As any seasoned tourist will agree, human interference can dilute the beauty of the
nature. Nature’s grandeur can be best experienced in its raw, virgin state. As man
sets his greedy eyes into it, it becomes less natural and hence less enjoyable. Many
popular tourist centers suffer from this type of human invasion. So for the tourists, need
of the hour is unexplored places, where natural settings are suitable for unlimited fun
and adventure. In short, a place like Vayuvanthol.
Vayuvanthol is a natural waterfall in the southern part Kerala. It is situated at the
acknowledged home of natural waterfalls- Western Ghats. Western Ghats is famous for its
calmness and serenity for ages. It was in Agasthyarkudam, one of the peaks of Western
Ghats, that famous Ayurveda rishi Agasthya muni used to do his meditation. Vayuvanthol
waterfalls is the meeting point of two rivers falling down to the bottom of the Ghats. Its
vigorous flow amidst the rocks is quite breathtaking. Water falling area at the bottom of
the Ghat is like a lake and ice-cooled water in it is pure and rich in minerals.
Vayuvanthol is in the State reserve forest area in Vithura at Nedumangadu Thaluk, which is
30 km away from the state capital Thiruvananthapuram. Permission from the forest
department should be obtained for visiting this place. It will take just an hour to reach
Vithura by bus from the central bus station at Thiruvananthapuram. And a one and half hour
adventurous walk from Vithura takes you to the quarreling waterfalls of Vayuvanthol.
Apart from the extravagant charm of the nature, Vayuvanthol also offers a unique sort of
shopping. A well-known Adivasi (tribal) market, which is popularly known as Anthichantha
(evening market), functions at Vithura. Tribals in the area go to forest and collect
edible fruits, honey etc from there. In the evening these things are sold in the market. A
number of people from various parts of the state came to the market to buy the precious
medicinal items from the market.
All the glittering natural charm of Vayuvanthol also reveals a dark aspect about the
state. It is the indifferent attitude of the State tourism department towards such small,
but beautiful places. The fact is that the tourism department, who are spending a lot of
money for conducting foreign trips to promote tourism in the state, failed to tap the
potential of Vayuvanthol – a place literally under the nose of its headquarters. For
converting Vayuvanthol into a full-fledged tourism attraction, the tourism department
should concentrate on the development of the place hand in hand with those private
agencies, which promote Eco-tourism.
