ABOUT

Located in Kottayam district, this is also the highest point in Ilaveezhapoonchira. It is a hill station in Kottayam, comprises of the gigantic peaks of Mankunnu, Kudayathoor Vindhyan, and Thonippara hills. Kannadipara, situated in Kudayathoor Vindhyan, also offers panoramic view of Kottayam, Idukki, Ernakulam, Alappuzha, Pathanamthitta and Thrissur districts. According to a legend, the Pandava had a sojourn here during their life incognito. Their wife, Draupadi, came to take a bath at a lake, which was present at that time. Some devas, bewitched by her beauty, tried to satisfy their voyeuristic itch. King of devas, Lord Indra, came to know about what was going on, and built screens or hills heaping flowers and prevented them from indulging in such a practice. And the pond thus became a dam isolated by floral hills. Since there were no trees around the bund, it was always free of leaves and so it was called Ila-veezha-poonchira. Some say that the name comes from the fact that it is always windy at the place and hence the leaves are carried away.3 km from here is the Pazhakakanam Plateau nourished by the Kadapuzha River. Bamboo groves, meadows and wild flowers make this place exotic. An added attraction here is the Kazhukankulimali Waterfalls that playfully cascade down the mountain and greet the river below with a magnificent splash. On the eastern side of Kannadipara is a natural fort set amidst steep rocks. Known as the land of letters, latex and lakes, Kottayam is among the most prominent districts in Kerala. Here lies the beautiful valley of Ilaveezhapoonchira, one amongst the many prime picnicking spots in the area. The beautiful hillocks near Kanjar are known to have great trails for trekking. The view in itself is breath-taking. During the Monsoons, the entire place transforms into a surreal spectacle. The terrain changes and one observes Nature at her best. It is highly recommended to view both sunrise and sunset from the valley as the picturesque landscape opens up in a unique and exhilarating way at those specific times.