“Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things you didn’t do than by the ones you did do” – Mark Twain
Mundrothuruthu is really a hidden gem in Kerala. We came to this place as a part of 2 days visit to Kollam (in April 2018).
Munroe Island or Mundrothuruthu is an island located at the confluence of Ashtamudi Lake and the Kallada River, in Kollam district, Kerala, South India.
The population in this island is very less. Kollam District Tourism Promotion council (DTPC) is giving lot of importance to this place these days. It is infact a great idea because there are lot of potential for this place to be blown into a popular tourism spot
I was told that many foreigners visit this island, may be because of its attributes like calmness, scenic beauty and so on. Munroe island is near Kollam, and it is actually composed by many islands, separated by small water channels and lakes. Now there are narrow roads within the island.
The island is beautiful and we really loved the relaxed atmosphere over there. I personally feel DTPC should promote only traditional Canoe boats here as the Motor boats would cause more pollution and thereby disturb the current eco system. Afterall, Canoe boat being a silent mode of transportation is the best fit for this island. We were charged around 500 INR for a one hour canoe trip.
There are lot of coconut tress around. The tress/plants reflection to the water is an excellent view.
Prawn farming is quite common in this island and the same is completely covered with nets.
Mundrothuruthu has a small railway station. Shuttle/passenger trains coming from Kollam and Alappuzha have a stop @ this station. (Around 15 Minutes journey in train from kollam Railway Station). Journey by car would take around 50 minutes.
If you want to spend more time in this place, you can also stay in some Homestays available within the islands. You can plan this as a day trip also.
There is a temple within the island.
History: This island also owed its name to the British rule. It was named after Colonel John Munroe, who reclaimed the island.
Many times, the canoe will pass underneath the small bridges.
Seems like Duck and Cow Farming is quite common in this island.
One Line Summary: Overall, its worth for a one day short trip, preferably in the early morning or last evening.
“To travel is worth any cost or sacrifice”– Elizabeth Gilbert
Happened to visit Thenmala along with my friends in April 2011.
Thenmala Eco-Tourism:
I believe, Thenmala is the first planned eco-tourism destination in India.
Thenmala is a perfect location for vacation seekers. Lush green forest Park, Adventure Park, Children’s Park, Butterfly Safari, Musical Dancing Fountain, Boating, Trekking, Hiking, Night Camping galore the attractions. Thenmala is around 72kms from Thiruvananthapuram and 62 Kms from Kollam.
You can see a lot of greenery in both sides of the road.
Also, you will see the Kollam – Shenkottai rail network. The railway Bridge is really an Architectural marvel, build by the British.
Other tourist attractions
Kallada dam –> It attracts several visitors thanks to the stunning scenery and the opportunity to view it all from the top of the dam.
Palaruvi Water Falls –> Another attraction is Palaruvi waterfalls . If you want to visit Palaruvi in the same day, better to leave Thenmala at mid day after visiting adventure zone because Palaruvi closes at 5 P.M. The distance between the two places is only 16 kms.
“You don’t have to be rich to travel well.”– Eugene Fodor
We visited this place in September 2018.
Akalapuzha is a saltwater river in Kozhikode District in Kerala, India.
This river is shallow and blessed with lots of fishes including shellfish. The surrounding area is very calm and very suitable for developing as a tourist spot.
The distance from Calicut KSRTC Bus Station to Akalapuzha is around 32 KMs, which will take around an hour or so. The biggest town nearby is Quilandy.
We could see a couple of pedal boats but couldn’t find any Tourists or Guides, when we visited this place.
Kerala Tourism Department or the nearby Panchayat should take some initiative to develop this region into a wonderful tourism spot.
When I had searched on Internet, I could read about some tourism related developments that had happened in this area couple of years ago. But due to some reason, I don’t see any such developments now. The only existing mark of that old developments are some pedal boats but they are a kind of damaged because of limited or NO use.
After Muchukuunu road, the path is narrow with sharp curves and slopes.
Nearby places worth visiting would be:
1. Kollam Chira: The renovation of Kollam Chira happened recently and its now well maintained.
Also, if you are somewhere nearby Chira, Please dont forget to have a cup of Tender Cocunut juice (Rs. 25/-.I guess) from the shop nearby the Chira. You can also take home the same as parcel which they will give in plastic bottles. Worth drinking this. I really enjoyed.
2. Kollam harbour
One Line Summary: If you are staying somewhere nearby, you can visit once probably in a evening. If you are from a far away place planning to visit only this spot, I would certainly recommend you to think twice, before planning the trip.
“Travel is never a matter of money, but of courage..”– Paulo Coelho
We visited Beypore in September 2018.
The nearest big town is Calicut/Kozhikode (Nearby Railway Station/ Airport).
The distance from Kozhikode KSRTC to Beypore port will be around 12.5 KMS (30+ min).
There is a Private bus Stand and a couple of ATM’s are also available.
Beypore or Beypur is an ancient port town and a locality town in kozhikode district in the state of Kerala in India. Beypore is noted for building wooden ships, known as dhows or Urus in the Malayalam language.
Beypore port is the second biggest port in Kerala after Cochin and currently handles about 100,000 tones of cargo and 7500 passengers per annum.
Beypore port is one of the oldest ports in Kerala from where trading was done to the Middle East.
If you are lucky enough, you might see some dolphins playing in the sea.
The Sun rise/sun set view is excellent
Ticket Charge:
There is a parking fee of Rs.30/-
Nearby Places:
1. Pulimuttu– It is the name of the 1-kilometre-long (0.62 mi) bridge made of stone stretching into sea. It is made by piling stones like a pathway to sea. There are 2 Pulimuttu’s here (one on Beypore side and other on Chaliyam Side)
Please note that we are not allowed to use 2/4 wheelers in the Beypore side Pulimuttu, whereas we can use them on the Chaliyam side. There are lot of seats (Granite) available in both the sides of Pulimuttu, for you to relax.
2. Beypore Beach
3. Beypore Light House:
Beypore light house is situated at the south bank of chaliyar. (there is a ferry / jangar service available to reach that side)
4. Beypore Fishing Harbour 5. Beypore Port 6. Beypore Uru Building center
Major Concerns:
1. The Pay and use toilet is not properly maintained. 2. The lights fitted in the Beypore side Pulimuttu wont work. Most of the poles are rusted and might fall down any time.
3. Beach is not properly maintained
Personal Recommendation: Try to reach this place by around 5 PM, so that you have enough time to walk till the end of the Pulimuttu and see the spectacular sun set view.
One Line Summary: Overall a very nice place but not at all maintained properly. Authorities should give some attention to this place and bring its old glory back, as soon as possible.
“Some beautiful paths can’t be discovered without getting lost.”
– Erol Ozan
Even though we regularly pass through Wayanad on our drive from Calicut to Bangalore, we never got a chance to explore the tourist destinations here. This time, we decided to spend 2 days here as a part of our Wedding Anniversary celebration and visited the various tourist destinations in and around Wayanad. Did this trip along with my family, in November 2017.
On the way to Wayanad from Calicut, we planned for a stoppage at ‘Thusharagiri water falls’. Ideally, this is in Calicut itself and can never be considered as a ‘Wayanad tourist attraction’.
Thusharagi water falls:
Thushargiri is a nice sight to the visitor. Two streams originating from the Western Ghats meet here to form the Chalippuzha River. The river diverges into three waterfalls creating a snowy spray, which gives the name, ‘Thusharagiri’. Of the three, the highest waterfall is the Thenpara that falls from an altitude of 75 metres. The First fall is quite near to the parking area and the other ones are a little inside.
Destinations that we went in Wayanad:
1)Thamarassery Ghat Pass and Lakkidi View point:
Lakkidi is one of the top view points in Wayanad. These days parking is prohibited at the view point. Lakkidi is located at the crest of Thamarassery Ghat Pass, which features over 9 hairpin curves that start at Adivaram (downhill)
2)Pookodu Lake:
It’s a fresh water lake surrounded by trees. There are boating facilities available in the lake. An Aquarium is also available near the lake. This is one of the main attractions in Wayanad, so please expect rush at all times and sometimes you might end up wasting a lot of time, waiting for a boat safari.
3) Karalad Lake:
It is located in Thariode, which is around 16 km away from Kalpetta. This is the second largest freshwater lake in the state, which is quite popular among nature enthusiasts for its peaceful environments. The 7 acres land surrounding this lake is a popular picnic spot, where boating can also be done.
There are some adventure sports like ‘zip-line’ available here.
Aiswarya kudumbasree is a place which I would recommend you. You can enjoy a authentic Kerala Lunch(Malabar Style) from here
4) Banasurasagar dam:
This is India’s largest earth dam and second largest in Asia. The whole dam and the reservoir looks stunning with the hills overlooking it from far. There is also speed boat facility available here. Its really nice to see the Government initiatives of installing more and more solar panels in this region. There are jeep services available to reach the dam site from the main gate.
5) Phantom Rock:
It is a skull shaped rock, which has an wage similarity to the face of Phantom. In the local area it is popularly known as Cheengeri Mala. Those who are adventurous enough can climb to its upper part. The surroundings of this rock have potential scenic locations.
6) Karapuzha Dam:
This is smaller compared to Banasurasagar dam. There is an excellent garden, well maintained. The road to reach Karapuzha dam is a bit tricky, so be prepared for some bumpy ride.
7) Meenmutty Waterfalls (View from Neelimala View Point):
I would personally recommend you to take the jeep safari to Neelimala view point from where you can get an excellent view of Meenmutty water falls. This is one of the best view points in Wayanad.
The other places worth visiting are:
Edakkal caves: We couldn’t cover this places as we need to climb the mountain to reach there.
Muthanga Wild Life sanctuary and jungle safari
Jain temple in Sulthan Battery
Kuruwadeep : We can reach this place only using Raft. Unfortunately we couldn’t take the raft as the islands were closed due to legal fights.
Chembra peak
Soochipara water falls
Tholpetty wildlife
Thirunelly temple
Chain tree
Pakshipathalam Bird Sanctuary
Overall you need 3 full days to cover the top attractions in wayand. There are lot of hotels, resorts and home stays across Wayand (with suits different budgets)
Route Map from Kozhikode: Kozhikode is the nearest airport as well as the railway station.
Route Map from Bangalore:
Be aware that there are lot of Leeches here around. You wouldn’t notice them until they suck your blood. In case if you find one stuck to your leg, never try to pull it out. Else, put a little salt on top of it and it would die instantaneously. So please keep a small pack of salt with you.
Also it will be nice to keep a Binocular with you.
“Stop worrying about the potholes in the road and enjoy the journey.”– Babs Hoffman.
Visited Sagara Beach, Elathur, Calicut (Kozhikode) along with my Family, in October 2014. One of my relative is staying near to this beach, so thought to include Elathur beach while visiting their house.
Elathur is a part of Calicut corporation in Kozhikode district in the Indian state of Kerala. It is located about 11 kms north to Kozhikode city on the Kozhikode-Kannur National Highway 17 and is bounded by the Arabian Sea at the west and Korapuzha River (Elathur River) at the north.
The Elathur beach stretches from Puthiyanirathe to Korapuzha. Marine mussels are abundant in this part of the sea.
Eagle Crest Holiday Home (owned by a German couple, I guess)
Cleanliness is the main attraction of this beach and the sun set view is excellent.
Compared to Calicut or the Kappad beach, the rush here is relatively very very less.
In case if you are using a public transport, you can get down at the ‘Elathur Private bus stop’ (in Kannur road) and take an auto to reach the Sagara beach. The only challenge will be that you will have to walk back 1 Km or so (on your way back), to reach the Kannur road, as there is no autostand near to the beach.
Kappad, or Kappakadavu locally, is a beach near Kozhikode, in Kerala, India, where the Portuguese explorer Vasco Da Gama landed on May 20, 1498. Gama’s expedition gave Europeans an opening to the sea route that led them to the wealth of the Malabar Coast.
There is also a small monument here with the inscription, ‘Vasco da Gama landed here, Kappakadavu, in the year 1498’. Other than historical importance, this beach is a long and beautiful stretch of sand adorned with serene hills facing seaside.
The nearest major railway station is Koyilandy, about 10 km away from Kappad. The nearest airport is Calicut International Airport (CCJ), which is about 25 km from the town of Kozhikode. Private transport buses are available from the main bus stand, or visitors can reach the beach by stopping at Thiruvangoor on National Highway 66 between Kozhikode and Vadakara.
Kannur—–NH-66———–Thiruvangoor——16km——–Kozhikode | 2 km | Kappad beach resort —-2 km– Kappad beach & Vosco Da Gama Stone
Kappad is a major tourist destination in this region. So you might expect more crowd, especially on Weekends. Domestic and international tourists visit the place in large numbers throughout the year. The beach which is mostly deserted during the day time, gets a large crowd during the evenings. The beach is also a major hang out for the city folk, who come here during the evenings to enjoy the waves, the breeze and the sun set. The rocks that protrude into the sea at the northern end of the beach also attract the tourists.
This is the one of the places where I could see some initiative from the side of Government to promote Tourism. There is a nice park, decent walkway and permanent seats have been provided for viewing the beauty of the sea.
There is also a small temple (Kurumba) near the beach.
The Kerala Tourism Development Corporation(KTDC) owns a resort at the southern end of the beach giving the travellers an opportunity to stay very close to the beach with all luxuries. There are many more hotels, Resorts (like Renai Kappad Beach Resort) and homestay nearby this region.
Fishermen engaged in their work, their boats and nets are a common view at this beach. Kappad coastal strip portrays typical features of most other Kerala beaches- white sand, coconut greenery, beach side fishing village and wooden fishing boats resting on white sand.
Other places nearby:
You can explore Canoe ride in the nearby Korappuzha Backwaters(river). I have personally not experienced this and hence cannot provide more details here. Kollam and Elathur Sagara beach are also nearby Kappad.
I happened to visit Allappuzha (aka Alleppey) in April 2011, along with my office mates. Alleppey is situated in between Kochi and Kollam. It is famous for being the starting point of the houseboat cruises. The backwaters of Kerala are a network of inter connected canals, rivers and lakes.
There are 3 major backwater travel spots in Kerala:
Frankly speaking, the number of house boats in Allappuzha is on a higher side and it’s a little crowded here.
We had booked the house boat (including food), well in advance. As we were a group of 18, we decided to take a bigger house boat. The Backwaters of Alleppey have been used for centuries by local people for transportation, fishing and agriculture. Today Backwater/house boat tourism is quite common in Kerala. These days we have house boats with all sort of facilities like Bath attached A/C rooms, Conference halls and so on. There are luxury and premium house boats aswell, which will be very costly.
So when you plan a trip to Alleppey, you should also plan about the type of the boat that you want. Whatever is the type that you select, I would personally suggest to add the food package (Veg and Non veg options available) along with your house boat booking. Also you will have to decide if you are taking a day trip or a Night/stay trip. My personal preference is a day trip. Normally there will be 2-3 staff in the houseboat.
The day trip would start around 9 AM and drop you back by 5PM and the night/stay trip house boats usually depart around midday and return the following day at 8AM.
Different operators will offer slightly different routes, depending on your budget.
Your trip will usually start with a welcome drink which is a fresh coconut (might vary). For lunch they usually prepare rice, Sambar, mixed vegetables, chicken, Fish Fry (fried fish), pickles and fruits. Dinner, you can expect an Indian curry veg or non veg, Chappati, Dal, Rice vegetables or salad. If you looking for a snack you will get tea, coffee and banana fritters. Finally for breakfast you will get a choice of eggs, bread, butter and Jam and either a Dosa or Poori Masala.
Some house boats will also stop at nearby toddy shop, where you can try some Toddy.
You can also buy lobsters, prawns and so on from local fishermen and the house boat cook would prepare some tasty dishes with that fish. Obviously, such fish would normally be very costly.
Note: The food is normally prepared using coconut oil, but if you have some oil preferences, please communicate the same to the house boat staff/owner/booking agent, in advance.
The best time to visit Alleppey is during the months of September to March. Alleppey has moderately hot summers with April and May being the hottest months.
If you have enough time, you can also explore the backwaters in the Government Ferry/boat. There are boats that are run by the State Water Transport Department (SWTD) of Kerela. There are many stops in different locations with people getting on and off. The ticket rates will be extremely low in these types of boats. You can also see a lot of tourists taking this means of transport aswell.
You can also try some local Canoe here
Important Note: If you have small kids in your trip, please be very careful. The water here is very deep.
We visited Kannur (Cannanore) in April 2017. This can be a good long weekend travel option for people from Bangalore. Ideally, I would suggest you to opt a road trip rather than a train or bus. You can easily set aside 2 days, to see the attractions in Kannur.
Places that we visited
Sargalaya / Iringal Craft’s Village (Enroute Kannur from Kozhikode)
Geographically, this is in Kozhikode district but don’t miss this place if you are travelling from Kozhikode to Kannur by road. Sargaalaya is a 20-acre arts and crafts village in Iringal (near Vadakara). There are lot of traditional crafts, available for sale at a decent price.
The tourists can also enjoy boating in the Moorad River.
Good to see such initiatives from the side of Kerala Government.
Angelo Fort:
It is infact a symbol of influence from various Europeans who had ruled this place. This is comparatively as smaller fort. You can also see a jail inside, with lot of prisons.
The beautiful location facing the sea, the well-maintained gardens inside the fort and the peaceful ambience gives an experience for the visitors.
Payyambalam Beach:
This is the longest beach in Kannur. Another popular spot for locals as well as the tourists. There are lot of water sports available here. Lot of people visit here to do Kite – Flying.
Entrance of the beach looks very odd and small.
There is a small bridge which takes you to the beach. There are lot of monuments at the side of this bridge. These monuments commemorate the lives of famous political leaders who had played an important role in Kerala politics.
Payyambalam beach has appeared in several South Indian films and advertisements. The Tamil movie Alai Payude, directed by Mani Ratnam, Worldspace ad by A.R.Rahman, and many more have scenes filmed here.
Sri RajaRajeswara Temple:
The Rajarajeswara temple is a Shiva temple located at Taliparamba in the Kannur district of Kerala, South India. The temple is regarded as one of the existing 108 ancient Shiva Temples of ancient Kerala. It also has a prominent place amongst the numerous Shiva temples in South India. As the custom, only men enter the Naalambalam during the daytime, while women standing outside. Women can enter the Naalambalm all days once the Athazha pooja is over in the evening. It is assumed that after Athazha pooja the lord is in an aspect of a very pleased and gracious disposition accompanied by his consort goddess Parvathi — this is considered to be the most auspicious time for women to enter the Naalambalam as they get the occasion to worship the divine couple.
Muzhappilangad Drive In Beach (around 4 Kms):
This is one of the favourite hangout spot for locals/tourists. This is a Drive in beach, where you can drive through the beach in your vehicle along an unbroken stretch of 3-4 Kms. This is simply amazing. This is one of the longest Drive in Beach in Asia. Not far from the southern end of the beach is the Dharmadam island.
Dharmadam Island:
Dharmadam Island (Green Island) is an nice island located at Thalassery. It’s a beautiful place with coconut trees and dense bushes extending upto 5 acres. The island is just 100 meters from the mainland of Dharmadam. The island is surrounded by the Anjarakandy river on three sides and by the Arabian sea on the fourth side. The island is a beautiful sight from the Muzhappilangad beach.
During low tides, the sea becomes less intense making it possible for tourists to visit the island. Walking through the shallow waters to the island is an exciting experience. However, do not venture to the island alone, as the water can rise expeditiously during high tide. Get advice from a local guides, if you travel to Dharmadam through the low tides.
An alternative way to reach Dharmadam is by taking a boat from the south end of Moidu Bridge which is close by on the Kannur-Thalassery highway.
There is also a small well in the island whose water is not salty.
Other Places Near By (within 25 Kms):
Thottada Beach (10 Kms)
Choottad Beach (25 Kms)
Meenkunnu Beach (10 Kms)
Arakkal Museum (3.5 Kms)
Parassinikkadavu Muttapan Kavu (19.5 kms)
Parassinikkadavu Snake Park and Mini Zoo (16 Kms)
Vismaya water Theme Park (17.5 kms)
Thalassery Fort (21 Kms)
Food:
There are a lot of options for foodies here in Kannur.
Raandal: I really liked the food that we had from here. Fish Biriyani and Mango Fish curry are worth trying. The desserts and special drinks were equally good. They have very good options for Vegetarians aswell.
Sheen Bakery: Don’t forget to buy butter cakes from here. Seems they have many branches across the city.
Accommodation:
Kannur have a lot of hotels, homestays and resorts. Ensure to book in advance during long weekends or vacations. Personal recommendation would be to take a home stay.
We stayed in ‘Harris Sea Shell Beach Home’. I would definitely recommend this place to my fellow travellers. There is a beach very near to the resort. The sea view from this resort is amazing.
How to Reach:
Air: The nearest airports is Kozhikode International Airport.
Recent Update: A New International airport is now open in Kannur (December 2018). Lot of domestic players have also started operations from here. Do search in some websites to see the connectivity to your place.
Train: The nearest railway station is Kannur Railway station.
Bus: Kannur also have one private bus stand and one KSRTC (Kerala State road Transport Corporation) Bus stand. There are lot of state and interstate connecting buses available from here.
Important Disclaimer: The political history of Kannur is not great compared to other states. So please check with your resort/hotel and ensure that there are no political fights/hartals in Kannur as a whole or at the specific place that you intend to visit.
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