Thommankuthu serial waterfalls, Thodupuzha

Thommankuthu

is an eco-tourism project by Govt of Kerala in coordination with the Dept of Forest. Thommankuthu is a vast tropical forest ecosystem with a series of small waterfalls.Tourist entry is from 10am to 6pm regulated with entry pass at a negligible cost.With special permission and accompanied by a Forest Guard you can go 14km up the mountain and visit the tribal village in the forest.You have to trek hard for this and arrange permission prior to your trip.Photography is allowed free(at the time of writing)

There are a series of 13 small waterfalls up the hill and we have to walk up through walk way in the forest.There is a tree-house on the way and there are possibilities to see wild squirrel,monkeys and birds.You will be lucky to see elephants unless in summer.

Best time to see Thommankuthu will be during June-October when there will be plenty of water in the stream but danger while getting into water is at your own risk. During Dec to Feb water will be less and cold to play around and enjoy for a long time.Since Tropical region expect a rain any time.So keep protection for your valuales like camera.

Summer (March-May) will be too dry and journey will tiresome.You wont get eye full of water also roaming around in the forest!!

At the entrance of Thomankuthu there will be place to park vehicles at your own risk.You can make an acquaintance with the shops nearby and tell them to take care.You can favour them by having drinks,buying wild honey and bamboo rice (medicinal. Flowering of bamboo happens once in 40 years only and it dies off with flowering) etc . . .

Liquor is not officially allowed inside.Please do not throw away plastic covers,bottles and other waste.

 

You will get a comfort station at the entrance.

Distance data:
From Cochin ~80km
From Trichur ~115km

From Thodupuzha ~ 15km (Idukki border)

Best mode of travel:
Hired or own vehicle (bike,car,MUV;bus also reaches with a bit difficulty)

Provision of food:
Only water,tea,soft drinks,snacks and rice soup available from nearby shops.Carry lunch with you.

Things to take with you:

1) Lunch, snacks and drinking water (carry plates)

2) Extra pair of dress and inner wears

3) Bath towel (Better no use of oil and soap)

4) Salt powder to save yourself from blood leeches

5) Shoes (Trekking shoes if you have one;Trekking with sandals will get you pains!!)

6) Mobile phone if needed(Till almost 1.5Km from the entrance you will get range for a call)

7) Emergency medical kit (first aid and inhalers for asthma/allergic patients)

Things to take care:

1) Slippery walk ways and rocks (marshy areas with blood leeches)

2) Undercurrents with sliding sands underneath water

3) Broken glasses and sharp rocks/wooden pieces underneath water

4) Unexpected water currents, cold currents and rain

5) Deep trenches below waterfalls (where you might be locked inside)

6) Get into water in shallow regions where water currents are less

Enjoy your trip!! Be safe throughout the trail.Many tourists have died in Thommankuthu,care yourself from dangers in waterfalls and forest trek.


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