Aromatic and Medicinal Plants Research Station, Odakkali occupies an area of 12.5 ha of  garden land  which lies between 10 ^o5'40'' and 10^o6'0'' north latitude and between 76 ^o32'35'' and  76 ^o32'55'' east  longitude in Asamannoor village of Kunnathunadu  taluk  in  Ernakulam  district of Kerala.  The station is located 27  km east of  Aluva (nearest  railway station) on the Aluva-Munnar road. It is only 24 km  away from Cochin  International Air port, Nedumbassery and 50 km from the Cochin harbour, the main centre of essential oil  trade in   the country. The municipal towns of Perumbavoor and  Kothamangalam  are less than 10 km apart on the westerly  and easterly direction,  respectively.

 Climate and soil

            The station is situated at an elevation of 60 m above MSL and represents the typical soil and agroclimatic features of the mid lands of the Kerala state.  The mean rainfall is 3318mm; with south-west monsoon contributing 55.7%, north-east monsoon 28.8%, summer showers 2.4% and the remaining as pre-monsoon showers. The mean number of rainy days is 166 per annum. The mean maximum and minimum temperatures are 32.6^oC and 20^oC, respectively. The relative humidity ranges between 44% and 95%.  The soil is gravelly clay loam, dark yellowish brown and well drained with weak fine granular structure. It has a pH of 5.5, The  soil  organic carbon content is medium, available  P₂O₅  is  high (40kg  ha^-1)  and available  K₂O is rated as low. The  entire area has  been grouped  under  Class IIc, IIIc, IVc & IVcs according  to  land  capability classification