If you are stuck at home in or near Kottayam and craving for a drive, on the Pala-Thodupuzha bypass road near Manathoor lies the Pampanal waterfall hidden from the normal stream of life. The gushing waters and its surrounding rocks stationed within a rubber-pineapple estate adds to the serene beauty. This place is around 42 km from Kottayam town and 15 km from Thodupuzha. It is in an isolated area with few houses in the surroundings.
What to expect
Pampanal waterfall is a less popular adventurous spot which attracts tourists from far and near in the monsoon season. It is located in Manathoor, a small village between Pala town and Thodupuzha. There are three views to the waterfall – the top, the middle portion and the bottom. It might sound a bit strange to slice and dice a waterfall but each point seems to have its unique beauty.
From the top portion, a stroll through the estate takes you to the middle and bottom of the waterfall, which are equally beautiful. The rocks act as a resting place for us to sit, relax and enjoy. For those of you interested in a bath, that's also possible.
How to reach
Drive straight on Pala-Thodupuzha road from Kottayam. Turn right to Manathoor/Mattathipara-Karimkunnam road. After driving a kilometre and a half through the rubber estates, take a right turn and drive through a narrow off-road. This one and a half kilometre off-road takes to the top of the waterfall.
On this off-road drive, around midway, you could cut off into the estates. This mud road trek through the private agricultural land goes straight to the bottom of the waterfall. This is again a circuit that takes you to the other portions.
Nearby attractions
Around 35 km from here, is the Kattadi viewpoint and Thommankuttu waterfalls on Thodupuzha-Vannapuram Road. As of now, both of these are closed. But Venmony Viewpoint is on the way to Kattadi viewpoint and anyone can stop there and enjoy the view.
