State Highway 21 (Kerala)

Last updated

SH KL 21.svg
State Highway 21
Chalakudy-Malakkappara Road
State Highway 21 (Kerala)
SH 21 highlighted in red
Way to Vazhachal From Athirappilly.JPG
Chalakudy-Vazhachal strech on the road
Route information
Maintained by Kerala Public Works Department
Length86 km (53 mi)
Major junctions
West endNH544-IN.svg NH 544 in Chalakkudy
East endMDR-354 at Tamil Nadu border in Malakkappara
Location
Country India
State Kerala
Districts Thrissur, Palakkad
Highway system
State Highways in Kerala
SH KL 19.svg SH 19 SH KL 22.svg SH 22

State Highway 21 (SH 21) or Chalakkudy-Malakkappara Road is a State Highway in Kerala, India that starts in Chalakudy and ends at the state boundary with Tamil Nadu at Malakkappara. The road where its majority of portion passes through Sholayar reservoir is 86.0 kilometres (53.4 mi) long. [1] It passes through one of the most picturesque rainforests and is often described as one of the best scenic routes in India. [2] The Athirappilly falls and Vazhachal falls are located on this route. It connects with Valparai-Pollachi Road in Tamil Nadu.

Route description

A view of Sholayar reserve forest from a viewpoint on the road Sholayar reserve forest.jpg
A view of Sholayar reserve forest from a viewpoint on the road

The road begins from Chalakudy in Thrissur district where it meets the NH 544. It then enters the Athirappilly stretch, goes through Vettilapara and reaches Athirappilly Water Falls. It then goes to the Vazhachal-Malakkappara strech from a forest checkpost located at Vazhachal, 4 km from Athirappilly. [3] From here, the vehicles are allowed only from 6 am to 6 pm (6 am - 4 pm for two wheelers). The road then reaches the Malakkappara checkpost near the Tamil Nadu border. It ends near Malakkappara and the Valparai-Pollachi road starts a few distance from there.

The Vazhachal-Malakkappara strech is situated on the banks of the Chalakudy river. The area is covered with thick forest and unauthorised entry into the forest is prohibited and punishable as per Kerala Wildlife Protection Act. Charpa waterfalls viewpoint, Peringalkuthu dam reservoir viewpoint, Anakkayam bridge, Sholayar hydro power station and Nellikunnu viewpoint are located on this stretch. The human habitation on the area is limited to some isolated tribal hamlets. [4]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Periyar River</span> River in Kerala, India

Periyar, IPA: [peɾijɐːr], is the longest river and the river with the largest discharge potential in the Indian state of Kerala. It is one of the few perennial rivers in the region and provides drinking water for several major towns. The Periyar is of utmost significance to the economy of Kerala. It generates a significant proportion of Kerala's electrical power via the Idukki Dam and flows along a region of industrial and commercial activity. The river also provides water for irrigation and domestic use throughout its course besides supporting a rich fishery. Due to these reasons, the river has been named the "Lifeline of Kerala". Kochi city, in the vicinity of the river mouth draws its water supply from Aluva, an upstream site sufficiently free of seawater intrusion. Twenty five percent of Kerala's industries are along the banks of river Periyar. These are mostly crowded within a stretch of 5 kilometres (3 mi) in the Eloor-Edayar region (Udhyogamandal), about 10 kilometres (6 mi) north of Kochi harbor.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Anaimalai Hills</span> Mountain range in India

The Anamala or Anaimalai, also known as the Elephant Mountains, are a range of mountains in the southern Western Ghats of central Kerala and span the border of western Tamil Nadu in Southern India. The name anamala is derived from the Malayalam word aana and the Tamil word yaanai, meaning elephant, or from tribal languages. Mala or Malai means 'mountain', and thus literally translatable as 'Elephant mountain'.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Chalakudy River</span> River in Kerala, India

Chalakudy River or Chalakudy Puzha is the fifth longest river in Kerala, India. The river flows through Thrissur district, Palakkad district and Ernakulam district of Kerala. The total drainage area of the river is 1704 km2. Out of this,1404 km2 lies in Kerala and the rest in Tamil Nadu. The length of the river is 145.5 km. Though Chalakudy River in strict geological sense is a tributary of the Periyar river, for all practical purposes it is treated as a separate river by Government and other agencies. The river has gained its name since it flows along the banks of the Chalakudy Town, the major settlement along the course of the river. It is perhaps the most unpolluted and pristine river in the state and even in India due to the limited amount of industries and wastage disposal around it. Chalakudy River and its basin area were one of the most affected rivers during the 2018 Kerala floods.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Coimbatore district</span> District of Tamil Nadu in India

Coimbatore district is one of the 38 districts in the state of Tamil Nadu in India. Coimbatore is the administrative headquarters of the district. It is one of the most industrialized districts and a major textile, industrial, commercial, educational, information technology, healthcare and manufacturing hub of Tamil Nadu. The region is bounded by Tiruppur district in the east, Nilgiris district in the north, Erode district in the north-east, Palakkad district, Idukki district and small parts of Thrissur district and Ernakulam district of neighboring state of Kerala in the west and south respectively. As of 2011, Coimbatore district had a population of 3,458,045 with a sex-ratio of 1,000 and literacy rate of 84%.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Pollachi</span> Town in Tamil Nadu, India

Pollachi is a town and a taluk headquarters in Coimbatore district, Tamil Nadu state, India. Located about 40 km (25 mi) to the south of Coimbatore, it is the second largest town in the district after Coimbatore. Pollachi is a popular Marketplace for jaggery, vegetables and cattle. As of 2011, the town had a population of 90,180.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Vazhachal Falls</span> Waterfall in Kerala, India

Vazhachal Falls is situated in Athirappilly Panchayath of Thrissur district in Kerala on the southwest coast of India. Located on the west-flowing Chalakudy River near the Vazhachal Forest Division and at the edge of the Sholayar ranges, it is just 5 km from entrance of Athirappilly Falls. It is located 36 km from Chalakudy.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Udumalaipettai</span> Town in Tamil Nadu, India

Udumalai, also known as Udumalaipettai and Udumalpet, is a town in Tiruppur district in the Indian state of Tamil Nadu. Udumalaipettai is located 535 km south west from the state capital, Chennai and 72 km away from Coimbatore, the second largest city in the state.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Valparai</span> Town in Tamil Nadu, India

Valparai is a Taluk and hill station in the Coimbatore district of Tamil Nadu, India. It consists of Anamalai Tiger Reserve. It is located 3,474 feet (1,059 m) above sea level on the Anaimalai Hills range of the Western Ghats. There are a total of 56 estates here. The game of football is very popular here. State level competitions are held every year. The foothill starts exactly from Monkey Falls which is at a distance of 38 kilometres (24 mi) to Valparai. The route to Valparai from the foothills consists of 40 hairpin bends. The Kerala state border town of Malakkappara is at a distance of 27 kilometres from Valparai. While major portions of the land are owned by private tea companies, large forest areas continue to be out of bounds.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Athirappilly</span> Village in Kerala, India

Athirappilly is a first grade Grama Panchayath with 489.00 km2 area in Chalakudy Taluk, Thrissur district in Kerala, India. It is located 60 km from Thrissur city, 70 km northeast of Kochi city, 55 km northeast of Cochin International Airport, and 30 km from Chalakudy town.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Athirappilly Falls</span> Waterfall in Athirapilly, India

Athirapilly Falls, is situated in Athirapilly Panchayat in Chalakudy Taluk of Thrissur District in Kerala, India on the Chalakudy River, which originates from the upper reaches of the Western Ghats at the entrance to the Sholayar ranges. It is the largest waterfall in Kerala, which stands tall at 81.5 feet. Just a short drive from Athirapilly to the Vazhachal falls, which is close to dense green forests that are home to many endangered and endemic species of flora and fauna.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Aliyar Reservoir</span> Reservoir in Tamil Nadu, India

Aliyar ( Reservoir is a 6.48 km2 reservoir located in Aliyar village near Pollachi town in Coimbatore District, Tamil Nadu, South India. The dam is located in the foothills of Valparai, in the Anaimalai Hills of the Western Ghats. It is about 65 kilometres from Coimbatore. The dam offers some ideal getaways including a park, garden, aquarium, play area and a mini Theme-Park maintained by Tamil Nadu Fisheries Corporation for visitors enjoyment. The scenery is beautiful, with mountains surrounding three quarters of the reservoir. Boating is also available.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Monkey Falls</span> Waterfall in Upper Aliyar, Tamil Nadu

Monkey Falls are natural waterfalls located near the uphill ghat road Valparai on the Pollachi-Valparai road in the Anaimalai Hills range, in Coimbatore district.

Solaiyar Dam Dam in Tamil Nadu, India

Upper Solaiyar or Upper Sholayar Dam is located 20 km (12 mi) from Valparai, a hill station in the Anaimalai Hills of the Coimbatore district, Tamil Nadu India. As it is a part of the hydroelectric project of Tamil Nadu, special permission is required to visit the dam.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sholayar Dam</span> Dam in Malakkappara, Thrissur India

Sholayar Dam is a concrete dam built across the Chalakkudi River in Malakkappara in Thrissur district, Kerala of India. The dam consists of main Sholayar Dam, Sholayar Flanking and Sholayar Saddle Dam. It also contains Sholayar Hydro Electric Power Project of KSEB who owns the dam. Total installed capacity of the project is 54MW with 3 penstock pipes. The maximum storage capacity is 2663 feet. Sholayar is 65 km from Chalakudy town. The dam above Sholayar dam was Upper Solaiyar Dam owned by Tamil Nadu.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Potta</span>

Potta is a tiny village 30 miles north of Kochi, also known as Cochin. It comes under the municipality of Chalakudy in the Thrissur district in the state of Kerala, India. Potta was the temple land under the Irinjalakuda Koodalmanikyam Temple. In the past, the crops needed for the temple were cultivated at Potta. The Pambambot temple is very famous, other two temples in Potta are the Parakottilinkal Bhagavathi Temple and the Mathilthkavu Bhagavathi Temple. Cherupushpam Shrine, a Christian church, is famous. There are educational institutions like Panampilly Memorial Government College, Vyasa Vidyaniketan Central School, Kuriakos Chavara UP School and Dhanya Mission Hospital.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Malakkappara</span> Hill station in Kerala, India

Malakkappara or Malakhappara is a small hill station in in Thrissur district of the state of Kerala, India. This place is situated on the border between Kerala and Tamil Nadu.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Charpa Falls</span> Waterfall in Kerala, India

Charpa Falls is a waterfall located in Athirappilly panchayath in Thrissur district of Kerala. Located on the west-flowing Chalakudy River, this waterfall lies in between the more famous Athirappilly Falls and Vazhachal Falls. It is a popular stopover for tourists who are visiting the Athirappilly and Vazhachal Falls. It is located close to the road, and during monsoon months, the water splashes onto the road. During the dry season, the water stops flowing.

Pattathippara Falls is a cascade waterfall located in Pananchery Grama Panchayat in Thrissur district of Kerala, India. The entry into waterfalls area is blocked since it is inside the reserve forest. Unauthorized entry will attract imprisonment 1 to 5 years and up to ₹5000 as fine. The waterfall is three-tiered but appears in rainy seasons as a single fall.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">State Highway 78 (Tamil Nadu)</span> Road in Tamil Nadu, India

State Highway 78 or Valparai-Pollachi Road is a State Highway in Tamil Nadu, India that starts from Valparai and ends at the Pollachi. The 64-kilometre (40 mi) highway is often described by many as one of the best scenic routes in South India. There are 42 hairpin bends on this road. Monkey waterfalls and Aliyar waterfalls are located on this route. It connects with Valparai-Chalakudy road, another scenic route in South India.

References

  1. "Kerala PWD - State Highways". Kerala State Public Works Department. Retrieved 26 February 2010.
  2. "Drive along one of India's most beautiful forest road". OnManorama. Retrieved 16 July 2023.
  3. "Take a one-day bus ride on the serene Chalakudy-Malakkappara route for just Rs 204!". www.onmanorama.com. Retrieved 16 July 2023.
  4. "Misty vignettes of a virgin land". www.telegraphindia.com. Retrieved 16 July 2023.