Sundarapandiapuram sunflower season flooding Instagram: Best spots, route, tickets and timing

Dreamy drone shots of golden sunflower fields, shot in Tamil Nadu's rustic Sundarapandiapuram, have been painting Instagram yellow lately. The floral season of the year has just begun in the region and is expected to last till the first week of September, when Kerala celebrates Onam.
The village, which has been featured in many hit movies, including 'Roja' and 'Anniyan', boasts several fields that can win over tourists. If the social media posts are tempting you already to hop into your vehicle and chase the blooms, read this before you set off. Social media influencer and photographer Abdul Razak, who recently visited Sundarapandiapuram, shares his insights and a few pointers. 

What to see?
Sundarapandiapuram has quite a few spots with sunflower fields that are 500 to 600 metres apart, says Abdul Razak. "Last year, I had visited the place named Sambavarvatakarai here and shot sunflowers extensively. This year, too, I visited this spot first. However, the flowers have just started to bloom there. So, we headed to the other spots near the area named Anniyanpara. This is where the hit movie 'Aninyan' was shot many years ago," he explains. This region currently has around 50 cents of sunflower cultivation. "But, in a few weeks, more plants will bloom here."

Ticket charges
While the sunflower fields have no formal ticketing system, owners of the field can charge a small fee, Razak says. "We two were charged ₹50. After that, we were free to roam around the field, its narrow lanes and corners to shoot, stroll and enjoy the flowers," he says.  

Other spots to check out
Anniyanpara is a rocky landscape renowned for its rock art, featuring sketches of Rajinikanth and Sivaji Ganesan. The song 'Rantakka Rantakka' from 'Anniyan' was shot here. "Even now, you can see the fading sketches quite well. And it's very refreshingly windy here," Razak says. 

How to go
The route via Punalur and Thenmala to reach Thenkasi seems to be the one recommended by many tourists on social media. Razak explains, "I hail from Thathampally in Alappuzha. We drove to Changanasseri and took the Chengannur-Adoor-Punalur-Thenmala-Thenkasi-Sundarapandiapuram route."
Following the directions on Google Maps, you will end up in Sundarapandiapuram bus stand, he says. "From there, give 'Anniyanpara' as the location. As you move ahead, you will come across a lake and the board 'sunflowers' adjacent to it. Head downhill from there to reach the fields," Razak says. 

Food and other facilities
There are a few old-world Tamil-style small shops that sell fruits in the area. According to Razak, it's better to either pack food or have it from restaurants at Punalur. "At Sambavarvadakarai, there is an Indian Oil petrol pump with a clean bathroom facility," he says.  

Best time to visit
The flowers are at their sturdy best during early mornings and evenings, says Razak. "From about 6 am to 8 am, and 4.30 pm to 6.30 pm, the flowers are the most upright. At other times, they gradually droop as it's very hot. We visited in the evening, a slight drizzle added to the calm, pleasant aura of Sundarapandiapuram," says Razak.