Off the beaten track in Kerala

Bigzero

Agree. I was there a few years ago. a truly tranquil place.

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Jorge Reverter

Great post from Bosquef and good info from Jean-Philipe.

There is a difference in the name of the village: Thiruwalamala and Thiruvilwamala. In the maps of Kerala cannot find the place and even if bosquef says "a train station", is not on the line Trichur - Coimbatore because the only stops between this places are Wadakancheri, Shoranur, Ottappalam and Palakhad. ???? is probably a non working station.

I intendd to go there next July.

Jorge

Jean-Philipe

Thiruvilwamala is correct. The nearest station is Ottappalam, about 10km away.

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raj1985

Wow!
Am from Kerela n I never knew so much about that place

Jean-Philipe

Your map will probably show Pazhayanoor. Then about 5km due north, just before the river.

davidtrelawny

i got back yesterday from a month in kerala and really enjoyed reading your piece. I had a great time,and though I didnt make it up to thrissur, I was struck by a. how densely touristed a few places were (for me, varkala and cochin) and b. how literally five minutes away you were in a totally different place. One of the most enjoyable parts of my trip was a couple of days in kollam, during which I literally didnt see another westerner, despite it being the start point for the backwater trip to alleppey, enjoyed some excellent kattarkalli in its 'proper' temple setting and probably the best paper dhosa of the trip. But all over, it was so weird how easy and rewarding it was to slip out of the 'tourist zone', whether that was biking around cochin, walking out of munnar, or taking ferries out of alleppey. Those sort of things made the trip for me.

Jorge Reverter

davidtrelawny,

You say in your post "one of the most enjoyable parts of my trip was a couple of days in Kollam...", I'll be in Kerala next July and still not sure if Paravur and Kollam worth to spend three or four days there (Paravur seeme to be really beatiful but I don't know if I can find accommodation), normally travelers always say to avoid Kollam ?????????

I've been twice in Kerala and would like to visit off the beaten trails sites..., and this area around paravur looked nice ???

Jorge

davidtrelawny

Jorge

i can see why people might not stop in kollam. there are no real 'sights' to see, theres nothing particularly special about it as a town. but I think that is why I liked it. its just an ordinary keralan town, with that nice energy, both laid back and kind of intense. I stayed at the government guest house, which is fantastic. its a 250 year old former british residency, with antique wood furniture, pannelled doors, old pictures on the walls. its falling down, but full of character and very cheap for a huge room. the beach is lovely, not a swimming beach but a great evening stroll , sit and watch the waves with some hot peanuts sort of beach. I know people are always friendly in kerala, but I felt particularly engulfed in smiles in kollam. there s a nice veg market, and Guruprasad , on main rd, did fantastic dhosas, really fresh kurd vada etc. and there was a festival going on at the temple just near the guest house, with some great music and dance and all night kathakali (I only managed til 2 am). Im really glad I stopped for a couple of nights, tho for me a couple of nights was just about enough. sorry, rather a long reply!

Jorge Reverter

Thanks Davidtre.., I'll try a couple of days in Kollam too and I'm sure I'll enjoy it.

All the best

Jorge

vandy

Good Day Davidtrelawny,

Did you actually do a Houseboat journey from Kolam
to Allepey.

vandy

tstfs

hey vandy, do you have any info on a Houseboat journey from Allepey to kollam . The time, price etc?

davidtrelawny

hi

no. I was travelling on my own and so a house boat for one person didnt sound too much fun. As a way of getting from a- b I took the tourist ferry from alleppey to kollam, I took a canoe for a few hours from alleppey into the backwaters and took a couple of ferries from alleppy, to kottayam, and to chumbakolam. Although a more pleasant way of travelling than the bus, the alleppey-kollam ferry journey was the least interesting of my little excursions. I found the alleppey end of the backwaters really beautiful. the canoe got me into some of the smaller waterways which ferries/houseboats were too big for, and the ferries criss crossed all over the place giving a more 'in depth' feel for the area, seeing life being lived on the water, all these little communities connected by boat.

people who did do houseboats seemd to enjoy it a lot. I get the impression you can get a nice luxuroius experience, if thats what you fancy.

nadreg

EDITOR'S NOTE: This post has been promoted to the Articles section.

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snonymous

"..it was so weird how easy and rewarding it was to slip out of the 'tourist zone', whether that was biking around cochin, walking out of munnar..."

Hello David

Please could you elaborate a bit about 'walking out of Munnar'. I will be there around the 24th and would welcome info about non touristy rambling areas. Thanks

Lou Wilson

I love Kerala the people the greenery the climate etc etc.
Thanks for the link to my photo of the Kerala bus

Lou Wilson
Photos & Movies of India & Sri Lanka on my website at http://www.overbrookfountains.com/photos.html