Take a trek through the coffee and spice plantations of Idukki in Kerala.

Kerala- whenever we talk of this southern beauty it instantly reminds us of the beautiful temples, backwaters lined with coconut trees, and truly godly tradition and culture of the state. However, whenever you visit Idukki, Periyar, or Thekkady, you are welcome with the most beautiful shades of green and blue with lush dense forests and bluer skies. The waters have become such a popular tourist destination that the mountains and valleys often go unnoticed. But once you visit the beautiful slopes and embrace the beauty of these southern mountains, there is no going back – Peermade.

Every Southern state has a cute little hill station to offer. Here in Idukki, Peermade is one such small little hill station. Peermade is also famous as Peerumedu and is very close to Periyar, Kottayam, and Thekkady, the well-known and popular tourist destinations in Kerala. famous for trekking activities because of the beautiful spice and coffee plantations on the sloped mountains of the region, the pleasant views and mesmerizing aromas of the same add to a perfect sensory experience that lasts a lifetime.

History of Peermade: the hill of saints:

Peermade’s beauty was full of applause by the Royal family of Travancore and was their Summer Retreat. The Maharajas of Travancore would often come here to take spend leisure time. Even though back then it was extremely difficult to access peermade, this route connected Travancore to Madurai back then.

Peermade or Peerumedu means the Hills of Saints as Peer means Saint. The name is associated with Peer Mohhamed who was a Sufi saint. Peer Mohamed was one of the first spice traders in Idukki and was a close friend of Travancore’s Royal Family. Thus the region is named after him.

Peermade Trek: one of the best treks in South India:

Peermade is a trekker’s delight. This is because along with the picturesque mountains and blue skies, the spice gardens and coffee plantations add to an enriching experience. Cardamom, the most beloved tea and biryani spice of India is planted here in the slope gardens of Peermade and you can indulge in the fine sweet aroma of it as soon as you get to the base of the trek. Trekking here is a year-long activity as the climate is always pleasant and suitable for trekking. However, the best time to visit is from April to June. It takes about 2-3 days to complete the trek and the level of trekking is from easy to moderate. There are about three hills for the perfect trekking experience for you to choose from:

1. Thirssanku Hill: ideal for sunsets, this destination takes about 4kms of the trek from the peermade base camp.
2. Paranthupara Hill: also known as Grampi Hill, takes about 5kms to get to and you can enjoy the dense plantations and get an overall view of the hills around.
3. Peeru Hill: it is believed that Peer Mohhamed would often spend time over here as he traded spices, and today this is a perfect picnic spot for family and friends to sit back and take in the mesmerizing views.

You can also trek to the waterfall and plantation zones of the region which include:

1. Madammakkulam Waterfalls: visit to take in beautiful views of nature and wildlife.
2. Valanjamkanam Waterfalls: a seasonal waterfall that can be visited during April.

Other must-visit tourist places in Peermade:

1. Panchalimedu: Draupadi, one of the most essential characters behind the event of Mahabharata. It is considered to be a Goddess in this region and thus the place is named after her name- Panchali. A pond located here is believed to be where she would come to have her bath.
2. Summer Palace: This palace is the retreat where the Maharajas of Travancore would visit and stay during summers. Today it is an important tourist destination.

Places nearby Peermade that you must visit and stop by:

1. Thekkady.
2. Trivandrum.
3. Kottayam.
4. Periyar.
5. Kanjirapally.

Best Time to Visit Peermade: During Summers.

How to Reach Peermade:

• By Air: You can take a flight from major airports to Cochin Airport which is 130 km from Peermade or else you can take a flight to Madurai airport and take a bus or cab from there.
• By Train: Kottayam is the nearest railway station at a distance of 51 km from peermade and from there one can take a taxi or bus or rent a car.
• Road: as you will have to rent a car or take a bus or cab to reach the peermade even after taking a flight or train, the road is the most accessible out of all other mediums of traveling to the peermade. Bangalore, Cochin, Thiruvananthapuram, Thekkady, and Kumly are all well-connected destinations in the small town of Peermade.

Thus, You can also indulge in other activities like coffee and spice plantation tours, cycling, or simply visit to take a leisure trip and sit back and relax like the Maharajas of Travancore often would, inhaling the refreshing aroma of the spice and coffee gardens and plantations.