Attractions in Kollengode and Seetharkundu — Complete Guide to Things to See in Palakkad, Kerala

The Seetharkundu Waterfalls is the defining landmark of this entire part of Palakkad. Fed by perennial forest streams originating deep in the Nelliyampathy range, the falls descend in multiple tiers through a natural rock channel before settling into a clear, still pool surrounded by Western Ghats forest. The sound reaches you before the sight does - a deep, continuous bass note that grows louder as the shaded trail from Seetharkundu Resorts narrows toward the falls.

The trail itself begins at the resort gate and passes first through the herbal plantation - a garden of Ayurvedic plants - before entering the forest. The canopy closes overhead. Temperature drops noticeably. Bird calls replace road noise. Then the waterfall reveals itself: first as spray on your face, then as a roar, then in its full multi-tier cascade. The pool at the base is clear and reflective in the early morning. At golden hour, the western light catches the water at an angle that turns the entire fall amber and gold.

What makes Seetharkundu Waterfalls genuinely special is its intimacy. No ticket booth. No railing-lined tourist platform. No crowd. Just the forest, the water, and the mist. Staying at the resort means you can visit at dawn - when you will have it entirely to yourself - and again at sunset, experiencing two completely different moods of the same waterfall in a single day.

The waterfall trail most visitors take ends at the base pool. But there is a second route - guided exclusively through Seetharkundu Resorts - that climbs above the waterfall, ascending through the Nelliyampathy foothills forest to a rocky outcrop that overlooks the falls from above. From this elevated viewpoint, the waterfall drops away below you into the canopy, the pool is visible as a glint of light in the forest, and the full landscape of the Palakkad plains stretches south.

The climb involves a proper forest trail - roots, rocks, and steep sections - and is best done with a guide from the resort. The reward is a perspective of the Seetharkundu Waterfalls that very few visitors have ever seen. On monsoon mornings, mist rises from the falls below and drifts across the viewpoint, creating an extraordinary atmosphere. Bring sturdy footwear, a water bottle, and at least 90 minutes of available time. Best at sunrise, when the mist is thickest and the light most dramatic.

The herbal plantation at Seetharkundu Resorts is not ornamental - it is a genuine working cultivation of indigenous Ayurvedic medicinal plants, the living legacy of the parent company that gives the resort its name. The guided walk takes guests through rows of Brahmi, Ashwagandha, Tulsi, Neem, Vetiver, Shatavari, and dozens of endemic Western Ghats herbs, with a naturalist explaining each plant’s traditional medicinal use, cultivation practice, and role in the Kerala Ayurvedic system.

The early morning visit is particularly rewarding: dew sits on the leaves, the fragrance of the herbs is at its most concentrated, and the entire plantation is lit with soft directional light before the sun climbs high. This is the walk that surprises most guests - they come expecting a garden tour and leave with a genuine education in Kerala’s herbal heritage. Children find it fascinating. Wellness-minded travellers find it meditative. Photographers find it endlessly detailed.

Standing at Meenampara Viewpoint at approximately 960 metres above sea level, the entire Palakkad plains unfold below you - stretching 60 to 80 kilometres on clear days to the Tamil Nadu border. The famous Palakkad Gap, the only significant break in the 1,600-kilometre Western Ghats range, is visible as a wide valley in the distance. The drive up the 37-hairpin-bend Angamoozhy ghat road is itself a scenic journey through dense canopy, with the valley appearing and disappearing at each bend.

The sunrise trip to Meenampara - departing the resort at 5:00 AM - is one of the most memorable experiences available anywhere in Palakkad. As the sun rises from the east, the plains below emerge from darkness in layers of gold and shadow. During October and November, a cloud sea sometimes fills the plains below the viewpoint, with only the Western Ghats peaks visible above it - a scene of extraordinary drama.

The Angamoozhy Reservoir sits halfway up the Nelliyampathy ghat road, a still mountain lake backed by dense forest and the rising hill slopes. The reservoir surface reflects the surrounding hills with extraordinary clarity on calm mornings, creating perfect mirror-image compositions for photography. Kingfishers are commonly spotted at the water’s edge. In the morning, mist rises from the water surface and drifts across the reservoir toward the forest.

Most guided Nelliyampathy day trips from Seetharkundu Resorts stop at the reservoir on the way up to Meenampara - it is a natural rest point and one of the most photographed spots on the ghat road. The silence here, with no traffic and only the sound of the forest and water, is remarkable.