Banasura Sagar Dam,Wayanad

Banasura Sagar Dam

Banasura Sagar Dam ,which impounds the Karamanathodu tributary of the Kabini River , is part of the Indian Banasurasagar Project consisting of a dam and a canal project started in 1979. The goal of the project is to support the Kakkayam Hydro electric power project and satisfy the demand for irrigation and drinking water in a region known to have water shortages in seasonal dry periods.

In the dam's reservoir there is a set of islands that were formed when the reservoir submerged the surrounding areas. The islands with the Banasura hills in the background provide a spectacular view. 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.

The Banasura Sagar Dam is located 21 km from Kalpetta, in Wayanad District of Kerala in the Western Ghats. It is the largest earthen dam in India and the second largest in Asia and an ideal starting point for hikes into the surrounding scenic mountains. It is an important tourist attraction. Banasura Sagar Dam is at the foot of the Banasura Hill.The Banasura Sagar Dam is named after Banasura, the son of Mahabali who was a very respected king of Kerala.

The dam has become a popular tourist destination. Many people visit the place to go trekking at the Banasura Hill. The Banasura Hill Resort, located about 20 km from the dam was rated as Asia's largest Earthen Resort by BBC . Speed & pedal boats are available & are major hits with tourists. Speed boat ride, in particular, is an exhilarating experience & not to be missed.

Munnar

Munnar

It is one of the attractions that contributed to Kerala's popularity as a travel destination among domestic and foreign travellers. Situated at the confluence of three mountain streams - Muthirapuzha, Nallathanni and Kundala, and perched about 1600 m above sea level, the hill station of Munnar once used to be the summer resort of the erstwhile British administration in south India.This hill station is marked by vast expanses of tea plantations, colonial bungalows, rivulets, waterfalls and cool weather. It is also an ideal destination for trekking and mountain biking.

Let us now explore some of the options in and around Munnar that would provide travellers ample opportunities to enjoy the captivating hill station of Munnar.

Eravikulam National Park

One of the main attractions near Munnar is the Eravikulam National Park. Located about 15 km from Munnar, this park is famous for its endangered inhabitant - the Nilgiri Tahr. Spread over an area of 97 sq. km., this park is also home to several species of rare butterflies, animals and birds. A great place for trekking, the park offers a magnificent view of the tea plantations and also the rolling hills caressed by blankets of mists. The park becomes a hot destination when the hill slopes here get covered in a carpet of blue, resulting from the flowering of Neelakurinji. It is a plant endemic to this part of the Western Ghats which blooms once in twelve years. The last time it bloomed was in 2006.

Anamudi Peak

Located inside the Eravikulam National Park is the Anamudi Peak. This is the highest peak in south India standing at a height of over 2700 m. Treks to the peak are allowed with permission from the Forest and Wildlife authorities at Eravikulam.

Mattupetty

Another place of interest, located about 13 km from Munnar Town, is Mattupetty. Situated at a height of 1700 m above sea level, Mattupetty is known for its storage masonry dam and the beautiful lake, which offers pleasurable boat rides, enabling one to enjoy the surrounding hills and landscape. Mattupetty's fame is also attributed to the dairy farm run by the Indo-Swiss Livestock Project, where one would come across different high yielding breeds of cows. Mattupetty with its lush green tea plantations, rolling grasslands and the Shola forests is also ideal for trekking and is home to a variety of birds.

Pallivasal

Pallivasal, located at about 3 km from Chithirapuram in Munnar is the venue of the first Hydro-electric project in Kerala. It is a place of immense scenic beauty and is often favoured by visitors as a picnic spot.

Chinnakanal

Near the town of Munnar is Chinnakanal and the waterfalls here, popularly known as Power House Waterfalls, cascade down a steep rock 2000 m above sea level. The spot is enriched with the scenic view of the Western Ghat ranges.

Anayirangal

When you have traveled about seven kilometers from Chinnakanal, you reach Anayirangal. Anayirangal, 22 km from Munnar, is a lush green carpet of tea plants. A trip on the splendid reservoir is an unforgettable experience. The Anayirangal dam is surrounded by tea plantations and evergreen forests.

Top Station

Top Station, which is about 32 km from Munnar is at a height of 1700 m above sea level. It is the highest point on the Munnar-Kodaikanal road. Travellers to Munnar make it a point to visit Top Station to enjoy the panoramic view it offers of the neighbouring state of Tamil Nadu. It is one of the spots in Munnar to enjoy the Neelakurinji flowers blooming over a vast area.

Tea Museum

Munnar has a legacy of its own when it comes to the origins and evolution of tea plantations. Taking account of this legacy and to preserve and showcase some of the exquisite and interesting aspects on the genesis and growth of tea plantations in Kerala's high ranges, a museum exclusively for tea was opened some years ago by Tata Tea in Munnar. This Tea Museum houses curios, photographs and machineries; all of which have a story to tell on the origins and growth of tea plantations in Munnar. The museum is located at the Nallathanni Estate of Tata Tea in Munnar and is worth a visit.

Kovalam Beach,Thiruvananthapuram

 Kovalam is a beach town by the Arabian Sea in Thiruvananthapuram city,Kerala,India, located around 16 km from the city center .Kovalam means a grove of coconut trees and true to its name the village offers an endless sight of coconut trees.It is also known as the paradise of the south.Kovalam first received attention when the Regent Maharani Sethu Lakshmi Bayi of Travancore constructed her beach resort,Halcyon Castle,here towards the end of the 1920s. Thereafter the place was brought to the public eye by her nephew the Maharaja of Travancore. The European guests of the then Travancore kingdom discovered the potentiality of Kovalam beach as a tourist destination in the 1930s. However, Kovalam shot into limelight in the early seventies with arrivals of the masses of hippies on their way to Ceylon in the Hippie Trail. This exodus started the transformation of a casual fishing village of Kerala into one of the most important tourist destinations in all India.

Kovalam

   Kovalam has three beaches separated by rocky outcroppings in its 17 km coastline , the three together form the famous crescent of the Kovalam beach.The larger of the beaches is called Light House Beach for its 35 metre high light house which towers over it atop Kurumkal hillock. The second largest one is Hawah Beach named thus for the topless European women who used to throng there. It was the first topless beach in India. However topless bathing is banned now except in private coves owned by resorts. Visitors frequent these two beaches. The northern part of the beach is known as Samudra Beach in tourism parlance. A large promontory separates this part from the southern side. Samudra Beach doesn't have tourists thronging there or hectic business. The local fishermen ply their trade on this part. The sands on the beaches in Kovalam are partially black in colour due to the presence of ilmenite and Monazite. The normal tourist season is from September to May. Ashoka beach is also the part of Kovalam beach.There are a large number of beach resorts in and around Kovalam. The sea port of Vizhinjam is about 3 km away and famous for its special varieties of fish, old Hindu temples, big churches and a mosque. The Proposed International Trans shipment Terminal at Vizhinjam is also close to Kovalam

 Biyyam Kayal ( Lake ), Ponnani,Malappuram

     Biyyam Kayal or Biyyam Lake is a chief attraction in Ponnani in the Malappuram district of Kerala and draws hundreds of travelers every year. It is a green fringed waterway situated in proximity to Ponnani town. What attracts visitors to this lake is the boat race held here annually during Onam season. Visitors can watch this race from pavilions built for spectators. Approximately two dozen country boats participate in the race which truly is a delightful sight.

    Water sports facilities and other entertainment activities are available in Biyyam Kayal to engage the travelers. Visitors can also get a glimpse of the beautiful hanging bridge built across Biyyam Kayal. Comfortable accommodation is available for tourists as there is a rest house equipped with all modern amenities on the banks of the lake. District Tourism Promotion Council (DTPC) has set up water sports facilities as part of developing this lake into a major tourist center.

Thenmala,Eco-Tourism  ,Kollam

Thenmala,Hanging Bridge

Thenmala,Boating

Thenmala,Sliding through rope

Thenmala,Burma bridge

Thenmala,Elevated walkway

Thenmala, Eco-Tourism, Kollam

     It is India's first planned eco-tourism destination, which is gaining popularity due to its unique vistas, bio-diversity and functioning. Situated about 72kms from Thiruvananthapuram, in the District of Kollam, the Thenmala Eco-Tourism shares its resources with the famous Shenduruney Wildlife Sanctuary at the foothills of the Western Ghats.
     The word Thenmala in the local language Malayalam has an interesting meaning. 'Then' means honey and 'Mala' means hill; and they combine to mean 'Honey Hill'. It is believed that the honey collected from this region is of very good quality owing to its unique biological settings. Managed by Thenmala Eco-Tourism Promotional Society, which is an undertaking of the Government of Kerala, Thenmala Eco-tourism is a unique destination from a visitor's point of view. It has equal opportunities for fun, adventure, leisure and for learning the significance and necessity of eco-friendly measures for promoting tourism related activities.

     At Thenmala Eco-Tourism, a visitor is taken care of by its well-trained staff providing guidance and information about the various attractions and facilities, enabling one to move about, explore and experience every bit of this remarkable destination. There are well-placed signboards, direction pointers, and information boards to facilitate one's movement inside the project area. Divided into different zones with a particular theme, the project area currently has three major zones viz. Culture Zone, Leisure Zone and Adventure Zone

Thenmala

     Besides the zone-based activities for a visitor, Thenmala Eco-Tourism also offer other attractions, like an invigorating boat ride in the Shenduruney Wildlife Sanctuary; a visit to the Deer Rehabilitation Centre, where one can have a look at a group of spotted deer, the sambar deer and the barking deer, which have been given protection after straying out from the forests. The project area also has tree top huts and children's eco-park, riverside treks, and battery powered vehicle rides through the forest, enabling one to sight wildlife from a close distance.
     For a visitor to Thenmala Eco-Tourism, some of the nearby attractions are also worth exploring. One may visit the picturesque Palaruvi waterfalls, about 16 km away, on the way to Shenkottah. Thenmala Eco-Tourism is open round the year and there are conducted tours organized by the Kerala Tourism Development Corporation from the Capital City of Thiruvananthapuram and also by the District Tourism Promotion Council of Kollam District.

Official url:www.thenmalaecotourism.com

 Soochippara Waterfalls ,Wayanad

  Soochippara has the popular sentinel rock waterfalls in Wayanad Kalpetta. Soochippara Waterfall situated near Meppadi is one amongst the gorgeous water bodies in Kerala. At Soochippara there are stretches of waterfalls which are at high altitudes ranging from 100 to 300 feet height. At Soochippara the Sentinal Waterfalls is really a great treat to the sightseeing guests. 

    At the Sentinal Rock Waterfalls there is the pool below providing space for water rafting, bathing, swimming, and other recreational activities. At Soochippara the specialties are the tree top huts that provide a unique view of Western Ghats valleys. Apart from these there are sparkling shallow waters and springs.  

Soochippara Waterfalls

  
     Soochippara Waterfalls adds more beauty to Wayanad Kalpetta. In the mother tongue of Kerala, Soochirefers to needle and Para refers to rock. This is the reason behind the naming of the place. The Sentinal Rock Waterfalls are really high ranging up to 300 feet in height. The Sentinal Waterfalls comprises of totally three stretches. These stretches fall into Meenmutty, Kanthanpara, and Soochippara. At the end these stretches combine and reach the Chaliyar River.
      Soochippara is an undiscovered beauty in Wayanad Kalpetta. In order to reach the falls you need to go through the green tea gardens. The nice aroma of tea leaves is present in the atmosphere. After this you need to proceed 2 kilometer down the equatorial forest. There are steep rocks in the area. Soochippara and its surroundings are ideal for holiday homes. In this place the Wayanad real estate is growing fast. Wayanad can aptly be termed as a paradise for nature lovers. Soochippara adds more beauty to the picturesque Wayanad. The Sentinal Rock Waterfalls in Soochippara is a great spot with scenic locations for photographers to explore.