There are some waterfalls hidden inside the forest that are hardly accessible by roads. They need to be approached through the wild streams or rivers that meander through the woods that shroud them, if someone wants to enjoy their untamed splendor. The Ambalappara waterfall near Kakkayam in the district is one such. The falls will unfurl only before those who are game for a boat ride in the Kakkayam dam reservoir, which was opened recently for tourists under a hydel tourism project under the Kerala Hydel Tourism Centre (KHTC), a subsidiary of the Kerala State Electricity Board (KSEB).  

The wild falls, the lush greenery and the unexplored facets of the dense forest will unfold before those who are in the boat during the trip. “Those lucky visitors will also be able to view herds of elephants and bison grazing in the catchment area,”. The tourist boats with 50-hp engine can accommodate five tourists and a driver at a time. It’s equipped with safety mechanisms, including security jacket and safety buoy.

Currently KHTC is running 22 trips a day using its two speed boats. Each boat has a capacity of six members including the driver.A trip  costs Rs 750 and the boats can run up to 50 trips a day. Along with the boat ride, KHTC has kicked off a bicycle ride from the Kakkayam dam site which lasts for 30 minutes.