Illikkal Kallu is a Thalanadu located on top of the Illickal Malaa in the

Kottayam district Kottayam (), is one of 14 districts in the Indian state of Kerala. Kottayam district comprises six municipal towns: Kottayam, Changanassery, Pala, Erattupetta, Ettumanoor, and Vaikom. It is the only district in Kerala that neither borders the A ...

Kerala Kerala ( ; ) is a state on the Malabar Coast of India. It was formed on 1 November 1956, following the passage of the States Reorganisation Act, by combining Malayalam-speaking regions of the erstwhile regions of Cochin, Malabar, South ...

, India.The distance from kottayam railway station to illikal kallu is 57km. Situated at around 4000 feet above sea level, Illickal Kallu is a major tourist attraction in Thalanadu. L. S. G.D., Thalanadu village of

Meenachil Meenachil is the north-eastern region of Kottayam district in Kerala, south India. The name originates from Meenakshi, the Hindu Goddess. Pala is the main city in Meenachil. The arterial river of the district is also named Meenachil. Geogra ...

taluk. Only one half of the original rock remains, as the other half of the rock has fallen off. The nearest town is Teekoy. Numerous mountain streams originate from this peak and flow down to form the

Meenachil River The Meenachil River or Meenachilaar (Malayalam: ), also known as Kavanar, Valanjar, is a river in Kerala. It is one of the most treacherous rivers in Kerala due to its flash floods, heavy undercurrents and woods and debris it carries from the m ...

. Tourists must trek <1 km to reach the summit of the peak. Illikkal Mala comprises three hills, each rising up to 4,000 ft above sea level. Each of the hills has a peculiar shape. One of them resembles a mushroom, which is why it is known as Kuda Kallu (umbrella-shaped rock). The second hill has a small hunch on the sides and is therefore referred to as Koonu Kallu (hunch back rock). There is a -foot-wide bridge called Narakapalam (bridge to hell) connecting these two hills. The beauty and the landscape of illikkal kallu is similar to that of the pillar rocks in

Kodaikanal Kodaikanal () is a hill station which is located in Dindigul district in the state of Tamil Nadu, India. Its name in the Tamil language means "The Gift of the Forest". Kodaikanal is referred to as the "Princess of Hill stations" and has a long ...

. It is said that the mythical medicinal herb Neela Koduveli grows here. This mythical blue flower is also believed to possess supernatural powers, which could increase wealth and ensure a rich harvest. From the hilltops, the Arabian Sea can be seen on the far horizon as a thin blue stroke. The view of the sunset from above the peak in the evening of a full moon day can be sensational: the moon can be seen rising up like another sun, as the orange sun goes down.

References

* http://travel.manoramaonline.com/travel/getting-around-kerala/illikkal-kallu-trek-backpack-adventure-mountain-travel.html - Travel review of Illikal Kallu * https://www.tripadvisor.in/Attraction_Review-g297634-d8059488-Reviews-Illikkal_Kallu-Kottayam_Kerala.html - Trip advisor page of Illikal kallu * http://www.keralatrips.co.in/2015/06/illickal-kallu-poonjar-kottayam.html * https://kochi2ladakh.com/listing/illikkal-kallu-history-trekking-guide-vagamon/ -Travel guide on Illikal Kallu * https://www.facebook.com/illikkalkalluofficial/ - Facebook page of illikal kallu

External links

*https://www.facebook.com/illikkalkalluofficial/ - Facebook Page
http://www.illikkalkallu.com/
- the official website of illikal Kallu * https://enteyathrakal.com/illickal-kallu/ - Illikal Kallu Travelogue * http://healthacation.com/ - Healthacation official website {{DEFAULTSORT:Illikkal Mountain Mountains of Kerala Geography of Kottayam district Tourist attractions in Kottayam district