Boon for nature buffs: Ezhattumugham, Munambam make it to the tourist map of Kerala

The God’s Own Country has added two more picturesque spots to its tourist map–Ezhattumugam, a confluence of seven rivers, and Munambam, a sea-river confluence. The Tourism Department has set up excellent facilities for tourists in both the places.

The enchanting Chalakkudy river flowing through the Ezhattumugham eco-village is a sight to treasure. The attraction of this river is even more enhanced with its gentle flow being punctuated several spots with boulders of different sizes and trees that grow right in the middle of the path of this river. At this place, the Chalakkudy river gets divided into seven flowing streams due the islets and boulders. This is why the place earned its name Ezhattumugham, meaning the seven faces of a river. During summer, you can walk over the boulders and islets of this river to get to the other side of the bank.

Ezhattukukham Prakriti Gramam, the tourism project undertaken by the Thrissur District Tourism Promotion Council, has given a complete makeover to the place, making it an ideal family picnic spot.

The star attraction of the project is the hanging bridge linking Ezhattumugham in Ernakulam district to Thumpoormuzhi tourist spot in Thrissur district. Around 2,100 people could use the 210 meter bridge at the same time.

The other facilities include a park, tree houses for amusement, bathing spots alongside the river, play area for children, refreshment stall, parking space etc. Then hanging bridge provides a panoramic view of the River-View Garden and Butterfly Garden at Thumboormuzhi. The lepidopterologists have noticed more than 180 butterflies in the Thumboormuzhi butterfly garden, which was recently selected by National Institute of Agro-biological Sciences, a Japan-based research institute that focuses on basic life sciences, to hold a detailed study on the butterflies in India at the park.

The two tourist hot-spots Ezhattumugham and Thumpoormuzhi are located downstream of the famed Athirapally-Vazhachal waterfalls. There are a few shortcuts via Angamaly to reach Ezhattumugham, 45 km from Kochi, but it is best to go via Chalakkudy as the road condition is better.

Munambam, the north end of Vypeen Island, is the newest beach to be developed by the state Tourism Department. Five km from the now famous Cherai beach, Munambam offers a unique view of Periyar, the longest river in Kerala, merging into the Arabian sea. The Tourism Department has set up an expansive tiled, well-lit walkway along the river side from the Beach Road up to the sea mouth where the river embraces the sea. Here you get the closest view of Chinese fishing nets in operation. On the other side of the river is the Azhikode beach in Thrissur district, teeming with the holiday crowd.

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