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Kerala unplugged: Triprayar
Shailesh Nair
The abode of Lord Sri Rama, the untouched stretch of beach
and unexplored backwaters is how you can describe Triprayar. Strategically located,
equidistant from Guruvayoor and Kodungalloor - the other two prominent temple
towns, and 65 kms from Ernakulam on NH-17 - this wonderful location has tremendous
potential in attracting tourists. The Arabian Sea kisses the shores of Triprayar
all through the wonderful stretch.
One of the few Rama temples, this temple town draws lots
of pilgrim traffic during the Sabarimala season and during festivals. Sri Rama
temple is also the highlight in the slowly emerging domestic pilgrim season
of one month during August - September, in the "Nalambalam" circuit.
It is a popular temple tour covering four temples. The other temples being Sri
Bharathan temple at Kudalmanikkyam, Sri Laxmana Swami Temple at Thirumoozhikkulam
and Payammal Temple of Sri Shatrughnan.
Most of the activities of this area revolve around the temple.
Three kms from the temple is Nattika Beach, also known as Thalikkulam Beach,
as this wonderful stretch of beach falls in two different panchayats. This is
a virgin beach, as tourists do not frequent it, the only occasional crowd that
you see is that of the locals.
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Kadappuram Beach Resort were
the pioneers to discover the potential of this place, much before anyone
did, and have been doing good business over the past few years. Close
on the heels is Thalikulam Beach Resort, which would complete its first
stage of construction on shortly
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The temple is located on the banks of the backwaters. This
gives Triprayar an ambience similar to that of Alappuzha and Mararikulam. District
Tourism Promotion Council has initiated the effort, and now you have a houseboat
as well as a speedboat to take you through the backwater journey.
This upcoming destination is already a sellout with investors,
as close to six resorts are expected to come up at this place. Kadappuram Beach
Resort were the pioneers to discover the potential of this place, much before
anyone did, and have been doing good business over the past few years. Close
on the heels is Thalikulam Beach Resort, which would complete its first stage
of construction shortly. The next season will see lot of other properties shaping
up as well.
The long awaited destination closer to Kochi, connecting
North Kerala with South Kerala - was keeping the potential of North Kerala under
wraps. It falls on the way to Kozhikode; could this be the key missing link
in terms of connectivity in the resurrection of Malabar Tourism? Will Triprayar
give Kovalam, Varkala, Mararikulam etc a run for the money? Will it give a new
lease of life for recharging the age-old tour programmes by incorporating new
destinations like this? The stage is set for Triprayar to rise on the tourist
map. Only time will tell which course it will take.
For now if you are driving by this side - do not miss out
on the wonderful sunset by the quite seashore.
The author can be contacted on info@mystikalindia.com
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