A 3–4 night family stay at Aanandam, Irinjalakuda — with Athirappilly and Vazhachal falls, the Chimmini dam drive, kole paddy sunsets and the food we love
Arrive as a guest, leave as family.Hosted by Bipin Cyriac & family · Irinjalakuda, Thrissur
A note from your host
സ്വാഗതംSwagatham — welcome home
Hello, and thank you for thinking of Aanandam. In Malayalam the word means joy — the deep, quiet kind you feel when the people you love are around one table.
We built this villa for our own family. Irinjalakuda is my home town; I went to school at Don Bosco here, and after two decades living outside Kerala we came back in 2013. When we are not here, we open the house to families and friends who want more than a room — a home with a verandah, a terrace for evening tea and a quiet compound where the loudest sound is the birds.
This little guide is how I would show a cousin around: three or four unhurried days, a couple of big outings to the waterfalls and the Chimmini forest, and slow evenings by the paddy fields. Pick what suits your group, skip what doesn't, and message me any time. I'm always happy to suggest a place to eat.
— Bipin
Kazhicho?കഴിച്ചോ? — "Have you eaten?" It is how Kerala says hello. You will hear it from us more than once.
Evening over the coconut groves of Irinjalakuda.
Your stay at a glance
Whole 3-bedroom villa for up to 6 guests
3 air-conditioned bedrooms, 3.5 bathrooms
Gated community with a watchman
Free parking for more than 4 cars
Inverter back-up for lights and fans
Balcony, terrace and outdoor dining
On the Irinjalakuda–Thrissur road
Check-in from 4 pm · check-out by 12 noon
Pool, gym & clubhouse access (extra charge)
The home
A Kerala family villa, made for togetherness
Aanandam sits inside Palm View Villas, a calm gated community on the Irinjalakuda–Thrissur road, about 2.5 km from Thana Junction. The roads inside are well lit, the highways are close, and Irinjalakuda town is only minutes away — yet mornings here are all breeze, greenery and birdsong.
Aanandam from the gate — with room to park more than four cars inside.
Our family — Aanandam was built for us first, and we share it with yours.
Inside
Three bedrooms with A/C, each with its own bed, plus 3.5 bathrooms — easy for two families or a group of six.
A full kitchen for when you feel like cooking, and an outdoor dining setting for long breakfasts.
Balcony and terrace to enjoy mornings and evenings — the best seats in the house for monsoon rain.
Inverter power keeps lights and fans running through the rare power cut; water is plentiful.
A note on rooms: the house has a fourth bedroom that we keep locked as our family store room, so the villa is yours as a 3-bedroom home.
Around you
Gated, with a watchman — safe for children to cycle and walk.
Parking for more than 4 cars, rare in this area.
Self check-in with the community staff; or tell me your arrival time and I'll meet you at the gate.
We can arrange
Paid extras, booked in advance: taxi service, home-style catering, laundry, and local outings — farm visits, fishing and boating. Just ask when you book.
How we live here: this is a quiet residential community, so we keep things calm after 10 pm — our neighbours' children need their sleep too. Everything else, make yourself at home.
Pool, gym & clubhouse
A swim, a workout, a cool place to gather
Our community has a swimming pool, a fitness centre and a clubhouse with a covered verandah beside the pool. They are available to Aanandam guests for an additional charge — tell me when you book, or any time during your stay, and I'll arrange access.
The swimming pool, with a shallow corner and a gazebo for shade.
The gym — multi-station machine, cardio and free weights.
The clubhouse verandah, looking out over the pool.
Open daily 6 am – 8 pmAdditional charges applyBook through your host
Charges are per stay and shared with you before you book. Facilities may occasionally close for cleaning, maintenance or community events.
Using the facilities
These are shared with families who live here, so a few simple guidelines keep them safe and pleasant for everyone.
6 am – 8 pm
All three facilities are open every day between 6 am and 8 pm. Please do not use them outside these hours. Access is on additional charges, arranged through me in advance.
Swimming pool
Shower before you enter the pool.
Wear proper swimwear; no regular cotton clothing in the water.
Children under 12 must be supervised by an adult in and around the pool at all times.
Non-swimmers should stay in the shallow area.
No diving, running or rough play on the pool deck.
No food, glass, alcohol or smoking in the pool area.
Don't swim if you are unwell, or right after a heavy meal.
Swimming is at your own risk — please never swim alone.
Gym
Wear workout clothes and closed, clean shoes.
Carry a towel and wipe down equipment after use.
Return dumbbells and weights to their racks.
Children under 16 may use the gym only with an adult.
Use machines as intended; ask if you're unsure how.
Stop and rest if you feel dizzy or unwell.
Please tell me straight away about any damaged equipment.
Clubhouse
Book in advance if you'd like it for a family gathering or small celebration.
Keep music and voices low — homes are close by.
No smoking inside or around the clubhouse.
Leave it as you found it: tidy, with fans and lights switched off.
For everyone
Facilities are for registered Aanandam guests only.
Follow the community's rules and any instructions from staff.
Parents are responsible for their children at all times.
Guests are responsible for any damage caused during use.
Take your belongings with you; we can't be responsible for lost items.
Host tip: the pool is loveliest early in the morning — try a swim before the day's outing, while it's still cool.
Where you are
Everything in this guide, from our gate
Irinjalakuda sits in the green middle of Thrissur district — wetlands and paddy to the west and south, the Western Ghats rising to the east. Most of this plan is within half an hour of home; the two big outings take about 1¼–1½ hours each way.
Chimmini Dam & Wildlife SanctuaryAbout 40 km, via rubber estates
≈ 1 h 15
Athirappilly FallsVia Chalakudy
≈ 1 h 20
Vazhachal Falls7 km beyond Athirappilly
≈ 1 h 30
Cochin International AirportFor arrivals and departures
≈ 1 h 15
ValparaiTea country, via Athirappilly — an overnight trip
≈ 4 h
Drive times are approximate and change with traffic and weather; please check a live map on the day. The exact location of Aanandam is shared after booking.
The plan
Your days at a glance
One big outing a day, a slow morning or evening around it, and good food in between. Waterfalls and forest are best early, so the outdoor days start soon after sunrise.
Four nights
Day
Theme
Highlights
Day 1
Arrive & settle in
Check in from 4 pm · sunset walk at Konthipulam Paadam · easy dinner next door
Day 2
Waterfall day
Athirappilly Falls · Charpa Falls by the road · Vazhachal Falls · easy dinner near home
Day 3
Forest & rest
Chimmini Dam drive · coracle ride, trek or bamboo raft · picnic by the reservoir · Ayurvedic massage at AATMA
Day 4
Irinjalakuda, slowly
Koodalmanikyam Temple at dawn · pottery at Clayfingers · Casaro Creamery or a café · birds on the Muriyad kole
Day 5
Veendum varanam
Vegetarian breakfast at Vrindavan · unhurried checkout by 12 noon · safe travels
Three nights
Day
Theme
Highlights
Day 1
Arrive & the kole
Settle in · sunset at Konthipulam Paadam · dinner next door
Day 2
Waterfall day
Athirappilly, Charpa and Vazhachal falls · evening massage at AATMA
Day 3
Forest & temple
Chimmini Dam morning · late lunch in town · Koodalmanikyam Temple at dusk · farewell dinner
Day 4
Clay & cheese, then home
Pottery at Clayfingers or lunch at Casaro Creamery on your way out
Best season
September to January for strong waterfalls; November to April for Chimmini's forest activities; November to March for migratory birds on the kole.
Getting around
The days out are easiest by car. Ask me to arrange a taxi with a driver who knows these roads.
Make it yours
Travelling with grandparents or small children? Swap a big outing for a lazy day at home with catered Kerala meals.
01
Day one
Arrive, breathe, walk to the water
Grandpa and Cyril on a field bund by the water — the kind of evening walk that starts at our gate.
4:00 pm
Welcome homeCheck-in is from 4 pm. Message me when you're 15 minutes away and I'll meet you at the gate. A quick house tour, a cool drink, and the rooms are yours.
4:30 pm
Unpack and slow downTea on the balcony or terrace. If you came off a long flight, this is the moment for a nap.
5:30 pm
Sunset at Konthipulam PaadamA wide stretch of kole paddy on the Muriyad wetlands. The Konthipulam lake view point is a local favourite for sunset walks, quiet views over water and fields, and watching how farmers manage water in these low-lying lands.
8:00 pm
An easy first dinnerRight next to us: Joy's Restaurant, Mapranam Shaap or the Emirathi Restaurant — simple, filling and easy on the wallet.
What is kole?
Kole lands are low-lying paddy fields that sit under water for half the year. Once the water is pumped out, farmers grow rice on the rich silt — the word kole is said to mean a bumper harvest. The Thrissur kole wetlands are an important bird area and part of a Ramsar-listed wetland system.
Host tip: carry a light torch for the walk back, and some mosquito repellent for dusk by the water.
02
Day two
Athirappilly & Vazhachal waterfalls
The Chalakudy river drops off the Western Ghats in a roar of white water. Athirappilly is Kerala's largest waterfall — about 25 m high and close to 100 m wide across its cascades — and you have seen it in films from Dil Se to Baahubali. Vazhachal, a little further up the forest road, is gentler and wider.
7:00 am
Leave earlyDrive about 1 h 20 via Chalakudy. Pick up breakfast on the way, or let me arrange a packed breakfast the night before.
8:30 am
Athirappilly FallsGates open around 8 am. See the falls first from the top viewpoint, then walk the stone path of roughly 250 steps down for the full view from below. Allow 2–2½ hours.
11:00 am
Charpa FallsA stepped waterfall right beside the road between Athirappilly and Vazhachal — 15 minutes for photos, best from June to October.
11:30 am
Vazhachal FallsAbout 7 km further into the forest. The same day's ticket from Athirappilly covers entry here. Look out for hornbills and monkeys in the trees.
1:30 pm
Lunch, then homeLunch on the way back through Chalakudy, and home by mid-afternoon for a rest.
7:30 pm
An easy dinnerSomething simple next door at Joy's, Mapranam Shaap or Emirathi — or ask us to arrange home-style catering, so nobody has to go out after a long day.
Good to know
Open ≈ 8 am – 6 pmOne ticket, both fallsBest Sep – Jan
Indicative entry was ₹50 for Indian adults and ₹20 for children in 2026, with separate rates for foreign visitors and cameras. Please check at the counter; fees change.
Stay safe at the falls
Never enter the water or cross the barricades, even where it looks calm.
Wear shoes with grip; the steps are slippery when wet.
Keep children within arm's reach near the edges.
In the monsoon, check flood alerts and start back by 3 pm.
Carry about a litre of water per person and a rain layer.
The road there
Irinjalakuda → Chalakudy → the forest road (SH-21) to Athirappilly. After Chalakudy the road follows the river through oil-palm plantations and forest; drive slowly and watch for monkeys on the road. Vazhachal is 7 km further along the same road.
If you have energy left
On the way back, stop at Thumboormuzhi, a riverside garden and butterfly park beside a small check-dam on the Chalakudy river — a pleasant leg-stretch for children before the drive home.
03
Day three
The Chimmini dam drive & an Ayurvedic evening
An easy half-day drive through rubber estates and forested hills brings you to Thrissur's largest dam, set beside the Chimmini Wildlife Sanctuary on the western slopes of the Nelliyampathy hills. Picnic by the reservoir, float on a coracle, and join the Forest Department's treks and bamboo rafting — best from November to April.
6:45 am
Into the hillsAbout 1 h 15 by road. The last stretch winds through rubber plantations and forest — drive slowly and keep the windows down.
8:00 am
Chimmini Dam & sanctuaryCollect entry passes at the forest office at Echippara (passes are sold on the spot, not online). Then choose your pace: a coracle ride on the reservoir, bamboo rafting, or a guided forest trek. Pack a picnic and stay by the water.
1:00 pm
Lunch and a restDrive back for a late lunch in town — Relax Signature Kitchen is a good choice for a full meal — then rest at home.
4:30 pm
A rejuvenating massage at AATMAOur favourite Ayurveda centre, about 7 km from Aanandam. A traditional Kerala oil massage is the perfect end to a morning on forest trails. Tell me your preferred time and I'll help book it.
8:00 pm
A quiet night inAsk us to arrange home-style Kerala catering, so nobody has to go out again.
Bipin, happiest by a reservoir with the Western Ghats behind.
Chimmini notes
Open 6 am – 6 pmBest Nov – Apr
Guided 5 km trek from Virakuthodu, about 3 hours — wonderful for birds and butterflies in Nov–Dec.
A trek to Choorathala waterfall is also offered.
192 bird species and elephants, gaur and sambar live here; stay with your guide.
Activities run on Forest Department slots and fees — check on arrival.
04
Day four
Irinjalakuda, slowly — temple, clay, cheese and birds
6:30 am
Koodalmanikyam Sree Bharathan TempleVisit in the cool of the morning. This is the only ancient temple in India dedicated to Bharata, Lord Rama's brother. Walk around the great temple tanks afterwards.
8:30 am
A slow breakfastAt home on the verandah — or ask us the day before to arrange a Kerala breakfast of appam and stew.
10:30 am
Pottery at Clayfingers Art CottagesAn artists' retreat set in a 1950s brick-and-tile factory turned ceramic studio, run by photographer Suresh Subramanian and sculptor Hasseena Suresh. Try a hands-on pottery class — children love it — and browse the studio's pottery shop.
1:30 pm
Lunch and a siestaLunch in town, or come home to a catered Kerala lunch and an afternoon rest.
4:00 pm
Cheese or coffeeDrive out to Casaro Creamery in Kattoor, an artisanal cheese factory and café — or stay close with coffee at Kacherivalappile Cafe or Brutiful Spot.
5:30 pm
Birds on the Muriyad koleMuriyadu kaayal and its kole fields are fed by water from the Chimmini dam and the Karuvannur river. Open green views, herons and egrets, and a close look at traditional Kerala rice farming — about 10 minutes from Anandapuram.
8:00 pm
Farewell dinnerPick a favourite from our food guide — or Vrindavan if you'd like a vegetarian meal.
Water lilies at Malarikkal — Kerala's wetlands bloom after the monsoon.
Temple etiquette
Dress traditionally: men usually wear a mundu and remove shirts inside; women wear a saree or churidar.
Entry to the inner temple follows temple custom — please ask at the gate.
No photography inside the temple.
Host tip: Clayfingers is a working studio and guest house — message me the day before and I'll check a class is running.
05
Day five
Veendum varanam — please come again
8:00 am
Breakfast at VrindavanOur pick for vegetarian food — dosa, idli and filter coffee. Venus Restaurant is also fine.
By 12 noon
An unhurried checkoutCheck-out is by 12 noon. No need to strip beds or wash up — just leave the keys on the table.
En route
One last stopMissed Clayfingers or Casaro Creamery? Fit one in on your way to the airport or onward journey.
"Arrive as a guest, leave as family."
The only promise we make at Aanandam.
Only three nights?
Keep both big outings and fold the slow day in around them:
Day 1 — arrive, settle in, Konthipulam sunset, dinner next door.
Day 2 — Athirappilly, Charpa and Vazhachal falls; massage at AATMA in the evening.
Day 3 — Chimmini at sunrise, lunch in town, Koodalmanikyam Temple at dusk, farewell dinner.
Day 4 — pottery at Clayfingers or cheese at Casaro Creamery on your way out.
Before you head home
Message me your departure time the evening before.
Switch off the air-conditioners, fans and lights.
Close the windows and lock the main door.
Leave the keys on the dining table — that's all.
Little joys we can add to your stay
Celebrating?
Tell me about a birthday or anniversary and we'll have payasam and a small cake ready.
Monsoon evening
Hot pazhampori (banana fritters) and chai on the verandah while the rain comes down.
A farm morning
A visit to a local farm, a spot of fishing or a boat ride — booked ahead, at a small cost.
After you leave: a few honest words on Airbnb mean a great deal to a small family home like ours. Nanniനന്ദി — thank you!
Places worth knowing
Water, forest and field
Athirappilly & Vazhachal Falls
≈ 1 h 20 from homeHalf to full dayBest Sep – JanNever enter the water
On the Chalakudy river, which rises in the Western Ghats and runs through the Vazhachal forest — one of the most biodiverse forest divisions in Kerala. Athirappilly falls about 25 m in four broad drops; Vazhachal, 7 km upstream, spreads across wide rocks. In June to August the falls are at their most dramatic, but the paths are slippery and the river is dangerous; the safest, most beautiful months are September to January.
Chimmini Dam & Wildlife Sanctuary
≈ 1 h 15 from homeHalf dayBest Nov – AprOpen 6 am – 6 pm
Established in 1984 and covering about 85 sq km, the sanctuary lies on the western slopes of the Nelliyampathy hills, next to the Peechi–Vazhani and Parambikulam sanctuaries. The drive in passes through rubber estates on both sides. On the reservoir, try a coracle; in the forest, a guided trek with the Forest Department. Entry passes are bought at the forest office at Echippara.
Konthipulam Paadam
≈ 10–15 minSunset
A wide stretch of kole paddy on the Muriyad wetlands. The Konthipulam lake view point is where locals go for sunset walks, quiet views over water and fields, and to watch how farmers manage water in these low-lying lands.
Muriyad kole paddy fields
≈ 10 min from AnandapuramBirds Nov – Mar
Muriyadu kaayal and its kole fields are fed by the Chimmini dam and the Karuvannur river. Open green landscapes, good birdwatching — herons, egrets and winter migrants — and a close look at traditional Kerala rice farming.
The paddy fields along the road at Anandapuram, minutes from the villa.
Go in the first or last hour of daylight, keep to the bunds, and give working farmers right of way. A pair of binoculars doubles the fun.
Places worth knowing
Culture, craft and care
Koodalmanikyam Sree Bharathan Temple
≈ 10 min1 hourEarly morning or dusk
The heart of Irinjalakuda, and the only ancient temple in India dedicated to Bharata, the younger brother of Lord Rama. It is one of the four Nalambalam temples honouring the four Ramayana brothers, visited together by pilgrims in the monsoon month of Karkidakam.
It keeps unusual traditions: there is no deeparadhana (the waving of lamps), no camphor or incense in worship, and offerings are lotus, tulsi and thechi flowers — a lotus garland must have at least 101 blooms. The ten-day annual festival in Medam (April–May) brings seventeen caparisoned elephants. Large temple tanks surround the compound; Kuttan Kulam lies to the east.
Clayfingers – Art Cottages
≈ 30–45 min2–3 hoursGreat with children
A ceramic art studio of about 15,000 sq ft in a converted 1950s tile and brick factory, in a quiet village near Thrissur. Photographer Suresh Subramanian and sculptor Hasseena Suresh run the studio and four rustic cottages, with gardens, cows and chickens. Join a hands-on pottery class, then browse the pottery shop and book-filled sitting room.
AATMA Ayurveda Centre
≈ 7 km · 15 min1–2 hours
Kerala is the home of Ayurveda, and a traditional warm-oil massage is one of the simplest joys of a visit. AATMA is the centre we recommend to our guests — a rejuvenating way to end a day of waterfalls or forest trails.
Tell me your preferred day and time, and any health conditions to mention, and I'll help you book.
More nearby, if you have an extra day
Thrissur town
The Vadakkunnathan temple at the heart of the town, and the Swaraj Round around it — home of the famous Thrissur Pooram.
Arattupuzha temple
An old village temple known for its annual Arattupuzha Pooram, a short drive from Irinjalakuda.
Thumboormuzhi
A riverside garden and butterfly park on the Athirappilly road — an easy add-on to the waterfall day.
Take a little Irinjalakuda home
Clay
A handmade piece from the Clayfingers studio shop — or the pot you threw yourself.
Cheese
Artisanal cheese from Casaro Creamery, packed for the journey.
Crunch
Fresh banana chips and Kerala spices from a town bakery — ask me for my favourite.
Art & faith
Kathakali, temples, mosques and churches
Few corners of Kerala hold so many faiths and art forms this close together. Within an hour of Aanandam you can watch a Kathakali student train, walk the Nalambalam temple trail, and visit what is said to be India's first mosque and one of its oldest Christian sites. All welcome respectful visitors — carry a shawl or mundu and remove footwear where asked.
Unnayi Warrier Smaraka Kalanilayam
≈ 10 min · Irinjalakuda1–2 hoursKathakali
Founded in 1955 in memory of Unnayi Warrier, the Irinjalakuda poet who wrote the Kathakali classic Nalacharitham. The institute teaches Kathakali — acting, music, chenda, maddalam and the elaborate make-up called chutty — along with costume-making and classical dance. Public performances are held on special days, including the third Thursday of each month and during Navarathri. Ask me and I'll check what's on during your stay.
Triprayar Sree Rama Temple
≈ 40 min · 20 kmEarly morning
The Rama temple on the banks of the Karuvannur river at Triprayar. Together with Koodalmanikyam (Bharata) in Irinjalakuda and the Lakshmana and Shatrughna temples nearby, it forms the Nalambalam — four temples pilgrims visit in a single day during the month of Karkidakam (July–August).
Kodungallur Bhagavathy Temple
≈ 40 min · KodungallurBharani festival, Mar–Apr
One of Kerala's most powerful and best-known Devi temples, at the heart of old Kodungallur. It comes alive during the Bharani festival, when devotees arrive from across Kerala. Dress modestly and follow temple custom at the gate.
Cheraman Juma Masjid
≈ 45 min · KodungallurVisitors welcome
Said to be the first mosque in India, traditionally dated to 629 AD, in Kerala-style architecture with a museum on its history. It is part of the Muziris Heritage Project. Please dress modestly; women are asked to cover their heads.
Azhikode Marthoma Church
≈ 50 min · Azhikode
Kerala tradition holds that St Thomas the Apostle landed at the ancient port of Muziris in AD 52. The church at Azhikode marks that story, close to the river mouth and the beach.
St Antony's Shrine, Chettikkad
≈ 1 hour · near Moothakunnam
A much-loved St Antony's pilgrimage church at Chettikkad, just south of Kodungallur across the Kottappuram bridge. It's an easy stop on the way to or from Muziris and the beaches.
History, coast & hills
Muziris, three beaches and Valparai
Muziris — Kerala's ancient port
≈ 40 min · Kodungallur areaHalf to full day
Two thousand years ago, ships from Rome and West Asia came to Muziris, near present-day Kodungallur, to trade gold for Kerala's pepper. The Kerala government's Muziris Heritage Project has restored the area's story across a cluster of sites: the Cheraman Juma Masjid and its museum, the Kottappuram fort area and boat jetty, the Paliam Dutch Palace and Paliam Nalukettu, and the old Jewish synagogues at Chendamangalam and Paravur. Pick two or three for a relaxed day.
Three beaches on the Thrissur coast
Azhikode & Munakkal Beach
≈ 50 minSunset
About 3 km of shore near the Azhikode river mouth, with Chinese fishing nets and traditional fishing boats. Pairs well with a Muziris day.
Snehatheeram Beach, Thalikulam
≈ 50 minGreat with children
A well-kept beach park with a garden, children's rides and a small aquarium. Kerala Tourism named it the best beach destination in 2010.
Oho Beach, Thambankadavu
≈ 1 hourEarly morning
A quiet village beach near Thalikulam with soft sand and coconut groves. Go early to watch fishermen bring in the catch, or stay for the sunset.
At the beach: the Arabian Sea has strong currents. Enjoy the sand and the sunset, but please don't swim unless lifeguards say it is safe — and never during the monsoon.
Valparai — tea country in the clouds
Overnight trip≈ 4 hours via AthirappillyForest road open 6 am – 6 pm
Keep going past Athirappilly and Vazhachal, through the forest to Malakkappara, and the road climbs into the tea estates of Valparai in Tamil Nadu — mist, waterfalls, Nilgiri tahr and, very often, elephants on the road. It is a beautiful drive but a long one, so plan to stay a night there; you can return through the 40 hairpin bends to Pollachi and Aliyar dam.
Start early and clear the Vazhachal–Malakkappara forest stretch well before evening; it is checked at forest posts and closed after 6 pm.
Don't stop inside the forest, keep windows up near wildlife, and expect weak mobile signal.
On the steep descents, use a low gear and let the brakes cool. Ask me to arrange an experienced driver.
A fifth day? Try Muziris & the coast
Morning: Kodungallur Bhagavathy Temple and Cheraman Juma Masjid · Midday: a Muziris museum or two, lunch in Kodungallur · Afternoon: Azhikode church, then Chettikkad · Sunset: Munakkal Beach, home by dinner.
Eat like a local
Where we eat in Irinjalakuda
Food is how Kerala says it cares. These are the places our family actually goes to — from a full Kerala meal to coffee and cheese.
For a full, proper meal
Bobanum Molyum Restaurant (BMR Pinnacle)Our first choice for a hearty lunch or dinner with the family.
Relax Signature KitchenGood for full meals; comfortable for groups.
Right next door, easy on the wallet
Joy's RestaurantSimple, economical and a short walk from the gate.
Mapranam ShaapKerala shaap-style (toddy-shop style) food — spicy and full of flavour.
Emirathi RestaurantAnother good-value choice, a short walk away.
Cafés to try
Kacherivalappile CafeA nice spot for an easy afternoon coffee and a bite.
Brutiful SpotAnother favourite for a relaxed bite.
Vegetarian
Vrindavan RestaurantOur pick for vegetarian food.
Venus RestaurantAlso OK for a simple veg meal.
Worth the drive
Casaro Creamery, KattoorAn artisanal cheese factory and café, a little further away. Go if you have time — especially fun for cheese lovers.
Kerala dishes to try
Appam with stew, or puttu with kadala curry
A Kerala meal served on banana leaf
Kappa (tapioca) with spicy fish curry
Pazhampori and chai at teatime
Prefer to eat in? We can arrange home-style Kerala catering at the villa — let me know a day ahead.
Before you come
Good to know
When to come
Season
What it's like
Best for
Jun – Aug
Monsoon. Lush and dramatic; heavy rain on some days.
Waterfalls at full power (from the safe viewpoints), verandah rain
Sep – Jan
Green, fresher, waterfalls still strong.
Athirappilly & Vazhachal, temple visits
Nov – Apr
Drier and pleasant mornings; warmer afternoons from March.
Chimmini activities, kole birdwatching (Nov – Mar)
Apr – May
Hot and humid.
Koodalmanikyam festival season (Medam)
What to pack
Light cotton clothes, plus one modest set for temple visits
Shoes with good grip for the falls and forest trails
An umbrella or rain jacket — the weather changes fast
Mosquito repellent and sunscreen
A small dry bag for phones at the waterfalls
Swimwear for the community pool; please don't swim in the rivers
At Aanandam
Check-in from 4 pm; check-out by 12 noon
Self check-in with community staff, or I meet you at the gate
Inverter back-up for lights and fans; plenty of water
Free parking for more than 4 cars inside the compound
Quiet after 10 pm, for our neighbours' children
Taxi, catering, laundry and local outings on request, at extra cost
Pool, gym and clubhouse open 6 am – 8 pm, at extra cost
I reply quickly on WhatsApp — usually within a few hours
Book or ask a question
Aanandam is listed on Airbnb as "Aanandam – A furnished 3 Bed Room Villa". Book there to keep your payment protected, and message me any time before you arrive.
An Irinjalakuda boy who went out into the world and came home. Born in the 70s, schooled at Don Bosco, Irinjalakuda — and hosting guests on Airbnb since 2014.
Bipin has been a management professional in IT and business consulting since 1998 — more than 28 years in business development and advisory. His career took him through Oracle Corporation, Mannai Corporation in Doha, QBurst Technologies and MAVA Partners, serving markets across India, the US, Qatar, the UAE and Saudi Arabia.
After two decades outside Kerala, including a decade abroad, the family returned in 2013. Today they live and work mostly at Kakkanad, Kochi, and Aanandam is their Irinjalakuda home — opened to guests whenever the family is away.
AreteDromos Business Consulting
Better Consulting, Better Business
Bipin is Managing Partner of ADBC, a boutique consulting firm in Kochi helping organisations solve real business problems with practical, right-sized solutions — from business diagnosis and process & controls to packaged and custom software and implementation support.
Every family has one member who needs no introduction. In ours, it is a red Yamaha RD 350, fondly called The ReD — lovingly restored by Bipin and his brother Bimal, and still turning heads on the backroads around Irinjalakuda.
Made in India by Escorts under licence from Yamaha through the 1980s, the twin-cylinder two-stroke RD became a legend among Indian riders for its pace and its unmistakable sound. Bringing this one back to life was a labour of love the two brothers shared.
Bimal rides a Triumph Street Twin — the Bonneville 900 Street Twin, known at home as STwin — and whenever the weather and road safety permit, the brothers head out together on early-morning rides — past paddy fields still in mist and village roads just waking up. On gentler days Cyril comes along on The ReD, just as he did for this photograph.
If you love bikes too, ask me about them. I'm always happy to talk motorcycles over a cup of tea.
Two brothers, two bikes
The ReD — Yamaha RD 350, the restored red two-stroke, Bipin's pride
STwin — Bimal's Triumph Bonneville 900 Street Twin
The rule — early mornings only, and only when weather and roads are safe
Two wheels wherever we go — even in Turkey, 2013.
A family that travels together
The Great Indian Family
Before we were hosts, we were guests — in homestays, hotels and family homes across India and twelve other countries. Every good host we met taught us something, and Aanandam is built on those lessons: a warm welcome, honest advice, and the freedom to explore at your own pace.
Our biggest adventure
The All-India Road Trip · 2016
Fifty-three days, one car, one family, the whole of India
53
days on the road
12,619
kilometres driven
4
of us in the car
In 2016 we packed the car and set off from Kerala to see India the slow way — by road, together, the four of us. Fifty-three days and 12,619 km later we came home with a country's worth of stories: mountain passes and coastal highways, roadside dhabas and strangers' kindness, and two children who had seen more of India than most adults ever do. We shared the journey as The Great Indian Family, and the story of those days is now a book — Darshan.
Kodaikanal — the hills of Tamil Nadu are a favourite drive from Kerala.
Bags packed, ready for the next one.
The book of the road trip
Darshan — by Bipin Cyriac
The Great Indian Family
Darshan
A family of four, one white XUV and 12,619 kilometres of India, in fifty-three days
Bipin Cyriac
Darshan is the travelogue of our 2016 all-India road trip: Bipin, Reetha, Maria (then 12) and Cyril (then 6), in a white Mahindra XUV500, from early May to late June.
It follows the journey day by day with photographs and a route map for every leg — up the western shore to Goa, Ellora and Ajanta, the Taj Mahal by moonlight, the Golden Temple and Wagah, Kashmir's Dal Lake, the Ganga at Rishikesh and Varanasi, Kolkata and Konark, and home through Hampi to Irinjalakuda. The story begins with a poem Bipin wrote at 15 about an imagined pilgrimage across India, Oru Theerthayathra, included in Malayalam with an English translation.
"We left as tourists. We came home as students."
53
days
12,619
kilometres
19 + 4
states & UTs
92
rivers crossed
Eleven parts, one country
The Dream — Irinjalakuda, Doha, Kakkanad and the flag-off
The Western Shore — Kerala, Karnataka, Goa, Maharashtra
Caves, Saints and the Deccan — Ellora, Ajanta, Shirdi
Mahatma and Maharanas — Sabarmati, Udaipur, the Taj
The Capital and the Land of Five Rivers — Delhi, Amritsar
Paradise, and the Road to It — Jammu & Kashmir
Hills, Hail and the Holy Ganga — Shimla to Corbett
The Gangetic Heartland — Varanasi to Kolkata
The Eastern Shore — Chilika, Konark, Puri
Homeward — Hampi, Belur, Halebidu, home
Darshan — what the road taught us
Family days out — the same spirit that drove Darshan.
Reserve your copy
Paperback, printed in Kochi and shipped across India and overseas. Reserve free at the book's website.
South-East Asia is where the children learned that travel can be thrilling. In Vietnam we stood on Fansipan — at 3,143 m the "roof of Indochina" — and along the way we learned how pearls are farmed. In Singapore, Maria and Cyril flew in the indoor skydiving tunnel and we spent a whole day at Universal Studios. Malaysia and Indonesia added more cities, more food and more stories — and the reminder that the warmest welcomes often come from the smallest places.
On top of Fansipan, 3,143 m — Vietnam.
Learning how pearls are farmed.
Universal Studios, Singapore.
Maria takes flight at iFly Singapore.
…and Cyril follows.
Travels · West Asia & North Africa
Turkey, Egypt and the Gulf
TurkeyEgyptUAESaudi ArabiaOmanQatar
Bipin's working years in the Gulf took the family across Qatar, the UAE, Saudi Arabia and Oman, and showed us how generously Arab hospitality treats a guest: coffee first, questions later. From there, the old world was close. In Turkey we wandered the bazaars, visited Hagia Sophia, sailed past the palaces on the Bosphorus and saw the fairy chimneys of Cappadocia. In Egypt we rode camels to the pyramids of Giza.
By camel to the pyramids of Giza, Egypt.
Bipin and his wife — celebrating along the way.
Turkey, 15–22 March 2013 — bazaars, Hagia Sophia, Cappadocia and a lot of tea.
Travels · Europe
Ireland & the United Kingdom
IrelandUnited Kingdom
Ireland and the United Kingdom gave us green countryside, old cities and very long walks. In London we did the classics as a family — Westminster Abbey among them — and came home with a new appreciation for a hot cup of chai.
The four of us at Westminster Abbey, London.
What thirteen countries taught us about hosting
Meet people at the gate
The first ten minutes decide how a stay feels. We'll always be there, or a call away.
Tell the truth
Honest tips beat glossy brochures — which falls to skip in a flood, which shop has the best appam.
Leave room to wander
This guide is a suggestion, not a schedule. The best memories are usually the unplanned ones.
India and twelve countries later, the best part of any trip is still coming home.
We hope Aanandam feels like that for you. Follow our next adventure at The Great Indian Family.
