Bhoothathankettu A Dam Built By Ghosts
Text and Pictures: By P Ravi Shankar
Nature is more like an enchantress at Bhoothathankettu with one side of the dam that lies in a dense forest the other side is habitation of coconut and rubber trees. The forest has grown to the very edge of the water, as it seems as if a part of the forest is growing on the Periyar river itself.The name Bhoothathankettu means “Ghost Dam”, and as the name suggests the place is mired in folklore relating to ghosts or “bhoothams”. Long before the present man-made dam was build to tame the flow of Periyar, Kerala’s longest perennial river, and irrigate the paddy fields of Ernakulam district, Bhoothathankettu had already earned its name from an interesting legend.At Bhoothathankettu travellers can find two dam structures – one the present man-made dam and the other one is a creation of nature and enthralled by gigantic rocks. The past generations believed that the old dam was built by “Bhootham” or Ghosts.
Legend
The story goes that ages ago, demons set out to submerge the Trikkariyoor temple, whose presiding diety is Lord Shiva, by damming the Periyar and flooding the area. But, Lord Shiva, suspecting trickery, came up with a plan to deter them. He made it appear that dawn was approaching by making a sound like the crowing of the rooster. Presuming that dawn has arrived, the demons ran off without completing their work. But there remains the visible proof of their effort - the huge stones the demons were supposed to have rolled onto the riverbed, the Old Bhothathankettu. The Periyar flows on through the narrow space which the demons did not quite manage to dam up. According to locals, the forest on either side of the Periyar was once home to a thriving civilisation. Remains of wells, walls, pieces of pottery were recovered from there and the ruins of temples, of ancient architecture, are proof of a highly developed culture that once existed on this river’s bank.
Reality
The imagination stops at this point. The real reason for the formation of old Bhoothathankettu structure remains a conjecture. There are many suppositions based upon incomplete evidence and hypothesis. One such unproven thought is attributed to two great floods – one in 4th century and the other in 1341. The massive landslides during the flood is believed to have caused gigantic rocks to roll down from the mountain and become entrenched in the Old Bhoothathankettu.If its curiosity about this place which that brings tourists here, it will be her beauty that keeps them enthralled forever. Bhoothathankettu has the potential of becoming one of the must-visit places in Kerala yet it remains virtually unknown to most tourists. This is mainly because of the lack of infrastructure, even though plans for its development seems to have acquired some direction and drive of late.
What to do at Bhoothathankettu
Once you’ve arrived at Bhoothathankettu, which is located just 8 km north-east of Kothamangalam, there are various activities that one can indulge in. Located in Ernakulam district, it contains some of the best trekking trails in the State. Trekking through the forests here is an exhilarating experience. The shrill chatter of unknown birds and black monkeys, from the teak trees bordering the forest pathways welcome the adventurous travellers. Since the rocks are not slippery, trekking through the forest is relatively safe. The feel of the chilled water that lies in the rock pits and the wild breeze laden with scent of forest make the journey worthwhile. A boat ride here is a beautiful way to explore the natural beauty on display. The beautiful garden near the dam is a well maintained recreational spot.
The dam is a vantage point from where you can spot the turbulent water rushing from the dam towards the Old Bhoothathankettu. Also the recent attraction at Bhoothathankettu is the Mud Race competition conducted as part of Onam festival, in every year. Visitors from various parts of Kerala come to participate and enjoy the Bhoothathankettu Mud Race Fest
How to reach
Bhoothathankettu lies at a distance of sixty kilometers from Kochi city. It is a wonderful picnic spot about 10 km from Kothamangalam. The nearest railway station is Aluva, which is about 44 km and Ernakulam Junction, is about 58 km distance. The Cochin International Airport, is at about 37 km distance from Bhoothathankettu.
Other nearby attractions
Travellers who visit Bhoothathankettu can also visit the Thattekkad bird sanctuary situated nearby. The proximity to Munnar and the increase in popularity of ecotourism spots have increased tourist footfall at Bhoothathankettu. The two main irrigation projects of Ernakulam district - the Periyar Valley Irrigation Project and the Idamalayar are also located nearby. Edamalayar dam is only 14 km drive through thick jungle from Boothathankettu dam. You can find many picnic spots along the way
