Illickal Kallu perfect for monsoon tourism, just don't be on 'Manjummel Boys' mode

The majestic Illickal Kallu in Kerala's Kottayam district, located on the hill named Illickal Mala, is a must-see spot during the monsoon season. It gives an unparalleled aerial view of the surroundings, through mists and cloud beds that will glide past you. Even in other seasons, the weather here is quite misty and cool. Situated around 6,000 feet above sea level, on clear days, it even shows you the Arabian Sea as a thin blue line. 

However, a few tourists visiting here are often in the 'Manjummel Boys' irresponsible mode. Recently, a video of two youngsters scaling the steep rock at Illickal Kallu shocked everyone, and it's even drawing strong reactions from netizens on social media. It is often mindless adventures like this that end up in disasters, spoiling the experience even for responsible tourists. The number of visitors to Illickal Kallu, a prominent tourist destination in the district, has increased since the road leading to the back of the monolith was recently tarred. 

Certain tourists get adventurous and scale the steep rock without considering the lurking danger. They indulge in such mindless activities just to film reels or make videos as they cross the ‘hell bridge’ on the summit. The video that came out was from an incident that happened a week ago. The young men in the video have reportedly scaled Koonankallu on the back side of Illickal Kallu. Koonankallu, a 30-foot-tall rock formation, features one giant rock stacked atop another. The rock may get slippery during the monsoon, and one misstep could throw a climber into the deep gorge. In the video, the youngsters are seen struggling to climb down the rock. Meanwhile, a man was injured after slipping and falling near Koonankallu the other day. 

Points to note while visiting Illickal Kallu
• Illickal Kallu is known for its spectacular natural beauty; however, unnecessary adventure may invite danger. 
• There are restrictions on trekking from the front side of Illickal Kallu. But lots of people trek through the backside via Kalakoodu, where there are no restrictions. 
• The rocks get slippery during the monsoon, increasing the risk of accidents. The speedy winds, too, may pose danger. 

• Visibility may be poor when the mountain gets covered in thick mist. 
• The risk of getting struck by lightning is quite high. So, it would be wise to plan your trip according to the rain and lightning alerts issued by the authorities. 

Drive carefully
The roads to Illickal Kallu and Elaveezhapoonchira are perfectly maintained and offer incredible views of the misty mountains. However, these roads have too many steep slopes and sharp curves that could cause accidents. The same gear used to climb uphill should be used to climb downhill. Vehicles have overturned here due to a failed braking system after the brake drum heats up. Besides, speeding is a major cause of accidents in this region. Roads getting wet and slippery, and stone deposits caused by heavy water flow during the monsoon, may also cause accidents. 

Asha Riju, the panchayat President of Thalanad, where Illickal Kallu is located, says, “Lots of people reach the backside of Illickal Kallu through Kalakoodu, where there are no restrictions. People are often spotted here even at night. The authorities will consider imposing restrictions on entry via Thalanad Chonamala."