Enchanting Kerala

KERALA TOURISM NEWSLETTER

Sun Moon Valley - Mattupetty

The Sun Moon Valley in Mattupetty, cradled in the arms of the hills of Munnar near Anamudi peak is literally a buffet for ones senses.

The place offers a vast variety of experiences for travelers. Blankets of velvet green tea plantations shroud the hillsides. Add to this the gurgling brooks, rushing rivulets; tumbling cascades, lush Shola forests, rippling grasslands, and the subtle mist and you have the perfect combination for a holiday in heaven.

But that’s not all. The main attraction of the valley is none of these.

It is the dam of Mattupetty that attracts hordes of visitors to this hill station year after year. 

A concrete gravity dam, it was constructed for water conservation and power generation under the Pallivasal Hydro-electric project in the late 1940s. Today, this dam is not just a vital source of electricity in Munnar but is also a haven for birds and animals.

The still waters of the lake which reflects the surrounding greenery offers you options for water sport activities like boating and speed boating organised by the district Tourism Promotion Council of Idukki (Munnar). Trekking in the Shola forests is another option for those passionate about adventure.

‘Cattle Village’ is a name Mattupetty earned from the famous Indo Swiss farm project or Livestock project launched in the year 1963 as part of the bilateral agreement between the governments of India and Switzerland. The farm with over hundreds of varieties of high yielding cattle is around three kilometers away from the Mattupetty Dam. It is a dedicated cattle development and research centre set up by the Government of Switzerland. At present the project is handled by the Kerala Livestock Development and Milk Marketing Board.

Very easily accessible from Munnar town, the ideal time to visit Sun Moon Valley is from the month of August to May.