Tourism simply does not mean expeditions and adventures. The feeling of satisfaction you derive from a journey to a mesmerizing place, which is not found in the Google map, surpasses all other moments of gratification. A phone call followed by some fascinating photographs took me to the Muthukora hills above the Kaippalli village of Kottayam district. Kaippally is a hilly-agricultural village filled with tea and orange plantations. The village stays raw, blessed by the mist and charming scenes of landscapes.

In the land of Murphy

Kaippalli village was the first to cultivate rubber trees in Kerala, when Murphy, the foreigner, introduced rubber. I was lucky to reach Muthukora hills, the heaven hidden in the mist. A Kaippally native, Mr.Anto, helped me to get to the hilltop. Even if we had been Facebook friends only for a few days, the guy guided me as if I were a schoolchild for a school tour. As a guiding teacher, he showed me the whole hilltop.

Muthukora Hills: The Highest Hills of Kottayam

The Muthukora hills are the highest in the Kottayam district. From the hilltop, one can see four districts’ localities: Pathanamthitta, Idukki, Kottayam, and Ernakulam. But the scenery is visible only if the thick mist surrounding you is kind enough. The valleys of the hills involve cliffs of thousands of feet. And hence, it is hazardous to climb steep and narrow rocks in the mountains. Also, the cold winds passing by makes the place more dangerous. 
However, the mist covering and the short-lived cloud give you a heavenly feeling. This venue, therefore, people fondly call this place ‘Meeshapulimala of Kottayam’.

The Uniqueness of the Muthukora Hills

The factor that differentiates Muthukora hill from others is its vast area on the top. Above the mountain, the forest area stretches more than three kilometers and is covered by ‘Kotha’ grass, small and huge rocks, shrubs, and trees. Trekking across the hilltop, amidst the mist, cold rain, snow, and the cold winds, is a remarkable experience. At some spots, the heavy fog blocked us completely. The Muthukora hills constitute a natural wonder reflecting all the four climates within half an hour.

Muthukora Hills: The Cradle of History

On one side of the hill lies the bungalow and the tomb of J.J. Murphy. And the other side is the land of the Poonjar palace of the Pandya dynasty. The route to Muthukoramala begins from the Kaippally village, which is between Poonjar and Enthayar. The hill shares its land in the Poonjar and Koottikkal panchayaths. Illikkal Kallu, Ilaveezhapoonjira, Vagamon, and Urumbi hills are some tourist attractions near Muthukoramala. A solo trip to this venue may take you to danger. Therefore, a native must accompany you to the hilltop. 

For watching the Muthukoramala vlog, visit my youtube channel.

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