#DayTripsFromKochi is a series I’m trying to start featuring nearby spots which you can visit and return home comfortably by evening. The first of the series is to the Perumbavoor side which takes about 45min from Kakkanad.
First place is Kadambrayar. This is a beautiful, long walkway with lush green fields on one side and a clean Kadambrayar river on the other. This seems like a hotspot for fishing as well, mostly ‘techie’ fishermen with fancy equipments along the whole stretch of the river. There’s also a suspension bridge at the end and most of the time you can see flocks of ducks just paddling around. The whole Cheruthuruthu - Mannukkaavu area is a beautiful stretch for morning cycling/walking. This can either be a morning or evening spot according to your schedule.
Recommended food spot: Kadambra for a nice Kerala seafood spread.
If you’re reaching around noon at Perumbavoor jn, it is best to directly go to Apsara hotel to not miss the Mutton Biriyani and Mutton Fry/chaps. We reached around 12:30 and still missed the Mutton Fry. By looks of the queue for parcels and seating (always a good sign of good food), it looked like we might have missed the Biriyani too. And it did not disappoint! We Loved the mutton and chicken biriyani. Nalla waiter chetan served with a constant smile. I’ll also recommend the special tea here. You will know what’s so special about it once you order it. Parking can be an issue though. If you’re a vegetarian, you can try the masala dosa and vada from Vinitha Restaurant nearby or as an evening snack after hitting these spots.
The next stop is the Iringole Kavu, a beautiful temple, surrounded by a thick forest of tall and ancient/old trees. Built-in typical Kerala architecture, you can spend hours here in silence, away from all the traffic/city buzz, with just the crickets and birds to keep you company (also other tourists/devotees heh). Entry inside the temple is restricted to Hindus, but anyone is free to roam around the surrounding area. We were offered some oonu ootu (free food) organised by the temple. We politely refused since we had Mutton biriyani filled till our neck. The whole walkaround area is like a maze where we literally got lost once and got out with the help of Google Maps (pointed to the road and walked towards it). Although we aimed to get out at the entrance area, we somehow got out to the road where we had parked our vehicle. Win-win I guess.
The last stop for the day is a stunning quarry in Pettamala. I’ll start with a disclaimer that this is technically private property and please ask before entering. It’s better to go when the sun is down, but the view is jaw-dropping at any time of the day. There are different viewpoints inside, so just walk around.
As you make your return to Kochi, if you care for another Masala dosa, you can take a small detour to Hotel Thevakkal on the Edapally - Pookattupady road.
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