Prologue
Mankombu Devi Temple, located in Moonnilavu Grama Panchayat, is regarded as one of the ancient centres of Bhadrakali worship in the Meenachil region. Local oral tradition associates the temple with Chetty (Chettiar) families who migrated from Tamil Nadu, stating that they played an important role in its early administration and festival traditions. Although this association has not yet been substantiated by historical inscriptions or contemporary documentary evidence, the temple continues to preserve its traditional rituals and annual festivals, remaining an important centre of faith and cultural heritage for the local community.
Located in Moonnilavu panchayat, Mechal Waterfalls is a beautiful natural waterfall in the Western Ghats forest region, cascading down over rocky outcrops. It marks the point of origin of the Kadapuzhayar river. Besides its natural beauty, this area also holds significance in the context of water resource development. Under the Comprehensive Meenachil River Basin Development Project proposed by K.M. Mani, water brought via a tunnel from Moolamattom was envisioned to be diverted from Mechal into the Kadapuzhayar.
Elaveezha Poonchira is a scenic range of hills located in Melukavu panchayat, Kottayam district, at an elevation of about 3,200 feet above sea level. Surrounded by three hills, this valley fills with water during the monsoon, creating a lake-like appearance, while in summer it turns into a broad grassy meadow. The main attractions here are the sunrise, sunset, and mist-covered hills. Offering sweeping views across the landscapes of Kottayam and Idukki districts, this spot is a favourite destination among nature lovers and trekking enthusiasts.
Illickal Kallu is a mountain peak rising to 3,500–4,000 feet, located in the Moonnilavu–Thalanad area of Kottayam district. Its main attraction is a set of three distinctively shaped rock formations on Illickal hill. These include Kudakkallu, shaped like a mushroom cap, and Koonukallu, with its hump-like form, connected by the perilous "Narakappalam" ("bridge to hell"), along with a single massive rock that has partly split and fallen away — together forming a remarkable natural spectacle. The site is also linked to legends associated with the origin of the Meenachil river and the legendary herb Neelakoduveli.
This is a beautiful waterfall located in the Thekkoy–Thalanad area. Cascading from a height of roughly 40–60 metres, it forms part of the Thekkoyiyar, a tributary of the Meenachil river. Surrounded by lush greenery and rocky outcrops, the spot looks even more spectacular during the monsoon season.
In 1963, British architect Laurie Baker and his wife Dr. Elizabeth Baker arrived at Vagamon and settled there. In 1968, German doctor Hildegard Zeena and nurse Alina Kattaniyil joined them, and Mithranikethan Hospital became fully operational. The hospital buildings and residences, designed by Baker himself, stood out for blending seamlessly with the natural surroundings, featuring exposed laterite/granite walls, a fusion of local and Western architectural styles, and an understated, minimalist construction ethic. In the 1970s, when Vagamon remained largely undeveloped, this hospital provided round-the-clock care to tea-estate workers and the Urali tribal community, and became known for the selfless service of its doctors and nurses, who worked on despite the harsh cold. Mithranikethan functioned until 2016, when improved transport access, the arrival of nearby hospitals, and the lack of modern facilities led to the discontinuation of clinical treatment there. Today, the premises are used to run training programmes and camps in areas such as the environment, agriculture, women's and youth empowerment, and elderly welfare.
Located on the northern flank of Arayanmudi, a secondary range within the Western Ghats, this area is notable for its beautiful hills, grasslands, and shola forests. Several streams that feed into the Vazhikkadavu river, a branch of the Meenachil, originate here. The main attraction of the spot is a rock-pooled stream — part of the Vazhikkadavu river — popularly known as the Infinity Pool. It gets its name because the stream, flowing over the rocky terrain, forms a series of continuous pools across the flat rock surfaces of the hillside, creating the appearance of an unbroken chain of pools.
Located near Vedikkuzhi in Vagamon, the Orchidarium is a striking natural attraction known for its collection of rare orchid species and beautifully landscaped gardens. The spring water from the easternmost source of the Meenachil river flows into a check dam located within the Orchidarium premises. Water released from this dam, joined by another stream arriving from the south, flows along the northern slope of Thangalpara before reaching the Vazhikkadavu check dam. Only when the water there overflows does it go on to join the Vazhikkadavu river.
Thangalpara refers to a mountain range with rocky outcrops stretching east–west at Kolahalamedu, on the western side of Vagamon. It is believed that the Sufi saint Sheikh Fariduddin Auliya, who arrived on horseback from Afghanistan in the thirteenth century, spent long periods here in meditation and was ultimately laid to rest in the shade of a massive boulder at the western edge of this rock formation — which is how the site came to be known as Thangalpara ("the rock of the saint"). The place name Kolahalamedu is said to derive from Samarakolahalan Vanadhiraya, a ruler of Madurai. From the grassland on the southern slope of Thangalpara, the Poonjar river — the southern tributary of the Meenachil — originates and flows west toward the Koopu Waterfalls. The northern branch, flowing from the Orchidarium, crosses the Kolahalamedu bridge, runs along the edge of Thangalpara's northern slope, and joins the Vazhikkadavu check dam.
Bhoomika, based in Poonjar, and the Meenachil River Protection Committee are voluntary collectives carrying out notable work toward the protection of the Meenachil river and its catchment area, environmental awareness, and heritage conservation. Through efforts such as safeguarding rivers, forests, and biodiversity; raising awareness against illegal sand mining and environmental destruction; organizing study trips involving students and the public; clean-up drives; seminars; and studies of local nature and history, these groups spread a message of sustainable development and environmental protection within the community. Viewing the Meenachil not merely as a source of water but as a lifeline that has shaped the region's history, culture, and way of life, the work of these organizations stands as a model in the field of environmental conservation.
At Adivaram in Poonjar Thekkekkara panchayat, near the bridge over the Poonjar stream on Kodunga Road, behind Ittoychettan's property, lies this natural wonderland of massive boulders. Spread across roughly four and a half acres, enormous rounded granite rocks lie scattered across the landscape. Tributaries of the Meenachil flow along either side, while to the east, the Kottathavalam Waterfalls and Kurishumala form a striking backdrop.
The formation of these rock masses is believed to be the result of a major geological fault in ancient times. Cave-like crevices between the boulders and maze-like passages that lead visitors astray add to the site's intrigue. Fresh water from springs among the rocks is still used by local residents today. This rocky expanse, seemingly endless to walk through, is a rare dreamlike realm shaped entirely by nature.