Bhoothathankettu COCHIN set amidst lush greens and the flowing waters of river Periyar

There is a dam here and in the reservoir boating facilities are provided. The Forest Department provides elephant rides through the forest to old Bhoothankettu, which is very interesting.

Bhoothathan Kettu is near Kothamangalam about 60 Kilometrs from Kochi.
Thattekad which is 20kms from Koithamangalam is the home for the bird sanctuary where we can find some of the rare species of birds. Exotic birds flock in the sanctuary and make this place a heaven for any ornithologist.
Tours To Bhoothathankettu is located 50 km north east of Ernakulam town, Kerala, India. Bhoothathankettu is situated amidst the lap of Mother Nature. The land is covered with forests which are home to migratory birds from around the world. There are lakes, mountains and the river Periyar which flows from Kerala Bhoothathankettu Tours. It is heaven to nature lovers. Tourists can take a trip on the houseboat cruising on the freshwater or can take a speedboat, people can go trekking , rock climbing, fishing, swimming, and the options are endless for the nature lovers. On the banks of Periyar one can find large stretch of forests with occasional glimpse of habitation in between palm trees and rubber trees. The Periyar flows almost in a straight path between the Thattekad bird sanctuary and Chelamalai, the seat of the Chera Empire. The dam in Bhoothathankettu adds to the beauty of the place.
Two of the main irrigation projects of Ernakulam district - the Periyar Valley Irrigation Project and the Idamalayar Irrigation Project - are also located nearby.
THERE'S AN INTERESTING TALE BEHIND THE NAMING OF BHUTHATHANKETTU DAM. THE STORY GOES THAT AGES AGO DEMONS PLANNED TO DROWN THE TRIKKARIYOOR TEMPLE, WHOSE PRESIDING DEITY IS LORD SHIVA. THE PLAN WAS TO DAM RIVER PERIYAR AND FLOOD THE AREA WITH ITS WATER. LORD SHIVA CAME UP WITH AN ALTERNATE PLAN TO FOIL THEIR PLOT. HE IMITATED THE SOUND OF A ROOSTER, LIKE IT SEEMS AT THE CRACK OF DAWN. WITH THIS, IT APPEARED THAT DAWN WAS APPROACHING BY. FEARING THE ARRIVAL OF LIGHT, THE DEMONS RAN AWAY, LEAVING THEIR TASK ONLY HALF DONE. IT IS BELIEVED THAT EVEN TODAY, THERE IS PROOF OF THE DEMON'S HALF COMPLETED WORK. THIS PROOF COMPRISES OF THE HUGE BOULDERS THE DEMONS WERE SUPPOSED TO HAVE ROLLED DOWN ONTO THE RIVERBED, THE OLD BHOOTHATHAN KETTU. PERIYAR RIVER FLOWS THROUGH THE NARROW SPACE, WHICH THE DEMONS DID NOT QUITE MANAGE TO DAM UP. HENCE, THE NAME IS BHOOTHATHANKETTU, MEANING 'FORT OF THE SPIRITS'. ONCE YOU'VE ARRIVED AT BHOOTHATHANKETTU, THERE ARE VARIOUS ACTIVITIES YOU CAN INDULGE IN. AN UPRIVER HOUSEBOAT TRIP CAN ACCOMMODATE UPTO 20 PEOPLE EASILY. YOU CAN ALSO OPT FOR A RIDE ON A SPEEDBOAT, A TOUR OF THE JUNGLE, ROCK CLIMBING AND FISHING. THIS NATURAL TOPOGRAPHY WAS MUCH HELPFUL IN THE BUILDING OF THE DAM
The Bhoothathan Kettu is famous for its Dam and the virigin forest suitable for trekking and elephant rides.
The dam site offers sceneic beauty of Kerala's virigin forest. There is boating facilities available at the dam reservoir. The Elephant rides available and the Trekking through the forest to old Bhoothankettu is the majour attraction here.
Elephant rides are facilitated by the Kerala State Forest Department. People who visit Bhoothankettu can also visit the nearby Thattekkadu Bird Sanctuary. Overall Bhoothan Kettu is an ideal spot for picinic, adventure trekking, boating and elephant rides
'Bhoothathan Kettu' is a good picnic spot. There is a dam here and in the reservoir one can go for boating too. The legend says that the dam was built by a "Bhootham" using the rocks, which is the ample proof for the name. Trekking through the forest to the old Bhoothathan Kettu is very interesting. The forest offers a wide variety of flora and fauna and is a botanist delight.


Bhoothathankettu derives its name from a legend in which bhootham (ghost) tried to submerge the Thrikariyoor temple of Lord Shiva by creating a dam on Periyar but Shiva suspecting trickery, came up with a plan to frighten them. He made it appear that dawn was approaching by making a sound like the crowing of the rooster . The demons fearing the arrival of light fled leaving their task incomplete. Large boulders can be found to this day therefore the name Bhoothathankettu means Forts of the Spirits .