Thusharagiri Falls: Weekend Getaways

A gushing waterfall located in the Kozhikode district of Kerala, Thusharagiri Falls is the perfect destination for a short vacation. It is around 50 kilometers from Kozhikode and is ideal for outdoor activities like trekking, rock climbing and rappelling. It is the ideal holiday for nature lovers and adventurers. The nearest town is Kodencherry, around 11 kilometers from Thusharagiri. All equipment for adventure sports must be purchased here before one dives under the foamy waters.

Two streams that take birth in the Western Ghats meet in a small, tribal village to form the Chalipuzha River. The chattering river then divides into three streams which flow down majestically creating the illusion of snow. The name Thusharagiri literally means “snow covered mountains”. The highest of the three falls is 75 meters above sea level and is known as Thenpara. The waterfall is surrounded by a thick foliage of lush green trees and bushes. A trek through the forests here will lead straight through the Lakkadi Ghat which is covered with a carpet of greenery. The entire picturesque view of the waterfall against a fresh green background is spellbinding and captures the exotica of the Malabar region.

The beautiful thusharagiri fall (photo courtesy:alltravels.com)

thusharagiri fall (photo courtesy:flickr.com)

The people of Kodencherry town are mainly occupied in plantation agriculture. Rubber plantations are a common sight on the hills and valleys surrounding the town. In addition, there are large estates that cultivate coconut, pepper, ginger and other spices. A popular tourist spot here is the crocodile farm maintained by the state forest department. The Chembra Peak, located around 8 kilometers from Thusharagiri, is the highest peak in Wayanad and beckons tourists for a wonderful view of Kerala. At an equivalent distance is the Pookode Lake, a scenic freshwater lake. Another place of interest is the Vellarimala range of mountains in the Kozhikode district.

Weekend Getaway, Thusharagiri falls, kozhikode (Photo Courtesy: Wikimedia Commons)

One can enjoy the perks of mountain ranges, forests, waterfalls and lakes in Kerala by making a short trip of all the above mentioned outlandish places. Trekking, rock climbing, tree climbing and camping are some of the recreational activities to engage in. The woods from Thusharagiri are diverse and connect to various places in Wayanad and Kozhikode. A wild and undulating path from Thusharagiri to Vythiri in Wayanad can be traversed in a day long trek by the fit and the adventurous.

The Thusharagiri falls are always filled with water and can be visited any time of the year. One can enjoy the beauty of the woods and the waterfall during the monsoon season from June to September, when the heavy rains swell the volume of the waters. Kozhikode is the nearest transport terminal that connects Thusharagiri to other places.  Kozhikode flights are frequent from nearby destinations in south India like Bangalore, Hyderabad, Chennai, Kochi and Pune. Air transport is the quickest and reasonable mode of travelling to places in the Kozhikode district.