Scenic Vayalada set for a facelift with tourism project

Balussery, Kozhikode: The Vayalada tourism project, which has been ignored by the state authorities for years, will soon get a breather. The government has allotted Rs 3 crore for the various tourism projects here.

The beautiful greenery, misty hills, the serene valley and the cool and comfortable climate even during the summer make Vayalada a perfect place for tourists to spend some quality time. The mesmerising view of the reservoir from the top of the hill is one of the major features of this destination. During monsoon, small rivulets and the waterfalls that meander through the rocks add to the beauty of Vayalada in Kozhikode district.

Vayalada and the nearby places like Kottakunnu and Mullan Para are truly a paradise for photographers. The nature offers beautiful frames for the selfie lovers as well. Lots of tourists visit these places daily. However, the main disadvantage at Vayalada is the complete lack of basic facilities. The tourism department will mainly focus on developing the basic facilities here, so that more number of tourists could be attracted.

Kerala tourism minister Kadakampally Surendran will inaugurate the construction work ,which is being undertaken as part of the extensive project, on July 19. The project envisages a parking lot at Kootakunnu, a viewpoint on top of the rocks, a swimming pool in the valley, butterfly park, toilets, rest houses, cafeteria etc.

The locals hope that the area would now be turned into a major tourist destination. They have donated around 1.65 acre of land at various places for the government to develop the basic facilities to attract more tourists.

The Kerala Electrical and Allied Engineering Co. Ltd, a public sector company, will undertake the construction. The tender period is for 18 months. Efforts are also on to enhance signals for adequate mobile phone reception.

One can reach Vayalada via Thalayadu and Kurumboyil. The locals are hopeful that the new tourism project would bring significant development at the hilly areas in the Panangad panchayat, near Balussery town.