Kottayam's Kollad: A less-crowded water lily haven of Kerala

The scintillating countryside of Kollad, just five kilometres from Kottayam Town, has been waking up to the dreamy views of paddy fields adorned in an enchanting pink hue for the past few weeks. The water lilies at the Kizhakkupuram paddy fields have been luring tourists from across the state to this quaint hamlet. The water lilies of Kollad had become quite a sensation on social media last year, too. The vast swathes of fields covered in freshwater lilies offer mesmerising frames for photographers. While Malarikkal in Kottayam was the first to shoot to fame for water lily fields, Kollad gained fame just last year. If you find Malarikkal too crowded, just head to Kollad and enjoy the flowers here at peace. 

How to reach?
From Kottayam, reach the boat jetty junction on the Kanjikuzhi – Kollad Road. Take a left and reach Kollan Junction, and from here turn left again to Thrikkel temple via the panchayat road. The water lily fields are close to the temple. Hundreds of people had come here last year to capture beautiful photos and spend precious moments with their loved ones.

Residents have been urging the authorities to develop infrastructure and arrange basic facilities to attract more tourists to the area. The farmers and their families are thrilled to welcome the visitors and show them around their delightful village.

The season
The fields would be filled with water in May and June. The water lily rhizomes that have been hidden beneath the mud would then sprout and spread their velvety leaves on the surface of the water. Water lilies bloom in all their glory in July, August and September, while it would begin to wither away by October. The farmers would start to till the fields in October, readying the land for the next season of paddy cultivation. Although the flowers and the leaves would be destroyed when the fields are tilled, nature would safely hide the seeds in the mud, saving them for next year.

A fully bloomed water lily wouldn’t wither its petals; instead, it would slowly bend the stem and fall into the water. The black outer coating separates from the rhizome and becomes buried in the mud. The flower has three layers of petals. The water lily stem isn’t as sturdy as the lotus. The stem, which is bluish green in colour, is around three metres long. Meanwhile, the flowers rise almost a foot above the water level.

Note
1) The best time to visit the water lily fields is between 6.30 am and 7.30 am. The flowers would begin to bend when the sun is up.
2) There aren’t many shops in the village area, so the visitors must carry water and snacks.
3) Do not dump plastic and other waste here
4) Call Anil +91 98475 95943 to enjoy boat rides in the water lily fields.