Mattupatti Dams

About Mattupatti Dams

The beautiful Mattupetty Dam is a located near Munnar in Idukki District, the Muthirappuzha River, Chanduvarai River and Kundali River are joined toghether in this dam. The Mattupetty Dam is enroute to Top Station and is situated at an altitude of 1700 m. You will often see people enjoying a lazy picnic here. Visitors love the panoramic view of the dam surrounded by wooden hills and tea plantations.Boating is a popular activity here.You will love trekking in the Shola forests around Mattupetty which is also home to a variety of birds. Walk along small streams and follow its meandering path till it falls down the hillside as a waterfall. Small streams and waterfalls cut through the tract here and there, which again adds more attraction to the place. The large amount of perennially available water allows wild animals and birds to flourish. The hill-side is dotted with pretty waterfalls that add to the attraction of the place.

Mattupetty is also famous for its highly specialized dairy farm, the Indo-Swiss live stock project. Over 100 varieties of high yielding cattle are reared here. Visitors are allowed into three of the eleven cattle sheds at the farm. However salinity caused by irrigation and water-logging are of concern to environment. This dam storage masonry dam built in the mountains of Kerala, India to conserve water for hydroelectricity. It has been a vital sources of power, yielding along with other such dams, huge revenue to the states.

Interesting things to Visit

Munnar hills station:

Munnar hills is situated at a distance of 70 km from Idukki is 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.

Rajamala:

Rajamala is the natural habitat of Nilgiri Tahr. Half the world population of this rare mountain goat is found here, which is fast becoming extinct.

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.

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.

Devikulam:

This is a hill station with its velvet lawns, exotic flora and fauna and the cool mountain air is a rare experience. The Sita Devi Lake with its mineral waters and picturesque surroundings is a good picnic spot.

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:

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.

Kuthumkal Waterfalls:

The misty waterfall provides a picturesque view of the water, cascading down from scintillating heights. The sheer beauty of the place allures thousands of visitors every year.

Observatory Hills:

This is a beautiful hill located at Nedumkandam. It’s a perfect location for people who are interested in watching the heavenly bodies, as the sky here is free from pollution.

Lock Heart Gap:

Its known for its panoramic views, is a location in Mattupetty, which is 13 km from Munnar in Idukki District. It is an ideal place for adventure tourism and trekking. The fresh mountain air and the mist-clad hills make it worth visiting.

Nearest Visiting places

Chinnar Wildlife Sanctuary:

Chinnar Wildlife Sanctuary is a unique thorny scrub forest with numerous xerophytes species. Chinnar is well known for the habitat of the endangered Giant Grizzled Squirrel of India.

Idukki Dam:

The Idukki dam, built across the Kuravan and Kurathi hills is the world’s second and Asia’s first arch dam. The Idukki dam, lying close to the cheruthoni barrage is 550 ft high and 650 ft. wide. The Idukki arch Dam is also one of the attractions of Idukki district and attracts a large number of visitors.

Marayoor:

Marayoor is about 40 kilometers away from Munnar. It is interesting to note that Marayoor is the only place in Kerala which has a natural growth of sandal wood trees. Another attraction here is the relics of new Stone Age civilization.

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.

Chellarkovil:

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.

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.

Thekkadi:

In Thekkadi, You can find the 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.

Power House waterfalls:

This waterfall is found out on the way to Thekkady from Munnar cascades down a steep rock and this is placed at 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.

Thommankuthu:

Thommankuthu waterfall is situated at 17 kms away from Thodupuzha. There is a 7 steps waterfall, which is lovely picnic spot. At each step of this waterfall there is a cascade and pool beneath.

Palkulamedu:

This is placed at 12 kms distance from Idukki. This is located 3125 m above see level from where Kochi, Alappuzha and other nearby towns e.g. Kalvarimount , Peermede ,Thekkady etc. can be seen.

Meenuli:

This place is famous for a massive rock of about 500 acres in area. Two lavish acres of beautiful evergreen forest is situated above this rock, which challenges mountaineers.

Hotels/Lodge/Accommodation

AyurCounty Resorts
Chinnakanal, Munnar
Kerala 686618
Tel: 09447070770.

Holiday Heaven Resorts Munnar
SH 17, Munnar, Idukki
Kerala 685618
Tel: 04868 249958.

MISTY MOUNTAIN RESORT
Randam Mile Pallivasal P.O.
munnar, Kerala 685565
Ph.No:0484 2539465.

Pearl Green Resorts
Mulakkada, Pallivasal
Munnar, Kerala 685612
Tel: 09447031058.

Saji Chameli
MunnarTourism.in, Munnar P.O,
Munnar, Kerala :685612
Tel: 09388335333.

Munnar hotels
SH 17, Munnar, Idukki
Kerala 685612
Tel:09349157077.

Holiday Heaven Resorts
SH 17, Munnar, Idukki
Kerala 68561
Tel: 04868 249958.

Munnar Hotel Reservations Company
Madupetty Road, Bamms Building
Munnar, Kerala 685612
Tel: 09447220025.

Help Line/Phone Number

Police Station:

Police Station
Thodupuzha, Idukki, Kerala

Police Station Munnar
Tel. : 91-486-230321

Munnar Police Station
Munnar P.O.,. Idukki District
685612, Kerala.

Police Station
Thodupuzha udumbannoor rd(TU rd)
Karimannoor, Idukki, Kerala
Tel: 04862 262434.

Nearest Hospital:

Aravind Eye Hospital
Periakulam Road, Theni
Tamilnadu 625531
Tel: 04546 252658.

Nalam Hospital
63/2, Lake Road, Sriram Nagr
Theni, Tamil Nadu 625531
Tel: 04546 254777.

Ashramam Ayurveda Hospital and Reserch Centre
Idukki, Kerala
Tel: 09746063255.

Tata General Hospital, Munnar
Tel : 91-486-2530270.

Arun Hospital, Munnar
Tel : 91-486-2530410.

Matha Hospital , Munnar
Tel : 91-486-2530744.

Link:

http://beautysceneries.blogspot.com/2009/10/mattupetty-at-kerala.html
http://henk-artshowcase.blogspot.com/2009/03/mattupetty-dam.html
http://ebharatdarshan.blogspot.com/2008/11/mattupetty-dam-munnar.html
http://arjpvc.blogspot.com/2008/05/mist-and-mountain.html
http://dileepsblog.blogspot.com/2007/12/stopping-by-woodsa-scene-from.html
http://keralapix.blogspot.com/2007/04/mattupetty.html

Location info

• Address: Mattupetty, neat Munnar, Idukki District, Kerala, India

• District: Idukki District

• Nearest City: Thiruvananthapuram, Thekkady, Kochi, Theni, Palani, Madurai, Coimbatore, Kodaikannal, Chinnar, Devikulam

• Best time to visit: December to May.

Climate & weather

Temperature - 0 degree Celsius to 30 degree celsius and in Summer- 15 degree celsius to 25 degree celsius and in Winter- 0 degree celsius to 10 degree celsius.

Things to do at Mattupatti Dams

Its beautiful Picnic spot here, You can see wooden hills and tea plantations, Boating is a popular activity here and Mattupetty hill station.

Nearest petrol pump

Petrol Pump
Aluva Munnar Road, Edathala
Aluva, Ernakulam, Kerala

Petrol Pump Pattipara
Aluva Munnar Road, Ernakulam, Kerala.

BP Petrol Pump
Thodupuzha, Idukki
Kerala.

Mobile network coverage

Airtel, Jio, BSNL, and Vi all provide coverage across Kerala. 4G is reliable in Kochi, Thiruvananthapuram, Kozhikode, and along the coastal belt. Coverage may be weaker in remote sections of the Western Ghats, deep forest reserves, and certain backwater stretches. Most hotels, houseboats, and cafes in tourist areas offer free Wi-Fi.

Food & restaurants nearby

Food options are available in the nearest town. Kerala cuisine — fish curry, appam with stew, puttu, and Kerala sadhya — is widely available and famously delicious.

Accessibility

Accessibility information is not currently available for this site. Contact the venue directly or check with your accommodation for the latest accessibility details.

Rules & restrictions

Standard visitor rules apply. Check locally for any specific restrictions at this site.

Best photography spots

The best photography spots are typically during the golden hours (early morning and late afternoon). Scout the location first to identify the best angles, and consider the direction of light at different times of day.

Best time to visit Mattupatti Dams

The best time to visit Mattupatti Dams is from November to February when the weather is pleasant and the reservoir is full from the monsoon rains. Post-monsoon (October–December) offers scenic views with lush green surroundings. Summer months see lower water levels but easier access.

Timings & opening hours

Dams are typically open to visitors from 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM on weekdays. Some dams restrict access during monsoon months (June–September) due to safety concerns. Check with the Kerala State Electricity Board for specific timings.

Entry fee & tickets

Entry to dam viewing areas typically costs INR 10–30 per person. Boating charges are extra: INR 100–300 for speed boats and INR 50–150 for pedal boats. Parking fees apply.

Duration needed

1–2 hours to view the dam, explore the reservoir area, and enjoy boating if available. Picnic areas near dams can extend the visit.

Safety tips

Do not swim or bathe in the reservoir near the dam structure. Stay behind safety barriers and observe warning signs. Be cautious of sudden water release from the dam. Do not venture into restricted areas. Follow instructions from security personnel and dam authorities.

Things to carry

Comfortable walking shoes, a camera for panoramic views, drinking water, snacks, an umbrella or raincoat, binoculars for scenic views, and a hat for sun protection. Boating, if available, requires life jacket usage (provided on-site).

Nearest airport, railway & bus

Nearest Airport: Cochin International Airport (COK) (approximately 40 km). Nearest Railway Station: Kottayam Railway Station / Aluva Railway Station. The destination is well-connected by Kerala State Road Transport Corporation (KSRTC) buses and private taxis from major towns.

History of Mattupatti Dams

Mattupatti Dams is part of Kerala’s extensive hydroelectric and irrigation infrastructure developed after India’s independence. Kerala’s first hydroelectric project was commissioned in 1940, and numerous dams were built in the subsequent decades to harness the state’s abundant water resources from the Western Ghats rivers. These dams transformed Kerala’s economy by providing irrigation for agriculture and electricity for industry and domestic use, while also creating scenic reservoirs that became tourist attractions.

Frequently asked questions

Is boating available at the dam? — Many dams in Kerala offer boating facilities — speed boats, pedal boats, and rowboats are common. Charges range from INR 100–500 per person. Availability varies by season. Can I walk on the dam wall? — Walking on the dam wall is permitted at some dams (within designated areas) and restricted at others for safety reasons. Follow local signage. What is the best time to visit? — Post-monsoon (October–January) when the reservoir is full and the surroundings are lush green.