Kerala unraveled

Thejus R Kottayam....My hometown.....A center of conglomeration of culture and urban life... But a frequent complaint among my friends was the lack of sightseeing places in and around my wonderful city... I can definitely say that my city is not at all devoid of locations teeming with natural beauty... A small drive is all you need to discover all those hidden gems near Kottayam... I once went to a temple near Kottayam possessing the incredible view of a small natural waterfall.... It was a place unknown to many... A small drive through the MC road past Ettumanoor would take us to the Areeckal Shiva subramanya swami temple. A place unknown to many, yet boasting of a wonderful and graceful show of aqua. The temple is located near Vembally and I had to take some roads that were quite interior. But the destination was all worth it. It was an excellent location to spend an evening away from Kottayam.  You actually have to cross the stream of water to get to the temple. The small rock s...

 A drive past the hilly town of Ponkunnam would take you through the Ponkunnam-Erumely route and a diversion is all you need to unwind through the sprawling rubber estates of Kanjirappally. Soon enough, I was driving through an awesome road where all I could see were rubber trees extending till infinity.  It was one of the most secluded yet thrilling routes I have ever taken & I was enjoying every bit of it. The destination was finally close. A graceful waterfall in the midst of the Cheruvally estate.  The Anchukuzhy waterfall, as it was named, was so called because of the 5 hidden pools beneath the waterfall. The sounds of the falling water were music to my ears as my eyes reflected with the images of the white gushing water.    The waterfall was clubbed with an enchanting temple, which housed the divine goddess Parashakthi.  The temple was called the Panchatheertha parashakthi devasthanam and stood as a shining ruby guarded by the white water rapids....

 Thejus R Cruising past the village roads, my destination was one which common wanderers consider just a rest stop. But my research had let me know that this quaint little village had a lot more cooking in its pot than we'd thought. A conglomeration of 4 different types of sites mingle mindlessly in this village bordering the Ponthenpuzha forest. The village was called Kottangal, a part of Pathanamthitta district. Though unremarkable at first sight, this place holds tremendous potential in gaining a position within the tourism circuit of Kerala.  The first site on my visit list was the famed devi temple of Kottangal, a place well-known for its padayani performances. People come from far and wide to witness this majestic art form.  But the pandemic had faded the liveliness of the temple, which remains closed till the time lights up once again.  Adorned with fabulous architecture and a unique peaceful atmosphere, this temple atop a hill is one not to be missed while e...

 Returning from that awesome destination which I've mentioned in my previous blog, I was at a fix whether to go home or explore more. Quite obviously, i stuck with the latter. A brief search through my trusty companion Google maps revealed a beautiful waterfall located just a few kilometres away. I immediately sped off in that direction. My journey took me through the lively town of Mallappally. Literally translating to "The shrine of Strong people", the vibrant town reflected its namesake through the not-so-heavy yet loud traffic and vociferous vendors on the streets. I left the town behind me as I continued on my journey towards the waterfall.   The journey finally took me to the sleepy little village called Keezhvaipur. Driving through some inner roads, I finally reached the wonderful waterfall. I didn't have to walk too much as the waterfall was just beside the road, nestled within a rubber plantation. The waterfall was a 3-tier one & was interestingly popular...