Nilambur Attractions - Tourist Places To Visit In Nilambur

The Teak Museum, situated at a distance of 4 km from Nilambur town, is a double storied building containing exhaustive information on teak trees. Built in 1995 inside the Kerala Forest Research Institute campus, this museum is the only one of its kind in India. The Museum with its astonishing wealth of information attracts thousands of tourists and nature enthusiasts.

The intricate root system of an old teak tree, displayed at the entrance of the museum, is a spectacular sight no visitor would want to miss. The noteworthy collections preserved in The Teak Museum include translites of Kannimara Teak, a colossal teak tree from Conolly's Plot, a wooden made model of the ancient marine vessel named Uru and teak poles of different sizes.

The huge stump of a very old teak tree (over 480 years old) is elegantly displayed inside the museum. The museum has other attractions such as a collection of butterflies and moths, paintings depicting tree felling, photographs and traditional tools used for harvesting. The museum is open to visitors on all days except Monday from 10 am to 4.30 pm.  

Kannimara Teak, the major tourist attraction near Nilambur, is ranked as one of the largest teak tree existing in the world today. The tree has a colossal structure with a girth of 6.48 m. Estimated to be around 400 years old, the crown height of Kannimara Teak is about 48.75 m. The tree plays a central role in the belief systems of the tribal groups inhabiting the region and there are several stories about it.

According to one such story, blood gushed out of the trunk of the tree one when people attempted to cut it down. From then onwards the local tribes started worshipping the tree as “Virgin Tree”, a practice from which the tree derives its name.

The name Kannimara is a combination of two Malayalam words: kanni (meaning virgin) and mara (meaning tree). This spectacular tree is to be found in the Parambikulam Wild Life Sanctuary which is located in Palakkad district. This sanctuary can be reached by road and is at a distance of about 80 km from Nilambur town. The government of India honored this tree by awarding it with the ‘Mahavriksha Puraskar’.

Adyanpara Falls, which is situated in the village of Kurmbalangod, is a splendid waterfalls that attracts a great number of tourists and nature lovers. It is located at a distance of about 12 km from the town of Nilambur and can be reached by taking the Nilambur-Ooty highway.

Adyanpara Falls is best known for its scenic surroundings, lush greenery and colossal rocks through which it gushes down. After cascading through the rocks the waterfall forms a small pool which is a popular tourist attraction. Travellers can enjoy taking a dip in the cool water and indulge in the tranquility the spot offers.

This waterfall originates from a famous mountain range of Vellarimala and after flowing for kilometres though rocks and dense forests before it joins River Chaliyar. Adyanpara Falls is about 300 ft high and is blessed with never-drying streams. Surrounded by evergreen forest, this waterfall offers a picturesque view and is a perfect spot for one day tours and family picnics.

Conolly's Plot, situated at a distance of 2 km from the town of Nilambur, is acclaimed as the oldest as well as first teak plantation of the world. Spread over a vast tract of land, this plantation is named after H.V.Conolly who served his office as the District Collector of Malabar during colonial times. The setting up the plantation began during mid-nineteenth century under the administration of Conolly and his subordinate named Shri. Chanthu Menon.

The plantation was originally set up as part of regulating the activities of the Forest Department of Madras Presidency. Conolly's Plot was instrumental to meeting the timber needs of Great Britain during World War II.

Today Conolly's Plot is situated in a place named Vadapuram and the Government Timber Depot lies nearby. It is on the sides of the Chaliyar River and to reach the spot travelers need to take a ferry across the river Conolly's Plot is an ideal spot for those who want to immerse themselves in the tranquility it offers.

Aruvacode, a small village situated in close proximity to Nilambur, is best known as a hub of art and craftworks. Famed for its fine pottery carried out by a traditional community named Kumbharan, this hamlet attracts hundreds of visitors and tourists. This pottery village was made popular by artist K.B Jinan who initiated the groundbreaking Kumbham Handicraft Project.

About hundred families of this village are engaged in the art of making traditional clay pots, garden furniture, architectural accessories and utensils. Today this village is known as Aruvacode Pottery Village.

The story of Aruvacode Pottery Village is truly inspiring for those who are interested in small-scale industries. Though traditionally inhabited by skilled potters, the economy of this region had collapsed due to the advent of globalization. Subsequently, clay pots and utensils lost their popularity with the introduction of cheaper substitutes. But the potters of the village under the leadership of K.B Jinan revived this art form and made a successful return.

Today the Kumbham Handicraft Project has more than 500 unique designs to its credit. Aruvacode is an ideal place to roam around and travelers can buy Kumbham products from the shops here.

Nedumkayam, located about 18 km from the town of Nilambur, is best known for its dense rain forests. The place revels in natural beauty and displays an extensive variety of flora and fauna. One of the major attractions of Nedumkayam is the wooden rest house constructed during the colonial times. From this rest house travelers can enjoy a vista of the green surroundings and animal life.

The forest zone of Nedumkayam is rich with greenery and is home to a number of animal species such as elephants, bison, tiger, rabbit, blue monkey, bear, wild cat and deers. Travellers can enter this zone only after obtaining permission for the Forest Department as stringent measures are taken to protect the area.

Nedumkayam has an elephant taming camp which attracts thousands of tourists to this place every year. The region is included under Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve and is part of the area chosen by the government to run Kerala’s 2nd eco-tourism development project. With wide tracts of landscape, Nedumkayam serves as an ideal trekking trail.

Central Forest Nursery, one of the four forest nurseries of Kerala, was set up in 1997. This was established with the aim of generating premium quality seedlings such as like teak, acacia and eucalyptus. This nursery serves instrumental to the proper functioning of the plantations in Nilambur and is under the administration of Kerala Forest Department.

Central Forest Nursery is located at Valluvassery in close proximity to Nilambur town. The root trainer seedlings and rooted cuttings of many prominent species of trees are produced in this fully equipped nursery. This place is highly recommended for those travellers who are interested in plant life and plantations.

The Elambalai Hill, situated on the Kerala-Tamil Nadu border, is a popular destination for nature lovers and wildlife enthusiasts. The hill is located close to Nilambur and is accessible by road. The Elambalai Hill is best known as the place from which River Chaliyar originates. Thick forestlands and mesmerizing bamboo woods surround the hills making it a real visual feast for spectators.

This spot serves as an ideal location for wildlife lovers as it is home to a wide variety of animals including elephants, deer, blue monkeys, bison, bears, wild cats and dogs. With its scenic beauty and green carpets Elambalai Hill will enchant both photographers and backpackers. It is a perfect getaway location for family picnics and leisure trips.

Vellamthode Falls is a permanent waterfall known for its beauty. This popular tourist attraction of Nilambur is located on the top of a hill and offers a charming view of the surroundings.

Situated at a distance of 27 km from the town of Nilambur, it is accessible via road through Kozhikode by taking Areekode-Mukkam road route. This scenic spot is located inside a tribal settlement and attracts nature lovers and adventure freaks.