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| Periyar Barrage, Bhoothathankettu |
Its name, as it turns out, is the most dramatic thing about Bhoothathankettu. The dense forest cover of this place, shrouded in myth and reality, starts appearing as soon as you cross the Periyar Barrage in the new Bhoothathankettu Dam. The dam is a vantage point from where you can spot the turbulent water rushing from the dam towards the Old Bhoothathankettu. It is situated 50 km away from Kochi, in the Indian state of Kerala.
Explore : Old Bhoothathankettu & Reserve Forest
If you like to walk, trekking to old Bhoothathankettu is a great experience crossing small springs by the side of the Periyar river. The walk starts from the end of the Periyar Barrage. This is also the entrance of the Edamalayar hydroelectric project. The walk is conducted by Bhoothathankettu ecotourism. This place is under Malayattoor Forest division, Thundathil Range. Since this is a guided walk, you will get an opportunity to know the forest and nature.
Entry time is restricted from 9 am to 4 pm. Entry ticket is Rs. 20 for adults, Rs.10 for Children and Rs.50 for Foreigners. Only two restaurants are available in this place and you will get tea, snacks and ice creams. There are also vendors selling ice cream, peanuts and chips. During the walk, you can see a cave tree, a huge cheeni tree and other forest trees.
But the most interesting attraction is a big cave inside the forest. Since this is a rainy season, the path to the cave is slippery and a temporary bamboo ladder is placed to help visitors enter into the cave.
Entry time is restricted from 9 am to 4 pm. Entry ticket is Rs. 20 for adults, Rs.10 for Children and Rs.50 for Foreigners. Only two restaurants are available in this place and you will get tea, snacks and ice creams. There are also vendors selling ice cream, peanuts and chips. During the walk, you can see a cave tree, a huge cheeni tree and other forest trees.
But the most interesting attraction is a big cave inside the forest. Since this is a rainy season, the path to the cave is slippery and a temporary bamboo ladder is placed to help visitors enter into the cave.
Even though the entry is short, one can stand straight inside the cave. This can accommodate hundred people at a time.
The debris of huge stone are visible here which were used to identify the direction.
Once you reach old Bhoothathankettu, you will be surprised by the majestic beauty of the Periyar flowing through a big gap between the rocks. If one more rock was there, the flow could have been arrested completely.
Once you reach old Bhoothathankettu, you will be surprised by the majestic beauty of the Periyar flowing through a big gap between the rocks. If one more rock was there, the flow could have been arrested completely.
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| Old BhoothathanKettu |
There is an interesting mythological story about this place. Demons wanted to destroy the Thrikkariyoor Temple of Lord Shiva by building a dam, and started rolling huge rocks towards the riverbed in the thick of the night. The God, however, decided to fool the demons by creating an illusion of dawn. The demons fearing the arrival of light fled the place . He saw the boulders which the demons were supposed to have rolled onto the riverbed, the Old Bhothathankettu . The Periyar flows on through the narrow space which the demons did not quite manage to dam up .
The reality is that the gigantic rocks rolled down from the mountains during the landslides caused by floods of the 4th century and become entrenched in the Old Bhoothathankettu. In 1790 Tipu with his army camped on the banks of the Periyar river at Aluva. To prevent his evasion, a small group led by Vaikom Padmanabha Pillai and Kunjai Kutty Pillai went upstream and managed to break the walls of a dam at Bhoothathankettu causing heavy flash floods downstream Periyar river.
The reality is that the gigantic rocks rolled down from the mountains during the landslides caused by floods of the 4th century and become entrenched in the Old Bhoothathankettu. In 1790 Tipu with his army camped on the banks of the Periyar river at Aluva. To prevent his evasion, a small group led by Vaikom Padmanabha Pillai and Kunjai Kutty Pillai went upstream and managed to break the walls of a dam at Bhoothathankettu causing heavy flash floods downstream Periyar river.
Those who visit the area should not venture into the river for swimming since the under currents are very strong and the water deep in some areas.
Birdwatchers will be thrilled by some of the species found here. This is a kind of place you would go to listen to the nature. You can occasionally hear the leaves hustle with the wind or the sound of the birds. You can watch a wonderfully quaint hut set into the breathtaking countryside of old dam.
The trek takes one hour and is suitable for anyone.
Birdwatchers will be thrilled by some of the species found here. This is a kind of place you would go to listen to the nature. You can occasionally hear the leaves hustle with the wind or the sound of the birds. You can watch a wonderfully quaint hut set into the breathtaking countryside of old dam.
The trek takes one hour and is suitable for anyone.
Boating
Boating for 10 km is also offered at Bhoothathankettu dam. During the ride, one can witness the Thattekad Bird Sanctuary too. Entry fee is Rs. 150 for one person for one hour. Entry time is restricted from 8 am to 5 pm. The area around the boating facility is landscaped with tree houses, a children's play area and a restaurant.
You can also witness Chelamala, the remnants of summer palace of Chola kings during the boat journey. We saw few resorts by the side of the reservoir.
A trip to this picturesque place is the perfect way to soothe the Big City nerves.
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