There is a place in God’s Own Country (Kerala, India) that is said to be touched by the heavens. A place where the clouds seem to touch the earth and the mist envelops everything in a mystical haze. This place is Meesapulimala, the second-highest peak in the Western Ghats, standing tall at an elevation of 2,640 meters above sea level. Meesapulimala is a trekker’s paradise, with its breathtaking scenery, serene atmosphere, and challenging terrain. I’ve always been curious about it, but never took the time to explore it until I visited India for a short time and decided to plan a trip with a friend.
Getting there
For starters, it is in Munnar area, so connectivity is good by car or by bus. If travelling from Kochi or Airport > Perumbavoor > Kothamangalam > Adimali > Munnar, there is a good pit stop (Mount Park Inn) for breakfast. There is delicious vegetarian as well as non vegetarian dishes
Have a stop at Cheeyappara Waterfalls on the way.
A nice view point on the way near Munnar 2nd Mile with eat out
About the Trek
The trek to Meesapulimala can be divided into two parts, with the first part being a jeep ride from eco tourism office to Rhodo Mansion or Base Camp. The jeep ride takes you through winding roads, past tea plantations and dense forests, offering stunning views of the surrounding landscape. The second part of the trek involves a challenging climb to the summit of Meesapulimala from Rhodo Mansion, which takes around 4-5 hours to complete. If you chose to stay in base camp the jeep will drop you in the morning to Rhodo Mansion where the trek starts
The trek to Meesapulimala is led by experienced guides from the Kerala Forest Department, who are well-versed with the terrain and the ecosystem of the region. These guides share their knowledge and stories about the local flora and fauna, making the trek even more engaging and informative.
How to book the trek
The trek to Meesapulimala is not an easy one, but it’s worth the effort. The place gained popularity after being mentioned in a malayalam movie “Charlie” , so people started flocking there to see it for themselves. But not everyone can just go and trek there, it’s illegal. The trek is only conducted by the forest department, so I had to make bookings through them.
Here is the link to Meesapulimala online booking KFDC Eco Tourism.
They were really helpful from the moment we booked online, by giving details over phone, ensuring that a jeep is arranged to take us from eco tourism office to Rhodo mansion and back. We need to pay separate for the jeep is given directly to the driver, the rate is fixed and will be informed by KFDC. Do not attempt to take your own vehicle as the road is suitable only for real 4×4 think Jeep.
Best time to visit
The best time to undertake the Meesapulimala trek is from September to November and from January to March, when the weather is pleasant and clear. December is good is you want to experience the chill and clouds.During the monsoon season, the trekking route becomes slippery and dangerous, and it is not advisable to attempt the trek during this time.
Our experience to this magical place
The plan was to visit some places in Munnar before starting the trek. More on this here
We checked in at the ecotourism office in Munnar and finished all the formalities. We parked our car there, gave the keys to office staff for valet, since we couldn’t take it with us on the trek. The forest department provided a Jeep to take us to the Rhodo mansion, where we were going to stay.
The journey was amazing, with beautiful views all around us. The road started off smooth with tarmac, but eventually turned into mud tracks with steep valleys on either side. It was rocky and barely two tires could go through it. We met a few other people from the forest department who were also going to Meesapulimala.
The first stop was the base camp, where tent accommodation and common toilets are provided. For those who booked accommodation in base camp, first leg of journey ends here.
We continued our journey, just me and my friend who had booked the Rhodo mansion on that particular day. We finally arrived at the Rhodo mansion, which was at a height of 8000 feet. It was cold and thin up there, but we were welcomed warmly by the guides. The room was simple, but clean, with an attached bathroom and cozy blankets to keep us warm. They cooked simple, warm Kerala food on site, which was just what we needed after the long journey.
Start of a lifetime memory
The next morning, we were supposed to start the trek at 6:00 AM, so we were up and ready by 5:50 AM. We chose to have a brunch after the trek. The folks from the base camp were brought in another Jeep so that we could all start the trek together. We trekked to the nearest point of the summit of Meesapulimala, and watched the beautiful sunrise along the way.
The trek was not an easy one, with ups and downs, steep climbs and plain paths. It was a breathtaking view, and we took many pictures along the way.
Above the clouds
After three grueling hours, we finally made it to the summit point of Meesapulimala at an altitude of 8700 ft. The view was beyond words, we forgot that we are gasping for air. The best thing we did was to keep all the gears down, sat in silence and took all in.
Way back to Rhodo
It’s important to note that the route back is not the same as the one we took to get there. The guides took us on a different route back to the Rhodo mansion. So enjoy all the way up and take enough photos. The return is through grass lands and on the way back we found Rhodo tree and flowers, crossed clear streams and of course hunger will lead you faster
We had filling brunch and jeep was ready to pick us up. We took some more time to see more places by taking a detour on the way back and paying a few extra bucks to the driver and he was happy to accommodate.
Overall, it was an unforgettable experience. The trek was challenging, but the views and the experience made it all worth it. If you ever get the chance to visit Meesapulimala, I highly recommend it.
