The lush green villages on the Pothencode-Sreekariyam road are a world away from the noise and pollution of the National Highway that I left behind five minutes ago. Half a kilometre past Chenkottukonam, is a sharp drop to the valley below, across which lies Madavoorpara — a 300-ft-high natural wonder with a rich heritage.
A lone raptor circles in the blue sky, as we climb the path bordering the rubber plantation that lies at the foot of the large rock. The slope is steep at most points, and the path is marked by a support rope that takes you to the first landing point 30 metres above the plantation. Built near a leafless, white-branched tree is a pond named ‘Ganga theertham’ that collects the water trickling down the rock face from a hidden natural spring.
Further up, lush undergrowth and a cluster of large boulders make for a tropical jungle. Bird chirps and insect noises greet us as we scale the rest of the rock face with no rope to hold on to. The slope is gradual, but a fall could mean a broken bone or two, especially in the rain. Thankfully, it’s a sunny day, with no rain clouds in sight.
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Winds gain speed and the rock flattens out as we reach the activity centre on the second landing. It’s early afternoon and we are the only visitors. Security personnel nap inside quaint bamboo huts, built on the edge of the greenery.
The eastern end has been landscaped and turned into a park with lawns, swings and slides. The second entrance to Madavoorpara, which helps one avoid the arduous climb, is through the park.
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The view to the west is serene. Coconut palms carpet the land as far as the eye can see, with houses in pockets, a few apartments and the Greenfield international stadium at Kariavattom rising above the velvety green.
But the journey doesn’t end here. A winding bamboo bridge through the mini jungle takes you up another 50 metres to the highest point on the rock. The view point, a fenced-off space, has another bamboo hut facing a stunning view. Much of Thiruvananthapuram city, from Kazhakootam to Thampanoor is visible, with the play of light offering different shades of green, while the azure Arabian Sea stretches across the horizon. Madavoorpara is perhaps the best sunset point near the city.
As the sun moves west, we head to our last stop — the ancient rock-cut temple. Climbing down, we reach the temple. An office building and a small hall rest, on either side of a path that leads to the main road.
From in between the modern structures, steps chiselled into the steep rock face lead up to the temple that has been cut out of a rock. Rock-cut temples are a rarity in Kerala. Madavoorpara is one of the few in the State. The Siva temple is believed to have been built during the 8th Century AD. A vattezhuthu — an ancient script — inscription on the pillar is what’s left of the history that this rock once held.
How to get there: When coming from Thiruvananthapuram city, take a left at Sreekariyam towards Pothencode. Taking the route via Chempazhanthy, the detour to Madavoorpara is after Chenkottukonam, which is 6 kilometes from Sreekariyam. Madavoorpara temple is barely half a kilometre from Pothencode main road. If you wish to take the second entrance, turn right at Chenkottukonam which passes by the Madavoorpara children’s park.
Things to do:
The recreation centre, with bamboo houses, benches and restrooms, is a great spot for a picnic.
The children’s park, although modest, is a nice space for kids to unwind.
The viewpoint offers a magnificent view of the coast and is the perfect spot to catch the sunset.