Incredible Perumbavoor

After multiple hiccups and false starts, it looks like the development of Perumbavoor Tourism Circuit is finally gaining pace.

The District Tourism Promotion Council has completed two of its projects while the Forest Department has agreed to develop the others with the assistance of the Eco-Tourism Wing. Meanwhile, the completion of the new bridge joining Malayattoor and Kodanad is expected to add fresh impetus to the tourism prospects of the area.

The development of tourism infrastructure in Perumbavoor with its pilgrims spots, forest tracks and the Periyar river, was proposed by the Perumbavoor municipality way back in 2005. In 2009 a tourism circuit too was proposed. But even though the DTPC identified several sites for the development of tourism and sanctioned the funds, much of it had to be dropped due to obstacles by way of clearances and lack of infrastructure.

“The project was aimed at connecting the already established tourism spots and developing a few more of the sites in and around the Perumbavoor area for tourism. The circuit would roughly include St Thomas Church Malayattoor, Ezhattumugham nature village, Mulankuzhi waterfalls, forest tracks of  Panyeli Poru, sacred groves of Iringole Kavu, Kalil Cave Temple and Kodanad Elephant Training Centre. But out of the four sites that were taken up for development, the forest department rejected two. But now the forest department has agreed to develop these spots with the help of the Eco-Tourism Wing. The other two spots, Kalil Cave Temple and  Iringole Kavu will be transferred to the temple trust and the municipality shortly,” said secretary of the Ernakulam DTPC T N Jayashankar.

The bridge connecting the Malayattoor pilgrim spot with Kodanad, being constructed at a cost of `15 crore, is proposed to be completed by March 2013.  “The work on the new bridge is fast progressing. Once the bridge comes up, not only will we be able to channelise the pilgrim tourism from Malayattoor to other key sites in Perumbavoor but also reduce the distance between several other popular tourism sites in the state like Munnar and Athirappally waterfalls with the tourism spots in and around Perumbavoor,” said Saju Paul MLA.