Ranipuram Hills, One of the Captivating Hill Stations of Kerala

Ranipuram hill station is situated at a distance of about 85 km from Kasargod town, in the northern part of Kerala. The region of this hill station is fairly unexplored and is a favorite destination for bird watchers and trekkers.
The entire region of this pristine hill station of Kerala comprises of evergreen forests, grasslands and a unique type of vegetation called ‘Shola’. The widespread forest surrounding this hill station blends with Karnataka and stretches up to the Coorg mountains. Ranipuram hill station is one of the top scenic destinations of Kerala where local as well as tourists from all over the world come to enjoy the picturesque views of the place. The hill station is also popular among the tourists because of its pleasant climate and fresh cool air of the hills. Ranipuram is also compared to Ooty because of the awe-inspiring beauty of this place.

Attractions

Trekking- Trekking is one of the most popular attractions of Ranipuram. The trek to the hilltop is quite easy and one can enjoy the view of lush green surroundings from the summit of the hill. The route involves steps in certain areas making the trek to the summit an easy one. One can initiate the entire trek from early morning and return back by the end of the day.

National Park- The renowned Ranipuram National Park blends with the Talacauvery Wildlife Sanctuary of Karnataka and is home to wide variety of wild inhabitants. The park is inhabited by around 24 species of wild animals and 200 species of birds including elephants, wild bison, porcupines, leopards, Paradise flying catcher, the black eagle, the crested serpent eagle, Malabar grey horn bill, flying squirrels and many more. Ranipuram national Park is also home to diverse variety of reptiles and insects.

Nearby Attractions

Apart from the scenic hill station of Ranipuram, there are many other tourist attractions in Kasargod district. Bekal Fort, which is located at a distance of about 55 km from Ranipuram, is one of the top tourist attractions of the region because of its historical importance. Glittering beaches like Bekal beach are located near to this fort that is perfect for holiday vacations. Kottancheri is another major tourist attraction of the region that is perfect for trekking. The place is located at a distance of about 30 km to the northeast of Kanhangad. Also, cruise trips on the tranquil backwaters of Valiyaparamba should be experienced while on a trip to Kasargod. The region also has something for religious seekers with the existence of primeval temples like Madiyam Kovilakam temple, Palakkunnu Bhagavathy temple and Ananthapura Lake temple. Kasargod is also home to renowned to popular spiritual centers like Anandashram and Nithyanandashram.

Best Time to Visit

The best time to visit the Ranipuram hill station is between the months of September to March. Monsoon season should be avoided for travelling to Ranipuram.

Accommodation

As for accommodation at this place, the tourist cottages located on the hill top are managed by Kerala Tourism Development Corporation and are excellent option for staying at this place.

How to Reach

By Air- The nearest airport to this hill station is Mangalore International Airport, located at a distance of about 50 Km from Kasargod.

By Road- The hill station is easily accessible by road, as frequent jeep services are available from Panathady to Ranipuram. Regular bus services are also available to this hill station from Kanhangad. The place can also be accessed through Kanhangad-Panathoor route on National Highways 17. By turning right at 30 km point from Panathady will get you to this hill station.

By Rail- The nearest railway station to this hill station is in Kasargod, located at a distance of about 85 km.