Idukki
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 and only 3.7 percent of the population of Kerala.
Idukki district was formed on 26 January 1972.The district consists of Devikulam, Udumbanchola and Peermedu taluks of the erstwhile Kottayam district and Thodupuzha taluk (excluding two villages Manjallore and Kalloorkadu) of the erstwhile Ernakulam district. At the time of formation the district headquarters started functioning at Kottayam and from there it was shifted to Painavu in Thodupuzha taluk in June 1976, where it is proposed to build a new planned forest township.
Idukki has an area of 4,479 km2 (1,729 sq mi) and is the second largest District of Kerala (the largest being Palakkad). Rugged mountains and forests cover about 97 percent of the total area of the District. The district borders the Kerala districts of Pathanamthitta to the south, Kottayam to the southwest, Ernakulam to the northwest and Thrissur to the north and Coimbature, Dindigul and Theni Districts in Tamilnadu to the east.[1]
Anamudi, the highest peak in India south of Himalayas, is in the Kuttampuzha Panchayat of Adimali Block, in the Kannan Devan Hills Village of Devikulam taluk. Thirteen other peaks in the district exceed a height of 2,000 m (6,600 ft). The Periyar, Thodupuzhayar and Thalayar are the important rivers of the district.
The four taluks (subdistricts) in the district are Devikulam, Udumbanchola, Peerumade and Thodupuzha. The taluks contain 65 villages between them.
Thodupuzha is the only municipal town in the district. Munnar is a census town.
The largest village is Kannan Devan Hills of Devikulam taluk with an area of 557 km2, and Kudayathoor of Thodupuzha taluk is the smallest village with an area of 21 km2.
There are eight community development Blocks: Devikulam, Adimali, Nedumkandom, Azhutha, Kattappana, Idukki, Elamdesom and Thodupuzha. There are 51 Panchayaths in the district. Thodupuzha is the only Municipality and Idukki is the only township in the district. Munnar panchayat of Devikulam block is the largest in the district with an area of 557 km2 and Karimkunnam in Thodupuzha block is the smallest panchayat of the district with an area of only 22 km2. The district headquarters were originally located at Kottayam and moved to Painavu in June 1976. Developmental activities are co-ordinated by the District Rural Development Agency.
There are six state highways passing through the district. National Highway 49 connects Cochin - Madura - Rameswaram. The railway does not pass through the district, and the nearest railway stations are Ernakulam, Kottayam and Alwaye.
The nearest ports are Cochin Port and Nedumbassery.
The International Airport is near the northern boundary of the district. A survey for a mini airport is in progress at Anakkara, near Kumaly.