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.
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.
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.
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.....
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.
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.
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....
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