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Hill with a view

To see rolling hills, Koottikkal is as good as the High Ranges

COOL In Nature's lap

The valley lies calm.

It is 2000 feet above sea level. The colour of the skyline changes from bright yellow to pink, dark pink to crimson and then, flaming red with the sun slowly receding towards the horizon. Flocks of different types of birds fly back to their nests while the crickets' orchestra breaks the silence. A thunderous roar approaches from the east. It is the rain. Come to the hillside abode of peace, to Koottickal, not very far from Kochi. If you are a person who wants to spend some time in a tranquil environment after a hectic schedule this is the ideal place for you.

Koottickal is a beautiful village in the eastern border of Kottayam district, 60 kms away from Kottayam or three and a half hours' drive from Kochi.

For monsoon lovers, it is a perfect stage to witness magnificent thunder and lightning this season.

There are streams and waterfalls in the surrounding places. The magnificent Muthukora hill is nearby. And the view from 2500 feet up, is another feast. You can see vast expanse of earth stretching from the foot of the hill to the horizon. Townships of different panchayats of Kottayam and Ernakulam districts could be seen from the top of the hill.

These are the hills where rubber trees were first cultivated in Kerala. The pioneer Scottish planter John Joseph Murphy nurtured his rubber plantation here. The old-world charm of British plantations is still around with the purity of village life, which stretches around. The tomb of Murphy is situated atop a nearby hillock.

A reserve forest and picturesque grassland await visitors here. Kuttikkanam, Peermedu and Panchalimedu are close by too.

How to get there

Koottickal can be reached by road from Kochi via Kottayam or Palai. It takes three and a half hours by car. There are bus services also. .

SHAJUDEEN

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