PEERMADE

PEERMADE

INTRODUCTION

The picturesque hill resort of Peermade is indeed a cool hill resort in Kerala. The pulsating Peermade has been the summer retreat of the erstwhile rulers of Travancore. In fact the Sufi saint and an associate of the rulers Peer Mohammed lends his name to Peermade. Peermade thus means the hill of the Peer. Peermade has since long attracted the trekkers, nature lovers, picnickers alike. As a hill resort Peermade has also been providing refuge to the sun scorched souls from the plains. The idyllic hill resort of Peermade indeed rejuvenates the mind, body and the soul. LOCATION Peermade lies 85 km east of Kottayam at an altitude of 915m above sea level. The hill resort of Peermade lies in a fertile region of the Western ghats. The weather is cool at Peermade all through the year owing to its altitude. The freeze breezes make Peermade pleasant to be visited any time of the year. TOURISTS ATTRACTIONS In the gorgeous greens of Peermade the mist clad hills beckon one and all. While at Peermade you may enjoy the miles of plantations of Coffee, tea, coconut, pepper, cardamom, rubber and eucalyptus. The gorgeous green grasslands and the pine forests add to the rich flora of Peermade. The trips to the several tea estates and factories in and around Peermade are also popular with the tourists. Two of the most famous tea factories plantations are in Pattumala. The Velamkanni Matha Church and the flower garden are the other must visits at Pattumala. The summer palace and the residence of the rulers of Tranvancore are the tourist attractions of historical importance in Peermade. The mausoleum of the Sufi saint Peer Mohammed may be visited on the Peeru Hills. The adventure seekers may check out for the many trekking trails that add to the pristine beauty of Peermade. Peeru Hills, Kalthotti, Vagamon along with Karandakapara Hills, Grampi or Parunthupara, Memala offer excellent trekking trails. Cycling and horse riding are the other activities popular at Peermade. Waterfall is another major tourist attraction at Peermade that gel well with the nature's bounty all around. Meloram, Nallathanni, Panchalimedu and Valanjamkanam are amongst the waterfalls worth visiting at Peermade. In close vicinity to Peermade, 43 km away, is the Periyar Wildlife Sanctuary. The wildlife reserve is renowned for its tigers, elephants, sambar, flying squirrels and laughing thrushes. In fact in the grasslands of the Peermade itself you may spot the tiger and the leopard besides the Bison, wild bear, languor and monkeys. Then there is another plantation town of Kuttikanam, close to Peermade where you have terrific trekking opportunities. At a distance of 4 km from Peermade are the Thrissanku Hills. At the Thrissanku Hills you may try long walks and must not miss the spectacular sunrise and sunset. You may even try out the renowned curative and rejuvenating treatment packages available at the Sahyadri Ayurvedic Centre, the visit to the raw drugs museum with the collection of 200 varieties of rare and endangered herbs is interesting. To catch some spectacular sights of the beautiful nature you must climbs the hills of Grampi or Parunthupara. The wondrous vistas of the rocks, green forests, high hills and the plantations will not fail to entice you.