Kottangal: A village of wonders

Tripoto
21st Nov 2020
Photo of Kottangal: A village of wonders by Thejus R

Cruising past the village roads, my destination was one which common wanderers consider just a rest stop. But my research had let me know that this quaint little village had a lot more cooking in its pot than we'd thought.

A conglomeration of 4 different types of sites mingle mindlessly in this village bordering the Ponthenpuzha forest.

The village was called Kottangal, a part of Pathanamthitta district. Though unremarkable at first sight, this place holds tremendous potential in gaining a position within the tourism circuit of Kerala.

The first site on my visit list was the famed devi temple of Kottangal, a place well-known for its padayani performances. People come from far and wide to witness this majestic art form.

The temple premises...Calm and quiet

Photo of Kottangal, Kerala, India by Thejus R

But the pandemic had faded the liveliness of the temple, which remains closed till the time lights up once again.

Adorned with fabulous architecture and a unique peaceful atmosphere, this temple atop a hill is one not to be missed while experiencing a visit to Kottangal.

The temple entrance

Photo of Kottangal: A village of wonders by Thejus R

My next destination was quite close to the temple itself. Behind the temple is a large ground with a stage, beyond which, is a path that treads through a beautiful rubber plantation. Descending the steps through the path between the yielding rubber trees, I reached the bank of the gorgeous Manimala river.

From there I could witness my next destination, the Kottangal hanging bridge.

Also known as Nooluvelil kadavu hanging bridge, the water that flowed beneath it was a dazzling emerald green and most parts were clear enough to see through till the bottom.

The hanging bridge

Photo of Kottangal: A village of wonders by Thejus R

I ascended the bridge and took a deep breath of fresh air as I stood midway above the river,watching the daily activities go by; women washing their clothes, men trying their luck in a small event of fishing.. Time flied by and the bridge as well as the view grew more and more beautiful.....

Photo of Kottangal: A village of wonders by Thejus R
Photo of Kottangal: A village of wonders by Thejus R

The Manimala river

Photo of Kottangal: A village of wonders by Thejus R

Clear, green water.......

Photo of Kottangal: A village of wonders by Thejus R

I decided to return back to the car, ascended the steps back to the temple and began my journey to the next destination. A few 100 metres south of Kottangal junction, lies a fantastic small waterfall, untouched but accessible by car. Google maps thus led me to the secret Orakkanpara waterfalls.

This was a wondrous waterfall surrounded by trees and streams. The most wonderful part of it being that you can actually slide on the rocks like a water park. Its a great and wonderful destination to soak your legs in and enjoy nature at its best.

The waterfall

Photo of Kottangal: A village of wonders by Thejus R

After spending a little more time at these waterfalls, I decided to venture further south to my last destination in the itinerary - a view point within the forest. A wonderfully laid road took me to the border of the Ponthenpuzha forest, where I parked the car and entered a trail towards the right side. The short trail ended at the clearing of a rock face which granted me with a magnificent view of the whole valley. There were various odd shaped rocks and plants on this rock.

The site was called Nagappara. Taking a few pics would have been an insult compared to the beauty of this location. Hence, I took a LOT of pics to stamp this whole experience in my amygdala forever.

An awesome view

Photo of Kottangal: A village of wonders by Thejus R
Photo of Kottangal: A village of wonders by Thejus R

Peculiar rocks.....

Photo of Kottangal: A village of wonders by Thejus R

I spent a few hours cherishing the comeliness of this location and decided to venture back home. This whole trip was a day well spent and an experience to remember for a lifetime. The village of Kottangal was sure enough a whole package for all those wanderlusty folks out there.

A temple, a hanging bridge, a waterfall and a view point..............Kottangal has something to fulfill the hearts of all types of wanderers....

For more such amazing travelogues, u could visit my blog...
www.keralaunraveled.blogspot.com