Kothamangalam- an emerging tourism hotspot in Kerala
Kothamangalam, a small town in the eastern part of Ernakulam District of Kerala, has not been considered a tourism hotspot, among other popular destinations. Located at the foot of the Western Ghats and popularly known as the gateway of the high range, Kothamangalam is turning out to be a stopover for many tourists travelling to Munnar and Thekkady.
Bhoothathankettu Dam
The authorities have been envisaging a number of developmental activities in Kothamangalam. Bhoothathankettu dam and Salim Ali Bird Sanctuary at Thattekad are the established tourist spots in the town. Now two new sites are going to become the major tourist attraction of Kothamangalam. Inchathotty, the largest hanging bridge in Kerala, and Ayyappanmudi, a serene hilltop temple, are the new attractions. The picturesque town has already been in the limelight by becoming the shooting location of major Malayalam films like Achayans and Pulimurugan.
Thattekkadu Bird Sanctuary
“I have proposed the construction of a boat jetty and a boat service from Bhoothathankettu to Neriamangalam so that people heading to high-range can benefit from it,” said Antony John, MLA of the constituency.
The place also has a children’s park, ecotourism project and house boating service. The boat services at Bhoothathankettu are conducted by the Destination Management Company (DMC) under the District Tourism Promotion Council (DTPC). As the number of people inflow have increased, the DMC has a decided to conduct a boat service at Thattekadu which houses the Dr Salim Ali Bird Sanctuary. Once these services are fully functional, Bhoothathankettu will become the major attraction of the area.
Ayyappanmudi Temple
Ayyapanmudi is hill area with a serene temple at the hilltop, situated around 10 km from Kothamangalam town. It has become favourite picnic spot among the youngsters. People come here to experience mesmerizing sunrise and the view from the hilltop.
Inchathotty is also gaining popularity with more people coming here to enjoy the longest hanging bridge in Kerala, and to try kayaking in the calm water.
Local people are running boat service, which offers a 30-minute ride through the Periyar. “This year we had a lot of people coming to visit here, even during working days. Kayaking is getting popular recently,” said Basil, operator of the boat service.
“We have already proposed a number of developmental activities to explore the tourism potential of the region” said MLA Antony
Once the approval from the forest department is availed, this area will become one of the sought after eco-tourism center in the district, he added.