Category: Kerala

1. Mamiyur Temple
2. Anathavalam (Punnathur Kotta)
3. Marine World Public Aquarium
4. Panchavadi beach
5. Guruvayur Sri Krishna Temple

2) Anathavalam (Punnathur Kotta)

One of the essential must-visit attractions in Guruvayur is the renowned elephant sanctuary located near the temple, commonly known as Anathavalam or Punnathur Kotta (Elephant Camp). Situated just about 2 kilometres from Mamiyur Temple, this sanctuary houses over 35 elephants, most of whom have been donated by devotees to the Guruvayur Temple over the years. This makes it one of the largest temple-dedicated elephant sanctuaries in India.

The sanctuary, set within the historic Punnathur Kotta palace—once the residence of a local ruler—now serves as a home and training center for these majestic elephants. It is also referred to as the “Palace for Elephants,” where the elephants are trained for temple rituals and participate in multiple festivals throughout the year, including the famous Thrissur Pooram. Visitors can watch the elephants being bathed, fed, and cared for, which is both a humbling and captivating experience that usually takes about an hour.

Punnathur Kotta is open daily from 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM, with an entry fee of ₹20 per adult. Photography with mobile cameras is allowed without additional charges. There is ample parking available, and tickets do not need to be booked in advance. It’s important for visitors to know that riding the elephants is not permitted; the sanctuary focuses on respectful observation and care.

The sanctuary is known for its lush green surroundings and Ayurvedic treatments provided to the elephants to maintain their health. The site also honors the legendary elephant Guruvayur Kesavan, celebrated for his service at the temple for over five decades. The sanctuary presents a beautiful blend of cultural history, wildlife conservation, and religious traditions, providing travellers a unique and immersive experience near Guruvayur Temple.​​

More details can be found in :  https://guruvayurtemple.org/punnathur-kotta/

3)Marine World Public Aquarium

Started as a venture by Mr. Faisal R O and Mr. Nowsher Mohamed, Marine World is now under the partnership of many. The research for the institute started in 2000. The CISO Institute of Oceanic Studies Pvt Lmt. was started in 2007 by a team of expat businessmen and engineers, dedicated to the popularisation and awareness creation of the knowledge related to oceans, marine & freshwater animals. After much research and preparation, the Marine World Public Aquarium opened up on January 1, 2021 (Courtesy: Wikipedia).

The thoughtfully crafted exhibits with varied backdrops create a vibrant, non-monotonous experience that stands out among Indian aquariums, making it ideal for 2+ hours of exploration.​ They also entertain Exclusive school packages and group packages.

There are different attractions / options available:

• Under Water Tunnel
• Fish Feeding
• Touch Pool
• Artificial Rain Forest
• Artificial Mangrove Forest
• Fish Therapy
• Fish spa (surprisingly, this was free of cost and is covered with the ticket cost)

• Car Aquarium

• Glass Bridge
• Cylinder Aquarium

• Live Fish Catching

• Horror House
• 16D Cinema
• Mirror maze
• Souvenir shop
• Birds’ Park (You can feed birds here)

• Animal’s park

• Horror House
• 16D Cinema
• Mirror maze

• Souvenir shop
• Train
• Children’s park
• Restaurant

More details can be found in: https://marineworld.in/
There is also plenty of parking available here.

NOTE:  Despite the strong word-of-mouth reputation this place enjoys, its presence on social media remains quite limited. For instance, on TripAdvisor, there are barely ten reviews—surprisingly few for a destination of such appeal. The management could benefit from exploring new-age digital and social media marketing strategies to enhance visibility and attract visitors beyond Kerala. With the right online engagement, this hidden gem has the potential to become a must-visit destination for travellers everywhere.

4)Panchavadi beach

Lunch:

Short break at Sterling Hotel:

5) Guruvayur Sri Krishna Temple (Kerala’s Dwarka of the South):

Guruvayur Temple, dedicated to Lord Guruvayurappan (a form of Lord Krishna as baby Vishnu), draws thousands daily for prayers and wish fulfillment, creating a perpetual festival atmosphere. Revered as one of Kerala’s most sacred sites and the “Dwarka of the South,” it houses a 5,000-year-old idol believed to have been worshipped by Krishna in Dwarka before being relocated by Guru and Vayu, hence its name. The temple’s Kerala-style architecture features sloping tiled roofs, carved wooden panels, and a towering gopuram, enveloping visitors in Vedic chants, incense, and spiritual energy.​

Essential Timings and Darshan Tips:

The temple opens at 3:00 AM and closes at 9:15-9:30 PM, with a break from 1:30-4:30 PM; confirm exact times via the official site as they vary during festivals. Key events include morning Seeveli (elephant procession) at 6:15-7:00 AM and evening at 4:45-5:00 PM, plus Deeparadhana at 6:00 PM—aim for 4:30 PM darshan per your itinerary to avoid peak crowds. Broad shaded walkways protect from rain and sun; expect long queues for free annadanam (prasadam lunch) from the mega kitchen above the temple pond, serving 5,000 daily.​

More details can be found in:    https://guruvayurdevaswom.in/#/login

Practical Advice for Travelers

A. Guruvayur Temple Visitor Essentials

Guruvayur Temple enforces a strict dress code typical of South Indian temples to uphold sanctity. Men must wear plain white or cream dhoti (mundu) without shirts, optionally covering the upper body with an angavastram; trousers, jeans, or T-shirts are prohibited. Women require sarees, salwar kameez, or long skirts with blouses—leggings, shorts, or modern outfits not allowed; girls under 12 may wear pavada or frocks. Boys under 12 can wear shorts but enter bare-chested; rentals and changing rooms available at entrances.​

B. Queue and Accessibility Tips

C. Practical Facilities and Surroundings

D. Cultural Highlights

Famed for celebrity elephants like Guruvayur Keshavan, the temple feels safe amid family crowds. Malayalam dominates, but Kannada, Tamil, Telugu, English, and Hindi widely understood in Guruvayur-Thrissur. Popular for weddings and rituals, it blends devotion with vibrant traditions.​

E. Best Time to Visit Guruvayurappan Temple

How to reach

Sterling Guruvayur

Summary: While most pilgrims focus solely on Guruvayur Temple’s spiritual serenity, extending your stay transforms a sacred journey into a joyful family adventure blending devotion with discovery. Follow this curated full-day itinerary to explore nearby gems like the Punnathur Kotta Elephant Sanctuary, Marine World Public Aquarium and so on.

We covered the following places in a 1-day trip on 8^th 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.

Ezharakund waterfalls in Kudiyanmala, Kannur is a tourist destination maintained by the Kannur District Tourism Promotion Council (DTPC).

This is one of the most picturesque waterfalls of Kannur district, situated on the Paithalmala valley close to the Kerala-Karnataka border, located at about 50 Km Northeast of Kannur via Sreekandapuram and Kudiyanmala.

Address: Kudiyanmala Pottenplave Rd, Pottenplave, Vellad, Kerala 670582

Roads in this part of Kannur are really good (mostly tarred roads). At some places, it’s a bit narrow.

The name Ezharakund  literally translates to seven and a half pits in malayalam (local language widely spoken in Kerala, India).

This waterfalls comprises of multiple levels of rocky natural pools of varying sizes and depths that contain crystal clear water for most period of the year.

We covered this destination as a part of a day trip from Koyilandy. During this one day trip we covered Parassinikadavu Temple, Palakayyam thattu and Ezharakund waterfalls.

We parked our taxi (parking charge for Innova was around Rs.50) near to the base station.  

Please remember there is an entry fee of Rs.100/person.

You are not allowed to take your vehicle directly to the falls (at the top) from the base station.

From the base station we hired a local jeep to reach the top of the waterfalls.

You can request for a jeep at the reception of the base station and they will arrange one for you.  The jeeps are not readily available at the base station. It will take some time for the jeeps to arrive at the base station. There are seats available near the base station and you can also capture some photographs while waiting for the jeep.

The jeep charges was around Rs. 300 (one side) and you can pay the money (cash only) to the jeep driver after reaching the top of the falls.

Our recommendation is to take a jeep one side (preferably onward journey to the falls) and you can return from the falls to the basestation by walk.

However we have seen people who walk both up and down the falls and please remember that it would really test your fitness levels.

The jeep journey is really nice and you would love that trip, for sure.

While going in jeep, you will find few houses on both sides of the road.

The jeep will take you to the topmost part of the falls. After getting down, you need to show your tickets to the staff at the gate. From that gate, it is hardly few meters to the falls.

There is also a small observatory tower, from where you can capture some good photographs of the falls.

The falls make a unique scene. It is like few kettles stacked one after the other. As the water over flows the first, it fills in the second kettle and so on. The area is still a hidden treasure although the state government is working to develop it.

We had visited this place in December and during that time,  we could see people swimming / bathing in the water.

There are two pools which is safe to swim. These are watched over by life guards and life jackets are also available. There are also changing rooms near the falls.

After exploring the falls, you can walk back (at your own time convenience) to the base station.

Its almost 1.2 km walk from the falls to the base station and would easily take around 1 hour to reach down. Children can also easily walk.

Tourism department has constructed a pedestrian pathway  from the base station till the falls.  

The pathways are properly marked and safety rails are fixed in many places in order to prevent people from entering the stream. These metal rails are very  helpful to hold, while walking.

On certain points throughout the walkway, there are guards on duty. We were told that there are around 20 guards in and around this place at any point of time.

In many sections of the trail, benches are placed to rest and enjoy the views. Overall, this is a very family friendly place, catered for  any age group.

Please note that this place is relatively busy on Saturday/Sunday and on Public Holidays. There is a small shop serving snacks and tea are present near to the base station. There are a few home stays and resorts near by.

Best time to visit: 

Due to the abundance of shades along the walking trail, you can visit here anytime of the day and will have a good experience.

People say that Monsoon time mainly june – August is the best time to visit this falls.

However, it might not be a good idea to visit during heavy rainy days  as the stream and the waterfall can overflow to the trails

Opening time is 9AM – 6 PM

How to reach
Ezharakund Waterfalls is located from Kannur around 50 km via Chirakkal – Kololam Rd. The nearest railway station is Kannur, about 39 km and Kannur International Airport, about 59 km.

Popular destinations near by:

1. Parassinikadavu Sree Muthappan Temple
2. Palakkayam Thattu
3. Paithalmala

Summary : Ezharakund falls in Kannur is a real gift of nature . Though not that popular yet, we definitely recommend you to visit this place to experience the beautiful waterfalls and the walking trail. You would never be disappointed, that is a GUARANTEE..

“Travel and change of place impart new vigor to the mind”– Seneca

I recently visited one of my relative’s upcoming home stay in Wayanad. Since it is not officially launched, I cannot reveal the name of the home stay as of now. It’s actually located in Lakkidi (inside the forest/tea plantation area, around 1 kms from the Bathery-Calicut Main road)

Lakkidi is located in the gateway of Wayanad district of Kerala state, south India. Lakkidi is one of the highest locations in Wayanad and is situated 700m above mean sea level, atop Thamarassery ghat pass. Vythiri is the nearest town, distancing 5km from Lakkidi. Chain tree, Pookot Lake, Sight seeing point on ghat road and number of tourist resorts are within five km of Lakkidi. It is about 58 km northeast of Kozhikode district.

The route to this home stay is amazing. You can reach this homestay from the main road only with the help of a 2/4 Wheel drive vehicle. But the resort management have provided the parking slots at a house near the main road, where you can park your vehicle.

Currently they have only 2-3 rooms. They are in the process of adding more facilities.

The Website and online reservation has not started yet. Probably they might launch it officially soon.

The view from this homestay is amazing. The climate is very cool, as it is situated inside the plantation.

I was told that we can get a chance to view elephants at a distant location.

“Wherever you go, you take yourself with you” –  Neil Gaiman

My Route : Kazhakuttom –> MenamKulam –> Veli – Perumathura Road –>Muthalapozhi Port (Around 14KMS/30 Minutes journey in car)

Foodies: If you would like to taste some Sea food, you can visit ‘Ameen Restaurant’ enroute. I personally was not happy with the cleanliness of the dining space in the restaurant. Anyway, you can try a parcel from this place.

A WhatsApp video mentioning about the sea food varieties of this restaurant had gone Viral. So if you would like to taste the food, you can visit this restaurant enroute to Muthalapozhi.

“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

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.

One Line Summary: Overall, its worth for a one day short trip, preferably in the early morning or last evening.

Some Useful Links:

1) https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Munroe_Island

2) https://sites.google.com/site/munroeislandbackwaters/

“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.

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 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.

“I wandered everywhere, through cities and countries wide. And everywhere I went, the world was on my side..”– Roman Payne

Ponmudi is a hill station in South Kerala, about 60 kms from Trivandrum city.

I visited Ponmudi (The Golden peak) along with my friends in April 2011.

If you want to avoid driving, the best option will be to go by a KSRTC bus.

There are multiple services available. It takes around 2.30 Hours in an ordinary bus.

There are around 20+ Hair Pin Bends enroute.

Courtesy: www.aanavandi.com

Best time to visit: Monsoons bring heavy rains to the region, so better to avoid June till August.

Some attractions nearby: 

Meenmutty water falls
Golden Valley
Trekking at top station.

“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.

Wikipedia Link –> https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Beypore

The Sun rise/sun set view is excellent

Ticket Charge:

There is a parking fee of Rs.30/-

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.