Cradled between the slopes of the Western Ghats, the undulating landscape in Bison Valley is as the name suggests, pasture for herds of wild bison that roam the area and surrounding forests. Many of the lower slopes of the mountains are draped with spice and tea plantations that then climb towards mist clad craggy rock faces and dense forests. Bison Valley was also popular among the erstwhile royalty in Travancore and officials from the colonial regime, both of whom enjoyed the climate and hunted bison here.
An interesting anecdote has taken root in Bison Valley, the legend of Thankayya alias MalayilKallan, his pseudonym, translating from the vernacular as ‘Mountain Thief’. A Robin Hood like character, ‘MalayilKallan’ stole from the merchants and caravans of the East India Company along the road between Munnar and Thekkady and distributed the loot among the poor in the area. The British administration sought the elusive brigand who always seemed a step ahead of his pursuers, hiding out in the hills, forests and network of caves around Bison Valley using the heights to his advantage. One such matrix of natural caves named Kalladanty is located at the Indriya Adventure Park.
