Idukki with its mountains and resplendent greenery is a tourist’s paradise, perhaps the most favoured destination for tourists in and out of Kerala. Recently director Lal Jose was in Mankulam and Instagrammed several photographs of his time there.
He visited the Adivasi settlement in Muthuva Colony. A major chunk of the population in Mankulam comprises Adivasis belonging to the Muthuva and Man tribe. The tourists can understand their way of life, culture, food habits, customs, and dressing style more closely. Mankulam’s Plamalakkudi, Thalukandam Kudi, Viripara Adivasi Settlement, Kozhiyilakudi, Chikkanamkudi, Shevalukkudi, Kallakutti Kudi are the other areas where you can see them.
There are also various hills like Pallikkunnu, 96 Kunnu, Muniparakunnu, Parvathimala, Kilikallu Mala, Virinjapara Mala awaiting you there. Anakkulam Oru, Kilikallu Kuthu, Virinjapara Muniyara, Kallakutti Kudikuthu, Velliparakutty, Virippara tea estate are the other interesting places to visit. And there are quite a few waterfalls here - Chinnar waterfalls, Viripara waterfalls, Kozhivalankuthu, Perumbankuthu, Nakshathrakuthu are some of the prominent ones. And that is one reason why Mankulam is the only Panchayath in the state which produces electricity and even sells it to the Kerala State Electricity Board. Some relics are over 3000 years old.
Tourists need to pass through the forests from Kallattu (which is over 17 kilometres to the destination) to reach Mankulam. Taxis and jeeps are available for this purpose, as well as a few private buses. Though the roads are not exactly smooth, the scenery (tea estates, trees, and rivers) makes it worth the effort.
