Escape to Elanjippara Waterfalls, Marottichal

We started our Trip to Elanjippara Waterfalls at Marottichal area around 1:30pm, as it was not a pre planned one, preparations were less and by 2 pm we started from Amballur centre after taking a heavy lunch.

It was on the republic day 26. Jan 2011, We wanted to be back before 6pm, as there was some other journey planned. The waterfall is best to view during the months of monsoon and after,ie; Jun – Oct. But it is difficult to go all the way to the top as it may be either raining or too slippery, walking 4km to the top while it is raining and route not clear, will be bit difficult.

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The fall is 18 km from my village (Chengaloor) and it is 15 km far from Amballur Jn, and from Thrissur Town its 27km far(which is the Major Railway Station Nearby). The Nearest airport is Cochin International Airport which is 60km far.

Route Map from Google ~ Route Map Elanjippara Waterfall

You can check with the Bus Conductors if you travel in the line bus for the Elanjippara Waterfall stop or Marottichal waterfall stop, and this is the main entrance to the stream and the regularly used path to reach the top of the fall. As there are very less shops after the main area at marottichal and there are 2 ways which leads you to Marottichal waterfall, you can take the Marottichal Bus which can be taken from the Vadakke Stand at Thrissur Town, which takes you through Thrissur – Mannamangalam Route, crossing the NH 47 , through elamthuruthy.

The saddest thing was that I was n’t aware my DSLR was out of power after my last days photo shoot at home and could n’t even take any breath taking views of this trip. But as my brother was having a small Canon IXUS 105 in his bag and it came lucky for me.

There were 4-5 vehicles parked when we reached the place around 2:40pm, and as it was a holiday and lots of local people visit this place as its not crowded, mostly to enjoy the natural beauty, meanwhile talking and taking some beverages too.

The place does n’t have any forest check post only thing you see is the 2 or 3 boards from the forest department regarding the area and precautions and safety tips to avoid forest fire.

Some people just comes to this area and sits here for some time, as its the starting point and the streams water is just flowing the place is active and there is a natural water pond down this area.

There is a 4Km walk towards the top and will require a 1hr 15min+ time to reach. As our journey was during January, the walking route was made clear by the forest department persons, especially as during the summer there is a big chance of forest fire, they do the fire lining too during this time as the rainfall have stopped almost. The stream is having very little water flow.

Forest department has put some boards to remind us that the area is a reserved forest and also some dust bins are kept in the form of Concrete rings or baskets, which I consider a good move. I have been to this place 3-4 times before and sometimes I have found lots of Junk Plastic covers and Liquor bottles laying here and there. As this place should be kept always clean and natural and usage of plastic should be restricted. I hope the govt. departments takes some more pro active steps to create awareness for people and to encourage the guests to reduce the junk use and proper disposal of the waste materials.

Rojan with the butterflies, there were lots of butterflies here in thousands…

Some places in the stream has water ponds which has water accumulated.

Just took some images on the rock, first for the pose.

Some paths are too hard to climb with rocks, that is the adventure part in this route and as its sunny and we had 3 bottles of water with us, we were not much worried. Also the water from stream is drinkable, but should be taken carefully for drinking.

You can see some of the fire lines put by the forest clearing people and they have cleared also the walking path.We don’t have to push much plants to get the route, but I felt that bit disappointing, as last times, I have to make my way all the way to the top by pushing the plants to both sides.

Some of the rocks and shapes keeps us thinking so many things, I was wondering looking at one of such thing…

The walk to the top can be sometimes bit difficult due to some steep climbs, but its ok and last 1km is bit tough as its steep upwards climb, you will take sometime to complete the same, and needs to breath well after the final 1km climb, which leads you 2 two paths, one to the bottom of the waterfall and another to the top of the waterfall.

There are several trees fallen across the walking path and you can take a small break while on walk on this.

This was one of the fabulous easy chairs we found on the way, and Rojan was enjoying the same. Did n’t it looks so coool..

As I was familiar with the hurdles on the way to the top and the need of carrying enough water while on this trip, we took 3 full bottles of water, which almost exhausted when reached the top, the last 1km walk will take you to some extremes as its steep walk to the top.

This was taken from the tip of the waterfall and you can see Kuttan and Rojan taking the next route towards finding the origin of the stream, you have to again walk around 3km to see the streams origin from the dense forest.

This was taken from the Rock which was just after the waterfall, and can see the dense forests we covered during the our walk. As the forest is thick and covered one, we would feel much of the sunshine while on walk.

The Junction, where you can walk to the bottom of the waterfall and take a bath and also to the top of the waterfall and continue to walk through the stream and by the side of the stream. Rojan and Kuttan was taking a small break while I shot the snaps from here and from the right of them which gives a clear view of the valleys, we passed.

We took some 15mins break before starting for the next walk to the origin of the stream, was not sure that we can walk to all the way 3kms as time was restrictive on us, meanwhile we were ready to go further and explore the place.

Another shot of the water coming from the stream, just before it becomes the fall.

Shot from Big Rock after the fall from where you can see both the waterfall and the forest and valley.

As it’s the start of the summer, the fall has become very thin, there were people taking bath in this narrow falls too, the water was still super cool. You can some of the photos taken by others of the fall here, when it is full of water. http://goo.gl/5mXBI

This is how it looks from the fall, I was taking this image from the tip of the fall.

Now as we start walking further towards the top of the waterfall continuing to reach the origin of the stream the stream and the surrounding was  more dense with trees and less climbs, some parts of the stream was so flat, we spend some time here looking around and it seemed like we have reached some different place, not much of the visitors cover this area after the falls. We lost track of my brother, who was hurrying fast before us and myself and Rojan stayed some 15mins here taking some snaps and enjoying the nature.

I was not sure what was he trying , but he was trying it hard, you should be extra careful while climbing through the rocks as one small slip and you are down….

While we were shooting all this and waiting for my brother, we were not aware that he has gone some further and was checking with one of the local who was there collecting some ayurvedic medicinal plants near the stream. The local informed that there appeared an Elephant just 5mins before, I think it came to drink water from the stream.

He was explaining that the villagers made noise and sent the elephant back to the jungle, hearing same, we started looking at each other and also to all the bushes and plants near by. Just a precaution !?

These villagers collect this kind of herbal plants and sell to the ayurvedic centers which make medicine out of this, they are taking the roots of the plant.

We stopped our walking at this spot, you can see more of the last laps circus on the attached video at the end, it was thick forest with more and more diversions and we took one of the diversions after we saw the villagers who was collecting the herbal medicines and we were informed that there were people who was making the fire line ahead, and we do not want to disturb them. Watch the video for final 15mins walk through the dense forest and last rock climb.

We started our downwards walk by 4:30pm and expected to reach the base by 5:15pm as it was more easy for descending. This was one of the short breaks.

Even though it was just 4hrs walk through the forest and stream, it was a memorable one. With the Elephants story, it became more memorable, we wished that we could have met the guy on the way down, I was looking around all the time and was hoping to see a glance of the same elephant.

PANORAMA IMAGE FROM THE TOP OF THE WATERFALL – CLICK IMAGE TO VIEW FULL

Video Will be Posted Soon…

3 Responses to “Escape to Elanjippara Waterfalls, Marottichal”

1. sreejith says:

   February 22, 2011 at 3:39 pm

   machaaaaaaaaaa, adipolyayittundu. i am from marottichal near to elanjippara waterfalls

   Reply
2. babythomas says:

   April 21, 2011 at 1:10 am

   great job

   Reply
3. matt thomas says:

   June 17, 2012 at 9:43 pm

   some of the pictures and discriptions are boring.waterless waterfall and people taking bath there !!! It’s amazing

   Reply