Rosemala View Point: Gorgeous Motorcycling Route inside Shendurney Wildlife Sanctuary, Kerala

This gorgeous location is tucked amidst the tall mountains and the forests of the Western Ghats. It commands a panoramic view of the Thenmala dam on the Kallada river. A scenic narrow route with dense greenery on both sides is the way to reach this destination from the nearest town. It is situated at an altitude of 1200 feet above MSL in the Shendurney Wildlife Sanctuary. I am talking about Rosemala view point, an offbeat holiday destination at the end of a gorgeous motorcycling route in the Western Ghats of South Kerala.



To one side of Rosemala lies the stunning Palaruvi Falls inside Thenmala forest that literally looks like a huge body of milk falling from the sky. On the other end of the forest lies the famed waterfalls of Courtallam, the herbal bath destination of Tamil Nadu. All the water of these magnificent herbal waterfalls originate in the medicinal forests of Shendurney wildlife sanctuary, a part of the larger Agastyamalai biosphere. The location is pleasing to the eye and is a treat for the nature lover. Rosemala is a beautiful mix of natural forest, rubber plantations, teak plantations and basic farmland. For a long while, Rosemala was not open for tourism, but it has been a year since they restarted tourism operations at Rosemala. And I am so happy that they did or else, we would have never gotten the chance to explore and experience this offbeat forest gem and see the beautiful view of Thenmala dam from its pinnacle. I wish the forest department of Tamil Nadu opens up Rajathotham view point as well as it is a similar forest location on the Kerala – Tamil Nadu border and it looks into the Gundaru dam of Shencottai.



As a thumb rule, people visiting this part of Kerala stick to Punalur, Thenmala, Palaruvi Falls and Aryankavu, but I would so ask them to include Rosemala into their itinerary. Same with the people visiting Courtallam and Achankovil. Rosemala offers that perfect getaway that is a beautiful mix of offbeat, off road, remote, pretty and takes you deep inside a forest that not many people know about. It is this forest that is a starting point of many eastward and westward rivers. And like I have mentioned earlier, this forest is not too far away from Agastyamalai biosphere, one of the most bio diverse hotspots in the Western Ghats. Most people visit Rosemala to soak in its amazing views, but I would recommend that you stay here longer and try to explore the forest by either staying deep inside the forest or go on guided treks inside the jungle.



Whatever your plan may be, Rosemala is bound to bowl you over and captivate you with her natural charm and jungle beauty. It is that kind of offbeat hill station where I would like to stay for many weeks. It is that kind of place where time truly stands still. And it is that kind of place that offers you a chance to explore one of India’s best kept nature secrets.



Rosemala entry timings and entry fees:

Rosemala view point is open from 9 AM to 6 PM. However, the ticket counter closes an hour early at 5 PM. The route from Aryankavu to Rosemala doesn’t have any time cut-off, but one should beware of wild gaurs and wild elephants in the early hours of the morning and the late hours of the evening.

The entry fee for Rosemala is INR 70 per Indian national and INR 200 per foreign national. Your motorcycles and cars can be driven all the way till the forest ticket counter and there is decent space to park your vehicles there.



Things to buy at Rosemala:

One can buy a lot of local forest produce either from this forest or from other forests of Kerala. This includes vetiver roots, vetiver perfume, lemongrass oil, handmade soaps, palm jaggery, sandalwood products and others. I have personally used many of their products and can vouch for their excellent quality.



Best season to visit:

Rosemala looks best between June and November when the monsoon dresses the forests in fresh green. This is also the time when the mountain streams criss crossing the road are full of water and crossing them on a motorcycle is an adventure in itself. The Thenmala dam gets full at the end of the monsoon season, so somewhere between October and December. January and February are also great months and you can get some early morning and late evening mist too. This is also the time to catch the best views of the Thenmala Dam as the humidity will be the lowest in the year. March to May will be warm and humid and the terrain will be dry and bear and dusty look.



How to reach there:

If you are traveling from Thiruvananthapuram or Kollam, take the road to Thenmala Eco Zone (Palaruvi Falls entrance) via Thenmala and Pathimoonu Kannara Bridge. After Palaruvi Falls, continue straight towards Aryankavu. Just after St. Mary’s church and Palackal auditorium, turn right towards Rosemala. At this point you will see jeeps lined up. From here, Rosemala is about 12 kms away. The route climbs rapidly and is a mix of concrete, bad pot hole roads and full offroad. There are sign boards all the way till the Rosemala forest ticket counter.

If you are traveling from Shencottai, Tenkasi or Tirunelveli direction, take the main Kerala highway from Shencottai to Aryankavu. Right after, Aryankavu town and Aryankavu excise check post, turn left towards Rosemala. At this point you will see jeeps lined up. From here, Rosemala is about 12 kms away. The route climbs rapidly and is a mix of concrete, bad pot hole roads and full offroad. There are sign boards all the way till the Rosemala forest ticket counter.



Where to stay:

There are a few budget guest houses and homestays to stay at Rosemala. There is also a forest option available where you can stay deep inside the forest. This option is pretty pricey and can be booked through the Kerala forest department.

For other nature options, try the resorts in and around Courtallam, the accommodation inside Thenmala Eco Zone or the forest accommodation inside Kalakad Mundanthurai Tiger Reserve.

For cheaper options, there are stay options at Aryankavu near the Saastha temple.

For luxurious options, head to Tirunelveli in Tamil Nadu or Kollam/Thiruvananthapuram in Kerala.



Where to eat:

There is a restaurant near the Rosemala forest ticket counter where you can get some biscuits, cake, savouries with your cup of tea/coffee. For proper meals, you will have to try the restaurants on the Shencottai – Punalur highway, especially the ones opposite Palaruvi falls entrance, at Aryankavu and the ones near the Pathimoonu Kannara Bridge. For something more elaborate, you will have to head to the west coast (Thiruvananthapuram, Varkala and/or Kollam) or head east towards Tenkasi.



Other nearby tourist attractions:

1) Mekkarai to Achankoil to Konni: Heavenly motorcycling route through pristine forest

2) Mekkarai: One of Tamil Nadu’s prettiest villages

3) Manalar Falls: The herbal jungle waterfall of Kerala

4) Courtallam: The herbal bath holiday destination of Tamil Nadu

5) Sunderapandiapuram: Of lovely brahmin agraharam houses, sunflower fields, windmills and mountain views

6) Kambhavurutty Falls: Pristine jungle waterfall in the middle of dense forest

7) Thenmala Forest: Offbeat nature and wildlife getaway

8) Vintage Pathimoonu Kannara Bridge: Colonial charm of the Indian Railways

9) Punalur Suspension Bridge: Historical gem of Kerala

10) Lesser Known Kerala Mountain Railways: Treat for nature lovers

11) Achankovil Saastha Temple: Gorgeous temple surrounded by forests and mountains

12) Palaruvi Falls: Kerala’s herbal waterfall that drops like milk from the sky

13) Thenmala Dam: A monsoon pit stop view

14) Aryankavu Saastha Temple: Ancient temple located in the sacred forests of the Western Ghats



15) Puliyarai View Point: Scenic pit stop on the Tenkasi – Kerala highway

16) Sivasailam Temple: 1000 year old temple surrounded by the lush mountains of the Western Ghats

17) Sivasailam: One of the wettest places during the North East monsoon in India

18) 13th century Kasi Visvanathar temple at Tenkasi

19) Kudrevetty: The gorgeous windy hill station of Kalakad Mundanthurai Tiger Reserve

20) Manimuthar Falls: The herbal waterfall inside a tiger reserve

21) Agastyar Falls: A gorgeous waterfall on the Thamirabharani river

22) Manjolai: The offbeat hill station of Tamil Nadu

23) Nalumukku: The wettest place of India during the North East monsoon

24) Kakkachi: The highest point inside Kalakad Mundanthurai Tiger Reserve

25) Scenic Iron Bridge of Kalakad Mundanthurai Tiger Reserve: Pristine nature overloaded

26) Karaiyar Dam: Offbeat wildlife and nature holiday destination in India’s deep south

27) Cycling through the backyards of Kalakad Mundanthurai Tiger Reserve

28) Mannarkoil Rajagopalswamy Temple: Magnificent 10th century temple with an ashtanga vimana

29) 10th century Brahmadesam Kailasanathar Temple: Lesser known architectural marvel of South India



30) 1000 year old Papanasanathar Temple: Where you can wash all your sins away

31) Kallidaikurichi: The village of the saaral season

32) Iruttu Kadai Halwa: Icon of Tirunelveli

33) Nellaiappar Temple: A 7th century cosmic dance wonder

34) Pattamadai Pai: GI tagged beautiful handwoven mats from a tiny Tamil Nadu village

35) Thamirabharani river delta: A motorcycle route full of rustic gorgeousness

36) 10th century Valiswara temple at Thiruvaliswaram: Hidden Chola gem in the Tirunelveli district of Tamil Nadu

37) Tiruchendur Murugan Temple: Sea Shore Magic

38) Kallidaikurichi to Manimuthar Dam: A top scenic and rustic cycling route

39) Garudai Sevai from the agraharams of Kallidaikurichi



40) Festival of Thiruvathirai from a traditional Tamil Nadu village

41) Festival of Karthigai Deepam from a traditional Tamil Nadu village

42) The exotic fruit shops of Puliyarai

43) Kallidaikurichi Adi Varaha Temple Chariot Festival: Grand Cultural Spectacle in Rural Tamil Nadu

44) Kallidaikurichi Anaicut: Gorgeous picnic spot nestled in the lap of nature

Manalar Falls: The Herbal Jungle Waterfall of Kerala

It is a heavenly pit stop on the gorgeous Mekkarai to Achankovil to Konni forest route. It’s location is fairly offbeat and hence it does not attract a lot of crowd. It’s lush environment is perfect for a nature holiday with family and friends. It’s herbal waters make for a rejuvenating bath amidst the dense jungle of the Western Ghats. I am talking about Manalar Falls, the stunning herbal jungle waterfall of Kerala.



Situated in the Konni reserve forest of Kerala, the Manalar falls is located deep inside the jungle and the location is so pristine that footprints of elephants and other wild animals are seen at this location quite often. Manalar falls offers a beautiful mix of a scenic drive, a short jungle trek, twin waterfalls and a lovely swimming pool at the base of the waterfall perfect for that relaxing dip inside the forest. One of the twin waterfalls is smaller in size, which makes it perfect for young children and elderly folks and the other one, which is a bit further up is perfect for adults, rowdy teenagers and those who love some thrill and adventure. The bigger Manalar waterfall is perfect for those people who love to feel the forceful waters of the waterfall on their head and back and then take a breather while wallowing in the swimming pool at the bottom of the waterfall.



If you carry a picnic basket with you along with some towels, swim wear and a pair of sunglasses, you will treat yourself to a divine and rejuvenating waterfall holiday. As this place is managed by the Kerala forest department, you will have to take buy entrance tickets for all the members in your group and parking ticket for your vehicle. You can park your vehicle on the side of the road that also doubles as the forest highway. There is hardly any infrastructure here, but you may find a simple toilet and a street vendor or two selling some local fruits and hot tea. A 10 minute walk through the forest will take you to the two waterfalls from the ticket counter. The hike can get slippery when it rains, so do exercise caution.



Both Manalar Falls and Kambhavurutty falls, further along the forest highway towards Achankovil are proper jungle waterfalls and hence care should be taken to protect the waterfall and jungle surroundings from any pollution. So, do ensure to carry your trash with you (including dirty diapers) and do refrain from smoking and drinking inside the forest. And most importantly, do keep an eye out for elephants and other wild animals, especially if it happens to be raining or there is a thick mist cover. If you take care of the above, you will possibly enjoy a surreal jungle environment and have a ball of a waterfall holiday.



Best season to visit:

Manalar falls looks its best during the monsoon season from June and October. This is when the waterfall carries copious amounts of water and the vegetation is dense and lush. This time is perfect for trekking to the waterfall and enjoying its beauty, but might not be best to get under the waterfall for a bath. There is also the threat of leeches during this time of the year. Between November and February, the vegetation will continue to remain lush, the water force would be lower and the water much clearer. This would mean that you can enjoy the waterfall fully. Threat of leeches will also be lower at this time of the year. During March to May, the water levels would be lower and the heat and humidity would be higher. Reaching the waterfall will make you sweat, but a bath under the cool waters of the waterfall would make it worth the effort.



How to reach there:

If you are traveling from Konni, take the forest route via Achankovil to reach Manalar Falls. This route also happens to be the most scenic.

If you are traveling from Thiruvananthapuram, Kollam or Punalur, take the road via Punalur –> Vettithitta –> Cherukadavu Dam –> Chempanaruvi Falls –> Achankovil –> Manalar Falls.

If you are traveling from Thenmala, take the road via Ottakal –> Edamon –> Valcode –> Cherukadavu Dam –> Chempanaruvi Falls –> Achankovil –> Manalar Falls.

If you are traveling from Shencottai, Tenkasi or Tirunelveli direction, take the road via Shencottai to Elathur –> Panboli –> Mekkarai –> Kerala forest check post –> Manalar Falls.



Where to stay:

There are a few budget hotels in and around Achankovil (about 8 kms away) for those looking to stay inside the reserve forest. There are a few resorts and homestays in and around Mekkarai (about 8 kms away) that offer simple accommodation with the best views. For a diverse range of decent hotels, head to Tenkasi (about 25 kms away).

If you prefer staying amidst nature, try the resorts in and around Courtallam, the accommodation inside Thenmala Eco Zone (Kerala) or the forest accommodation inside Kalakad Mundanthurai Tiger Reserve.

For luxurious options, head to Tirunelveli in Tamil Nadu or Kollam/Thiruvananthapuram in Kerala.



Where to eat:

The nearest place to eat would be either Achankovil in Kerala (About 10 kms away to the west) or Shencottai in Tamil Nadu (about 17 kms to the east). There are restaurants that serve basic tiffin and meals here. For more diverse options, Tenkasi in Tamil Nadu would be your nearest hub.



Other nearby tourist attractions:

1) Mekkarai to Achankovil to Konni: Heavenly motorcycling route through pristine forest

2) Mekkarai: One of Tamil Nadu’s prettiest villages

3) Kutralam: The herbal bath holiday destination of Tamil Nadu

4) Sunderapandiapuram: Of lovely Brahmin agraharam houses, sunflower fields, windmills and mountain views

5) Puliyarai view point: Scenic pit stop on the Tenkasi – Kerala highway

6) Sivasailam temple: 1000 year old temple surrounded by the lush mountains of the Western Ghats

7) Sivasailam: One of the wettest places during the North East monsoon in India

8) 13th century Kasi Visvanathar temple at Tenkasi

9) Kambhavurutty Falls: Pristine jungle waterfall in the middle of dense forest

10) Thenmala Forest: Offbeat nature and wildlife getaway



11) Vintage Pathimoonu Kannara Bridge: Colonial charm of the Indian Railways

12) Punalur Suspension Bridge: Historical gem of Kerala

13) Lesser known Kerala Mountain Railways: Treat for nature lovers

14) Achankovil Saastha Temple: Ancient temple located in the sacred forests of the Western Ghats

15) Palaruvi Falls: Kerala’s herbal waterfall that drops like milk from the sky

16) Thenmala Dam: A monsoon pit stop view

17) Aryankavu Saastha Temple: Ancient temple located in the sacred forests of the Western Ghats

18) Rosemala: Spectacular view point of the Thenmala reservoir

19) Kudrevetty: The gorgeous windy station of Kalakad Mundanthurai Tiger Reserve

20) Manimuthar Falls: The herbal waterfall inside a tiger reserve



21) Agastyar Falls: A gorgeous waterfall on the Thamirabharani river

22) Manjolai: The offbeat hill station of Tamil Nadu

23) Nalumukku: The wettest place of India during the North East monsoon

24) Kakkachi: The highest point inside Kalakad Mundanthurai Tiger Reserve

25) Scenic Iron Bridge of Kalakad Mundanthurai Tiger Reserve: Pristine nature overloaded

26) Karaiyar Dam: Offbeat wildlife and nature holiday destination in India’s deep south

27) Cycling through the backyards of Kalakad Mundanthurai Tiger Reserve

28) Mannarkoil Rajagopalaswamy Temple: Magnificent 10th century temple with an ashtanga vimana

29) 10th Century Brahmadesam Kailasanathar Temple: Lesser known architectural marvel of South India

30) 1000 year old Papanasanathar Temple: Where you can wash all your sins away

31) Kallidaikurichi: The village of the saaral season

32) Iruttu Kadai Halwa: Icon of Tirunelveli

33) Nellaiappar Temple: A 7th century cosmic dance wonder

34) Pattamadai Pai: GI tagged beautiful handwoven mats from a tiny Tamil Nadu village

35) Thamirabharani river delta: A motorcycle route full of rustic gorgeousness

36) 10th Century Valiswara Temple at Thiruvaliswaram: Hidden Chola gem in the Tirunelveli district of Tamil Nadu

37) Tiruchendur Murugan Temple: Sea shore magic

38) Kallidaikurichi to Manimuthar Dam: A top scenic and rustic cycling route

39) Garuda Sevai from the agraharams of Kallidaikurichi

40) Festival of Thiruvathirai from a traditional Tamil Nadu village

41) The festival of Karthigai Deepam from a traditional Tamil Nadu village

42) The exotic tropical fruit shops of Puliyarai

43) Kallidaikurichi Adi Varaha Temple Chariot Festival: Grand cultural spectacle in rural Tamil Nadu

44) Kallidaikurichi Anaicut: Gorgeous picnic spot nestled in the lap of nature