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ldukki, the unspoiled natural queen of Kerala is a tourist paradise. Idukki is the most gifted district of Kerala,with high ranges of altitude varying from 2500 feet above sea level. Idukki, is the district where forests and wildlife abound. About 1500 sq.km. of its area is reserved forest, much of which is home to a variety of flora and fauna. These forests are sources to wild life like tigers, bears, bisons, and monkeys. Streams, valleys and hills combine to make Idukki an ideal year-round holiday destination.
For the people of Kerala, Idukki is always associated with power generation. About 60 % of the State's power needs come from the Hydro-electric Power Station at Moolamattom, the biggest in the State. The famous Idukki Arch Dam, the first of its kind in India, is built between two huge granite hills across the river Periyar. The district's name, 'Idukki' is supposed to be derived from the Malayalam word 'Idukku' which means a narrow gauge. That could be true for, narrow steep-sided valleys are not a strange phenomenon in this hilly district flanked by the Western Ghats in the East.
The district is bounded by Kottayam and Pathanamthitta districts on the south, Trichur and Coimbatore districts on the north, Madurai, Ramanad and Thirunelveli districts on the east and Ernakulam district on the west. Graphical and climatological characteristics of Idukki district are unique. Anamudi in the Kannan Devan hills is the highest peak. There are 14 peaks in Idukki which exceeds a height of 2000 m. above mean sea level.
The climate of the district undergoes a sudden variation as we go from west to east. In high peaks the temperature at times falls down to freezing point in the winter. Occurrence of mist is usual in the highland regions. Idukki district experiences high degree of variation in the distribution of rainfall, temperature, humidity etc over time and space. Periyar and its tributaries, Thodupuzha and Pamba are the rivers of the district. Pamba is an east flowing river.
Idukki district was formed on January 26, 1972 carving out Devikulam, Peermade and Udumbanchola taluks from the erstwhile Kottayam district and Thodupuzha taluk from the erstwhile Ernakulam district. For purposes of developmental activities it is divided into eight Community Development Blocks namely Adimaly, Azhutha, Devikulam, Elamdesom, Idukki, Kattappana, Nedumkandam and Thodupuzha. |
