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Dhoni hills attracting trekkers

HEAVENLY CHARM: The `misty mountains' of the Dhoni hills near Palakkad town.

The `misty mountains' make Palakkad one of the major tourism centres of the country.

Malampuzha dam and its surrounding mountains are the prime tourism location in Kerala for more than five decades now.

But Dhoni, a reserve forest with its misty mountains just 12 km from Palakkad town, is emerging as a major tourism centre.

Tourists interested in watching nature at close quarters attract the Dhoni waterfalls, particularly Sapal waterfalls at Parasuramkundu.

It is also easy to reach the waterfalls and other beautiful spots inside the reserve forest. A four-km walk from Dhoni main road will take you to the beautiful waterfall and the forest area, which is rich in wildlife like elephant, tiger, deer, etc.

It is an ideal place for trekking. One can walk down to Malampuzha and Meenvallam waterfalls from Dhoni through the thick forests.

It is only five-km trekking through the forest to Malampuzha. There is a winding dirt track going up the hill, but for the more adventurous, there are enough steep climbs to whet your appetite once you leave the road. A two-hour walk from the main road will bring you to a beautiful stream, which is a picnic location. One can take bath in the down stream. One can go by jeep up to the waterfalls and beyond.

The waterfalls are full during monsoon and it overflows with beautiful small streams gushing down to Malampuzha dam side.

The best time to visit Dhoni is soon after the monsoon rains. En route the waterfalls, there is an abandoned bungalow constructed by the British who were running orange and cardamom estates at Dhoni. The Kavarakunnu bungalow was constructed in 1857.

It could be renovated and used as a guesthouse. The basic amenities for trekkers and tourists could be arranged here.

Secretary of the District Tourism Promotion Council (DTPC) S. Vijayakumar said trekking facilities were being arranged in Dhoni in cooperation with the Forest Department. There is good scope for eco-tourism as such a beautiful forest area is available so close to the Palakkad town, he said.

G. Prabhakaran

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