Trivandrum, the nearest major town, is about 32km to the south-west. The main feature is the 906ha Neyyar Reservoir. The terrain is generally hilly with moderate to steep slopes.
Geological formations are pre-Cambrian.
There is a large proportion of disintegrating laterite gravel and other rock pieces on elevated ground. Fairly deep alluvial deposits occur along the lower reaches of the Neyyar. There is also considerable rainfall from October to November during the north-east monsoon. Comprises chiefly moist deciduous forest and some tropical wet evergreen and semi-evergreen forest. Evergreen forest, generally found above 1,000m in relatively sheltered areas, is often stunted because of exposure to dessicating winds and poor soil conditions.