Ottakkal Weir View Point: Lovely Pit Stop on the Thenmala – Kollam Highway

It is home to a lookout tower that offers an aerial view of a weir bridge, the Kallada river, the Shendurney wildlife sanctuary and the mountains of the Western Ghats in the background. It is a great place for photographers, nature enthusiasts and adventure lovers. I am talking about the Ottakkal weir view point and its 20 meter high tower with a spiral staircase and a circular platform at two levels all of which make for a lovely pit stop on the Thenmala – Kollam highway.



The Ottakkal weir view point that is part of the Thenmala ecotourism project and a major point of Kallada Irrigation Project, is an ideal place to relax and rejuvenate your senses with soothing sounds and sights of nature. Once you are done enjoying the view from the lookout and if you have time at hand, you can walk down to the river base and weir bridge. This will allow you to get closer to the river and get a different view of the surrounding nature. There is also a motorable road that connects to the weir bridge, but it looks like one needs permission from the authorities to take their vehicle in. No permissions required if you are on foot. This place would make for a fabulous pit stop during the rainy season when the river is full of water and the surroundings are full of lush nature. Do not miss to take a break at this pit stop when you are driving or riding towards Thenmala from either Kollam or Thiruvananthapuram. There are a couple of shacks selling some local fruits, tea and snacks. It might be a great idea to have a mini brunch here while enjoying the serene views.



Other nearby tourist attractions

1) Mekkarai to Achankovil to Konni: Heavenly motorcycle route through pristine forest

2) Mekkarai: One of Tamil Nadu’s prettiest villages

3) Courtallam: The herbal bath holiday destination of Tamil Nadu

4) Sunderapandiapuram: Of lovely Brahmin agraharam houses, sunflower fields, windmills and mountain views

5) Puliyarai View Point: Scenic pit stop on the Tenkasi – Kerala highway

6) Manalar Falls: The herbal jungle waterfall of Kerala

7) Kambhavurutty Falls: Scenic Waterfall Holiday Destination of Kerala

8) Rosemala View Point: Gorgeous motorcycling route inside Shendurney Wildlife Sanctuary, Kerala

9) Thenmala Forest: Offbeat nature and wildlife getaway

10) Vintage Pathimoonu Kannara Bridge: Colonial charm of the Indian Railways

11) Punalur Suspension Bridge: Historical gem of Kerala

12) Lesser Known Kerala Mountain Railways: Treat for nature lovers

13) Achankovil Saastha Temple: That happy Lord Ayyappa in the middle of pristine jungle

14) Palaruvi Falls: Kerala’s herbal waterfall that drops like milk from the sky

15) Thenmala Dam: A monsoon pit stop view

16) Aryankavu Saastha Temple: Ancient temple located in the sacred forests of the Western Ghats

17) The exotic tropical fruits of Puliyarai

18) Sri Anantha Padmanabha Swamy Temple: World’s richest Hindu temple

19) Shangumugham Beach: The tranquil and divine beach of Thiruvananthapuram

20) Kappil Beach: Sandy beauty hemmed in between the sea and the backwaters

21) Varkala Beach: The stunning cliff beach of Kerala where you can wash away all your sins

22) Meenmutty Falls inside Peppara Wildlife Sanctuary: A beautiful tropical jungle trail

23) Ponmudi: The offbeat hill station of Kerala with a 360 degree mountain panorama

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Punalur Suspension Bridge: Historical Gem of Kerala

It is an engineering wonder of Kerala. It is the oldest motorable bridge in Kerala. I am talking about the 143 year old Punalur suspension bridge that stands tall amidst Punalur’s modern day traffic and continues to straddle the Kallada river as it did in its hey days. Only difference being, then it was a working bridge, while today it is a historical attraction and a protected monument under the Archaeological department of Kerala.

Constructed in 1877 during the reign of the erstwhile Travancore king Ayilyam Thirunal Rama Varma and under the supervision of the British engineer Albert Henry, the Punalur Suspension bridge is a 400 feet long bridge that connected the town of Punalur with the forest area of old Kattupathanapuram. The idea behind having a suspension bridge was to promote trade with outsiders while preventing the animals of the jungle from entering the village at night. The shaky nature of the bridge used to scare off the animals. Built using iron, Kambakom wood and stone masonry, the Punalur suspension bridge, looks like a micro mini version of the Brooklyn bridge of New York.

Even today, there is mystery surrounding its overall engineering. And that’s what makes it a historical gem of Kerala. If you ever happen to visit this offbeat side of Kerala, do stop by Punalur and experience this hanging bridge at close quarters. May be, you can even walk on it and teleport yourself to the late 19th century when this suspension bridge ushered in a new era of connectivity and trade.

Location: Punalur in South Kerala

Other nearby tourist attractions:

1) Lesser known mountain railways of Kerala: A treat for nature lovers

2) Thenmala forest and Palaruvi falls: Offbeat nature and wildlife getaway

3) Courtrallam falls: A great place to enjoy herbal baths under a waterfall

4) Tenkasi town: Famous for its 13th century Kasi Viswanathar temple with its big gopurams

4) Kollam: A coastal town known for its beaches, light houses, backwaters and riverine islands

5) Kappil beach: A great beach sandwiched between the backwaters and the Arabian Sea

6) Varkala beach: That stunning cliff beach of Kerala where you can wash away all your sins

7) Ponmudi: The offbeat hill station of Kerala with a 360 degree mountain panorama

8) Papanasanathar Temple: 1000 year old temple by the river Thamarabharani where you can wash all your sins away

9) Kalakad Mundanthurai Tiger Reserve: The hidden wildlife gem

10) Meenmutty Falls inside Peppara Wldlife Sanctuary: A beautiful tropical jungle trail leading to a forest waterfall

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Lesser Known Kerala Mountain Railways: Treat for Nature Lovers!

If you love train journeys, you have got to love the sheer diversity and reach of Indian railways. From the lush green Konkan railways to the mountain railways of Nilgiri, Darjeeling and Shimla, from one of the longest rail routes in the world to the sensational rail-sea bridge enroute to Rameshwaram and from uber luxurious train journeys to the rooftop madness that you see in the remote corners of Uttar Pradesh, Bihar and the North East, Indian railways has got to astound you. In fact, the way I see it, you have not experienced India unless you have experienced her charms through its trains. This is my top recommendation to people who are visiting India and a recommendation that I keep taking myself too.



One such gorgeous railway route that I came across recently is the newly reopened Kollam – Sengottai railway route that passes through the lush green heart of the Western Ghats. About 114 years old, the Kollam-Sengottai route, was the first railway line in the erstwhile Travancore state and it connects the coast of Kerala to the plains of Tamil Nadu, the East coast and all the way up to Chennai.



This railway line is in an area that I call the India’s deep south and it is full of tropical rainforests, evergreen forests, waterfalls, national parks, tiger reserves, wildlife sanctuaries, stunning bridges, tunnels, lots of rubber and spice plantations and umpteen hectares of paddy fields. In simple words, if you happen to be a nature lover, this lesser known mountain railways of Kerala and Tamil Nadu is meant for you to explore and experience.



The Thenmala Eco tourism zone, the Shendurney Wildlife Sanctuary and the Kalakad Mundanthurai tiger reserve are the main stretches of forest located on this route. They are bound to appeal to everyone with their rich animal and bird life. The Palaruvi, Kazhuthurutti, Courtrallam and Agastyar falls are the famous waterfalls that fall on this route. And bathing is allowed on a few, which makes them extremely popular destinations in this hot tropical region. Then, there are so many famous temples on this route that are possibly on every itinerary of a Sabarimala pilgrim. For starters, there is the Arayankavu Sastha Temple, the Achankoil temple, the Tenkasi temple, the Papanasam temple and so many others. And then are enough and more traditional villages in this region that will appeal to you with their unique cultures, traditions, food and nature.



You could either take any long distance train plying on this route or if you happen to have more time at hand, you could take the passenger trains and explore each small attraction that makes this region so special and charming. And while you are at it, don’t miss the many arch bridges that fall on this route, especially the 13 arch bridge or the Pathimoonu Kannara Palam at Kazhathuruthi and the Aryankavu – Puliyar (Kottavasal) tunnel. You could experience it both by being on the train when it crosses the bridge or climb to the top from the highway roads under it. Either way, the lush green forest landscape with the arch bridge and the tunnels, makes for a surreal sight. Be prepared for heavy gusts of wind, though as these points are like natural wind tunnels.



If you dig train journeys and are on the lookout for offbeat routes, I would recommend taking a ride on the Kollam-Sengottai railway line and experience the Western Ghats from its heart. Nature lovers, you are bound to go bonkers!

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