Soaking in the rain at Kava

In a way, the smell of the monsoon is part of the collective unconscious of those who flock to this tiny village and evokes nostalgia even in the most hardened souls. With the southwest monsoon picking up and dark clouds gathering over the Akamalavaram hills, part of the Western Ghats, Kava has started emerging as a sought-after destination to experience rain.

“Monsoon fans have started arriving in large numbers at Kava in the past four days during which Palakkad witnessed incessant rain. There are even visitors from the rain shadow regions of Tamil Nadu who want to experience rain in its various moods,” says S. Pavithran, who runs a teashop.

“Kava brings with it the finest monsoon experience. The whims and fancies of the monsoon are sure to throw anyone off balance in this picturesque village, anonymous till a few years ago,” says P.V. Krishnakumar, an MBA student from Sulur in Coimbatore.

The nearby Malampuzha reservoir with hills forming a backdrop, the intoxicating smell of damp earth, abundant greenery, sprouting leaves, and dark ominous clouds provide a perfect setting for the monsoon experience at Kava. A number of visitors to the dam and the adjacent tourist park now find time to go to the other side of the reservoir to click pictures of the gathering rainclouds.

Legend has it that the monsoon clouds for all of Kerala originate from the tall peaks of the Western Ghats that stand guard over the village. Travel writers often describe Kava as the gateway of rains to Kerala.

“The main attraction of Kava is that it remains devoid of any modern tourism amenities,” says environmentalist P.S. Panicker.

The village of Kava near the Malampuzha dam is fast becoming the place to experience leaden skies and heavy downpour.