reserve of Thenmala ecotourism. This Wildlife Sanctuary is about 100 sq. km and harbors large varieties of flora and fauna.
The honey collected from the Thenmala forest region is of good quality and has high medicinal value because of the unique floristic composition of the forests in these areas.
The hottest months in Thenmala are March to May and the coldest are December and January. The maximum temperature during daytime in the hottest month is about 39°C. The daily temperature varies from 17°C to 35°C.
9. Lakkidi
Elevation of Lakkidi: 700 meters (2,296 ft) to 1,150 meters (3,772 ft) above sea level
Distance of Lakkidi from Kochi: 239 km (5.5 hours by road)
Lakkidi is among the must-visit hill stations in Kerala if you want to connect with nature and explore it on foot. Lakkidi is referred to as the Gateway of the Wayanad district as it is the starting point in exploring the entire Wayanad region along with its impressive mountain peaks, dense forests, and beautiful streams.
Lakkidi is one of the highest locations in Wayanad and registers the second-highest degree of rainfall in the world. Despite its small size, Lakkidi is among the most famous Kerala hill stations.
10. Thekkady
Elevation of Thekkady: 700 meters (2,296 ft) to 1,900 meters (6,240 ft) above sea level
Distance of Thekkady from Kochi: 155 km (4 hours by road)
Thekkady is the country’s sole tiger reserve with its bountiful treasures of tropical flora and fauna. It is also the home of many endangered species of animals and birds as well as a rich tribal culture.
Thekkady is a pleasant heaven on Earth for those who love nature in its wildest manifestations. The Periyar Tiger Sanctuary is Thekkady’s crown jewel and is spread over an area of 777 sq. km surrounded by an artificial lake over an area of 25 sq/ km.
Thekkady is one of the most-visited hill stations in Kerala with a plethora of options for adventure junkies too. Bamboo rafting, border hiking, Mangla Devi temple, Periyar Lake, the Periyar Wildlife Sanctuary, Sukri Dam, and the Tribal Heritage Museum are some of the most popular tourist attractions in Thekkady.
ALSO SEE – Thekkady Boating- Online Booking, Timings & Updated Fare
Other famous hill stations in Kerala include Nelliyampathy, Devikulam, and Attappady, and if you are interested in visiting all these beautiful destinations, you must check out our customized Kerala Hill Stations Package and Call of the Hills Package. Start planning a trip right away if you want to immerse yourself in nature and soothe your mind, body, and soul at any of these amazing Kerala hilly stations!
Thank you so much for sharing. I have found it extremely helpful, I would like to visit those places.