Malarikkal
{{Short description|Indian village in Kottayam, Kerala}}
{{EngvarB|date=March 2021}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=March 2021}}
{{Use Indian English|date=March 2021}}
{{Infobox settlement
| name = Malarikkal
| other_name =
| nickname =
| settlement_type = Village
| image_skyline = Malarikkal5 (1).jpg
| image_alt =
| image_caption = Malarikkal water lily field
| pushpin_map = India Kerala#India
| pushpin_label_position = right
| pushpin_map_alt =
| pushpin_map_caption = Location in Kerala, India
| coordinates = {{coord|9.55911|N|76.49138|E|display=inline,title}}
| subdivision_type = Country
| subdivision_name = {{flag|India}}
| subdivision_type1 = State
| subdivision_name1 = Kerala
| subdivision_type2 = District
| subdivision_name2 = Kottayam
| established_title =
| established_date =
| founder =
| named_for =
| government_type =
| governing_body =
| unit_pref = Metric
| area_footnotes =
| area_rank =
| area_total_km2 =
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| elevation_m =
| population_total =
| population_as_of =
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| population_density_km2 = auto
| population_demonym =
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| demographics_type1 = Languages
| demographics1_title1 = Official
| demographics1_info1 = Malayalam, English
| timezone1 = IST
| utc_offset1 = +5:30
| postal_code_type = PIN
| postal_code = 686030
| area_code_type = Telephone code
| area_code = 0481
| registration_plate = KL-05
| blank1_name_sec1 = Nearest city
| blank1_info_sec1 =
| website =
| iso_code = IN-KL
| footnotes =
| native_name = {{small|മലരിക്കൽ}}
}}
Malarikkal is a small tourism hamlet located in Thiruvarpu panchayat in Kottayam town of Kerala, India.{{Cite news|title=കോട്ടയത്തിന്റെ വിധി തന്നെ മാറ്റിയ മലരിക്കല് ഗ്രാമം|language=ml-IN|work=Times of India - Samayam|url=https://malayalam.samayam.com/travel/weekend-getaways/the-mesmerizing-beauty-of-lotus-flowers-in-malarickal-village-in-kottayam-kumarakom/amp_articleshow/71612976.cms}}{{Cite news|last=Abraham|first=Bobins|title=A Kerala Village With 100s Of Acres Of Water Lilies Won't Have Visitors This Time Due To COVID|language=en-IN|work=The India Times|url=https://www.indiatimes.com/news/india/a-kerala-village-with-100s-of-acres-of-water-lilies-wont-have-visitors-this-time-due-to-covid-521022.html}}{{Cite news|last=Abraham|first=Bobins|title=Malarikkal Water Lilies @ Kottayam #Malarikkal|language=en-IN|work=Kerala Tourism|url=https://www.keralatourism.org/video-gallery/malarikkal/1048#:~:text=Category%20-%20Backwaters%20of%20Kerala&text=These%20are%20the%20famous%20water,a%20mesmerizing%20sight%20to%20behold.}} It is a rising tourist hotbed located in the southern tip of India.{{Cite news|title=കോട്ടയത്തിന്റെ പുതിയ ഡെസ്റ്റിനേഷൻ|language=ml-IN|work=Manorama Online|url=https://www.manoramaonline.com/travel/travel-news/2020/10/08/malarickal-village-tourism.html}} Malarikkal is the most visited tourist destination in 2019.{{Cite web|url=https://www.indiatimes.com/news/india/a-kerala-village-with-100s-of-acres-of-water-lilies-wont-have-visitors-this-time-due-to-covid-521022.html|title=A Kerala Village With 100s Of Acres Of Water Lilies Won't Have Visitors This Time Due To COVID|date=23 August 2020|website=IndiaTimes}}{{Cite news|title=2019ല് ഏറ്റവുമധികം സഞ്ചാരികള് ഒഴുകിയെത്തിയത് ഇവിടേക്ക്|language=ml-IN|work=Times of India - Samayam|url=https://malayalam.samayam.com/travel/destinations/the-most-visited-tourist-destination-in-kerala-in-2019-was-malarickal-village-in-kottayam/articleshow/73027052.cms}}
Places nearby
Economy
Fishing, agriculture and tourism are the major economic activities. Malarikkal's perfectly balanced tropical climate is very conducive to cultivation. The place has expanses of mangrove forests, paddy fields and coconut groves. Fruits like Banana, Mango, Jackfruit, Ambazhanga, Puli (Tamarind), Chaambenga, Peraycka (Guava), Aathaycka and Pineapple grow here. Also, cocoa and coffee, chena(yam) and chembu (colocasia), grow well and were cultivated under the coconut trees. This rich agricultural environment is mainly irrigated using interspersed waterways and canals of the Meenachil river. The smaller canals are often lined by hibiscus plants which lean partly over the canals to form a green canopy, from which hang the lovely hibiscus flowers.{{Cite web|url=https://www.onmanorama.com/travel/travel-news/2020/08/29/pink-water-lillies-bloom-malarikkal-kottayam.html|title=Pretty pink water lilies bloom again in Malarikkal|website=OnManorama}}
Modes of access
One can access Malarikkal by many means:
- By air: via Cochin International Airport approximately {{convert|84.3|km|mi|0}}.{{Cite news|last=Abraham|first=Bobins|title=Malarikkal Village Tourism|work=Government of Kerala|url=https://kottayam.nic.in/tourist-place/malarikkal-village-tourism/}}
- By rail: via Kottayam - approximately {{convert|7.6|km|mi|0}}.
- By road:KSRTC(6.9 kilometres) Buses and taxis are easily available at all times of the day from Kottayam.