Vattavada Munnar is known as “Vegetable Capital” of Kerala. The name attributed to its abundant produce of many vegetables and fruits such as beans, strawberries, and garlic. The Vattavada garlic is special due to its awesome medicinal use. The place is an unexplored land and is a hidden gem. If you love to explore offbeat places, then you must surely visit Vattavada. It not only is gifted with nature’s scintillating beauty, but has lots to offer to quench your desire for adventure.
The breathtaking landscape with its panoramic beauty offers a tranquil feeling for the visitors. Moreover, the place is associated with rich culture and heritage, which is unique to be appreciated. So if you want to experience a concoction of natural beauty, thrill, and culture in one town, then Vattavada is your choice to be listed in your bucket list. It is essentially a quaint hamlet, away from the hustle and bustle of city life. You can spend a wonderful weekend at this place to rejuvenate yourself and recharge your mind.
Trekking, camping, and biking are some of the activities you can engage in at Vattavada. Many solo travelers visit the place to unwind themselves and spend time in solitude in the vicinity of nature. The scenic views are truly astounding.
In this article, you will find out the best things to do in Vattavada, which will eventually help you to plan your trip well. The place is quite easy to explore and 2 to 3 days will be perfect for a visit.
Watch the Town from Vattavada Viewpoint
Nestled in between the mesmerizing Palani hills of the Western Ghats, Vattavada Viewpoint is a perfect place to get a view of the entire village. You can observe the lush green tea plantations adorning the mountain slopes like a carpet. If you reach early in the morning, you will witness the sunrise with the rays emerging out bright and red. And of course, do not miss out to click a bunch of photographs when you arrive at the viewpoint. For nature lovers, this spot is magical, offering an enchanting view of the landscape beyond. The view of the mountains with their dense forests is a treat to the eyes. You can spend hours staring at the astonishing scenery in front of your eyes.
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Visit the Pazhathottam Viewpoint
This is another Viewpoint to add in your list of things to do in Vattavada. It is located almost at a traveling distance of 9 km from Vattavada Viewpoint. It has a unique view of its own with the houses, farms, plantations, and the hills in front of it.You will love to immerse yourself in the beauty of the clear blue sky above and the sensational views of the landscape.
The best part of this Viewpoint is the travel towards the destination. It is adventurous as well as picturesque. The winding roads that narrow down as they cross through the dense forests, crossing across the village houses, is truly mind-blowing. Though the ride is a bit challenging, it is worth a visit. The best is to visit before daylight.
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Immerse in the beauty of Meenachy Waterfall
One of the best things to do in Vattavada is to visit the Meenachy waterfall. You need to trek a bit from the main village premises to reach the waterfall. But once you reach, you will be dumbfounded by its natural aura.
The waters gushing and cascading down and splashing along the walls create a misty effect, which is truly a treat to the eyes. The soothing breeze greets the travelers, transforming the environment into a tranquil heavenly spot. The locals often come for a picnic during the weekends. And for the travelers, it is a spot to be explored. You can sit and relax near the waterfall, while appreciating its beauty. Do not forget to click some snaps.
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Soak yourself into the magnificence of the Chilanthiyar Waterfall
Another popular waterfall to explore at Vattavada is Chilanthiyar Waterfall. The traveling distance from Pazhathottam Viewpoint is 5.5 km and hence you can plan to cover both of these places together in the same route.
The place is quite secluded and so if you want to spend moments of peace then you must visit it. An easy inclusion in the list of things to do in Vattavada. The unique beauty of the waterfall is that it is present inside a reserve forest and the wilderness enhances its magnificence further. Hence, to reach the place, you need to go for a trek of 2 km from the entrance area. So be careful to wear proper shoes and clothing as there may be muddy roads to walk through while reaching the waterfall. If you are visiting during the monsoons, then you need to be extra alert. The other option is to hire a jeep, which can drive across the muddy roads.
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Plan a tour to the Nallathanni Estate
Nallathanni is a tea estate which you must include in your list of things to do in Vattavada. You will not only enjoy the tour inside the plantation, but you will get a chance to mingle with the local people and be a part of their agricultural journey.
It is an awesome experience to be acquainted with the history of tea cultivation, the production process, and the entire end-to-end process of tea manufacturing. There are guided tours for you to avail of or you can walk along on your own. The entire tea estate is well maintained and curated. You will love to witness the greenery around and the peace prevailing in the gardens. Go for a walk slowly into the midst of the plantation and experience the green magic. Its truly a blissful feeling.
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Hop on to the Kodaikanal Forests
Not within the village of Vattavada but a few kilometers away lies the Kodaikanal forests. It is a short drive and is a perfect place for adventure seekers.
If you love trekking and hiking, then you must not miss the chance. The forest trails are truly challenging, passing across dense trees, rough terrain, and then mingled with the wilderness of the jungle. You can go for the treks yourself if you are trained for it, or else there are guides to assist you. While walking across the trails, you will be astonished by the views of nature, its magnetic flora and the pleasant atmosphere. In fact, you will not feel even one cent of monotony or tiredness. Be cautious to wear proper shoes, proper attire, and carry a lightweight bag during the trek. Have an emergency medical kit and water bottle with some light snacks tucked into your bag. Follow the instructions of your guide and be with the group.
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Seek serenity inside the Vattavada Church
Vattavada has a heritage into its grandeur and it should not be missed. Hence advisable to include the Vattavada church into your list of things to do in Vattavada.
Besides being a landmark for heritage, the church has its own unique architectural significance, which is another reason for the visit. The church belongs to the yesteryears, centuries old, upholding the culture and history of the place. It is located at a quiet spot where you can close your eyes and relax in front of God. The design of the church is traditional, truly appreciating.
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Feel the wilderness inside the Periyar Wildlife Sanctuary
If you are a wildlife admirer, then you must visit the Periyar Wildlife Sanctuary. It has much to offer for the tourists. You can witness its innumerable species of animals and birds that reside inside the sanctuary.
The exotic flora and fauna of the park is mesmerizing. If you love to watch birds and click photographs, then you must visit the sanctuary. Its diverse natural beauty is immense. You will find many wildlife photographers and bird watchers in this area. If you want to explore more of the wilderness, then you can go for a boat ride on the Periyar lake. Watching the kingfisher and the water birds is a delightful sight to watch. You can surely capture a lot of photos as memories to carry home.
Go for a Photography Spree experience
Though it’s an offbeat destination and needs to be explored, Vattavada will not stop you from clicking tons of photographs. The entire area is photogenic, such beautiful is its landscape.
Dotted with gushing waterfalls, lush greenery, dense forests, quaint hamlets, the farms and the fauna around, the place is a photographer’s delight.The mornings bring in brightness while the evenings bring in the darkness, both magical in their own way.
Explore the Local markets
A visit to a place is never complete unless you visit the local markets and check out the handicrafts, souvenirs, and the gift items. That’s one of the best things to do in Vattavada and you must not miss it.
There are a plethora of items to check out in the local markets from fresh fruits and vegetables direct from the farms, the craftwork and artwork made by the local artists and the clothes prepared from the local textiles. You can purchase them, a remembrance of the local talent.
Taste the food from the Local Cuisine
Kerala has lots to offer from its local cuisine. So when you are in Vattavada, you must not miss the delicacies. And specially the strawberry jam and juice which is the specialty of the place.
If you have booked a homestay then ensure to get a serving of the jams along with your meal. Besides you must try out the special fish curries of Kerala and the honey too.
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Visit the Strawberry Farms
One of the most popular things to do in Vattavada is to visit the strawberry farms. There are many of them throughout the town, especially near the Viewpoints on the mountain top. Look out for the sign boards or check out with the local people on which are the best farms to explore.
You can buy strawberries from the farms directly. Besides you can check out other fruits and vegetables from the farms as well. There are no tickets or charges for entering the farms. You can do some strawberry plucking assisted by the staff inside the farms. Buy some jams and wines from the farms if you wish to and can even find out how strawberries are harvested and how the products are processed from the fruits. It is recommended to visit the farms in between the months of March and May as thats the season for the fruits.
Mingle with the locals and their culture
The greatest part of experiential traveling is to mingle with the locals and find out about their livelihood. Knowing about their culture, habitat, traditions, customs, heritage and history, will keep you connected to Vattavada. If you get a chance, visit a Keralite household and savor some of the homemade dishes and beverages.
How to reach Vattavada?
Even though Vattavada is unexplored and is an offbeat destination, yet it is not tough to reach the place from different places in Kerala and even from different parts of India as well as abroad. Kerala has its airport at Kochi, which is almost at a distance of 160 km away from Vattavada.
The best route to avail is via Munnar, a travel time of almost one and half hours by car. You can even check out local buses that ply comfortably between Kochi and Vattavada. The other option is to travel by rail. Aluva is the nearest railway station, almost 150 km away from the place. The rest of the travel is same, via Munnar. The trip is scenic and picturesque, and hence you will not feel the boredom. You can witness the beauty of the majestic Western Ghats as you travel across.
For those who are traveling from the neighbouring state of Tamil Nadu, the best route is via Kodaikanal. But be careful if you are traveling during the monsoons as it is quite muddy due to the heavy rains.
What is the best time to visit Vattavada Munnar?
Vattavada can be visited any time of the year. For those who love to soak into the misty mornings, the best months are December and January during the winters. If you are a nature admirer and want to wade through a wondrous journey of waterfalls, gorgeous valleys, and the lush greenery then summers are the best for you after August. Rains are never a concern in Vattavada as its a rain shadow region and hence barred from heavy showers. The landscape is majorly green and bright almost all the months in a year, indeed a perfect place to soothe your minds and calm your brains. Nights are specially pleasant with the temperature dropping down more often.
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By now you must have gained a fair idea of the most popular things to do in Vattavada. There is nature’s enticing beauty encapsulating the place with tranquility and calmness. Then there is the marvel of the culture and heritage which augment the intricate beauty of Vattavada. Adding to that are the strawberry farms, the local delicacies, and the homemade artefacts. The place is tiny yet so much to offer to an adventure enthusiast, to a nature lover, to a history buff and even to a wildlife admirer. So whenever you are planning for a vacation, you can think of visiting this beautiful place of Vattavada.
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