We covered the following places in a 1-day trip on 8th Dec 2021.
Vayalada Viewpoint
Thonikadavu Viewpoint
Kakkayam Dam & Boating
Urakkuzhi Waterfalls
This was a road trip from Kakkodi, Calicut.
Route Map
NOTE: We couldn’t cover the Vayalada Mini Water Falls and Kariyathumpara during this trip.
1) Vayalada Viewpoint (Mullanpara):
Vayalada Viewpoint is around 17 kms (45 min by car) from Balussery, Calicut.
There are also few KSRTC bus services from Balussery to Vayalada. If you are reaching this place via public transport, you can hire a jeep From the Vayalada junction/school, and they might charge around 500 rupees (for a 1.5Kms trip). You can also cover this distance by walk after getting down at Vayalada.
Irrespective of any vehicle (hired jeep or own vehicle), you cannot go till the hilltop in the same. You will have to park the vehicle down the hill and will have to do trekking of around 1Km. The trekking path is not that smooth.
NOTE: Even if you hire a Jeep, this 1km trekking/walking cannot be avoided.
A good point to park your car is near ‘Baby Thattukada’. Seems this small hotel is famous for homely food. I have read a lot of positive reviews about this hotel but we personally get a chance to try their food. There are also a few snack shops available enroute the viewing point.
There is no parking charges or ticket charges when you visit Vayalada view point. We did not find any public toilets in this place.
Since Vayalada is 2000 Feet above sea level, it has all the charm of a hill station, and you can get a panoramic view of the Peruvannamuzhi Dam, Koorachundu and Perambra towns from the highest point. There are different viewpoints like Mount Vayalada viewpoint, Islands View Mullanpara and Kottakunnu viewpoint.
Lot of people visit here during the sunrise/sunset.
When we visited, there were lot of Fog and hence couldn’t get a great view from the hilltop.
Avoid mid afternoon time, as it might be quite hot at the hilltop. There are a few resorts/homestays here (like Vayalada viewpoint Resort).
The place is full of empty plastic bottles, covers and cans. This is one thing that disappointed me a lot. We Keralites/Indians always fail to keep our nature clean. We have the habit of throwing the garbage wherever we like.
To a certain extend, I will have to blame the state Tourism department aswell. There is no proper pathway or hoardings/signboard to reach this place. They should also add a few garbage bins at this place. Atleast after seeing that, people might start putting the litter in the bins.
We had skipped the Vayalada Mini Falls.
2) Thonikadavu Viewpoint:
After Vayalada, our next destination was Thonikadavu Viewpoint.
NOTE: We had to skip Kariyathumpara, as it was closed due to some reason.
Enroute, there are many picturesque locations.
Known as the ‘Ooty of Malabar’, Thonikadavu is an offbeat location near Kariyathumpara and on the way to Kakkayam dam in Kozhikode district.
The towering watchtower, placid river and greenery provide a refreshing sight to visitors. It is a wonderful picnic spot for tourists. If you are a photographer, you will definitely love this place.
Seems Tourism Department has many plans for this place and the towering watchtower (inaugurated in Feb 2021) is a best example for that. Unfortunately, no much shops were opened during the time we visited. Public toilets were available.
The actual project had different plans like setting up of boat services, viewpoints, six rain shelters, amphitheatre, and children’s park, besides the watchtower. When we visited this place in December 2021, we did not see any boat service there. There is an entry fee to get inside the Thonikadavu Viewpoint. If I remember correctly, it was Rs. 40/adult.
3) Kakkayam Dam & Boating:
After Thonikadavu Viewpoint, our next destination was Kakkayam Dam & Boating.
Enroute, there are many picturesque locations. Please drive carefully as the roads in this part are quite narrow.
The main attractions near this tourist place are Kakkayam valley (Dam and Boating) and Urakkuzhi Waterfalls.
Kakkayam is a stunning dam site in Kozhikode that is famous for its trekking trails and boating options and seems Kakkayam has an abundant wildlife population aswell. This is a perfect place to have a quiet secluded picnic with your friends and family.
I have not seen much public transport options in this part of the region. So, either you will have to depend on your own vehicle or hire a jeep or autorickshaw.
This reservoir comes as part of the Kuttiyadi Hydro Electric Project & is located at a height of about 2450 ft above sea level.
There are 2 different ticket counters enroute, one by the Forest department (checkpost) and the other one is the actual entry ticket. If I remember correctly, it was Rs. 40/adult (at checkpost) and Rs. 20 /adult (entry ticket).
Kakkayam valley is famous for Film shooting. Many Film songs and albums were shot here, and it is now a favorite place for the album makers.
There are enough parking place available. Few (1 or 2) hotels and few public toilets available here.
There are speed boat services available here at a charge of Rs. 1000 (maximum 6 people including kids; this number includes boat driver aswell). The boating time was around 15 minutes, if I remember correctly.
These boat rides give us an exclusive view of the dam area, along with a bunch of small waterfalls (2 waterfalls; one is Ambalappara waterfalls) and you get to see a lot of dense forest during that trip. The 2 waterfalls are hidden inside the forest and are hardly accessible by roads.
The good thing is that the boat driver will take you very close to the falls, so there are lot of good photography options.
Would recommend this boat ride as it is completely worth. Keep your cameras ready for some stunning photos and videos.
4) Urakkuzhi Waterfalls:
The Urakkuzhi Waterfalls is near to the dam. You can either walk both sides (main entrance to the falls and return) or you can hire a forest department jeep for Rs.250 (up and down). Actual dam is in this route. Distance will be around a 1.2kms or so one side. There is well paved road till the falls except the last few meters which is quite difficult to walk.
Urakkuzhi Waterfalls is considered as one of the most dangerous waterfalls in Kerala. The Forest department staff told us that if anybody accidently fall from there, no search operation will be carried out to recover the body.
Note: This is supposedly the place where police disposed comrade Rajan’s body (no evidence or proof though) during the nationwide Emergency in India in 1976. The legal battle that his father Prof Eachara Warrier fought against the state government was the first Habeus corpus suit filed in Kerala.
It is worth to note that you can see only the top part of the waterfalls. What we can see from the viewpoint is just some water disappearing into a steep. You cannot view this tall waterfall in its full glory from its front or bottom. The falling water will not be visible from below aswell, because the water is passing through the rocks (we can’t reach to the falling area easily right now because the trekking to that spot is not available). So, keep your expectations limited.
The best time to visit here is monsoon. The rocks around were curved due to the force of waterfall and the rocks are in the shape of “Ural” (Malayalam word) that’s why it’s called Uralkkuzhi Waterfalls.
The waterfall is guarded well by fencing and watchers will be there for guidance.
Here you can also see a stone which is looking like a man’s face. There was one hanging bridge, but it got completely damaged during 2018 flood and it not been reconstructed yet.
One very important point to note is the large presence of leeches (a tiny blood sucking parasitic or predatory worm, closely related to earthworms) near to the Urakkuzhi Waterfalls. Until the time when blood starts coming, you will never realise that a Leech has bit you. It is highly recommended to carry a small box of Salt (or a lemon) with you. If you find that a leech has bit you, don’t get panic. Just drop some salt on the body of the leech and it will fall down. Don’t try to remove the leech directly by any means, as it might turn out to be more dangerous. So, keep an extra eye on Leech bites while you are walking.
Summary: This is definitely a day trip that people in Calicut or neighbouring places can try. Its worth the money, scenery, and the experience. A family of 4 (2 adults + 2 kids) might have to spend less than Rs. 1500 which includes entry tickets (Thonikadavu/Kakkayam) / jeep and speed boat safari in Kakkayam. Food and petrol charges would be additional.
