Poomala Dam, Thrissur: Hills, Lake and Visiting Guide

If Peechi and Athirappilly feel too busy on a holiday, head north instead. Poomala Dam, roughly half an hour from Thrissur town, is a small reservoir tucked between low green hills. It does not have the grand scale of the big dams, but it has something rarer — silence.

Getting there

The road from Thrissur via Mulamkunnathukavu gets narrower and greener as you go, passing rubber estates, small temples and village junctions. The last stretch climbs gently, and then the reservoir appears all at once, framed by trees on every side.

What it feels like

We walked along the stone-pitched bund first. On one side the water lay perfectly still, reflecting the hills; on the other, the land dropped away towards paddy fields. Kingfishers darted across the reservoir and the only sounds were birds and the occasional motorbike far away.

Under the trees near the water there are shady spots to sit with a flask of tea. It is the kind of place where you plan to stay half an hour and end up staying three.

When to go

Come after the monsoon — August to January — when the reservoir is full and the hills are at their greenest. Late afternoon light is the best for photographs. In the peak of summer the water level drops and the hills turn brown.

Practical tips

• Facilities are basic; carry your own water and snacks.
• Do not enter the water — the reservoir is deep and there are no lifeguards.
• Keep the place clean; take your plastic back with you.
• Pair it with Vilangan Kunnu on the way back for a sunset view.