Parunthumpara, near Peerumade, is a trekkers' delight that provides a bird's eye view of an endless stretch of green forest land and low-lying areas.
Parunthumpara is six km from Peerumade on National Highway 220 and is increasingly being visited by tourists who are on their way to Thekkady and others as well. If the sky is clear, visitors can get the view of the Sabarimala forests.
A narrow, but well-maintained, road from Kallar Junction leads to this hill station which has wide grasslands to spend some quiet moments. It is also a place for off-beat travellers and a large number of domestic tourists visit the place on holidays.
Though the place is yet to be included in the tourism map of the district, the place can stand up to any other hill stations. On a sunny day, it is just verdant beauty all around.
However, the steep hills also pose a threat to reckless visitors. There are a few deep slopes and one should be careful while visiting Parunthumpara.
The District Tourism Promotion Council plans to develop Parunthumpara as a hill station and as a stopover place for tourists who come from Kumarakom to Thekkady. There are two main roads through which the domestic and international tourists reach the district — from Nedumbassery to Munnar and from Kumarakom to Thekkady. Between these main tourism destinations, there are a few must-see places and Parunthumpara had been identified as one among them, said an official at the District Tourism Promotion Council. Some more basic facilities needed to be arranged there, he said.
A project had been submitted to the government for constructing a protective wall and for allotting a parking area so as to prevent the entry of vehicles on the grasslands, he said.
Sabarimala pilgrims visit the area to witness makarajyothi, making it a busy place during the pilgrimage season.
