Kerala Travel Guide - Athirapally

Kerala is filled with numerous interesting attractions and millions of people visit the tourist places in Kerala every year to enjoy an exotic tropical vacation. Kerala is blessed with much of beautiful nature, rivers, beautiful beaches, backwaters, hill stations, rich culture, and heritage which give a very pleasant atmosphere to everyone and relieve or calm down all senses as well as body and mind.

This article will act as a complete guide to visit Athirapally and will give you a glance of the beautiful tourist attractions there. Athirapally and Thekkady are two interesting tourism spots, which are just 100 km from each other. It takes a little more than 5 hours to reach one destination from the other. It is recommended to choose both the destinations for your vacation or your honeymoon place in India.

If you happen to be in a situation where it is practically possible to visit just one out of the two destinations, it would take a long discussion to choose one. Thekkady has many attractions including Periyar National Park, plantations, rafting and others. On the other hand, Athirapally is famous for waterfalls and picnics. Athirapally has waterfalls, dams and a butterfly garden.



Here are some reasons why you should visit Athirapally.

1. Wildlife Attractions in Athirapally

With over 25+ wildlife sanctuaries and national parks in all the parts of Kerala is a perfect destination to spot wild animals, migratory birds, and raw nature while on a wildlife safari. If you love wildlife attractions, you ought to choose Thekkady over Athirapally.

There is safari in Athirapally, which is just a ride to the rainforest. You can find many animals here but spotting elephant is common. Night drive through the forest is an important tourist activity in Athirapally. Top animals to spot here are tigers, Asian elephants, white tigers, wild pig, flying squirrel, macaque, Nilgiri langur, fruit bat, marten, sloth bear, jungle cat and others.

Animal habitat doesn't hinder, so it's worth mentioning that Athirapally Waterfalls is home to many species such as the great hornbill, Malabar pied hornbill, leopard, bison, sambar lion-tailed macaque Malabar grey hornbill, Indian grey hornbill, Asiatic elephant, tiger, etc.

2. Waterfalls in Athirapally

Just 70 km away from Kochi, Athirapally Waterfalls is one of the best places to see in Cochin, filled with many extravaganzas. Athirapally or Athirappilly is famous for the largest waterfall in the state. It is also called as the Niagara of India. It is located 1000 ft above sea level. The waterfalls are surrounded by forests.

Apart from Athirapally falls, other attractions include Charpa falls, Thumpurmuzhi garden, forest garden, Sholayar dam, Peringalkuthu dam, Anakkayam and others.

It is the favorite place of some prominent film directors and many sequences of films such as Dil Se and Baahubali were filmed here. The best time to visit Athirapally is between June and December. Many tourists visit here often between September and January. This is the biggest waterfall in Kerala, where multiple streams of running water join together. 31 km further, lies Sholayar Dam which the second biggest dam in the whole of Asia.

This destination should evidently be on your list! Athirapally might be aesthetically pleasing with waterfalls and other scenic spots. It is hard to spot any animals or birds other than the occasional local species. The park lies in the middle of Cardamom hills. This hilly region has thick forests, dams, rivers, reservoirs and many others.

Another attraction of the region is Agasthyarkoodam, one of the highest peaks of the Western Ghats, with a peak of 1,868 meters of altitude.

3. Birdwatching in Athirapally

As mentioned before, the wildlife element of Thekkady has no boundaries. You can find more than 266 birds here when opposed to some very rare bird spotting in Athirapally.

4. Picnic Spots in Athirapally

Although Thekkady is filled with many interesting scenic spots and natural paradises, it is easier to find a good picnic spot in Athirapally than in Thekkady. A good picnic spot near the waterfalls will make the day more refreshing.

5. Photography in Athirapally

If you love scenic photographs, you ought to visit Athirapally. If you want to click some interesting pictures with wildlife, Thekkady is the best. In short, if you are a photo enthusiast, both the places are very interesting.

6. Shopping in Athirapally

Athirapally is the best place to buy natural forest honey. There are a few resorts and hotels near Athirapally waterfalls to enjoy the traditional cuisine of the land. There is no shop or restaurant in the national reserve. You can find a few away from the park.

7. Water Theme Parks in Athirapally

Thekkady might be famous for rafting but you cannot swim or bath in the water. On the other hand, you can bath, and allow the fast flowing water to massage you in Athirapally. You can float down the slope or perform any water-based activity here.

If you love theme parks, you ought to visit Athirapally. There are two theme parks little away from Athirapally. Thekkady does not have any theme park in it.

All differences apart, these two places are very important tourist spots. No matter which spot you choose, you are in for an exotic vacation. It is better to choose the right season for visiting each destination.

How Many Days Required to Visit in Athirapally

It is easier to enjoy Athirapally in just one day. Thekkady can keep you busy for a couple of days. You would need more time to span all attractions in Thekkady.

Budget to Visit in Athirapally

Travelling to Athirapally will not cost much. The travel cost, food and visit to butterfly garden are the major expenses to spare in Athirapally. On the other hand, you will be spending considerable amount of money for wildlife safari, rafting, entry ticket to the reserve and others.

Best Time to Visit Athirapally

If you happen to visit Kerala during rainy season, it is recommended to visit Athirapally over Thekkady. It is hard to spot animals in the park during rainy season and heavy rains can lead to cancellation of safari, rafting and others. On the other hand, Athirapally will be aesthetically pleasing during heavy rains.

October to March is the best time to visit Kerala and the best season to visit the southern part of India with the onset of winters as the temperature hovers in between 18 degrees and 29 degree celsius. You can visit Kovalam, Thekkady, Alleppey, Munnar, and Kumarakom to enjoy house boating and a lot more for a wonderful experience in Kerala.

This period is the peak season for tourism in Kerala so don't miss a chance to visit God's Own Country. Book your Kerala vacation package as soon as possible and see the magic of incredible India and you will find enough of reasons to visit this amazing place again.

From April to June, you will experience hot weather but evening showers add humidity to the environment. The temperature ranges between 32 degrees and 36 degree Celsius, which makes it one of the hottest period of the region and therefore the summer season cannot be recommended for a visit to Kerala.

Summer is the right time to find numerous colorful birds and flowers in the national parks. On the other hand, Athirapally will not be at its prime beauty during summer. With lack of water, the Athirapally waterfalls might not be a good picnic spot or sightseeing spot.

From July to September, the arrival of monsoon and rampant showers let tourists enjoy the view of cascading waters and lush green environment. The temperature ranges from 19 degrees to 30 degree Celsius. So, this can be a great time to waking up to enchanting views and having a rejuvenating time while some of the best Ayurveda centers based here.

Now that we have had an overview of one of the tourist hotspots of Kerala, let us find out 2 or 3 itineraries for a Kerala trip plan.

Kerala Itinerary 1:

Day 1:

Arrive at Kerala and leave for Wayanad. Explore the local places and enjoy a night stay here.

Day 2:

Leave early for Palakkad and explore the local attractions. Enjoy a Safari and plan a night stay in some jungle resort.

Kerala Itinerary 2:

Day 1:

Arrive at Thekkady and enjoy the local exploration. Explore the Periyar Tiger Reserve and don’t miss the traditional bamboo raft tour of the reserve. Spend the night at some resort.

Day 2: Leave for Alleppey and enjoy a houseboat tour and stay.

Kerala Itinerary 3:

Day 1:

Reach Munnar and explore the attractions during the day. Take a night stay here.

Day 2:

Leave for Thekkady and explore the attractions followed by a night stay in some resort or reserve camp.

If you don’t want to spend the 2 days travelling and hopping from one place to another, you can also choose to explore one district at a time and enjoy a laid-back vacation.

Interesting Reads: Places to Visit in Thekkady