Kakkayam’s tourism potential untapped

Kozhikode: Located in the ever-green forest belt of north Kozhikode with breathtaking waterfalls, a beautiful valley and  a wide variety of flora and fauna, Kakkayam could  become one of the hottest tourism destinations  in the district.  But the tourism department has not provided even  basic facilities to tourists who come here for trekking and rock climbing. It had set up some toilets in the area,  but they remain ill-maintained.  

“The Kakkayam valley, Urakuzhy water falls, hanging bridge and the  stunning landscape offer  huge potential for adventure tourism. The control of this area is vested with the KSEB, irrigation and forest departments and they have not agreed on developing  this area,”  Mr Vincent George, a local resident, said.

The forest protection force provides tourist guides, but their number is adequate. They are paid Rs 200 per day, but  they have to spend over Rs 300 to reach  the  tourist destinations as they live in the valley, they say. 

They often hitch a ride with the tourists from the valley itself. Despite the shortcomings, there are a number of domestic tourists who visit Kakkayam.

District Tourism Promotion Council secretary P. G. Rajeev said efforts were on to persuade the three departments to  develop the  area as a tourism spot. “We have some projects in the pipeline which will be commissioned soon,” he said.