Paithalmala - Revision history

Optimalvapors: cleanup article additionally and improved wording per sources

2025-07-22T14:13:21Z

cleanup article additionally and improved wording per sources

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	'''Paithalmala'''<ref>{{Cite news\|url=http://travelnewsindia.com/kerala-hill-stations/\|title=5 Mesmerizing Kerala Hill Stations {{!}} Best Hill Stations in Kerala\|date=8 October 2016\|work=Travel News India\|access-date=4 March 2017\|language=en-US}}</ref> is a [[hill station]] in the [[Kannur]] district of [[Kerala]] in India~~. Located~~ near Pottenplave ~~village, at~~ a height of ~~1372 m~~ above sea level, ~~this~~ is the highest geographic peak in Kannur.<ref>{{cite news\|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=lDhuAAAAMAAJ&q=Pythalmala~~&dq=Vaithalmala~~\|title=Highest peak of Kannur}}</ref> It is located at 40 km from [[Taliparamba]] and 65 km from [[Kannur]].~~<ref>{{cite news\|url=http://neokerala.com/kannur/paithalmala-complete-travel-guide/\|title=Paithalmala Travel Guide}}</ref>~~ Nestled in the [[Kerala]] [[Karnataka]] border near to [[Kodagu]] forests, it lies in the Western Ghats~~. It has become a favourite spot for the nature enthusiasts, photographers, trekkers and leisurely visitors~~.		'''Paithalmala''' is a [[hill station]] in the [[Kannur]] district of [[Kerala]] in India, located near Pottenplave. At a height of 4500 ft above from sea level, it is the highest geographic peak in Kannur.<ref>{{cite news\|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=lDhuAAAAMAAJ&q=Pythalmala\|title=Highest peak of Kannur\|year=2006\|isbn=9788190250511}}</ref> It is located 40 km from [[Taliparamba]] and 65 km from [[Kannur]]. Nestled in the [[Kerala]] [[Karnataka]] border near to [[Kodagu]] forests, it lies in the Western Ghats.

	== Trekking at Paithalmala ==		== Trekking at Paithalmala ==

	There are two trekking seasons at Paithalmala~~, falling in~~ [[monsoon]] and summer. ~~Monsoon (June to October) trekking to~~ Paithalmala ~~is a photographer's delight as the mist blankets the hills and forest. One~~ can ~~indulge into the lush greenery amidst the showers throughout the day, especially in July. Practically~~, ~~trekking is not as easy as in the summer because of the extreme climate. Watch out for~~ [[leech]]es and occasional [[elephant]] visits. [[File:Paithalmala Hill top.JPG\|thumb\|right\|Paithalmala Hilltop: The observatory tower is seen at the extreme]]		Paithalmala is a popular trekking destination. There are two trekking seasons at Paithalmala: [[monsoon]] and summer. Trekking in Paithalmala can be challenging due to frequent rain, [[leech]]es, and occasional [[elephant]] visits. [[File:Paithalmala Hill top.JPG\|thumb\|right\|Paithalmala Hilltop: The observatory tower is seen at the extreme]]

	Monsoon is followed by a cool climate in Paithalmala and the [[grass]] surrounding the hills grow to their fullest size, making it difficult to walk through. As they grow above seven feet, finding the regular way becomes a difficult task. By December, the forest caretakers set fire to the grass, taking care of the rest of the forest, to ease out the trekking experience. Soon after this, the hill becomes unsuitable to trek because of the black sooth formed but clears away after a couple of weeks.		Monsoon is followed by a cool climate in Paithalmala and the grass surrounding the hills grow to their fullest size, making it difficult to walk through. As they grow above seven feet, finding the regular way becomes a difficult task. By December, the forest caretakers set fire to the grass, taking care of the rest of the forest, to ease out the trekking experience. Soon after this, the hill becomes unsuitable to trek because of the black sooth formed but clears away after a couple of weeks. Most people generally trek between January and March.
	~~The best time for a~~ trek ~~is from~~ January to March ~~though the sun might be harsh~~.

	== ~~Things to do~~ ==		== Tourism ==

	There is an observatory tower made by the department of tourism at the hilltop which can be reached after a 45 min walk from the Paithal valley. Trekking starts through the dense forest followed by the plain grass land on the hill top.[[File:Trekkers through the forest trail.JPG\|thumb\|right\|Forest trail towards the hill]] ~~View of the valley from the observatory tower is breathtaking and the observer's eyes can hover over more than half the area of Kannur district.~~[[File:Trekkers through Paithal hills.JPG\|thumb\|Trekkers at paithal hills]] ~~Most of the visitors end their trek having time spent around the tower, but much of the excitement of the Paithalmala is located elsewhere.~~		There is an observatory tower made by the department of tourism at the hilltop which can be reached after a 45 min walk from the Paithal valley. Trekking starts through the dense forest followed by the plain grass land on the hill top. At the highest point of the observatory, the observer can see more than half the area of Kannur district.[[File:Trekkers through the forest trail.JPG\|thumb\|right\|Forest trail towards the hill]] [[File:Trekkers through Paithal hills.JPG\|thumb\|Trekkers at paithal hills]]
	[[File:Scenic view from the hilltop.JPG\|thumb\|Scenic view from the hilltop]]		[[File:Scenic view from the hilltop.JPG\|thumb\|Scenic view from the hilltop]]
	The ~~best~~ part of the trek is the walk from the [[observatory]] tower to the thick forest where trail from Kappimala ends~~. One can move on top of the hills enjoying the mesmerizing scenery of~~ the [[Coorg]] forest ~~on right~~ and Paithal valley on the left. The [[grassland]] looks stunning here and arguably is the best scene of the trek. The best time to start the trek is early morning, after the breakfast from the valley and finishing by evening. Lunch, water and snacks need to be ~~carried~~. Mobile networks other than BSNL are not available ~~here and~~ in the vicinity.		The main part of the trek is considered to be the walk from the [[observatory]] tower to the thick forest where trail from Kappimala ends, where the [[Coorg]] forest and Paithal valley can be seen. Mobile networks other than BSNL are not available in the vicinity.
	== ~~Conserving nature~~ ==		== Problems with Pollution ==

	~~This~~ is one of the few places in [[Kerala]] where ~~the~~ nature is ~~not~~ largely ~~affected~~ by human invasion, ~~thanks to the limited reachability. But the future does not look promising because of the increasing tendency of~~ visitors to ~~make~~ it as a drinking spot. The observatory tower is in a poor condition as ~~the~~ walls and barricades are broken or destroyed~~. The~~ surroundings of the tower are littered with beer bottles and ~~like any other tourist spots,~~ plastic ~~is the major threat here too~~. ~~It is sad to see even the streams where you get the purest of water have been treated badly with plastic covers thrown around. Nevertheless, the~~ hill top remains largely non-polluted and ~~the~~ visitors are advised to preserve it.		Since accessibility to it is limited, Paithalmala is one of the few places in [[Kerala]] where nature is largely unaffected by human invasion. Recently however, visitors have increasingly tended to use it as a drinking spot. The observatory tower is in poor condition as its walls and barricades are broken or destroyed, and the surroundings of the tower are littered with beer bottles and plastic items. The hill top remains largely non-polluted and visitors are advised to preserve it.

	~~== How to reach ==~~

	'''Nearest bus station :''' Pottenplave (buses are available from [[Taliparamba]]. KSRTC is running several buses to Pottenplave from Kannur depot otherwise we will get the other services like jeep etc.)

	~~'''Nearest railway station :''' Kannur railway station~~

	~~'''Nearest airport :'''[[Kannur International Airport]] / [[Calicut International Airport]] / [[Mangalore]] International Airport~~

	The hill top can be reached from two different directions; pottenplave (near Kudiyanmala) and Kappimala (Near Alakkodu). However, trekking from pottenplave is preferred because of the all-weather motorable road from pottenplave till the beginning of the forest, where the trek starts. There are upcoming resorts on this route too. The drive from Kudiyanmala till Paithalmala valley is refreshing as the winding and narrow road takes you to the higher elevations. Cars can be taken here without a second thought too. Parking at the valley is not guarded but generally safe.

	==See also==		==See also==
			{{Portal\|India}}
	* [[Kudianmala]]		* [[Kudianmala]]
	* [[Naduvil]]		* [[Naduvil]]
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	==External links==		==External links==
	{{commonscat\|Paithalmala}}		{{commonscat\|Paithalmala}}
	*[http://paithalmalatourism.com Paithal Resorts DTDC Guest House]		*[http://paithalmalatourism.com Paithal Resorts DTDC Guest House] {{Webarchive\|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160402100426/http://paithalmalatourism.com/ \|date=2 April 2016 }}
	*[http://www.paithalmala.info www.paithalmala.info]		*[http://www.paithalmala.info www.paithalmala.info] {{Webarchive\|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211210083838/http://paithalmala.info/ \|date=10 December 2021 }}
	{{Western Ghats}}		{{Western Ghats}}
	{{Tourism in Kerala \|state=collapsed}}		{{Tourism in Kerala \|state=collapsed}}

CleanupBot II: Removed empty portal template using script

2023-08-14T12:59:29Z

Removed empty portal template using script

← Older revision		Revision as of 18:29, 14 August 2023
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	==See also==		==See also==
	~~{{Portal\|India}}~~
	* [[Kudianmala]]		* [[Kudianmala]]
	* [[Naduvil]]		* [[Naduvil]]

->MB: Adding short description: "Town in Kerala, India" (Shortdesc helper)

2021-07-31T15:21:34Z

Adding short description: "Town in Kerala, India" (Shortdesc helper)

New page

{{Short description|Town in Kerala, India}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=October 2019}}
{{Use Indian English|date=April 2018}}
{{advert|date=March 2017}}
{{Infobox mountain
| name = Paithalmala
| photo = Paithalmala.jpg
| photo_caption = Paithalmala
| map = Kerala#India
| map_caption = Location of Paithalmala in Kerala
| location = [[Taliparamba, Kannur, Kerala]], India
| elevation_m = 1371.6
| elevation_ref =
| translation = പൈതൽമല
| language = [[Malayalam]]
| range = [[Western Ghats]]
| coordinates = {{coord|12.1685|N|75.5618|E|type:mountain_region:IN_scale:100000|format=dms|display=inline,title}}
| topo =
| type = Tourism
| age =
| first_ascent =
| easiest_route = From Potenplave, via Kudiyanmala
}}
'''Paithalmala'''<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://travelnewsindia.com/kerala-hill-stations/|title=5 Mesmerizing Kerala Hill Stations {{!}} Best Hill Stations in Kerala|date=8 October 2016|work=Travel News India|access-date=4 March 2017|language=en-US}}</ref> is a [[hill station]] in the [[Kannur]] district of [[Kerala]] in India. Located near Pottenplave village, at a height of 1372 m above sea level, this is the highest geographic peak in Kannur.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=lDhuAAAAMAAJ&q=Pythalmala&dq=Vaithalmala|title=Highest peak of Kannur}}</ref> It is located at 40 km from [[Taliparamba]] and 65 km from [[Kannur]].<ref>{{cite news|url=http://neokerala.com/kannur/paithalmala-complete-travel-guide/|title=Paithalmala Travel Guide}}</ref> Nestled in the [[Kerala]] [[Karnataka]] border near to [[Kodagu]] forests, it lies in the Western Ghats. It has become a favourite spot for the nature enthusiasts, photographers, trekkers and leisurely visitors.

== Trekking at Paithalmala ==

There are two trekking seasons at Paithalmala, falling in [[monsoon]] and summer. Monsoon (June to October) trekking to Paithalmala is a photographer's delight as the mist blankets the hills and forest. One can indulge into the lush greenery amidst the showers throughout the day, especially in July. Practically, trekking is not as easy as in the summer because of the extreme climate. Watch out for [[leech]]es and occasional [[elephant]] visits. [[File:Paithalmala Hill top.JPG|thumb|right|Paithalmala Hilltop: The observatory tower is seen at the extreme]]

Monsoon is followed by a cool climate in Paithalmala and the [[grass]] surrounding the hills grow to their fullest size, making it difficult to walk through. As they grow above seven feet, finding the regular way becomes a difficult task. By December, the forest caretakers set fire to the grass, taking care of the rest of the forest, to ease out the trekking experience. Soon after this, the hill becomes unsuitable to trek because of the black sooth formed but clears away after a couple of weeks.
The best time for a trek is from January to March though the sun might be harsh.

== Things to do ==

There is an observatory tower made by the department of tourism at the hilltop which can be reached after a 45 min walk from the Paithal valley. Trekking starts through the dense forest followed by the plain grass land on the hill top.[[File:Trekkers through the forest trail.JPG|thumb|right|Forest trail towards the hill]] View of the valley from the observatory tower is breathtaking and the observer's eyes can hover over more than half the area of Kannur district.[[File:Trekkers through Paithal hills.JPG|thumb|Trekkers at paithal hills]] Most of the visitors end their trek having time spent around the tower, but much of the excitement of the Paithalmala is located elsewhere.
[[File:Scenic view from the hilltop.JPG|thumb|Scenic view from the hilltop]]
The best part of the trek is the walk from the [[observatory]] tower to the thick forest where trail from Kappimala ends. One can move on top of the hills enjoying the mesmerizing scenery of the [[Coorg]] forest on right and Paithal valley on the left. The [[grassland]] looks stunning here and arguably is the best scene of the trek. The best time to start the trek is early morning, after the breakfast from the valley and finishing by evening. Lunch, water and snacks need to be carried. Mobile networks other than BSNL are not available here and in the vicinity.
== Conserving nature ==

This is one of the few places in [[Kerala]] where the nature is not largely affected by human invasion, thanks to the limited reachability. But the future does not look promising because of the increasing tendency of visitors to make it as a drinking spot. The observatory tower is in a poor condition as the walls and barricades are broken or destroyed. The surroundings of the tower are littered with beer bottles and like any other tourist spots, plastic is the major threat here too. It is sad to see even the streams where you get the purest of water have been treated badly with plastic covers thrown around. Nevertheless, the hill top remains largely non-polluted and the visitors are advised to preserve it.

== How to reach ==

'''Nearest bus station :''' Pottenplave (buses are available from [[Taliparamba]]. KSRTC is running several buses to Pottenplave from Kannur depot otherwise we will get the other services like jeep etc.)

'''Nearest railway station :''' Kannur railway station

'''Nearest airport :'''[[Kannur International Airport]] / [[Calicut International Airport]] / [[Mangalore]] International Airport

The hill top can be reached from two different directions; pottenplave (near Kudiyanmala) and Kappimala (Near Alakkodu). However, trekking from pottenplave is preferred because of the all-weather motorable road from pottenplave till the beginning of the forest, where the trek starts. There are upcoming resorts on this route too. The drive from Kudiyanmala till Paithalmala valley is refreshing as the winding and narrow road takes you to the higher elevations. Cars can be taken here without a second thought too. Parking at the valley is not guarded but generally safe.

==See also==
{{Portal|India}}
* [[Kudianmala]]
* [[Naduvil]]
* [[Alakode, Kannur district|Alakkode]]

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
{{commonscat|Paithalmala}}
*[http://paithalmalatourism.com Paithal Resorts DTDC Guest House]
*[http://www.paithalmala.info www.paithalmala.info]
{{Western Ghats}}
{{Tourism in Kerala |state=collapsed}}
{{Kannur district}}

[[Category:Tourist attractions in Kannur district]]
[[Category:Mountains of the Western Ghats]]
[[Category:Mountains of Kerala]]
[[Category:Hill stations in Kerala]]
[[Category:Populated places in the Western Ghats]]
[[Category:Geography of Kannur district]]
[[Category:Villages near Taliparamba]]