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Charm of lesser-known tourist spots

— PHOTO: Giji K. Raman

Beckoning tourists: A close view of Shankurandampara at Puttadi in Idukki district.

Vipin Purushothaman and his friends were on their way to Munnar from Thekkady when they came across a majestic rock near Puttadi.

They saw a few people standing below the rock. “It was raining and we didn’t have an umbrella. Out of curiosity we too entered the place. From there, we got a panoramic view of Ramakkalmedu,” said Mr. Purushothaman.

Mr. Purushothaman and his friends stayed there for a few hours, charged up their mind and moved on.

The place they visited is known as Shankurandampara. “The place is not in the tourism map of Idukki district. But how can one stay away from such idyllic spots when one wants to escape from the routine and busy schedule of life?” asks Mr. Purushothaman.

According to him the advantage of touring lesser-known spots is that they are less congested.

“It is hygienic. Such places are ideal for a day’s visit,” he said. Shankurandampara is one among the many such places in the district which off-beat and adventurous travellers like to visit.

Adyalakallu, Kalyanathandu, waterfalls in Cheeyapara, Ulakkaurutti, Thommankuthu and Ramakkalmedu are a few such places.

Georgy Mathew, an IT professional from Bangalore, said that lesser-known places in Idukki and Wayanad are favourite destination spots for IT professionals, who get one or two days off.

According to him information on lesser-known places is not available on Internet or tourism publications.

“It is through word-of-mouth that we get information about such places,” he said. An official with the Idukki District Tourism Promotion Council said efforts are on to promote tourism in lesser-known places in the district. He said Ramakkalmedu till recently was a lesser-known place.

Now facilities are arranged for tourists reaching there, he said. Lack of good transportation facilities and proper roads are hindering development of lesser-known tourism spots in the district.

“A lesser-known tourism place may later become a well-known tourism spot and visitors throng such places promoted by media,” he said. According to him, Vagamon was once lesser-known and later became a favourite tourism destination.

“Local tourists and off-beat travellers are visitors of lesser-known tourism spots. They mostly come for spending a few hours and return the same day,” he said.

“Thekkady and Munnar are the most important tourism places visited by foreigners and non-Keralites.

However, if there is an effort on the part of the government to promote lesser-known places, tourists also prefer to visit to such places,” said K. Praveen Kumar, manager of a tourism promoting company at Thekkady.

According to him, between Thekkady and Munnar, a number of places can be identified as halting points for tourists.

If facilities are provided, heavy rush during the peak season in Thekkady can be diverted to these places. This will help in balanced development of other areas, too, he said.

Giji K. Raman

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