Tourist Places in Anchal

Anchal is a town located in the Kollam district of Kerala in India. It is one of the most beautiful towns in India and consists of specialties from various towns and districts. As per 2011 records, Anchal had a total population of around 33,098, out of which 15,732 were males and 17,356 were females. The town of Anchal is very good at literacy rates; the total literacy rate is 95%. Among the total population of 33,098, 11,960 is the employed population, in which 71% of males are employed, and 29% of females are employed. The origins of the city's name vary. The most popular among these is regarding the banyan tree. There are five Banyan trees located in the town, which emerges as Anchal; 'Anch' means five, and 'Aal' means Banyan tree. However, there are some other reasons behind the origin of the town's name.

Anchal is located in the south region of Kerala; the town is as beautiful as the whole of Kerala. Though it is less famous than other cities of Anchal for tourism, it still attracts tourists because of the natural beauty spots. It is also famous because of numerous ancient temples which are built with amazing architecture. Anchal has not only temples but also many mosques and churches. So, let us now explore the best tourist places in Anchal:

1. Old Ganapathy Temple

As the name suggests, the old Ganapathy temple is for the worshiping lord Ganapathy. It is called 'old' because this temple is one of the oldest and most auspicious temples in India. Fortunately, the temple is located in Anchal town of Kollam district and is an attraction point for pilgrims. Anchal is very popular because it is located near Pandalam town, the starting point of the Sabarimala Pilgrimage trip. The temple was given a facelift through renovation in 2009 and was given a modern look by the temple authorities. The temple is an attraction point for the ones who worship Ganesha. The temples of lord Ganesha are very rare in Kerala, and because of this, Anchal has become popular.

2. Panayamcherry Ayyappa Temple

The deity who is worshiped in Panayamcherry Ayyappa temple is lord Ayappa. The temple is situated in Panayamcherry village, near Anchal town, which is part of the Kollam district of Kerala. The village is very close to the town of Anchal, which is why Anchal is well connected with the nearest temples, including Panayamcherry Ayyappa temple.

3. Maha Ganapathy Temple

Maha Ganapathy temple is another famous temple in Anchal, which is famous for the place of worship of lord Ganesha. Maha Ganapathy temple is also the oldest and most famous in this region, just like other ancient temples. The beliefs of Hindus are connected so strongly to the temples. Devotees believe that if they worship at the temple with true heart and full devotion then God fulfills their wishes. Thus, this temple proves to be very promising for the people who worship Lord Ganesha.

4. Sreekrishna Swamy Temple

It is very clear from the name that the temple's main deity is lord Krishna. The temple is situated near the town Anchal in Alamcode; the temple describes the beauty of architecture and explains the culture of Kerala very well. The architecture of the temple is blended with Dravidian temple culture.

5. Agasthyacodu Sri Mahadeva Temple

Agasthyacodu Sri Mahadeva Temple is also located near the town of Anchal, in a village named Agasthiyakodu, in the deep forest region. It is one of the most ancient temples of Kerala, situated in hilly areas. The path to reach the temple is very adventurous as the visitors must cross the whole forest to visit the temple, so the tourists take the villagers' guidance to reach the temple. The temple's main deity is lord Shiva. This temple is very famous because it is ancient and this is one of the reasons which attracts tourists.

6. Kalari Devi Temple

The temple is situated in Kalari village, which is part of Anchal town. Just like other temples located in the Anchal region, this temple is also very famous because it is very ancient. The goddess of the temple is regarded as the Shakthi - Peetham; it is described in the Ancient texts of the Hindu religion.

7. Sree Ayiravilli Temple, Thazhamel

The temple is located in the town of Anchal near Santhi Nagar residential Area. This temple is one of the most visited temples of Anchal town because it is not located inside any village. This is why it is convenient for the tourist to visit the temple easily.

8. Jatayu's Earth Point Center

Jatayu's Earth Point Center is also known as Jatayu Nature Park and Jatayu Rock. It is a park located in Chadayamangalam in Kollam; the location of Jatayu Nature Park is exactly not in Anchal, but it is close to Anchal. The place consists of a park and a tourism center. Jatayu Nature Park is another most visited place in Kollam District. It is about 350m or 1200ft above sea level; it is the world's largest bird sculpture. The park covers an area of around 65 acres, and Rajiv Anchal was the one who sculpted the statue. After the completion of construction work, it was opened for visitors on 17th August 2018. Although this park is about 46 km away from the capital of Kerala, yet it is the most favorite place for tourists.

As we discussed, the park is in Chadayamangalam town, which is also known as Jatayumangalam. Thus, the park originated from the name of the town where it is situated. According to the Hindu epic, Jatayu was the form of a god who supported lord Rama. Jatayu tried to rescue goddess Sita from being abducted by Ravana. Hence, the statue of Jatayu represents the symbol of bravery. The main theme behind the statue is a mythological story that symbolizes the protection of the women of the world from demons, and which establishes a moral principle for us that their safety and respect should be our priority.

9. Pinnacle View Point

Pinnacle Viewpoint is a small hill station where visitors can experience a beautiful and misty morning, just like people often experience in Munnar. The best time to visit Pinnacle Viewpoint is from 5:30 AM to 6 AM and 3 PM to 6 PM. The visitors should reach early to the place early to have a glimpse of the sunrise, which is extremely amazing for the ones who love hill stations. The hill station is located around 10km from Punalur and 45km from Kollam city.

10. Punalur Suspension Bridge

Punalur Suspension Bridge is a historical attraction for visitors in Kerala. This bridge was built in the 19th century in Kerala. It is a motor-operated Bridge that was built by the Travancore government. It attracts visitors the most because of its outstanding construction and ambiance. The main purpose of the bridge's construction was to prevent wild animals from reaching the town by crossing the forest in old Kattupathanapuram. The bridge is about 400 feet long and built with stone, wood, and steel. It was initially constructed in 1877 and rebuilt in 2013. Tourists often visit the bridge to see the old architecture and design. Hence, apart from temples, the suspension bridge is also an attraction point for tourists.

Transport Availability to Reach Anchal

Different easy modes of transport are available to reach the town, Anchal, as it is part of the Kollam district of Kerala, which has the second largest railway station in Kerala. Kollam junction is one of India's oldest junctions and is popular because it is large and connects several stations. There are two railway stations in Kerala that are appropriate to reach Anchal. The first is Kollam Junction, and the second is Punalur Railway Station; these are 14km and 38km away, respectively. Punalur Railway Station connects Kollam, Palakkad, Nagercoil, Ernakulam, Thrissur, Kottayam, Thiruvananthapuram, Tirunelveli, and Madurai. Punalur railway station is only 11km apart from Anchal. Hence, the railway transport facilities are best to reach Anchal.

Apart from railways, airways are also available. The nearest airport to reach Anchal is Trivandrum International Airport which is located 55 km away from Anchal. Trivandrum Airport is located in Thiruvananthapuram. This airport serves national flights as it is the main airport of Kerala which serves national and international flights. Besides Airways and railways, roadways are also available, and multiple buses run from one city to another and connect different provisions of Kerala. Best bus services are available to reach Anchal because Anchal is between the main central road and National Highway 744, and hilly highways also pass through Anchal. Hence, one would not find any transportation problems to reach Anchal as all kinds of transport are available.