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A hill station with large hills around 3200 ft high. Beautiful hillocks named Mankunnu, Kudayathoormala, Thonippara and Poonchira are here. A pool here is remembered in local folklore as a bathing place used by Panchali, the legendary heroine of the Mahabharata.
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The Palace of Poonjar Royal family, one of major principalities of Travancore Kingdom, was home of one of Kerala's famous prince, Prince G.V. Raja. This building is famous for its collection of antiques, exquisite furniture, chandeliers, palm leaf engravings, jewel boxes, a variety of lamps, sculptures of Nataraja (Shiva as Lord of the Dance), grain measures, statues and weapons.
Enchanting hill station at an elevation of 1100 m, with tea gardens and meadows.
Famous for having an ancient Shiva temple. Wall paintings in the temple are thousands of years old. The temple is also famous for its seven and a half golden elephants, a sequence of seven large and one small statues of elephants.
One of the oldest churches of Kerala is the St Mary’s Church Kuravilingadu, which was supposed to have been established in 105 AD. It is believed that Mother Mary's first appearance in the world, was in Kuravilingadu. Our Lady appeared to a few children at Kuravilingadu, who were tending their flock in the bushes. Mary asked them to build a church at the place from where a miraculous perpetual spring sprouted, a spring which exists even today. The children reported this matter to the elders and a church was built there. The statue of the Blessed Virgin Mary kept at the side altar is unique. It is carved from granite and it is believed that it was brought from North India. This is a miraculous statue and the devotees call this statue "Kuravilingadu Muthiyamma". The granite cross in a single block of 48 feet in front of the church was erected around 1597. The devotees offer coconut oil in the lamps at the foot of the cross. On first Fridays devotees stand in a queue from early morning to late in the evening to offer oil. There is an ancient bell with the engraving in Syriac "Mother of God". Three bells were brought from Germany in 1911. There is a "perpetual" spring, believed to be miraculous. Moonnu Nompu" is the main feast of the church.
Known as Cheria Palli (the Little Church)
Belonging to the Malankara Orthodox Church was built in 1579 by the Raja of Thekkumkur for his Christian subjects. The interior murals, painted using vegetable dyes, depict Biblical themes.