Panniyarmani Meadow - 4 Things to Know Before Visiting

A large, highly untouched meadow on Western ghats mountain, situating on the Kerala-Karnataka border. The meadow, situated in the middle of the forest and accessible by hiking a steep hill for about an hour comes with amazing views of the forest canopy, 360-degree view of the Western Ghat mountain ranges. The meadow is home for various kinds of honey bees and butterflies, and you will see a lot of unique, wildflowers. The meadow also has a small waterhole that elephants make use of throughout the year.

How to reach Panniyarmani Meadow?

You will have to reach the village of Thayyeni in order to access Panniyarmani. From any of the nearby airports, you should travel to Payyannur and from there you can get direct buses to Thayyeni. From Thayyeni you will have to further travel by private vehicles for about 20 minutes to reach the starting point of the hiking trail. Note that the meadow is a well-hidden spot, with tall grasses covering the hiking trails most times of the year. So you will definitely have to get a local from Thayyeni to guide you to the meadow.

What to see at Panniyarmani Meadow?

The hike to the meadow starts through an areca nut plantation and then gradually progress into a steep climb through the forest. At the beginning of the trail through the forest, built between a waterfall you will be able to see a cottage. If you are there during the monsoon season, you will be able to see the waterfall in its prime. You will also have to cross this waterfall to continue the trail.

Once the forest part of the trail is over, the meadow begins. The trail will be usually covered in tall grasses, with a narrow opening which is the only indicator that the trail exists. The grasses have sharp edges, so it can cut your skin (not deep cuts, small skin cuts). After continuing for about three hundred meters through the steep hill, you will start to see the beginning of the meadow. The meadow sits on a plateau-like area, so from the top, you will be able to see the forest canopy down below. The many mountain chains of Western Ghats also will be visible from the top.

The meadow will have many kinds of wildflowers and honey bees and butterflies that you normally won't see. You can take a walk through the entire area immersed in the untouched beauty of the place. The meadow and the forest near to it is part of wildlife reserve so be mindful of elephants and other animals. There is a waterhole in the meadow that is used regularly by elephants.

Best time to visit Panniyarmani Meadow

The best time is anywhere from August to January. Covered in mist, in August and September grasses turn dark green owing to the monsoon rains. From November onwards, the grasses turn to a lighter green, flowers will start to bloom. In February/ March, controlled forest burning will be happening here in order to prevent larger forest fires. The grasses start to dry up by then due to the heat which can easily become a catalyst for large forest fires.