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.  

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Kozhikode - Home to Lost Empires

Kozhikode, also known as Calicut, is one of the major cities of Kerala and the capital of the Malabar. It is of great historical importance and has attracted travellers from all corners of the earth for more than 500 years. A few well known travellers whose accounts of the city have been found include - Ibn Battuta from Arabia in the 1300s, and in the 1400s, Ma Huang from China, Abdur Razzak from Persia, Niccolò de' Conti from Italy and Athanasius Nikitin from Russia. The city came into existence under the rule of the Zamorins in the 13th century. The Mananchira Square is where the Zamorin kings had their palace.

Kozhikode was known as the “City of Spices” during the Middle Ages and has been in the spice trade since the 7th century, with Muslim Arab merchants. The famous Portuguese explorer Vasco de Gama landed at Calicut in 1498 and set up a Portuguese factory and fort. Later, the English set up a trading port here, followed by the French and the Dutch. It was captured by Mysore in 1765 as part of its occupation of the Malabar coast. On entering the city, one can see ginger and spice plantations along the way as proof of why this name came about.

However, more recently, Kozhikode has been known as the “City of Sculptures” because of the amazing sculptures and architectural marvels located across the city. The sculptures are proof that this was once home to now lost Empires.

Another place that is a must see is the Kozhikode beach. It is known for its natural beauty and is very charming in a quaint, old fashioned sense. You can see a couple of hundred year old piers, a lighthouse as well as an aquarium. It is definitely a great spot to watch the sunrise or sunset as well.

If for some reason, you have missed on adding Kozhikode to your list of places to visit, it is a good idea to edit your list and add this city! Kozhikode flights are frequent, and the airport itself is twenty two kilometres from the city centre. 

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Kozhikode - The City of Spices

Kozhikode, also known as Calicut, is one of the major cities of Kerala and the capital of the Malabar. It is of historical importance and was once known as the “City of Spices”. You will see ginger and spice plantations along the way as proof of why this name came about.

Calicut City (Photo courtesy: Wikimedia Commons)

Kozhikode has attracted travellers from far and wide for more than 500 years. Some of the well known travellers whose accounts of the city have been found include - Ibn Battuta from Arabia in the 1300s, and in the 1400s, Ma Huang from China, Abdur Razzak from Persia, Niccolò de' Conti from Italy and Athanasius Nikitn from Russia. The city came into existence under the rule of the Zamorins in the 13th century. The Mananchira Square is where the Zamiron kings had their palace.

Kadalundi Bird sanctuary, KozhiKhode (Photo courtesy: Wikimedia Commons)

There are many things to do in Kozhikode, like sightseeing, attending festivals, shopping or other activities. A few must-dos:

- The Tali Shiva temple

- The Kuttichira mosque

- The Church of South India

- The Pazhassiraja museum

- The Krishna Menon museum and Art Gallery

- The Kadalundi Bird sanctuary

- The Thushagiri waterfalls

Thushagiri waterfalls,Kozhikode (Photo courtesy: yaatrika)

Shopping: Since Kozhikode is the home of Calico soft printed cotton, this is a great market for hand woven textiles. Local handicrafts also include rosewood and sandalwood carvings.

Mahashivaratri festival,Kozhikode (Photo courtesy: Calicutnet)

Festivals, activities and events: The Mahashivaratri festival happens in February and conducted with great fanfare. Be prepared to see elephant processions, fireworks and fetes that happen during this celebration. For those interested in yoga, there are 3-week long camps that are conducted here. You can also go boating on the lake, and relax in the beauty of this city. 

Flights to Kozhikode are now available at a reasonable price. There are also frequent international flights from Kozhikode to the Middle East.

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