Alapra
Alapra is a hamlet village in southeast corner of Kottayam district with a distance of 45 km from Kottayam town. The location is near to Manimala junction and Erumeli, a Hindu pilgrim destination. The distance is 5 km from Manimala junction and 10 km from Erumeli. Small streams, stunning cascades, serene forests and small rock hills are in Alapra’s pride possession.
The Thacharickal Bhagawati temple here has an exclusive right to claim that it is the only temple in Kottayam district where Padayani is performed.
Pothanpuzha Forest spanned in 2500 acres in both Kottayam and Pathanamthitta districts is in the vicinity of Alapra. The forest is the peaceful abode of wild boar, deer, pythons and other small creatures and other animals. As if to quell the thirst of these creatures there are twenty small streams in the forest.
Charming small cascades are yet another attraction in the forest. Sankupathalam waterfalls, just 4 km from Alapra, is the biggest one. The Kalluvapuzha waterfall ranks second to Sankupathalm Fall.
Inside the forest there is a big rock known as Oottupura. Oottupura is 3 km away from the temple. The distance is only trek worth. Once Lord Rama had visited this rock during his exile and arranged a feast for saints. The rock attained the pet name Oottupura, meaning dining shelter, thereafter. The rock is a fine spot to view around the beauty of nature.
Caves, Muniyaras (shelter of saints) and Kallaras (burial place of saints) can be spotted at many places in the forest.
Manimala River flowing from the hills of Kottayam-Idukki high ranges passes through the forest down to join with Pampa River. Oottupura is the choicest spot to view the scintillating river dancing down through rocks.
Villages in Kottayam District
- Alapra
- Ayamkudy
- Bharananganam
- Changanassery
- Chempu
- Erattupetta
- Eravinalloor
- Ettumanoor
- Ithipuzha
- Kadathuruthy
- Kaipuzha
- Kallara
- Kangazha
- Karukachal
- Kidangoor
- Koorapada
- Koottickal
- Kothanalloor
- Kudamaloor
- Kummanam
- Manarkadu
- Monipally
- Moscow
- Paika
- Pallom
- Puthupally
- Ramapuram
- Teekoy
- Thalayolaprambu
- Vandanpathal
- Vennimala
