Banasuramala Meenmutty Waterfalls

Banasuramala Meenmutty Waterfalls in Wayanad

The Name Meenmutty seems to be a common name for many waterfalls in Kerala’s western ghats. There are two Meenmutty Waterfalls near Wayanad. The famous Meenmutty falls near Kalpetta, a three-tiered waterfall and the second largest in Kerala, has been closed for safety reasons.

We are not planned for the falls until we reach the picturesque Banasura Sagar dam. As we reach the parking area of Banasura Sagar dam, a small board says Meenmutty falls – 2.5 kms’.  Then we enquired this falls and come to know that this is a second ‘Meenmutty falls’ in Wayanad.

After a 2-km drive and less than a kilometre hike, we can able to see the falls.

It is adventurous to visit meen mutty falls and we have to trek the hill alongside the falls for 150 yards and the total distance is approximately 1.5 kms. The rocks are little slippery in some places but there is a safety rope across the path to support. Plan to visit during monsoon time, to see the full flow of Meenmutty Waterfalls.

How to Reach : Meenmutty falls is 2.5 kms from Banasura Sagar dam. Banasura Sagar is 21 kms from Kalpetta, 47 kms from Sulthan Bathery and 34 kms from Mananthavady (in Wayanad district, Kerala). Nearest railway station and airport are in Kozhikode.

Wayanad has a pristine beauty and blessed with many waterfalls.  You won't fail to notice that there is not a speck of waste thrown anywhere on the way.  No plastic, no wrappers, no bottles, nothing but nature and its enticing beauty.  The people of the place have opened up their lands for parking areas.

Wayanad Soochippara Falls

Soochippara Falls in Wayanad Kerala 

Soochipara Falls also known as Sentinel Rock Waterfalls is a three-tiered waterfall in Vellarimala, Wayanad, surrounded by Deciduous, Evergreen and Montane forests.

Locally referred to as Soochipara ("Soochi" meaning "Needle" and "Para" meaning "Rock"), the 15-20 minute drive from Meppadi to Sentinel Rock Waterfalls offers scenic views of some of the best tea estates in Wayanad. The Sentinel Rock Waterfalls is 200 metres (656 feet) and offers a cliff face that is ideal for rock climbing. The water from Soochipara Falls later joins Chulika River or popularly known as Chaliyar River after Velarimala Hills near Cherambadi (Tamil Nadu) in Kerala.

Once people reach the parking area, they have to pass through a security check at the entrance where they make sure you don't carry any plastic. It takes 10-15 minutes walk to the waterfalls and water flow is less during summer, which makes it easy to reach the rocks where waterfalls. Further journey forward is a downward trek of  nearly one kilometer.

How to Reach : Soochippara waterfall also called Sentinel rock falls is 13 kilometres from Meppadi and 22 kilometres south of Kalpetta.

Banasura Sagar Dam

Banasura sagar Dam - Kalpetta, Wayanad

Banasura Sagar Dam, which impounds the Karamanathodu tributary of the Kabini River. It is the largest earth dam in India and the second largest of its kind in Asia. The dam is made up of massive stacks of stones and boulders. This is the largest earth dam in India. The topography here is such that many islands will be formed in the upstream of the dam when the dam is full. These islands with the background of the Banasura hill will provide a hypnotizing sight to tourists.

The dam here was constructed on behalf of the Banasurasagar project in 1979, to support the Kakkayam Hydroelectric power project to meet the water demand for irrigation and drinking purposes. The dam, located around 21 km away from Kalpetta is a beautiful tourist destination in Wayanad. The Banasura Sagar Dam is named after Banasura, the son of Mahabali who was a very respected king of Kerala. The best season to be at Banasura Sagar dam is from November to May.

How to Reach : The Banasura Sagar Dam is located 21 km from Kalpetta, in Wayanad District of Kerala in the Western Ghats.

Kozhikode Beach

Kozhikode Beach in Malabar Coast 

Kozhikode Beach (Calicut beach) is a beach on the western side of Kozhikode, situated on the Malabar Coast of India. The beach is accessible through four roads over bridges in the city. The beach has paved stones and illumination. There is one Lions Park for the children and an aquarium.

Kozhikode beach has always been a prominent place for conducting public meetings. The beach road was renamed 'Gandhi Road' in 1934 after Gandhi visited Calicut in 1934. Kozhikode Beach is a favorite haunt of sunset viewers; it is also a good place for trying out delicacies seafood. 

Kozhikode also known as Calicut, is a city in the state of Kerala in southern India on the Malabar Coast. Kozhikode is the largest urban area in the state. Vasco da Gama lands in Kappad beach on 20 May 1498, it is very close to Kozhikode.

Mattupetty Dam

Mattupetty Dam in Munnar 

Mattupetty Dam is a Concrete Gravity Dam built to conserve water to generate Hydro-Electric power. It also acts as bridge for the road which takes us to the Top Station. The view is great from either sides of the dam. Boating is available in the Mattupetty lake. There are Speed boats and Pedal boats available here.

Mattupetty Dam (Madupetty Dam), near Munnar in Idukki District, is a storage Concrete Gravity dam built in the mountains of Kerala, India to conserve water for hydroelectricity. It has been a vital source of power, yielding along with other such dams, huge revenue to the states. The large amount of perennially available water allows wild animals and birds to flourish. However salinity caused by irrigation and water-logging are of concern to environmentalists.

Munnar is located near the confluence of the mountain streams of Muthirappuzha River, Chanduvarai River and Kundale River. The reservoir is also known to be one of the visiting grounds of elephants in the region.

Echo point : Echo point is the next destination from Mattupetty dam while travelling from Munnar to Top Station. It is a scenic location with an exotic view of the Mattupetty lake.

How To Reach : Mattupetty in Munnar is Cradled by the undulating plantation hills of Munnar, and not far away from the Anamudi peak is Mattupetty. Situated in the famous hill town of Munnar, Mattupetty located 13 km from Munnar is situated at a height of 1700 m, and is a delight for nature lovers.

Munnar

Munnar - Kerala's Best Hill Station

Munnar is a small town and hill station located in the Idukki district of the southwestern Indian state of Kerala. Munnar is situated at around 1,600 metres (5,200 ft) above mean sea level, in the Western Ghats range of mountains. The name Munnar is believed to mean "three rivers", referring to its location at the confluence of the Mudhirapuzha, Nallathanni and Kundaly rivers.

Main Attractions in Munnar

Ø  Eravikulam National Park

Ø  Anamudi Peak

Ø  Mattupetty

Ø  Munnar Tea Estate

Ø  Tea Museum

Ø  Munnar hills

Ø  Echo Point

Mattupetty Dam : Mattupetty Dam is a Concrete Gravity Dam built to conserve water to generate Hydro-Electric power. It also acts as bridge for the road which takes us to the Top Station. The view is great from either sides of the dam. Boating is available in the Mattupetty lake. There are Speed boats and Pedal boats available here.

Echo point : Echo point is the next destination from Mattupetty dam while travelling from Munnar to Top Station. It is a scenic location with an exotic view of the Mattupetty lake.

KDHP Tea museum : The tea museum has been setup near the Nallathanni Estate as a tribute to the people who made places around Munnar a Major Tea plantation. The museum portrays the Tea processing machines from older age to the Modern age. A Demonstration room has been attached to give the tourists an experience of Different flavours of tea.

Pothamedu View Point : The view point at Pothamedu is located at a distance of around 6 km from Munnar. The Tea, Coffee, Cardamom plantations and Pallivasal Tea factory and a Hydro-electric power plant can viewed from here clearly.

How to Reach : The Ernakulam Railway Station is 130 kilometres away and the Madurai Railway Station is at a distance of 135 kilometres. From these points, you can either hire a cab or board the state transport or private buses wherever available.

Valara Waterfalls

Valara Waterfalls in Kerala 

Valara Waterfalls is one of the most captivating and splendid waterfall in Kerala providing visitors grand view of the nature at its best. This amazing waterfall lies on Cochin-Munnar highway amidst the lush green vegetation and can be easily spotted from the road. It is because of which many travellers prefer to stopover on the way to feast their eyes with the stunning view of the waterfall.

The main attraction Valara waterfalls, is in the Deviyar river, a small river originating from western ghats, passing through Adimali Grama Panchayath. It is considered as one of the major waterfalls in Kerala state. Valara has chain of waterfalls surrounded by thick green forests and very close to Cheeyappara Waterfall.

Though the falls are visible from highway, it requires a good amount of trekking to reach the bottom of the falls. The falls offers a spectacular view in monsoon and post-monsoon seasons.

How To Reach : Valara waterfalls is situated at a distance of only about 1km from Cheeyapara waterfalls. Valara is located in between the two towns Neriamangalam the east side border of Ernakulam District and Adimali of Kochi - Madurai National Highway (NH-49). It is in Idukki district, Kerala, at a distance of 14 km from Adimali. Waterfalls can also be accessible from Munnar, around 42 km on Aluva-Munnar Rd.

Alleppey Backwater Tour

Alleppey Backwater Boat Ride

Alappuzha also known as Alleppey, Alleppey is one of the most important tourist centers in the state, with a large network of inland canals earning it the sobriquet "Venice of the east". Alleppey is a city on the Laccadive Sea in the southern Indian state of Kerala. It's best known for houseboat cruises along the rustic Kerala backwaters, a network of tranquil canals and lagoons.

Alleppey was one of the busiest centers of trade in the past with one of the best known ports along the malabar coast. Even today it retains its charm as the centre for Coir carpet industries and prawn farming. Alleppey is also known for its spectacular snake - boat races held on the second Saturday of August, every year. This competition - the Nehru boat race takes its name from India's first prime minister Jawaharlal Nehru, who inaugurated in 1952. It is excitement all around as snake - boats , each manned by over a hundred oarsmen, cut through the waters like wind. The event is a tremendous success with tourists and the local population alike.

Houseboats in Alleppey : Kettuvalloms or Houseboats (Riceboats) are country boats that were used in the early days for the transport of goods from the isolated interior villages to the towns. With the advent of roads, bridges and ferry services, gradually the Kettuvalloms went off the scene. Now these kettuvalloms are back again as a major tourist attraction. A ride on a Kettuvallom is a fabulous way to explore the fascinating beauty of the backwaters.

A glide in a "Kettuvallam" (Houseboat) through the enchanting backwaters of Alleppey is sure to rob your heart. Palm fringed narrow canals winding through the vast expanse of paddy fields and the neat tiny hamlets lined up along either sides of the canals are panoramic sights one can never forget. The Chinese fishing nets, the reminiscent of our past trade links, are also found on the way. Flocks of ducks swimming around the banks and tiny birds flying across the sky remains as enduring pictures reflecting the charm of this unique land.

Other attractions in Alappuzha are Alappuzha Beach, offering a views of the Laccadive Sea, Vembanad Lake, Ambalappuzha Sri Krishna Temple, St. Andrew's Basilica, Arthunkal, Mannarasala Temple, Chettikulangara Devi Temple, Haripad Sree Subrahmanya Swamy temple, Krishnapuram Palace, Thakazhy Sree Dharma Sastha Temple, Mullakkal Temple, Edathua Church.