Thodupuzha guide
Waterfalls, hill viewpoints, old temples and churches, and the places the town actually eats in. With honest road distances, what the walk in is really like, and the things worth knowing before you set out. Our riders are on these roads every day.
At a glance
Distances are approximate road distances from Thodupuzha town. A few places do not have one listed yet.
| Place | From town | Getting there | What it is |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mylacombu Church | 5 km | At Mylacombu | Pilgrimage, Heritage |
| Malankara | 7 km | Beside the road | Boating, Picnics |
| Mundanmal | 8 km | Climb, about 1.5 km | Viewpoint, Trekking |
| Nedumala Caves | 10 km | Trek | Prehistoric site, Trekking |
| Aruvikuthu | 10 km | Short trek | Waterfall, Trekking |
| Pachilamkunnu | 10 km | Short walk | Viewpoint |
| Chakkipara | 10 km | Climb | Viewpoint, Trekking |
| Pampanal | 13 km | Short walk | Waterfall |
| Vayanakavu | 15 km | Beside the road | Viewpoint |
| Ellumpuram | 16 km | Drive | Viewpoint |
| Thommankuthu | 18 km | Trek, 2 to 3 km | Trekking, Waterfall |
| Kuruvakkayam | 18 km | Reachable by the Poomala bus | Waterfall, Nature |
| Njandirukki | 19 km | Trek | Waterfall, Trekking |
| Aanachadikuthu | 20 km | Short walk | Waterfall, Family spot |
| Ilaveezhapoonchira | 20 km | Drive, last stretch by four wheel drive | Viewpoint, Trekking |
| Kottapara | 21 km | Climb | Viewpoint, Trekking |
| Don Homely Foods | 21 km | Restaurant, Kerala meals | |
| Areekkal | 25 km | Short walk | Waterfall, Day trip |
| Kochareekkal | 26 km | Short walk | Prehistoric site, Day trip |
| Nadukani | 30 km | Drive | Viewpoint |
| Uppukunnu | 30 km | Drive | Viewpoint |
| Poonjar Palace | 33 km | Drive | Heritage, Day trip |
| Manthoppu | 34 km | Drive, on the Pala side | Toddy shop, Kerala meals |
| Adimali | 40 km | Drive | Hill town, Day trip |
| Pullikkanam | 45 km | Drive | Viewpoint, Tea estates |
| Cheeyappara | 50 km | Beside the road | Waterfall, Sightseeing, Day trip |
| Idukki Arch Dam | 55 km | Drive | Sightseeing, Day trip |
| Uravappara | In town | Short climb | Viewpoint, Temple |
| Edavetty Vanam | In town | Shaded walking paths | Nature walk, Birdwatching |
| Muthalakodam Church | In town | At Muthalakodam | Pilgrimage, Heritage |
| Kallanickal Church | In town | At Kallanickal | Pilgrimage, Parish |
| Annamalai Temple | In town | At Karikode | Temple, Heritage |
| Karikode Bhagavathy | In town | At Karikode | Temple, Heritage |
| Nainar Mosque | In town | At Karikode | Heritage, Pilgrimage |
| Chunkom Church | In town | At Chunkom | Pilgrimage, Heritage |
| Kanjiramattom Temple | In town | Beside the road | Temple |
| Sree Krishna Temple | In town | In the town centre | Temple |
| Drishyam house | In town | Film location | |
| Food Street | In town | In town | Food street, Evening |
| Malabar Village | In town | At Vengalloor | Restaurant, Kerala meals |
| 90s Cotta | In town | Cafe, Evening | |
| Pulimoottil | In town | In town | Shopping |
Nothing in that group.
Plan the trip
Grouped by distance from town. Tap a group to open it.
Inside Thodupuzha or one of its own localities, so there is no real drive involved. The temples and churches, the old Karikode precinct, and the places the town actually eats in.
Uravappara is a hillock at Olamattom near Thodupuzha, about 150 metres above sea level, with views over the town. The Uravappara Sree Subramanya Swami temple sits on the hill and is linked in legend to the Pandavas' exile.
Edavetty Vanam is a wooded grove in Edavetty village near Thodupuzha, listed as a birdwatching spot. It has shaded paths for a quiet walk and adjoins the Edavetty Sree Krishna temple.
St. George Forane Church at Muthalakodam is a Syrian Christian church in Thodupuzha. The parish dates its founding to 1312 and it is one of the older centres of the community in the region, with a large annual feast.
Roots are said to reach back to the 13th century, one of the older centres of the community in the region.
St. George's Church at Kallanickal near Thodupuzha is a parish of the Kothamangalam eparchy. The present church dates to 1914 and serves a large local congregation.
The Annamalai temple at Karikode is a stone temple and a surviving link to the Tamil and Chola cultural layer of old Karikode. It is quieter than the temples in the town centre.
Best seen together with the Bhagavathy temple precinct and the Nainar mosque.
Karikode was associated with the former Keezhmalainadu kingdom. The fort does not survive intact, but the Bhagavathy temple precinct and the traces around it are why this small suburb matters historically.
The Nainar mosque is part of the Hindu, Muslim and Christian heritage cluster at Karikode. It makes most sense seen alongside the Annamalai temple and the old royal precinct rather than on its own.
St. Mary's Knanaya Catholic Forane Church at Chunkom has a historic compound and an old granite cross. It reflects the long Knanaya and Syrian Christian presence around Thodupuzha.
An active parish. Dress respectfully and do not visit through a service.
The Kanjiramattom Sree Mahadeva temple is a Shiva temple in a green setting by the river. It rewards a slow early visit more than a quick stop.
Quietest early in the morning.
The Sree Krishna Swamy temple is the main temple in Thodupuzha town centre and the busiest during its festival period. It is also a good look at everyday Thodupuzha rather than only its outskirts.
The house used as a location in the film Drishyam stands at Vazhithala. People live in it: it is a private residence and not a set. It can be seen from the public road, and that is as close as any visitor should get. The gate, the yard and the doorstep are the residents' home, not part of the film.
A private home, not a visitor attraction. View from the public road only. Do not enter the gate, knock, or photograph the residents.
The bypass food street by the river is where Thodupuzha eats late: a run of small stalls and casual counters rather than one restaurant. It comes alive after dark.
Malabar Village at Vengalloor is a long-standing local recommendation for appam and Kerala style chicken and beef rather than general restaurant food.
90s Cotta is a cafe built around a nostalgic Kerala theme. It suits a casual evening, snacks and company rather than a formal meal.
Pulimoottil began trading in 1924, and Pulimoottil Junction takes its name from the family's showroom. It sells Kerala textiles and is a piece of the town's commercial history as much as a shop.
Near enough for a morning out, though how long each one takes varies far more than the distance suggests. Malankara and Vayanakavu are beside the road. Mundanmal, Aruvikuthu and Chakkipara all mean a climb or a trek in.
St. Thomas Forane Church at Mylacombu is connected by church tradition to the early St Thomas Christian community, and the Muthalakodam parish traces its own line back to it. The old granite cross is one of its most significant features.
Malankara Dam is built across the Thodupuzha river about 7 km from town at Muttom. The reservoir stays open through the year and has boating, a children's park and walking tracks.
Mundanmal is a watchtower on a hill near Thodupuzha, reached by a climb of about 1.5 km from the Nediyasala side. It is used mainly as a sunrise or late afternoon walk.
The climb runs about 1.5 km from the Nediyasala side. Footwear with grip matters, and it is worth being back down before dark.
The Nedumala caves at Piralimattom are about 10 km from Thodupuzha, on the Idukki–Ernakulam border. They are a prehistoric rock shelter with carved cupules and grinding surfaces, studied as a Neolithic-era site.
Aruvikuthu is a remote waterfall about 10 km from Thodupuzha, reached by a short trek. The rocks around it can be slippery and there have been drowning accidents, so it is best viewed with care and not for swimming.
Pachilamkunnu is a ridge looking over the Malankara reservoir landscape. It needs no real climb, so it is often paired with the dam for an evening rather than done as a hike.
Reached without a serious climb, which is what makes it a common sunset stop.
Chakkipara is a rock hill and viewpoint known locally rather than through mainstream guides. It suits reasonably fit walkers.
The approach changes. Ask locally about the current route before setting out.
Pampanal is a multi-level seasonal waterfall near Manathoor. It runs strongest during and just after the monsoon and drops away outside it.
Seasonal. It carries most water during and just after the monsoon, which is also when the rock is worst for going close.
Vayanakavu bridge crosses the reservoir near Kudayathoor, about 15 km from Thodupuzha. The hills reflect in the water on a still morning, and it is one of the more photographed stretches on this side of town.
The reflection is the point, so early morning and the hour before sunset are when people go.
Ellumpuram is a highland viewpoint recorded by the Kadanad panchayat, looking over layered hills. It carries far fewer visitors than Ilaveezhapoonchira.
Thommankuthu is a seven-step waterfall about 18 km from Thodupuzha, part of a series of twelve falls over five kilometres. A 12 km guided trek runs through the forest, and it is one of Kerala's main ecotourism points.
The rock stays slippery whatever the season. The 12 km upper trail needs a local guide and forest department permission.
Kuruvakkayam is a multi-tiered waterfall about 18 km from Thodupuzha on the Poomala route, reachable by the Poomala bus. It has a pool at the base and sits deep in the hills.
Njandirukki is a waterfall about 19 km from Thodupuzha on the Poomala route. It falls over steep rock and is fullest just after the monsoon.
Far enough that you plan the day around one of them. Aanachadikuthu pairs with Thommankuthu a kilometre away, Areekkal and Kochareekkal are done together, and Ilaveezhapoonchira adds a steep 7 km climb on top of the drive.
Aanachadikuthu, also called Anayadikuthu, is a waterfall about 20 km from Thodupuzha and roughly a kilometre from Thommankuthu. It drops around 30 metres and is one of the safer falls in the district, a short walk from the parking area.
One of the safer falls in the district, but the rock stays wet year round and levels rise quickly in the monsoon.
Ilaveezhapoonchira is a viewpoint about 20 km from Thodupuzha, near Kanjar. It is often listed as a Thodupuzha attraction, but it sits inside Kottayam district, not Idukki. Three hillocks rise to about 960 metres, and the final stretch needs a four wheel drive. The name refers to a valley where leaves are said not to fall.
The final 7 km climb is steep and is normally driven in a four wheel drive. There is no shade at the top.
Kottapara is a hilltop with steep rock faces and long valley views, used mostly as a sunrise point. The edges are open and there is little safety infrastructure.
The rock edges are exposed and largely unfenced. Local reporting has raised the lack of barriers, so stay well back from every edge.
Susheela Chechiyude Nadan Bhakshanashala, listed on maps and known locally as Don Homely Foods, serves homestyle rice meals with a wide spread of small curries. Lunch is when it is at its best.
Go at lunch. The spread thins out later in the day.
Areekkal is a waterfall on the western side of the Thodupuzha day-trip radius, developed for visitors. It is normally combined with the Kochareekkal caves next to it.
Usually done together with the Kochareekkal caves alongside it.
Kochareekkal is a natural rock shelter and cave formation in forest, beside the Areekkal waterfall. The two are usually visited on the same trip.
Surfaces are uneven and often wet, so it is worth going slowly.
Nadukani is a hilltop about 30 km from Thodupuzha with a pavilion and wide views over the valley. It draws fewer people than the more heavily promoted viewpoints in the district.
A useful alternative when the better known viewpoints are crowded.
Uppukunnu is a stretch of open hills about 30 km from Thodupuzha, with strong wind and long views. Tourism facilities there remain limited.
Open and windy, with limited facilities. Use the established stopping areas rather than walking out onto the exposed slopes.
Poonjar Palace holds royal artefacts, carved wood, old weapons and a traditional wooden boat, with temple architecture in the compound. It sits at the outer edge of the Thodupuzha day-trip range.
The farthest stop on this list, so it is worth confirming it is open before making the drive.
Manthoppu at Poovathodu, on the Thodupuzha to Pala side, serves toddy shop cooking: fish and the heavier Kerala meat dishes. It is a detour rather than a stop in town.
This is the Poovathodu establishment, not the similarly named restaurants elsewhere. If you are drinking, arrange a driver.
These sit along the roads toward Munnar and Vagamon, so most people fold them into a longer trip.
Adimali is a hill town about 40 km from Thodupuzha on the road to Munnar. It is a trading stop for the area's spices and a common break on the highway.
Pullikkanam is a tea-estate viewpoint near Vagamon, about 45 km from Thodupuzha by the Kanjar road. It looks over rolling hills and plantations and is usually clubbed with a Vagamon trip.
Cheeyappara is a seven-tiered waterfall on the Kochi–Munnar highway near Adimali, about 50 km from Thodupuzha. It sits beside the road and is a common stop on the way up to Munnar.
Idukki Dam is an arch dam about 55 km from Thodupuzha and one of the highest of its kind in Asia. The dam and the valley around it make a common day trip, though public viewing is open only on limited days, so check before going.
Know before you go
These hold true whichever month you go. Our riders are on these roads every day.
The waterfalls carry most water after the monsoon, and September to March is the usual season for the Thommankuthu trek. Flow drops through the dry months. Njandirukki is fullest just after the rains. Going in April to expect a full fall is the most common mistake visitors make.
Rock near any waterfall in Idukki stays wet and slippery through the year, not only in the rain. Grip is worth more than any other thing in your bag.
There have been drowning accidents at Aruvikuthu. The trek in is short and it is worth seeing, but stay out of the water.
The walk to the main fall is two to three kilometres from the entrance and needs nothing special. The longer trail of about twelve kilometres runs into the reserve, and that one needs a local guide and forest department permission.
The route runs to Kanjar on the Moolamattom road, then climbs a further 7 km. That last stretch is steep and normally needs a four wheel drive. The top is open grassland with no shade at all.
Public viewing at Idukki Dam runs only on limited days. It is a 55 km drive, so it is worth checking before you set out.
Boxall for the trip
Malankara has a park and a boat. Almost everything else on this page is a road, a walk and a waterfall. Whatever you want on the way, you carry in with you.
Boxall brings water, snacks and travel basics to your door in Thodupuzha before you leave, and to your hotel or homestay if you are staying nearby. We are the town's own delivery service, which is also why we know these roads well enough to write this page.
Questions
Close to town you have Malankara Dam, Thommankuthu and Aanachadikuthu waterfalls, the Uravappara viewpoint and the Nedumala caves. Farther out, Idukki Dam, Cheeyappara falls and Adimali make good day trips toward Munnar.
Thommankuthu is about 18 km from Thodupuzha.
Yes. Boxall delivers water, snacks and essentials across Thodupuzha, and to hotels and homestays nearby.
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