PERIYAR RIVER originates from the lap of the mountain ranges of weternghats.

All along its refreshing currents are the lush vegetations with palm-fringed villages and fields of enchanting scenic beauty and bio diversity.

Many plantation destinations have developed and thrived on the banks of this gifted river over the last two centuries.

Kothamangalam

The town perched on the banks of river periyar surrounded by forested mountains and at the midlands contoured with intermittent plantations and crisscrossed with canals and winding roads is one of the oldest plantation settlements in the erstwhile Travancore state.

The earliest rubber enthusiasts of the periyar syndicate experimented the first seedlings of rubber in 1900 at Thattekad, now covered under the old munnar road.

Historically important temples, mosques and churches are seen co existing here in harmony with hard working people today transforming kothamangalam into a community holding flourishing rubber, pepper, coconut and various spice plantations.

This is believed to be the capital of one of the ancient Cheran dynasty.

THATTEKKADU BIRD SANTUARY
The world famous bird sanctuary named after the renowned ornithologist, DR Salim Ali.

Is situated at THATTEKADU, which is located half an hour journey along the old munnar road from kothamangalam Lying on the northern bank of the river periyar the area of the sanctuary is 25 sq km formed between the branches of river periyar.

Around 360 species of birds and 167 species of butterflies have been spotted in the park which attracted DR salim ali whose efforts are believed to be used in the formation of this sanctuary. The important birds found here include large falcon, gray jungle fowl, white breasted water hen, giant hornbill and varied species of migratory birds.

The vegetation in this area consists of tropical evergreen, semi evergreen, and moist deciduous forest and plantations of teak, rosewood. Mahogany and bamboo etc.

Further more than 28 varieties of animals including elephants; bison's and nine varieties of reptiles including king cobra have accepted this area as their natural habitat.

BHOOTHATHANKETTU is near the Thattekadu bird sanctuary, periyar valley and idamalayar irrigation project for adventure tourism of white water rafting down river periyar and forest lodging at tree houses along side the lake formed by the barrage built across river periyar and idamalayar.

Old Bhoothathankettu
Located ten km from kothamangalam and about a km deep in the forest adjoining the new barrage at bhoothathankettu the place holds the legend that the devils decided to block the siva temple at Trikariyoor by blocking the periyar river beyond the temple. It is believed that they almost blocked the water by placing large boulders across the river. They needed one larger boulder to fill the gap and sink the temple, however lord SIVA took the form of a cock and crowed. The devils mistaking it as already dawn left the place leaving the work undone [IT IS BELIEVED THAT DEVILS HAVE NO POWER DURING THE DAY] Today we can see breath taking view of large boulders across the river and a gap only through water gush down even at the heaviest of monsoons.

KODANADU
A beautiful village on the banks of periyar, one of the largest elephant training centers in south India.