Closed For Visitors
Currently no public / tourists are allowed to enter into the farm.
Traveling is certainly a unique way to enjoy your life. It must be exciting to take a break from the daily life and explore new places. Munnar is one of the most beautiful hill stations in India located in the picturesque Kerala. Mattupetty is a must-visit tourist attraction in this hill station famous for Mattupetty Dam and Lake and the well known Mattupetty Indo Swiss Farm. Remember to visit the “Cattle Village” of Mattupetty if you plan a trip to the enchanting Munnar hill station.
Mattupetty Indo Swiss Farm
Mattupetty is located approximately 13 kilometers away from Munnar Town. It must be interesting for travelers to visit the famous Indo-Swiss dairy farm at Mattupetty. Thousands of tourists visit each day to watch varieties of cattle in the farm and understand different process of milk production and cattle rearing. Popularly known as the ‘cattle village’, this farm is located at a height of around 1700 meters above sea level. In fact, this tourist spot in Munnar plays a significant role in the tourism scenario of Kerala. In addition to this cattle village, Mattupetty is also a famous place in Munnar for picnicking. People love to visit the Mattupetty Dam and Lake during their visit to Indo-Swiss Dairy Farm which is only nearly 3 kilometers away.
History
In the fifties, large-scale migration of farmers to the high ranges took place in Kerala, in certain cases with Government encouragement as it occurred in the regions of Idukki district. During the Sixties, Father Francis, a Belgian monk settled in Vagamon had experimented with dairy production in the high ranges of the Peermade taluk and was keen on promoting a dairy based mixed farming system in the high ranges. He visualized the vast area of empty grassland in the Peermade area as a future milk shed and shared this vision with his friend Mr. Jacques A. Cutat, the then Ambassador of Switzerland in India. Based on his initiative, teams from Switzerland visited the high ranges and recommended a pilot project in about 500 acres of Government land lying vacant at Mattupatti, as the first step for a future dairy colonization programme in the Peermade region. The two Governments (Government of India and Swiss Confederation) studied the proposal and decided to set up a bilateral project ISPK under an international agreement, to implement the programme.
Established in the year 1963, the Mattupetty Indo Swiss Project was a mutual agreement between the Government of India and the Swiss Confederation for the development of new cattle breed suitable for Indian environment. This farm project was improved later and named Indo Swiss Project which is a highly specialized cattle center and farm today. It is also a research center where they breed many high quality cattle. Visiting this farm provides you the opportunity to see more than 100 varieties of high yielding cattle. Once you visit this farm, you will realize that it is worth your time and money.
The Indian Government has chosen Mattupetty to establish the Indo-Swiss Dairy Farm because of its pleasant climate, plenty of area of feed and calm inhabitants. Of course, the farm project has been a success and benefits the organization a lot, but at the same it is also a major reason for the economic growth and development of the Idukki district. The Tourists are allowed to visit the farm with an entry fee of Rs. 5 per head from 9 am to 11 and 2 pm to 3.30 pm. There are 11 cattle workshop in this farm, but only 3 of them are allowed to visit. People who visit the Indo-Swiss Farm also get the opportunity to enjoy the scenic beauty of Mattupetty Dam and Lake, Kundala Lake, large tea plantations and blissful surroundings.
If you plan a trip to Munnar, never forget to visit Indo-Swiss Dairy Farm to watch varieties of cattle and get an idea about the cattle breeding. Munnar is well connected by road with all the main cities and towns in the state and neighbouring states.
Best Time to Visit Mattupetty Indo Swiss Farm
Plan your trip to Mattupetty from August to May which is the best time to visit the destination.
How to Reach Mattupetty Indo Swiss Farm
By Road: Mattupetty is accessible easily from Munnar by road. You can hire taxis from the railway station or bus station to reach this tourist spot.
By Rail: Kochi is the nearest railway station to Mattupetty which is nearly 130 kilometers away. Kottayam is 147 kilometers from this destination while Madurai is 162 kilometers away. You need to cover around 302 kilometers from Trivandrum to reach Mattupetty.
By Air: The nearest Airport to Mattupetty is Kochi/Cochin International Airport which is around 130 kilometers away. Other nearest Airports are Madurai (142 km), Coimbatore (167 km) Kozhikode (287 km) and Trivandrum (302 km).