Vattakottai Fort - West coast treasure; chapter 01.

Travellers: Edwin (me), Sunil (brother)

Target destination: Vattakottai fort

Mode: Biking

Time duration: One day.

Trip Date: 02.12.2018

Route: Karungal – Colachel – Manavalakurichi- Rajakkamagalam thurai – Manakudy- Kanyakumari – Vattakottai Fort

Since my last post was about "Chembra Peak- Trek to chase the misty clouds" on 25.sep.2016 and 2017 is the year which had a lot of twists and turns in my personal and professional life. In my professional life, I am enough and able to fight to be in a sustaining mode that I have resigned from my old institution and joined in a new reputed institution in Chennai. This incident swept my planned events on 2017 and I’d make one and the only trip in 2017 that too not interesting for the blog as it was a usual place (Thekkady). The other reason why I can't make blogging frequent and not in a consistent manner was I couldn't manage to balance the routine works of my professional life and blogging.

Now I was on the verge of a traveller’s mode to explore the destination which is less crowded and to explode my experience to this digital world through my travelogue and it will be in a regular interval. From this note, I'm signing in my 10th travelogue " Vattakottai Fort - West coast treasure; chapter 01”.

I had my winter vacation for a span of seven days from 01.12.2018 to 07.12.2018. Usually, my vacations will be fulfilled only by one thing, my native (a small village near karungal in Kanyakumari district). I have reached my native on 01.12.2018 in the morning. On the next day, my brother initiated the plan of venturing Vattakotai fort which is near Kanyakumari. Straightaway agreed and I’ve added some flavours to the plan.

The actual plan what I’ve suggested was to neglect the usual route which touches the Nagercoil rather than we could reach vattakotai fort from west coast road which touches some of the coastal villages and we could also explore some lesser known pristine beaches of Arabian sea. 

We also had the intent to watch the skyline appearance during sunset in Kanyakumari, so we opt to reach Vattakotai in the evening.  After finishing our lunch we started our travel at around 1.30 pm. The plan of starting our journey in the early post meridian was to relish the texture of sunset in Eventide. 

After reaching Karungal We just proceeded towards Colachel which is a busy coastal municipality in Kanyakumari.  When you are entering colachel from karungal you will meet Gandhi junction, the left road injunction is Monday market- colachel road which takes you to Monday market and the straight road is state highway 46.  You have to take SH 46 in that junction with little ahead while taking a left turn in SH 46 and after 2 Km you will reach old colachel harbour bridge. 

Colachel has the significant importance in Dutch invasion in early periods. The main beachside attraction is old colachel harbour bridge, The municipality has made a lot of amenities for the tourist. One can walk on the old harbour bridge up to safety limit provided by the official's further entry till the end of the bridge is restricted. If you are a person who loves to watch the nature of sea from shore, you can sit on the stone blocks erected to prevent the erosion.

           After spending some time, we moved further on the SH 46 towards mandaikadu. When you’re travelling from colachel to mandaikadu in SH 46, it will be a scenic route for travellers. The facts which will make the bike ride an awesome feel in this route could be Anantha Victoria Marthanda Varma (AVM) canal on the right, the canopy of coconut trees along the roadside on the left and far glimpse of the Arabian Sea.  Due to this fact, the stretch of 6 km from colachel old harbour bridge to mandaikadu will be an antidote for bikers. 

AVM canal was constructed by Marthanda Varma Maharaja of Travancore kingdom in the past. Marthanda Varma had an esteemed idea and scheme to connect Thiruvananthapuram and Kanyakumari through inland waterways. During his ruling period, the canal had been constructed from Poovar(Kerala) to colachel and from colachel to mandaikadu.  The beauty of AVM canal still remains in part from colachel to mandaikadu. Mostly the canal has been destroyed by the encroachments and some domestic effluents. The coastal villages of Kanyakumari are still requesting the government to renovate the AVM canal. I have made justice to capture the hidden elegant beauty of the remains of modern AVM canal which stretches in SH 46.

You can also visit the famous Mandaikadu Bhagavathi Amman temple on the way. While approaching further you will reach Manavalakurichi and exactly after 12 km you will see the 4 roads junction. the straight road in SH 46 will reach you to Kottar and left and the right route is the Rajakamangalam- eraniel road. We have to take the right which leads you to Azhathankarai Uppalam (Salt Lake). This lake could be the bird watchers paradise to spot ‘n’ number of species. Marshy land at the end of the lake is also filled with ecological importance, due to this reason Manonmaniam Sundaranar University had established Center for Marine Science and Technology to carry out research activities.  While proceeding further you can witness the beauty of Azhathankarai-Rajakkamangalam Estuary from the bridge. Sand dunes will be clearly visible from the bridge. If you want to enjoy the real ecological happiness of Rajakamangalam thurai it will host a separate chapter. As we are nearing the evening time and Vattakotai fort awaits us near Kanyakumari, we skipped exploring the beach side near the estuary. 

 Two more destinations on our way to Vattakotai Fort will be continued
Read-Vattakottai Fort - west coast treasure; chapter 02 

Feel Free to Comment with your thoughts.......

Subscribe for more updates…….