This beautiful high range district of
Kerala is geographically known for its
mountainous hills and dense forests. For
the people of Kerala, Idukki is always
associated with power generation. About
66% of the State's power needs come from
the hydroelectric power projects in Idukki.
Idukki accounts for 12.9 percent of the
area of Kerala whereas it accounts for
only 3.7 percent of the population of the
state. About 50% of its area is reserved
forests.
There are moments sometimes when you long
to get away to peace and tranquility on a
virgin landscape where nature shimmers in
its freshness with nothing but green
rolling hills all around and a morning dew
feel that keeps you energetic throughout
the day.
A land-locked district, Idukki is one of
the most nature rich areas of Kerala.
The name Idukki has been derived from the
Malayalam word 'idukku' meaning narrow
gorge. The district was formed on January
26, 1972 carving out Devikulam, Peerumedu
and Udumbanchola taluks from the erstwhile
Kottayam district and Thodupuzha taluk
from the erstwhile Ernakulam district.
Located in the southern part of Kerala,
Idukki is a landlocked district spread over
an area of 5019 sq.kms. Blessed generously
by Mother Nature, Idukki offers diverse
attractions like wild life sanctuaries, hill
stations, spice plantation centers and
mountain treks .
It is one of the districts in the state
which has a number of wild life sanctuaries
and offers abundant scope for promotion of
eco tourism if infrastructure facilities and
proper promotional activities are provided.
It is also famed for its spice production,
tea plantations and rubber cultivation.
Idukki also boasts of having the highest
arch dam in Asia. Idukki is one of the
districts in the state where linguistic
minority exists. The linguistic minority
consists mainly of Tamil origin. They are
mainly workers in the tea and cardamom
plantations, spread in Peermade,
Udumbanchola and Devikulam taluks. The
district is highly heterogeneous in the
matter of its people in their culture,
climate, cropping pattern, physiographic
features etc.