04Nov
Vattavada
Vattavada is 45 km north-east of Munnar, crossing Mattupetty, Kundala, Top Station, and Pampadum Shola. Vattavada is a virtually rain shadow village, lying in the eastern side of the Western Ghats.
Vattavada is known as the vegetable market of Kerala. These terraced slopes and valleys contain some of the finest crops produced in all of Kerala. It is famous for its wide variety of crops which is not seen on the other parts of Kerala, which includes varieties of apple, orange, strawberry, blackberry, plums, gooseberry, egg fruits, peach and passion fruits, etc.
It is known for its equable climate and is blessed with abundant sunlight throughout the year. The slopes of the multi-coloured vegetable fields are dotted with various forest patches. One can see beautiful trees like Eucalyptus and Conifers in these parts. You can also observe some rare butterfly species here, fluttering around in various hues and sizes.
The residents of Vattavada are primarily those who had fled their homes from the Tamil territory during the invasion of Mysore king Tipu Sultan two-and-a-half centuries ago. So the people here are bilingual; one gets to hear both Malayalam and Tamil.
The trekking routes to Vattavada are connected to many other important destinations in the area. A trek here can get you to other tourist favourites like Kodaikanal, Top Station, Mattupetty, Kanthaloor and Meesapulimala. People love walking these trails to soak in the beautiful natural vegetation. The locals are friendly and are always ready to help in any way they can.
The residents of Vattavada are a society of their own. These lands have a rich history and the tribals of the area attest to that. Their customs, art forms, natural remedies and way of life have intrigued people for centuries and add a distinctive flavour to the entire place.