Places · Viewpoints · 5 min read

Kottappara, Vannappuram: Waking Up Above the Clouds

A short walk up a rocky hilltop near Vannappuram, in the hills east of Thodupuzha, and on the right morning the whole valley below you is a sea of white mist. How Kottappara became one of Idukki's favourite sunrise spots, and how to enjoy it well.

By GK Global, Adimali, Munnar · Trails & Tales by GK

For a few hours on certain mornings, the hills around Vannappuram, east of Thodupuzha, put on one of the most beautiful shows in Idukki. Cool air settles into the valleys overnight, and by dawn the low ground is filled with a level sea of white mist. Only the hilltops stand out above it, like islands. One of the best places to watch is Kottappara, a bare rocky summit just outside Vannappuram town.

The name is a common one in Kerala: kotta is a fort and para a rock, so "fort rock". There are several Kottapparas, including a well-known hilltop of the same name in Pathanamthitta district, so do check that your directions are for the one in Vannappuram panchayat, Idukki.

Getting there

Kottappara is about 3 km from Vannappuram along the Mullaringad road. The road is narrow, steep and full of sharp bends, so drive carefully, especially in the dark before dawn. Vehicles stop near a small wayside chapel (the kurisupally), and from there it is a walk of only about 150 m up to the viewpoint over rock and grass.

The sea of clouds

Kottappara became famous on social media in recent years as photographs of its misty mornings spread, and on holidays crowds of young people now drive up long before sunrise. The mist is not guaranteed. It forms best on calm, clear nights after rain, when the ground cools quickly, so the late monsoon and the months just after it (roughly August to January) give the best chances. Arrive before sunrise: by mid-morning the sun usually burns it away. On clear days there are wide views over the midland villages towards Thodupuzha and the plains, and the hilltop is also a pleasant place to watch the sunset.

Tips

• Bring a torch for the walk in the dark, and shoes with a good grip. The rock is slippery when wet, and there are steep drops at the edges.
• It is windy and chilly at dawn; a light jacket helps.
• Kottappara is a local hilltop, not a developed tourist site. There are few facilities, so carry water and take every bit of rubbish back with you.
• Respect the neighbours: keep noise down early in the morning and park without blocking the road.
• Avoid the summit in thunderstorms.