Peppara Wildlife Sanctuary

Peppara Wildlife Sanctuary is composed of the dense forests and the Peppara dam built on the Karamana River and was declared as a sanctuary in 1983 to increase the drinking water supply to Thiruvananthapuram and the adjoining suburbs. Peppara Wildlife Sanctuary is merged partially with the Palode reserve (24sq.kms) and the Kottoor reserve (29sq.kms); all the three together forming the whole of the area covered by the Peppara Wildlife Sanctuary. The wildlife sanctuary covers an area of 53 sq.kms with the reservoir spread in an area of 5.82 sq.kms.Located about 50kms. North East of capital city Thiruvananthapuram in Nedumangad taluk of Thiruvananthapuram district, the topography of the wildlife sanctuary is quite hilly.

Peppara wildlife sanctuary is a ‘gene pool’ sanctuary, with a rich variety of flora and fauna over a rugged terrain with running rivulets, rolling hillocks and green meadows. A boat ride on the site is a fulfilling experience.The sub tropical and tropical evergreen forests are populated with a variety of wildlife. This sanctuary with its rich fauna and birds is emerging as a big attraction to wildlife enthusiasts.

The major wildlife species found in the wildlife sanctuary are: tiger, panther, wild dog, lion tailed macaque, elephant, gaur, sambhar, barking deer, mouse deer, wild boar, Nilgiri langur, Malabar squirrel etc. The bird species especially the water birds like darter, little cormorant, pied king fisher and egrets are most commonly seen in the sanctuary. Several species of snakes including the king cobra and python are dominantly present in this sanctuary. The Peppara Wildlife Sanctuary is also famous for its wide variety of moth and butterflies. Apart from the wildlife, there are 13 tribal settlements in the Peppara Wildlife Sanctuary.

Neyyar dam is a gravity dam on the Neyyar River in Thiruvananthapuram district of Kerala, South India, located on the foot of the Western Ghats about 30 km from Thiruvananthapuram. It was established in 1958 and is a popular picnic spot. Lying against the southern low hills of the Western Ghats, Neyyar Dam has a scenic lake.

Neyyar dam is situated at Kallikkad Panchayath of Neyyattinkara Taluk. The peak Agasthya kooodam is very near to Neyyar dam. The dam was built in the land given by an agriculturist known as Karuvachiyil Krishan Panicker, Maruthummoottil family,and his other family members for irrigation purposes. One canal of Neyyar flows to western districts of Tamil Nadu. The main river Neyyar flows through Kallikkadu, Ottasekharamangalam, Aryancode, Kezaroor, Marayamuttom, Neyyattinkara and Poovar and ends at the Arabian Sea. Kallikkadu panchayath has more cultural and historic heritages. The Travancore King Marthanda Varma’s footprints are here. he fought against Ettuveettil Pillais and he had to flee from his palace. He walked through the mountains of Kallikkadu such as Agasthakoodam with the Aborigins, Kanikkar. They saved the king and they were rewarded with 36,000 acres (150 km2) of land. this is known as Kanipatt. after the democratic reign Kanis lost the land and it came under the controle of local land lords. there was a famous strike, Kanipattu Samaram led by Karshaka Sangham. Kallikkad Ramachandran the famous writer and film maker, K R Ajayan the Journalist and Short story writer are the products Of Kallikkad. The Neyyar Dam was built in the land given by a famous landlord Karuvachi Krishnan Panicker, Maruthinmoottil, Kallikkad and some of his family members from Kallikkad.

A yoga centre, Sivanantha Ashram, is near to this place, which provides classes about meditation, yoga etc. for foreigners as well as for natives. Several temples are near Neyyardam, including the Veeranakavu Sreedharma Shastha temple and the Mangara Muttom Siva temple.

Peppara Dam

The Peppara Dam was commissioned in 1983 to augment the drinking water supply to Thiruvananthapuram city and suburban areas. Considering the ecological significance of the area, it was declared a sanctuary in 1983. The area was formerly a part of the Paruthippally range of the Thiruvananthapuram Territorial Division. Forests consist of part of the Palode reserve (24 square kilometres (9.3 sq mi)) and part of Kottoor reserve (29 square kilometres (11 sq mi)). The total water spread of the reservoir is 5.82 square kilometres (2.25 sq mi). Recently, a joint effort has been made by Kerala Tourism with the State Forest Department and the Kerala Water Authority to beautify the dam site and provide more entertainment and leisure facilities here.

Aruvikkara Dam

Aruvikkara is a village in Thiruvananthapuram district in the state of Kerala, India.[1]It is located on the banks of the Karamana River 15 km from Thiruvananthapuram, the capital of the state of Kerala in South India. The reservoir and garden makes it a tourist spot. It is famous for the ancient Bhagavathi temple dedicated to Durga, the divine embodiment of Female power, which is built on a rock. The stream in front of the temple contains large fishes, which are fed by the devotees visiting the shrine. The Head Quarters of the Wellington Water Distribution project is located here. The small Aruvikara dam (mini dam) which provides water to the state capital Thiruvananthapuram is also located in Aruvikara.

Meenmutty Waterfalls – Kallaar

About 60 km from Trivandrum Town, two glitterig waterfalls, Kombaikani and Meenmutty Waterfalls are situated on the upper reaches of the Neyyar Reservoir in Trivandrum District. Located near Kallar, on the way to Ponmudi from Thiruvananthapuram, the waterfalls along with its serene surroundings offers a unique and invigorating experience. A trek of two kms from Kallar, through dense forests, would take one to Meenmutti waterfalls and a further two kms, to the Kombaikani waterfalls.Kallar, famous for round-shaped boulders and pebble, is situated en route to the popular hill station of Ponmudi.

The place gets its name from the River Kallar, which flows through the region. Kallu means ‘stone’ and Aru means ‘river’. It is a favourite haunt for picnickers and attracts many with an interest in trekking, angling and bird watching. The main attractions are the nearby Golden Valley, and the Meenmutti waterfalls. Unlike the Meenmutti waterfall, the Golden Valley is easily accessible form the main road. Here one can take a dip in the crystal clear waters to cool off, and also watch the many rapids and small pools that dot a good part of the river in this area.
Apart from Golden Valley, those with zeal for trekking and bird watching can take narrow track, starting from the right from the side of the Kallar Bridge. The track will lead one to a medium sized, but captivating waterfall, popularly known as Meenmutty. The waterfall is situated 3-4 kms from the main road. On the way to the waterfall, one could come across ample bird life, and many species of butterflies. The forest here is mostly tropical in nature, and during the rainy season, one has to be on the alert for leeches.

Vazhvanthol Waterfalls Vithura

Are you looking for a break from your hectic work schedule? If so, Vazhvanthol would be a perfect spot for rejuvenation and relief. The Vazhvanthol waterfall is only 45 KM from Trivandrum city, in the Bonacaud region. The main attraction of this place is its easy accessibility combined with its sheer beauty and calmness. From Trivandrum one need to travel via Nedumangad, Chullimanoor, Vithura, Bonacaud road, by taking right deviation after Vithura.

From Vithura, take Bonacaud route, after 10-12 km, there is a forest check post near Kanithadam. This is the same check post for the Bonafalls and agastyaarkoodam. Entry charges are Rs. 35/- per person and Rs. 25/- for the vehicle. You can proceed further for around one km from the check post in your vehicle and need to walk 2.2 KM through the forest after the parking slot near the settlement area. It will take about one to one and half hours, depending on your ability, to reach out the blistering waterfalls deep inside the forest.

When you reach the top, You can enjoy the beauty of the waterfalls and many rare specious of birds, the atmosphere is calm and rejuvenating. But be extra careful while when you walk over the rocks there, because they are slippery. There are no forest guards, but you can still get some guides from that place.

There is a lake, down in the forest, where you can get bamboo rafts, but please keep life jacket with you, because some parts of that lake is very deep and frozen. But that would be very adventurous and thrilling to raft through that natural lake.
There are no major tour operators offering the trips to vazhvanthol, and not many visitors that too often. so you can enjoy the real beauty of the place in a very calm and natural manner. Hotel Rohini International in vithura( Phone: 0471 857337) were operating a daily package to vazhvanthol including the guides and food ( breakfast, Lunch and dinner) earlier. Lunch will be served within the forest itself, and that is a very good experience. especially once after you finished with the trekking. Their shefs are really good, and you can enjoy Naadan Kappa,Meen curry with other dishes. They used to arrange you the facility for the team building activities in their resort ( if you opted for that).and charges are very reasonable, and their hospitality is really good and worth for every penny you give them.

So, when you plan your outing next time, Vazhvanthol would be a perfect choice.

I decided to go to this place by train and not by air as I wanted to feel the greenery grow into me as the train chugged past God’s own country Kerala. Ensconced in the verdant expanse of the Western Ghats, Malappuram was a welcome break for me as I was going to go the most beautiful ayurvedic village. The principle of Ayurveda they say is employed to relax the human body with the principle applications of the five elements earth, water, fire, air and ether along with the effective combination of herbs. I was so enamored by this rule that I really wanted to find what exactly a rejuvenating spa was all about. And I landed in Kottakkal Arya Vaidya Sala Health Resort in the picturesque district of Malappuram. If you want to feel like Alice in Wonderland, then this is the place to be. This wonderland is actually a blessing in disguise for people like me who are perennially high strung with commitments, targets and deadlines.

At Kottakkal, you have various kinds of treatments and relaxation techniques to make one feel rejuvenated. I was now left with the choice of deciding which treatment to take. The names were intertwined with alphabets from Malayalam but me being a Malayalee could pronounce them easily. I decided to go for two kinds of treatments – The Pizhichil and the Dhara.

Pizhichil

The only time I was lying down and people were peering at me was when I was at the delivery table delivering my kids!! But this time it was different, this time I was lying down on a wooden board and the people around me were squeezing some warm liquid over me. The wooden board was called the Droni by them and the warm fluid was medicated oil. They used small bits of linen and dipped it in the medicated oil and squeezed it over my body. They had a specific height to do this. As the oil oozed into my body and spread all over there were four masseurs whose job was to massage the oil into my body. And as they did it, I felt I was drifting into, yes you guessed Alice’s wonderland. Even Alice would have wanted to swap her wonderland for Kottakkal. The oil, the massage, the ambience and the effect it had later removed any kind of arthritic pain that I had. They had asked earlier as to how long I would be able to withstand the massage. I could decide whether I needed it for an hour or more. I had it for an hour. It seems this is done only below the neck. The muscles and the nerves that had gone through undue stress with the projects, presentations, everyday challenges, just relaxed after this linen warm oil and massage combination keyed into my system.

The serene ambience of this place and the idyllic surrounding would render one very relaxed and one would just want to surrender completely to this beautiful experience.

And I wanted more!!! Yes, sure enough the next day I trudged along the green expanse feeling the lovely grass in my bare feet, the dews of the early morning wetting my weary feet. How I wish life could be like this in the hustle and bustle of our daily life. The next day I went for a long walk and felt the surrounding seep into my system. Then I thought I would go for a treatment called Dhara.

Dhara

I have been a person who is a night bird. Counting sheep, reading, mumbling, eye pads, nothing really succeeds in putting me to sleep. So I though why not try this Dhara method which is given to people who are sleepless. I again lied down on a wooden plank and I suddenly felt something warm on my forehead. A Dhara Chatti or an apparatus as you could say was kept at a certain height, and a medicine was being poured on my forehead. The medicine, the height, the rules and the atmosphere was so relaxing and so effective that I was curious to know what the liquid was. They said, depending on the individual they use either, milk or oil or tender coconut waster and sometimes herb extracts.

All in all, I had a perfect experience and today Sunday I was snuggling into my sheets after my return. All suitcases unpacked and again I was back into the humdrum of city life but this time with a different tune to sing – A tune more healthy, more rejuvenating, more relaxing. A trip to the rejuvenation spa and retreat – Yes it is on, in my regular yearly schedule. !!

Article by Ross

Kottakkal Arya Vaida Sala Contact Details

Arya Vaidya Sala, Kottakkal,Kottakkal (P.O),Malappuram (Dist.),
Kerala – 676 503,INDIA.
Telephone: +91 – 483 2808000.: +91 – 483 2742216,17,18,19.: +91 – 483 2742210, 2742572.
E-mail : mail@aryavaidyasala.com

Nattakom and Panachikad

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Thazhathangady Juma Masjid

Renowned for its wood carvings and beautiful architecture, the mosque was the abode of Muslims who arrived in Kottayam from different parts of Kerala. Since 1947, the residents of the mosque follow the Hanafi tradition, under the guidance of the Kottayam Settu Masjid.

The mosque was dedicated to the residents of the area by Haji Abdul Karim Sahib, the first President of the Jama-Athe. It was maintained by Alhaj P. P. Ahmed Alim Sahib, who was also the Imam from 1964 to 1993.

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Poonjar Palace

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Ilaveezhapoonchira

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Bay Island Driftwood Museum

The museum has various artefacts developed by a school teacher during her tenure in the Andaman and Nicobar archipelago. She collected a wide variety of driftwood, twisted tree trunks, stumps and roots from the banks of the Bay of Bengal and transformed these into beautiful art pieces. Some of the wood pieces and roots are considered to be centuries old. These pieces and roots are subjected to cleansing, dead parts removal, scraping and trimming.

Timing : 10 am – 5 pm (Tuesday to Saturday)
11:30 am – 5 pm (Sunday)
Admission Fees : Entrance by Pass

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Anjengo Fort

The period of construction of the fort can be estimated by the oldest buried grave dating to 1704. Presently, the fort remains in ruins but stands as a testimony to the fact that many foreign invaders had tried to capture it for getting a firm footing in Kerala.

The name is believed to be derived from a small land with five coconut trees, which was given to the East India Company by the Queen of Attingal on lease. The small land served as a site for establishing a huge fort to help the British in carrying out numerous trading activities. Preserved under National Heritage Monuments, the fort also houses a cemetery that has the mortal remains of the occupants of the fort.

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Sivagiri Mutt

The ashram is located at the top of the Sivagiri Hill near Varkala and is mostly visited by pilgrims during 30 December to 1 January, when an annual festival is organised. Dressed in yellow attire, the sages and saints residing in the ashram propagate the phenomena of One Caste, One Religion and One God. The premises of the site are also the headquarters of the Sree Narayana Dharma Sangham.

The mutt is popular among locals for organising debates, colourful processions, seminars, public meetings, cultural shows, community feasts and group weddings. Besides these, the site also organises the Guru Deva Jayanti, the anniversary of the Guru, and the ‘samadhi’ day during August and September, respectively, every year.

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