The imposing mountains and the misty green landscapes of hill stations have always been a major tourist attraction in Kerala. But if you thought Munnar, Wayanad and Vagamon are the most spectacular hills here, let’s introduce you to Paithalmala.
Situated about 65 kms from Kannur town, Paithalmala offers you an amazing vista of not just Kerala, but neighboring Karnataka too.
For as long as I can remember, Paithalmala has been a great holiday destination – during both summer and winter. In the olden days, the trek to the hilltop used to be time consuming. But now, you can drive almost up to the base of the hill. The District Tourism Promotion Council (DTPC) has come up with an array of offerings for the traveler. This has in fact increased the number of people who head out to Paithalmala, which was once a lesser known hill station. It is ideal to drive out to Paithalmala – just so that you can stop by and take in the scenery that unfolds before you.
The trek
We started trekking up the hill in the morning. Just a little way up the hill, we saw elephant dung on path. We were slightly scared, but a couple of locals told us that the elephants wander over the hills only at night and they kept a safe distance from humans. But as we went up the hills, we spotted a lot of monkeys.
Relaxed, we plod on. The path takes you through a lush green landscape. The mist rolling in during winter paints a pretty picture. And during summer, the greens against the blue skies make it appear like a Windows wallpaper. A moderate two-hour-long trek will put you near the watch tower at the top. The view from there is breathtaking, to say the least. You can see miles and miles of green – various shades of green. And you can gaze into distant Karnataka as the wind buffets you.
