Nelliyampathy Hills

The drive to Nelliyampathy is steep but lovely, with 23 dizzying, hairpin bends, tantalising flashes of the Pothundy reservoir and occasional sightings of langurs, bison, elephants and deer, who often emerge from the dense, verdant forest.

At a height of 4,600ft, Nelliyampathy is rather inadequately described as a tiny hill station. This little gem of the Sahyadri Range is rich in coffee, tea and orange plantations, and the sparse swamps of nelli (gooseberry) trees which have given the town its name. It offers many things for the intrepid traveller, with the exception of continuous cell reception, ATMs and stores selling mineral water bottles and snacks.
The Nelliyampathy Range consists of lofty peaks and deep valleys, the highest of which is Nellikota, or Padagiri, which soars 5200ft above sea level. Other peaks include Vellachi Mudi, Valiyavana, Mayanmudi and Vela Vanchan. The road from the Pothundy Dam offers a picturesque drive to the hill station and a little beyond towards Seetharkundu. Paths leading off the road head into verdant forests filled with valuable teak of extraordinary height and girth.
Nelliyampathy has a number of peaks that offer fantastic views. Raja’s Cliff at Mampara is perhaps the most breathtaking. A bald knoll 5249ft above sea level, Mampara can be accessed via a bone-jarring steep jungle path. At some points during the ride to the top, the jeep almost seems to be travelling vertically. Yet, the hair-raising experience is rendered worthwhile because of the view, which seems to define the word ‘panoramic’, with the Pothundy Reservoir and rivers gleaming like sashes of silver far below. On a clear day, this spot affords a view of the entire Palakkad Range. The Chaliyar, Meenkara, Mulathara, Malampuzha and Walayar Dam Sparkle below, and one can spot the pastoral hamlet of Kollengode. Near Mampara, the Victoria Church, an abandoned relic of the Raj, sits in solitude atop a rock. The summit lies directly in line with the Palghat Gap, thanks to which the breeze here seems like a full-blown gale. One can see Pollachi, Coimbatore and Mettupalayam on the Tamil Nadu side, and parts of Parambikulam and Palakkad on the Kerala side of the Gap.
Getting there
Nearest railway station: Palakkad Railway Station, about 60 km
Nearest airport: Cochin International Airport, about 119 km
Google map coordinates: GMPV+XP Nelliampathi, Kerala