Kalvari Mount!
We found this place when we were researching and talking to some of our friends while planning the route for 12 Road Trips to experience monsoon in western ghats. We have been to Thekkady but not beyond. In fact we did go to the lovely Idukki dam when were in Thekkady a decade ago. At that time no one mentioned about this beautiful spot.
When we saw the pictures of this place, we were stunned at the beautiful sight! We had seen similar sights in Red Hills, Ooty and in Kavaledurga, Tirthahalli. Thus, when we planned for our year end road trip to another unexplored gem known as Vagamon, it was a given thing that we will be driving to this place.
It was mid day when we reached the place. A narrow steep road - this is a really steep road at 45 degrees - leads you to the top of the hill. We were keeping our fingers crossed and praying that no vehicle come from the opposite direction. After half a KM of well laid concrete road, we were were faltered to deceive. The next one and half KMs is a mud track with many bad patches. Finally when we made it to the top, this is what we saw. Do we need to say that our jaws dropped at this gorgeous view?
We present here the 180 degrees view of this place. Please click on the pictures for enlarged and beautiful views.
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| Panoramic view from Kalveri Mount - Left side |
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| Panoramic view from Kalveri Mount - Right side
And now.....the 180 degree pan shot taken in iPhone 6 by Brinda........
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Isn't it stunning? These are the backwaters of Idukki dam in Idukki district of Kerala. It is part of Western ghat ranges in South India.
Where is it - This is located on Kattapana - Thodupuzha road. It is 12 KMs from Kattapana. Road condition is excellent. Good signage is there. One can do this as a comfortable day trip from Thekkady clubbing with Idukki dam.
Best time to go - Avoid monsoon unless you are trekking. It will not possible to drive to this place in monsoon unless you have a 4*4 and willing to take enormous risk. We feel it is not worth taking the rink by driving up. If you insist on going in monsoon, then walk. But be prepared for leeches. The best time to go is immediately after monsoon - September - when the hills are still green.
Caution - The road to the hill top from the highway is very steep and require very good skill of driving in the hills. The road is also narrow. Driving in cars with low ground clearance is risky as the concrete road is only 500 metres after which it is a mud track with very bad patches. It would be better to hire a jeep in Kattapana or at the foot hill.
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