Travelling for a Bath ..!! Doesnt that sounds crazy..?? But I did this. We planned a journey Aripara at Mukkom in Kozhikode.Aripara Falls (alternate spelling: Arippara Falls) is a tourist spot in Thiruvambadi panchayat in Kozhikode district, Kerala.It is located on the Thiruvambadi - Anakkampoyil route, 15 km from Thiruvambadi. The waterfall is a tributary of Iruvanjippuzha. There is a proposal for implementing a hydel power project on the Aripara waterfall.

Arippara waterfalls and the river course are the attractions here.Not one of the most popular Waterfalls in Kerala, but absolutely one of the most beautiful river picnic spot. The waterfalls is in one of the tributaries of Iruvanji river commonly known as Iruvanjipuzha. The river course is much rocky and steep which makes so many water cascades throughout the river path. Similar rocky terrain is seen in most of the rivers flowing down from the Western Ghats through Kerala into the Arabian sea or the backwaters.

Reaching the Waterfalls of Arippara

Arippara waterfalls and the river tourism spots are located in the Tiruvambady panchayat of Calicut district, Kerala. The waterfalls is situated  at a distance of about 50 to 55 Kms from Calicut city of Kerala. About 15 Kms from Thiruvambady panchayat the waterfalls is located in Anakkampoyil route. You can get buses heading to to Anakkampoyil from the KSRTC bus station of Calicut and alight near Arippara waterfalls. The journey is about 2 hours and costs around 20 INR/- . May need a little walking towards the river course and waterfalls. There are nearby points in the river where this river makes much bigger cascades and you may visit there too.

The places are a little remote and the river flows through forests and makes so many water cascades on its course. The water is least polluted and mountain fresh. The splashing river water rushing through the rocks makes the atmosphere cool and fresh making us refreshed. The waterfalls and surrounding place will be much loved by tourists who like trekking and a little adventure. But always be cautious for the place can be  dangerous, if you are acting careless in those rocks and streams. All the rocks are so polished by prolonged action of the river and can be very slippery if a little wet.

The river forms a dwarf cascade in this place and leads to the formation of a small pool of fresh river water ideal for water sports and bathing. These photos from Arippara are taken during the months of January. Monsoon seasons are not ideal to visit the place for the river will be flowing angry and mad and won't like anyone going near her. Most of the accidents happen due to stepping over slippery wet rocks. Careless bathing in some of the waterfalls in this river course had already taken lives and hope people coming here do take a little more responsibility to leave the place alive.

There is a wild gush of water through Iruvanjypuzha, actually a river tributary of Iruvanjipuzha  The fresh mountain stream turns milky on their encounter with rocks in the river bed.

The water flows out of the rock pool under the small river cascade. In the times of less rain the river and waterfalls is ideal for bathing and having some fun with. Most of the potholes and narrow rock cuttings in the river bed will be visible and can avoid them while exploring through parts of the river.

The emerald green river water turns milky splashing through the rocks and falling into the narrow path. The rocks here are so much smooth and obviously its due to the action of river water current. What remains now are the hardest parts of those rocks and they may also weather in due time.

Its month of January, that's why Iam standing this close to the river. Literally standing in the rocky river bed itself. During monsoons the whole place will go under water and some of the shorter water cascades disappears. The taller waterfalls in the river turns much strong and once you get slipped inside the river current, you are gonna travel a long way down the river hitting the rocks. Chance of survival depends on, how hard your skull and bones are, than those river-bed rocks. Here, your swimming skills are going to count very little.

A small hydel project is gonna come in this river near Arippara. Topographical surveys, Geological investigations and engineering is done and the dam project is ongoing. Its a 3MW small hydro electric project.

The potential and beauty of this river and waterfalls is not yet exploited by Kerala's tourism department. If you want a comparatively less visited tourist spot of Kerala, Arippara is one of them. The place is a little remote and you can't figure out many shops or restaurants here. Advisable to take food and snacks if you are in the habit of eating something always.

Tourist attractions Nearby Arippara, Thiruvambady, Calicut, Kerala :

Thusharagiri Waterfalls, has many water cascades and rocky river course. It is an Ideal trekking and mountaineering spot in the forest. There is a long walk through the forests to reach the main falls at a higher altitude. There are some restaurants at the base point from which you start walking. Safe bathing pools are formed naturally and very cool and fresh river water even in the midst of summer is present here. Beware of leaches. Monsoon time is not recommended if you wanna river bath.

Vellarimala or Camel's Hump mountains
Anakkampoyil
Koyippara waterfalls
Iruvanjipuzha
Olichuchattam waterfalls - Very  beautiful waterfalls insidethe forest.
Muthappanpuzha
Poovaranthodu
Kakkadampoyil