Ezhimala Hill

Ezhimala , a hill reaching a height of 286 metres, is located in Kannur District of Kerala, South India. As the former capital of the ancient Mushika Kingdom, it is considered to be an important historical site. It is a conspicuous, isolated cluster of hills, forming a promontory 38 km north of Kannur Town. A flourishing seaport and center of trade around the beginning of the Common Era, it was also one of the major battlefields of the Chola-Chera Wars of the 11th century. It is believed by some that Lord Buddha had visited Ezhimala. The hill was once known as Mount Delly by the English or Monte D'Ely by the Portuguese. This region is also known as Elimala, Mooshaka Sailam and Sapta Sailam.

Athulan describes the later kings of this dynasty, who are now better known as the Kolathiri Dynasty. King Ramaghata Mooshika's successors shifted their capital to Pazhi (the present-day village of Pazhayangadi), Valabhapattanam (Valapattanam), and other nearby places over the centuries.

Ezhimala, which is part of Ramanthali panchayath, is one of the most important places in the recorded history of North Kerala. Mooshika Vamsham, written by Athulan in the 10th century, throws light on the history of the Mushika Royal Family in particular and of North Kerala in general. The first recorded king of Mooshika Vamsham (the Mooshika Dynasty) was Ramaghata Mooshika, and his capital was Ezhimala.

There is a famous temple dedicated to Lord Hanuman and the Mount Deli Lighthouse also located here. It is maintained by the Indian Navy and is a restricted area. The beach sand is of a different texture and the sea is bluer than in other areas. At the Ettikulam Bay, one can enjoy watching dolphins. Bordered by sea on three sides, Ezhimala had Indian Naval Ship (INS) Zamorin commissioned here marking Phase I of the Indian Naval Academy project, which was completed in January 2009. 

The Prime Minister, Dr. Manmohan Singh, inaugurated the Indian Naval Academy in Ezhimala, Kerala on the 8th of January 2009. The Prime Minister's address on the occasion began with appreciation of this place "It is my profound pleasure to be present here today at this magnificent campus overlooking the Arabian Sea. There could not have been a better place for the establishment of India’s Naval Academy. I am therefore grateful to the Government of Kerala for having made all this possible.

Location: Only 2km from Ramanthali town. Around 8 km from Payyanur Railway station.

Thenmala Eco-tourism

 Thenmala is the meeting point of Kollam-Shencottah road and Trivandrum-Shencottah road, surrounded by dense forest, 66 kms east of Kollam. Thenmala is a tourist place near Punalur town, Kollam district in KeralaThere are a large number of rubber and tea plantations in Thenmala. Timber of all varieties are exported from here to all parts of the country.

Themala Dam site is open for tourists. Eco tourists center is situated at Thenmala.. Thenmala is the first planned eco-tourism destination in India. The Thenmala dam was built across Kallada River. Thenmala is famous for being the shooting location in Malayalam and Tamil movies.

Thenmala attracts foreign and domestic tourists with a host of attractions. Boating on the lake, a rope bridge, trekking, mountaineering, biking and a musical fountain. Thenmala is approachable both from Trivandrum and Punalur by road. The waterfall called Palaruvi is a prime attraction nearby. Also nearby is a deer rehabilitation center where visitors can see deer in a forest setting and have a peep into a traditional tree house used by forest dwellers to escape harm from wild animals. Other places near Thenmala are Kulathupuzha, Anchal, Punalur, Kamukumchery and Shenkottah in Tirunelveli district(Tamil Nadu).

Location: Themala is 72 km from Thiruvanathapuram and 16 km from Palaruvi Falls. Only 66 km east to Kollam.