Paithalmala or Pythal Mala, no matter how one pronounces it, if you are here, then you are on the best trekking trail of Kerala. This mountain is, perhaps one of the most beautiful mountain areas in the entire state, with its beauty stretching to the 6km trek, exotic flora and fauna, waterfall, and primarily, the magnificent aerial view of nearby Kodagu forests – a part of the Karnataka state. Not far from Taliparamba city, it is a must-visit tourist destination for every photographer as well as the daredevils. Liked by nature-lovers also, the place seems to pamper everyone visiting here with a gentle breeze and cover them with mist blankets. The watchtower at the peak, which is 45 min away from the Paithal valley, doesn’t just offer a panoramic view of the valleys- instead, half of the entire district is visible from here. The trekking here is categorized into two seasons- summer and monsoon, so one may avoid other times for trekking as the place gets a little bit inconvenient to get to. And just like any other trek, the chances of encountering the animal inhabitants are high here. Adventurers have two choices of trekking trails. One begins from Kappimala near Alakkodu and the other one from Pottenplave, near Kudianmala. Usually, the latter one is chosen because of its easiness.
Getting there:
Nearest railway station: Kannur, about 39 km
Nearest airport: Kannur International Airport, about 59 km
