Long weekends have bikers in the city looking for routes to explore. Roads to much-travelled destinations such as Ponmudi, Bonacaud, Thenmala, Varkala and Kanyakumari are bound to be crowded during holidays. But there are some scenic routes, although well-known, that are relatively quiet even during the holidays. Here are a few to discover. Get set, go...
Konni
Early in the morning, MC road is a pleasure to ride on. Cruise the winding road, past rubber plantations, tall hills, farmlands and sleepy townships, towards the temple town of Kottarakara. Take a detour after Valakam, just before Kottarakara, and enter the Sabarimala bypass. The wide MC road gives way to narrow paths through verdant countryside and villages with interesting names such as Chirattakonam and Vettikavala. The route joins the Kollam-Theni highway at Chengamanadu. Another 2 km takes you to Kunnicode from where it is a left turn to Pathanapuram. Joining the main-eastern highway there and crossing the Kallada river, head straight to Konni, where an assortment of activities await you.
Spend some time with the jumbos at the elephant rehabilitation camp within the town. If you wish to try the waters of Achenkovil river, head to Adavi eco-tourism half an hour away from the town where one can go coracle rafting and bowl-boating.
Rosemala
Off-roading is not meant for all. But for those who wish to try their hand at it, Rosemala in Kollam is worth a visit. Start early in the morning, as you have a long way to go. Hit the winding, picturesque Thenmala route that traverses evergreen and deciduous forests. Passing the Thenmala bridge, go straight to join the Kollam-Shenkottai highway and head for Aryankavu near the state border. The Achenkovil river hugs the road all the way from Thenmala to Palaruvi. With villages on one side of the river and lush jungle on the other, the scene is straight out of a storybook. Don’t miss the magnificent 113-year-old Thirteen Kannara railway bridge just before Aryankavu.
The detour to Rosemala comes right after Aryankavu centre. It is a 12-km ride on a narrow route through thick forest. Unpaved and muddy in large portions, it is slippery in parts with a few streams, often knee-deep, to be crossed. After several twists and turns, you reach the secluded Rosemala village. The watch tower nearby presents a stunning view of the Thenmala reservoir and the green mountains around it.
Sasthamkotta lake and Munroethuruth
Take a right from Kottiyam, on the National Highway 66, to Kundara. Passing through the bustling countryside of Kollam district, one simply cannot escape the aroma of cashewnut, coming from numerous cashew factories spread across the region. Crossing the Kundara town, join the Adoor-Kollam road at Elampalor that takes you straight to Bharanikavu. It’s a right turn from there to Sasthamkotta town. The lake viewpoint is near the town itself, from where you can take a boat-ride on the largest freshwater lake in the state. For a leisure ride around the lake, take the Chavara-Sasthamkotta road and explore the villages on the southern side of the lake. The fascinating backwater world of Munroe Islands is just 15 km south of the lake, across the Kallada river. Head to Jangaru Kadavu near Kannankadu and catch the ferry to Munroethuruth. It is a mesmerising network of canals criss-crossing a lush green landscape. There is nothing like a ride through a typical Kerala countryside with coconut groves, wetlands and backwaters. Add to that the roadside eateries serving delectable backwater cuisine and you simply cannot ask for anything more.
Chittar dam
As far as dams go, the ones at Neyyar, Peppara and Aruvikara are familiar destinations. But just beyond the Tamil Nadu border down South, south-east of the district to be exact, is Chittar, a picturesque spot. Take the Neyyar dam route, crossing the Karamana river, and ride through the hilly countrysides of Peyad and Kattakada. Crowded trade centres give way to quiet villages after Kattakada. A 30-km ride from the city takes you to Kallikadu near the Neyyar reservoir. Take the state highway 3 coming from Nedumangad that heads to Vellarada and past the border to Chittar. The beauty of the reservoir envelopes you as soon as you enter Tamil Nadu. The road, cutting across rubber plantations and canopied by trees, trails the bank of the reservoir and offers spectacular scenery on one side of the road. This is Chittar-2 reservoir, while the less crowded Chittar-1 lies further east and the serene Peechiparai reservoir is nearby as well. It is a 15-km ride via Kadayil from Chittar-1.