Home to the highest peak of Southern India, Anamudi; Idukki is one of the finest places to visit with friends and family. Also, you can enjoy your heart even if you travel here alone. Situated in God’s own country- Kerala, this is one of the most mesmerizing hill stations of the state. From a list of adventure activities to charming beauty, there is a massive list of things to do in Idukki.
If you are visiting this fantastic hill station you can enjoy trekking, wildlife sightings, taking a boat ride, enjoying the beautiful backwaters, going on a houseboat cruise, and multiple other attractive activities. So pack your bags and head out on a journey that will be memorable and exciting at the same time.
Here are 8 of the best things to do in Idukki:
1.Visit the Idukki Arch Dam
Do you want to start your journey by visiting a place that has a plethora of transcendental attractions, gorgeous landscapes, and picturesque sites, we can say just next to heaven. If that’s how you want to start your tour in Idukki then visiting the Arc Dam is going to give you the jumpstart you want. It is one of the most amazing Idukki tourist places where you will find a lot of people looking around and enjoying the soothing atmosphere.
Idukki Arch Dam is one of those places to visit in Idukki in 1 day. Visiting here will not only be fascinating but a highly awe-inspiring activity to do in Idukki. Therefore we suggest you should not miss out on this amazing activity because it is surely going to make your overall experience highly elevated.
| Location | Kuravan and Kurathi Hills, Close to the Cheruthoni Barrage, Idukki, Kerala |
| Visiting Hours | Monday to Sunday (10 am to 5 pm) |
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2. Go trekking in Meesapulimala
One of the most fascinating places to visit in Idukki is the Meesapulimala Valley or Summit. It is one place that draws the attention of nature lovers and adventure junkies, both. Taking a trek to this amazing place is going to be a wonderful activity that is also promoted by Kerala Tourism and over the years more enthusiasts have started taking it up. While you are on the journey to the summit, you get to see cascading waterfalls, diverse flora and fauna, a valley, and multiple awe-inspiring things. As much as exciting it looks, you need to be cautious about many things. Make sure to keep that in mind too.
| Location | Meesapulimala, Munnar, Idukki, Kerala |
| Trek Distance | 8 km |
| Distance from Idukki town center | 55 km (approximately) |
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3. Trek to Anamudi Peak
First things first, trekking to Anamudi Peak is currently banned for all travelers because of the pollution travelers did during the trek. According to the officials, it was harming the natural beauty and home of many flora and fauna. But for adventure seekers, there is a way out and that requires obtaining a special permit from the forest authorities. Once that’s given to you, it will take approximately 3 hours for trekking to the summit through the Eravikulam National Park.
The beautiful landscape, lush greenery, flowers, fauna, flora, and challenging trek makes it worth your while. When you start your trek after getting the permit, you will get a guide for a hassle-free experience. They will also take care of your food, water, and other necessities.
| Highest Altitude during the trek | 2695 m |
| Distance of the peak from Idukki town center | 51 km (approximately) |
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| Trek Timings for the visitors | 7:30 am to 4 pm |
| Avg. Total Time taken to complete the trek | 3 hours (approximately) |
| Best time to plan for this trek | Between November and May |
4. Visit the Eravikulam National Park
If you are up for adventure and have thought of visiting some of the unexplored places in Idukki, then do not miss out on visiting the popular Eravikulam National Park. It might be the highlight of this trip to Idukki but don’t worry, there are still a lot of places in the national park where people haven’t gone, except for a few. This national park is an amazing place to visit and it is situated on the backdrop of a tea plantation. How aromatic isn’t it?
The national park is well-known for its beauty which is intact to date; its placid lakes, plantations, diverse fauna and flora, and other things. Visiting the national park is surely one of the finest and most amazing things to do in Idukki.
| Total area covered by the park | 97 sq. km |
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| Avg. Total Time to visit the park | 4-5 hours |
| Distance from Idukki | 61 km (approximately) |
| Visiting hours | 8 am to 4:30 pm (Monday to Sunday) |
| Best time to visit the park | Between September and May
The park remains closed in March as it is the mating season for Nilgiri Tahr |
5. Explore Munnar
The next best thing to do in Idukki is to head to Munnar to explore whatever it has on offer. Munnar is one of the best places you can visit while visiting Idukki for a lot of reasons. It is also an enchanting and breathtaking landscape of rolling hills. The valley is usually covered with mist, tea plantations, and unchartered beauty. Munnar is located in the Idukki district of Kerala and is one of the most popular destinations here. The aroma of fresh tea mixes with the air and fills the visitors a lot.
There are multiple panoramic vistas and scenic viewpoints where you can visit and enjoy your time. Also serves as one of the most visited honeymoon destinations or family hill stations in the entire country.
| Places to visit in Munnar |
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| Best things to eat in Munnar |
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6. Go white water rafting
If you are up for another adventurous activity to enjoy in Idukki, then white water rafting at the Periyar River is waiting for you. One of the most beautiful and scenic places in the entire Western Ghats, this is a tempting and popular activity for all visitors to indulge in. While you are here at the hill station, do not forget to pick this activity.
7. Go on a houseboat cruise in the backwaters
Houseboat cruising is one of the most soothing, satiating, and amazing activities to do in Idukki. It is known for all the peace and serenity spread across the place while you are in the houseboat. People love to spend a night on this cruise and they enjoy whatever is on offer. You get food, water, and every other amenity on the boat itself. So why not spend a night here?
8. Go hiking in Kolukkumalai
The Kolukkumalai Trek is also known as the Kolukkumalai Sunrise Trek which means that it is the best time to get going on this amazing activity in Idukki during the sunrise. You can catch glimpses of beautiful landscapes, lush greenery, and more. It is one of the most enjoyable activities that can be done in Idukki.
Conclusion
The list of activities that can be done in Idukki is quite extensive and you will have to think about it for a good time. Making a list of activities is of utmost importance because once you reach there, figuring out what has to be done and what not is going to be difficult. Also, make sure that you have planned your trip according to the activities that are picked so we would surely want to you pick the best things to do from the list above.
See Also: Things to do in Munnar | Things to do in Thekkady
