Emerging spots: Idukki’s Ayyappancoil suspension bridge is a marvellous sight in monsoon season

There is something romantic about checking out Kerala’s beauty from atop a bridge. Regardless of the seasons, some of our decades-old bridges offer enchanting visual spectacles to visitors, urging them to spend more time enjoying the sight. Idukki’s Ayyappancoil suspension bridge, which is just over 13 years old, is one of the longest in the state and has become an emerging ‘Instagrammable’ spot. While it was built for vehicular movement, many now visit the 200-metre bridge to capture its beauty and spend their holidays enjoying its majestic appeal.

Just a few kilometres from the nearby Ayyappancoil Temple, the bridge connects two panchayats - Ayyappancoil and Kanchiyar. It stands at the confluence of three rivers – Periyar, Kattappanayar and Mullaperiyar, before they flow into the Idukki Dam. This is also the same dam near the foot of which the iconic Communist leader AKG staged a protest during the legendary Ayyappancoil agitation.

What to see
Forest trails, remnants of old settlements and bamboo groves surround the bridge. You also get to see boats ferrying local people, wildflowers in their glory, serene mountain ranges and a bird's-eye view of the area’s verdant beauty. In summer, when water recedes, stony riverbeds reveal themselves, narrow trails through paddy fields become visible, and the area’s green cover is blanketed by mist. Monsoon fills the area in the blue hues of the water and gives the bridge its most glamorous avatar.

By November, water levels rise dramatically, flooding nearby lowlands. At that point, the bridge is the only means of access to the opposite shore. The ancient Ayyappancoil causeway and other areas would lie submerged in water.

Attractions nearby
The centuries-old Sree Dharma Sastha Temple, located on the banks of the Periyar, is just 200 meters off the main path, accessible by a short trek or boat. Many pilgrims visit here for the Karkidaka Vavu rituals and the Sivaratri ceremonies. The renowned Pareppalli Catholic Church is also nearby.

Within an hour’s drive from Ayyappancoil, tourists can also check out Vagamon, Palaozhukappara, Anchuruli, Kalyanathandu, Calvary Mount, Idukki Dam, Thekkady, Parunthumpara, and Ramakkalmedu. The region also offers a wide range of homestay options along the riverside—accommodations that cater from small groups of 10 to auditoriums that can host up to 200 people.

How to reach
The bridge is just 2 kilometres from Mattukatta on the Kattappana–Kuttikkanam stretch of the under-construction Hill Highway. One can also reach via the forest path from Moolamattom – Swaraj and Murikkattukudi.