Ranipuram

Ranipuram (celebrated across South India as the premier highland hill station of North Malabar, affectionately crowned as 'The Ooty of Kerala', and previously known in colonial annals as Madathumala), situated along the misty Western Ghats crest in Panathady near Kanhangad just 55 km southeast of Kasaragod town in Kerala, is one of the state's most exhilarating, ecologically pristine, and scenic shola grassland trekking summits.

Soaring to an altitude of 1,022 meters (3,353 feet) above sea level along the interstate border with the Talakaveri Wildlife Sanctuary of Coorg (Karnataka), Ranipuram preserves a rare high altitude ecological continuum where moist tropical evergreen rainforests merge smoothly into expansive, wind swept montane shola grasslands dotted with massive monolithic granite boulders.

It's the home of the exhilarating 2.5 km uphill summit trek ascending through dense shaded forest canopies and bamboo thickets to reach the windswept crown of Mani Hill (Mani Mala), 360 degree panoramic viewpoints overlooking the deep forested valleys of Coorg and the coastal plains of Kasaragod, a vital wildlife corridor sheltering roaming herds of wild Asian elephants, Indian gaurs (bison), leopards, sambar deer, barking deer, and Malabar giant squirrels, an avifaunal paradise harboring over 200 bird species (including the Malabar Pied Hornbill, Nilgiri Wood Pigeon, and Emerald Dove), rare wild orchids and medicinal mosses, cool mountain breezes where temperatures drop to 12°C to 18°C during winter months, and the Kerala Forest Department DTPC eco tourism cottages located right at the trekking base camp.

It represents a rich highland, trekking, and biodiversity sanctuary where high altitude shola montane ecology, thrilling summit hiking paths, cool misty Western Ghats climate, and deep wilderness peace unite in Panathady grama panchayat.

Located in Panathady village along the Kanhangad Panathur-Coorg highway, it sits 45 km from Kanhangad Railway Station (KZE), 55 km from Kasaragod Railway Station (KGQ), and 100 km from Mangalore International Airport (IXE), easily accessible by KSRTC hill buses, private 4x4 jeeps, and scenic mountain highway drives.

The 1,022m Mani Hill Summit Trek

The 2.5 km trek begins at the Forest Department ticket counter, winding through shaded woods before opening onto expansive rolling grasslands.

Stone steps and guided railings assist hikers across steep rock sections up to the colossal granite viewpoint boulder crowning the peak.

Truth is, standing atop the windy summit while thick clouds of mist roll across the Coorg border ridges is an exhilarating experience.

Talakaveri Wildlife Corridor & Bio Wealth

Elephant Habitat: Bordering Talakaveri Sanctuary, wild elephant herds frequently graze in the shola valleys below the main trekking ridge.

Biodiversity Hotspot: Botany enthusiasts will find diverse epiphytes, rare medicinal lichen, and endemic mountain flora along the trail.

DTPC Eco Cottages & Trekking Base Camp

Stay at Base Camp: The District Tourism Promotion Council (DTPC) operates cozy cottages and dormitories at the base camp for overnight travelers.

Sunrise Views: Staying overnight allows hikers to catch the spectacular early morning sunrise breaking through the misty valley clouds.

After conquering the heights of Ranipuram, trek the nearby shola ranges of Kottancheri Hills, explore the 32 acre Kareem's Forest Park, or tour the 17th century Bekal Fort in Kasaragod.