Meesapulimala, the Western Ghats' second tallest hill after Anamudi, is a popular trekking and camping destination in Kerala's Idukki district. The name "Meesapulimala" comes from its appearance—"meesa" meaning moustache and "puli" meaning tiger—because the hill resembles a whiskered tiger when viewed from the southwest. The summit is located approximately 20 km from Munnar, between the Anaimalai Hills and the Palani Hills. To walk to Meesapulimala, travellers must first register with the Kerala Forest Development Corporation Ltd. The base camp is roughly 40 kilometres from Munnar and can be reached via the Suryanelli-Kolukkumalai Tea Estate Road or the Aruvikkad Estate-Mattupetty route (about 25 kilometres).
A vehicle transports guests 4 kilometres from the base camp to Rhodo Valley, where they walk the final leg of the route. The walk through rhododendron forests, with cool mountain air and breathtaking scenery all around, is both soothing and exhilarating. At the summit, one is rewarded with a beautiful panorama above the sky, with the breeze whispering through the valleys, producing a genuinely divine experience. Trekkers can take in panoramic views of Munnar, Suryanelli, and, if the clouds clear, the Kerala-Tamil Nadu boundary.
