Chinnar Tour

When you see a waterfall nestled among a vast expanse of the forest – covered by blue and green hills, you know you just have to get up close and personal with it.

Deep inside the Chinnar Wildlife Sanctuary, lies a stunning natural vista – the Thoovanam waterfalls. Your inspiration for the trek will be fueled by the eager anticipation created by the loud reverberation of thousands of gallons of water gushing down from the rugged cliffs.

The Alampetty check post is the starting point of the 3-km trek through the forest that leads to the waterfall. The walk through the unique riparian forest is equally rewarding. It offers a rare opportunity to catch a glimpse of the endangered Grizzled Giant Squirrel.

It offers excellent opportunities for bird-watching too! Highlight sightings include the Yellow-throated Bulbul, White-rumped Shama, Spot-bellied Eagle Owl, Brown Fish Owl, and Malabar Whistling Thrush. During the migration, thousands of butterflies can be seen mud-puddling in the sand of the river bank.

As we get closer to the waterfall, the faint sound of the water grows into a roar. The waterfall is nothing like what it looked from the Marayoor road. It will be much larger than one expected it to be, spewing white mist that will soak us as we get closer.

The roar of the water drowns out the accumulated noise of cities and traffic and human conversations. Right here, as you stand under the giant falls, you’ll feel a oneness with the universe!

During less flow, one can plunge into small pools for a swim. But during the monsoon months, the current is very strong. Also, any attempt to get closer and right under the waterfall will be thwarted by the enormous, threatening force of the water.

During the trek, you will also be part of a dynamic model of biodiversity conservation in one of the unique Indian jungles with a human-dominated landscape, where many flagship wildlife species reside.