Kerala Destination - Kallar

Kallar

Situated en route to the popular hill station of Ponmudi, Kallar gets its name from the River Kallar, which flows through the region. Kallu means 'stone' and Aru means 'river', hence the name Kallar. The river is well known for its abundance of attractive, round-shaped boulders and pebbles, especially in the upper reaches and middle portion of its course.

Kallar is about 50 km from the capital city of Thiruvananthapuram, and is an idyllic location. It is a favourite haunt for picnickers and attracts many with an interest in trekking, angling and bird watching.

At Kallar, the main attractions are the nearby Golden Valley, and the Meenmutti waterfall. Unlike the Meenmutti waterfall, the Golden Valley is easily accessible form the main road. Here one can take a dip in the crystal clear waters to cool off, and also watch the many rapids and small pools that dot a good part of the river in this area.

Apart from Golden Valley, those with a zeal for trekking and birdwatching can take a narrow track, starting from the right side of the Kallar Bridge. The track will lead one to a medium sized, but captivating waterfall, popularly known as Meenmutty. The waterfall is situated 3-4 km from the main road. On the way to the waterfall, one would come across ample bird life, and many species of butterflies. The forest here is mostly tropical in nature, and during the rainy season, one has to be on the alert for leeches. Assistance from the Kallar Vana Samrakshana Samithi (Kallar Forest Protection Group) at Kallar is available for trekking and also for hiring guides. The group is a joint venture by the State Department of Forest and the local community.

Visitors to Kallar can make use of the modern tourist facilitation centre run by the District Tourism Promotion Council (DTPC). It offers facilities for recreation and also for organizing parties. A restaurant, toilet, changing rooms, shops that sell forest produce, STD and ISD booths and a car parking area are there at the facilitation centre.

Getting there:

Nearest airport: Thiruvananthapuram International Airport, about 67 km.
Nearest railway station: Thiruvananthapuram Central, about 61 km.