Mathikettan Shola National Park is located at Poopara village near Udumbanchola, Idukki District.Mathikettan Shola National Park is a 12.82 km² , This tract, comprising part of the Cardamom Hill Reserve (CHR), had been notified as a Reserve Forest by the Travancore Government in 1897. Part of the land, prior to becoming a national park, had been leased out for the production of Cardamom. It was declared a National Park on Nov 21, 2003 to protect its ecological, faunal, floral and geographical wealth and its environment. Plan your adventure holiday or vacation with the information and reviews by users and experts. Find out about when to go, how to get there, what to do, best season to visit, its wildilfe, habitat and much more.The name Mathikettan derives form the tamil word literally meaning mind confuser as the local people say that one forgets the path once he enters into the park..
Location info:
Address: Poopara village, Udumbanchola taluk, Idukki District, Kerala, India
District: Idukki District
Nearest City: Thiruvananthapuram, Thekkady, Kochi, Madurai, Coimbatore and Thodupuzha .
Best time to visit: Beetwen October and march.
Climate/Weather:
During summers the temperature is around 25 °C while the minimum temperature is 15.2°C.
History:
Interesting things to do:
You can find Cardamon hiil and also different species and categories of birds and animals.
Interesting things to Visit:
Anamudi Shola National Park:Anamudi Shola National Park is situated in Marayoor Village, Devikulam taluk, Idukki district. The Anamudi Shola National Park constitutes the Mannavan shola, Idivara shola and Pullardi shola, covering a total area of around 750 hectares.Devikulam Hills Station:Devikulam Hills Station is located at an altitude of about 1000 meters from sea level and at a distance of 13km south west of Munnar, down the Munnar-Kumily Highway, SH 19, at Idukki District, this gorgeous hill station symbolises nature in her pristine glory. The crisp and cool mountain air heavily laden with the fragrance of wild flowers and rare herbs is any nature lover’s paradise.Cradomom Hills :Periyar and Kumily are the most convenient points from which visitors can easily explore Kerala’s beautiful Cardamom hills. Guide will approach you at offers of trips via jeep or taxi to the hills and if you can get a group together, these trips work out as a good travel value.Munnar Hills Station:Munnar hills is siatuated at an altitude of 5000 to 8000 Ft above sea level. and is situated at the confluence of three mountain streams – Mudrapuzha, Nallathani & Kundala. This beautiful hill station was once the summer resort of the erstwhile British Government in South India. Sprawling Tea plantations, picture book towns, winding lanes, and holiday facilities make this a popular resort town.Attukal Waterfall:Attukal Waterfalls (9 km from Munnar) : A panorama of waterfalls and rolling hills, Attukal, located between Munnar and Pallivasal, is a feast for the eyes. The place is also ideal for long treks and must be visited for its charming sceneries, glittering waterfalls and rolling hills is a feast for the eyes.
Mobile range info:
How to reach?
Nearest Railway Station:Kottayam railway station
Nearest Airport:Cochin International Airport
Road Transport:Mathikettan Shola can be approached from Poopara via Munnar, on the Munnar Kumily Highway. One can also reach Poopara on the Idukki route via Kothamangalam.
Nearest Visiting places:
Kuthumkal Waterfalls:The Kuthumkal waterfall provides a picturesque view of the water, cascading down from dazzling heights. The utter beauty of the place attracts thousands of tourists every year. This is truly nature at its best!Top Station:Top Station, the tranquil hill station is located about 32 km from Munnar, on the Munnar-Kodaikanal Road. Perched at an altitude of 1700 m above sea level, Top Station is the highest point on Munnar-Kodaikanal Road and one of the most famous hill spots in Kerala.Lock Heart Gap:This is a location in Mattupetty. The place is ideal for adventure tourism and trekking. The fresh mountain air, the mist-clad hills and panoramic view make it worthy of a visit. Adventurous spot for trekkers and to live with the wildlifeChellarkovil:This is a beautiful village that shares its borders with Tamil Nadu. The place presents visitors with a fantastic opportunity to observe the typical life of simple people settled in the villages at high ranges. The scenic extravaganza including acres of luxuriant fields, plains and gurgling waterfalls make it a much sought out tourist destination.Kuttikanam:This place is ideal to for treks and other adventure sports like mountain climbing or simply a walk among the winding paths that lead up the steep hills. The place is famous for cardamom plantations and one can really smell cardamom in its air.Pothamedu:Pothamedu is one of the major plantation hubs of Munnar. Views of coffee, tee, and cardamom plantations are excellent from this place. It is an ideal place for trekking and hiking amidst lush mountains, rolling hills, and breathtaking scenery.Pallivasal:Pallivasal is situated around 8 km from Munnar. It has the distinction of being home to the first hydropower project in Kerala.It is a place of immense scenic beauty.Echo point:As its name suggests, the place has a natural echo phenomenon. Echo point is on the way to Top Station from Munnar.Nyayamakad:This place is Located between Munnar and Rajamala, Nyayamakad is a land of breathtaking waterfalls of Kerala. The waters cascade down a hill from a height of about 1600 meters.Kundala:
Kundala is a town on the way to Top Stations. The Golf Course which belongs to Tata Tea Ltd. is located here. The Kundala artificial dam is another attraction.Aruvikkad waterfalls is also near Kundala.Power House waterfalls:
This waterfall on the way to Thekkady from Munnar cascades down a steep rock, 2000m above sea level. The spot is enriched with the scenic western mountain ranges, and is an ideal place for a break on the way to the Periyar Wildlife Sanctuary in Thekkady.Attukal:A panorama of waterfalls and rolling hills, Attukal, located between Munnar and Pallivasal, is a feast for the eyes. The place is also ideal for long treaks.Chithirapuram:
Chithirapuram is having sleepy little cottages, bungalows, old playgrounds and courts, Chithirapuram still exudes an old-world charm.Home of the Pallivasal Hydel Power Project, this hill town is also famous for its picturesque tea plantations.Idukki Wildlife sanctuary:The Idukki Wildlife sanctuary is located about 40 km from Thodupuzha in the Idukki district in Kerala, India and is spread over an area of 77 square kilometers. This wildlife park includes the regions Idukki Wildlife of Udumpanchola and Thodupuzha districts of Kerala, India. The Idukki wildlife park in Kerala, India came into existence in the year 1976.There is a lake located within the Idukki wildlife sanctuary that is worth visiting during your wildlife tours to this wildlife sanctuary.Eravikulam National Park:Eravikulam National Park attracts the travellers with its irresistible grace and beauty. It is spread over 97 sq km in the Rajamalai hills. This park was established to protect the Nilgiri Tahr also known as the Nilgiri Ibex.Kumily :This lace is Situated just 4kms from Periyar, Kumily is a growing town where tourism is fastly catching up just like the spice trade, the major occupation of this small town. The town is also well equipped with the excellent hotels and resorts for accommodation.Marayoor:The little town located 36km from munnar.It is famous for the exotic sandal wood forests in the region.Thekkadi:Rolling hills,tea and cardamom plantation welcome you to thekkadi.it is one of the largest wildlife reserves in India,the Periyar wildlife sanctuary is more popular as a tiger reserve.A boat ride on the spendid periyar lake is the best way to experience the sanctuary.Here we can see herds of elephents,tiger,sambar,spotted deer etc.Trekking facility is another advantage of Thekkadi.Kunthakulam bird sanctuary:Kunthakulam bird sanctuary is one of the delights for the ornithologists. The sanctuary is situated 33-km south of Tirunelveli in Nanguneri Taluk. Kunthakulam is a small and natural scenic village, which is covered with natural forests and ponds. Tourists who are keenly interested in adventure and trekking will enjoy visiting the place.Eravikulam National Park:Eravikulam National Park attracts the travellers with its irresistible grace and beauty. It is spread over 97 sq km in the Rajamalai hills. This park was established to protect the Nilgiri Tahr also known as the Nilgiri Ibex.The Periyar Lake:A boat ride on the lake will make your Periyar tour absolutely fantastic. Sighting the elephants from the boat is very easy, as they come in herds near the lake to frolic in the water.The periyar wildlife sanctuaryThis is situated at the banks of the artificial lake named Periyar Lake at Thekkady, encircled with the Western Ghats this sanctuary is blessed with unique qualities of forest itself with evergreen woods and bushy thick forest and savannah grasslands are the enchanting aspects to the viewer’s vision.
Nearest Petrol Pump:
Jawahar Petrol Pump Kothamangalam, Ernakulam Kerala State.BP Petrol Pump Thodupuzha, Idukki Kerala.Petrol Pump Vazhakkulam, Ernakulam Kerala State.Petrol Pump NH 49, Puthencruz Ernakulam, Kerala.Reliance Petrol Pump SH 32, Pala Kottayam, Kerala.NG Pudur Petrol Pump SH 21, Coimbatore Tamil Nadu.
Hotels/Lodge/Accommodation:
Holiday Heaven Resorts Munnar SH 17, Munnar, Idukki Kerala 685618 Tel: 04868 249958.Pearl Green Resorts Mulakkada, Pallivasal Munnar, Kerala 685612 Tel: 09447031058.Hill View Hotel A. M. Road, Munnar Munnar, Kerala Tel: 04865 230567.T & U Leisure Hotel SH 17, Munnar Idukki, Kerala Tel: 04865 233081.Camp Noel – Nature Resort and Hotel Pazhathottam, Munnar Kerala 685615 Tel: 09447166295.
Things to carry:
Tips & Suggestions:
Help Line/Phone Number:
Police Station:Police Station Thodupuzha udumbannoor rd(TU rd) Karimannoor, Idukki Kerala Tel: 04862 262434.Police Station Thodupuzha, Idukki Kerala.Police Station Kerala 080 686670.Police Station Usilampatti, Madurai Tamil Nadu.
Nearest Hospital:Aravind Eye Hospital Periakulam Road, Theni Tamilnadu 625531, India Tel: 04546 252658.Ashramam Ayurveda Hospital and Reserch Centre Idukki, Kerala Tel: 09746063255.Holy Family Hospital Muthalakodam, Thodupuzha Idukki, Kerala.Archana Hospital River View Road Thodupuzha, Idukki Kerala.Karuna Hospital Thodupuzha, Idukki Kerala.