Athirapally waterfalls, the most controversial one in Kerala is located in Chalakudy. From railway station it is about 35 kms. It forms part of the Chalakudy river. The peculiarity of this waterfall is that there is sufficient flow throughout the year and this resulted in a proposal to start a hydro electric project there.
Buses ply to this location every 15 minutes from the bus depot. It takes around 45 minutes to reach the location. A nominal fee of Rs 15 is collected for viewing this majestic falls. Separate fee is there for parking.
The height of the fall is 80 meters. A 10 minute walk from the road will take you to the top of the waterfall. One can have a spectacular view of the Sholayar hills from this spot.During season huge crowds can be seen in this place.
Several safety measures are being taken to prevent accidents. Visitors are not allowed to cross the border lines marked by the security staff. This often prevent visitors from taking a good snap of this picturesque location
Getting down the bottom of the waterfall is somewhat tedious. Pathways are constructed for easy movement. It takes around 20 minutes to reach the bottom. During monsoon the entire area become slippery and extra care needs to be taken.
The beauty of the fall is maximum at the bottom. Swimming is not allowed at the bottom. One can take beautiful snaps from this location. During summer season the entire waterfall will look like two small falls. This increases its beauty.
The best time to visit Athirapally is during monsoon, which starts from the month of June and ends in August. Roads to this picnic spot is in very good condition and hence travelling will not be a problem.
Athirapally has several tourist spots nearby like the Vazhachal waterfalls, Chapra falls, Chiminey wild life sanctuary etc. An amusement park is also located en route. Several resorts that provide decent accommodation can be found in the nearby areas. Rates are high during tour seasons. Natural beauty with scintillating locations are the factors that attract huge crowds to this place. If you have not seen this place, try ..