Kollengode 4

Hardly half-a-kilometer from the Brick Kiln site down the same Ambalam Road  there is a flat rock level with the road at the entrance to this site. It is closer to the hills, and further from Ambalam stop, in Kollengode.  With 500 cents costing 7500000, the rate is 15000  per cent.   Tar Road access along one side of the site. Type of land is  Fallow land mostly, though neighbouring areas there is paddy cultivation in progress, but Agent says it is Parambu land.

A carpet of grass on the level rock which is flush with the tar road marks the entrance to the site

Note that the ploughed land beyond the first trees do not belong to the site. However the fallow land covered in a carpet of grass do.

The Auto marks the access road while the tree adjacent the entrance to the site

A view to the tapering part of the hills from the entrance across the site, which is up to the first trees

View towards the Ambalam stop from the 'level rock' at the entrance where the tiled shed and white-washed one belongs to the site, while the brick kilns do not.

The place is 80 KMs from Coimbatore Airport and over 120 KMs from Cochin Airport. It has the best view of the Western Ghats, being the closest to the hills amongst all the four in Kollengode. The level of ground water is approximately  20 feet.   Syed Meera from Vadakanchery, & Mani of Kollengode are the agents. The nearest hospital for emergencies would be Palakad which is twenty kilometers away. As it is too far from airport & hospital we cannot consider it.

Kollengode 3

There is a Brick Kiln, about a KM down the road from Ambalam stop, which is about a KM from  Kollengode town. The site is 300 cents and cost is 3900000 INR working out to 13000 INR. There is acess by Tar Road up till the site. The type of land is fallow grass land with a stream on one side; and the earth excavation pit that is present can be made into a pool.

The path inside the site just at the entrance, with the high voltage transmission wires cutting right through the middle of the site above is a serious setback

A row of Hut units is the accommodation for the brick kiln workers

The brick kiln occupies the center of the site as does the high voltage lines above

Road inside the site with the Annamalai foothills in view

Rain water pond and the trees in the background forming part of the site

Excavated area which is part of the site, could form a large pool

View of the Anamallai foothills from the excavated area. Every point in the site has good view of these hills.

The hut, the kiln, the tower, and the hills as seen from the excavated spot

This place is 80 KMs from Coimbatore Airport and over 120 KMs from Cochin Airport. There is good view of the Western Ghats. However, there are High Voltage Electric Transmission Lines overhead cutting right over the middle of the site. Ground water depth is around 20 feet with plenty of surface water. Syed Meera from Vadakanchery, & Mani of Kollengode are the agents This place is too far from airport & hospital. Also the loud hum from the Transmission lines, and carcinogenic effect of living under the high voltage lines goes against this site. A big NO!

Kollengode 2

This is a Fenced-in site, hardly fifty meters from the one that is blogged as Kollengode 1. Hence it is on the Railway Station Road,  a KM or so after the Railway station in Kollengode.     Kollengode 2 is 300 cents, sharing the same owner of Kollengode 1. The owner would not budge from the cost of 7500000 INR which makes it   25000 INR per cent. Approach is by 150 feet of unsurfaced road, while total distance could be 3 KM from Kollengode town. Appears to be  Coconut plantation, for the site could not be inspected as the gate was locked. The same Stream borders one side of property, as this site is just upstream of Kollengode 1.

Appears to be  Coconut plantation, for the site could not be inspected as the gate was locked. Ash and manure dumped in the foreground. Photo taken through the locked gate

This photo is also taken through the locked gate and shows what can be seen from the northern corner of the gate. The coconut trees in the background are also part of the site.

 

The approach road is good unsurfaced road, the extension of Kollengode 1leading to and across the stream

The view from the gate of the property, which is at the point the access road crosses this stream

Just to show the width of the access road, which can easily take a lorry.

The property has a good view of the Western Ghats, namely the Annamalai foothills part of it. All Land is "Parambu" and buildings can be constructed. A Gate is already present. Ground water is  20 feet below.  Syed Meera from Vadakanchery, & Mani of Kollengode are the agents. However, as it is too far from airport & hospital we cannot think of starting our venture here.

Kollengode 1

The Annamalai foothills brood over the little town of Kollengode, and form the backdrop for the avid photographer to snap up. Also these hills provide the relieving rains as they block the South west monsoon.

The first site we saw here was an unfenced site, on the Railway station Road. It is about a KM after the Kollengode Railway station. With 250 cents, the owner whom we visited in his house finally quoted 3250000 INR, which brought the price down to INR 13000 per cent.  The owner had initially quoted 15000 per cent. The site  had  about 100 feet unsurfaced road, and is totally 3 KM from Kollengode town. A well, and pump house is present, and the land is paddy fields with borders of coconut trees, and a wide stream by one side.    

The land is paddy fields with borders of coconut trees

Trench dug out, the mud of which had been used for making bricks

A stream borders one side of the plot

The access road is wide though unsurfaced for about 50 feet.

The stream that borders one side of the plot at its western end makes a turn

50% of the land is earmarked for one-season planting, and therefore we have insisted that prior written permission must be got by the owner from the panchayat for constructing buildings on this land; only then we can purchase this plot.

This plot is about 80 KMs from Coimbatore Airport and over 120 KMs from Cochin Airport. Has a partial view of the Annamalai foothills of the Western Ghats:  50% of the land is for one-season planting. Land can be bought only after Panchayat permission in writing is procured for building purpose    20   Syed Meera of Vadakanchery  is the main agent & Mani the local one. The owner assures cooperation, and is willing to do the necessary paper work.   However, it is too far from airport & hospital. Hence a Big  No!

Ramakkalmedu

Ramakelmedu is about four to five KMs off from Thookupalam which is on the Kumily-Katappana Road. And Katapanna could be just above 150 KMs from the Cochin International Airport.

Raakalmedu, Thookupalam, Kumily, Idukki Dt., has a lot of Special reserve plantation area of which we visited 200 cents quoted for 2500000 at INR 12500 per cent. However, the 1 KM of unsurfaced slushy, high sloping, skidding road was a frightening  experience and it was the skill and wizardy of the Jeep driver that saved the visitors and the agents. 

The land is cleared for replanting cardamom. Touch-me-nots have sprung up quickly forming a green carpet

Good shade bearing trees have been spared while clearing for replanting.

View towards the higher end of the sloping land

View towards the windmills, the short approach road

Situated over 160 Kms approximately from both CIAL or Madurai airports, it offers good views if one walks a KM away from the site. The views of the TN border which is as close as a couple of KM in some places and one can walk across to TN.  Ground water levels could be 50 feet or more below. Shafique & Ashraf are the agents. However, with this site being in the back of the beyond it is too far from airport & hospital for us to shortlist or even consider.

Venchoor

This site near Venchoor is on the Kuruppampady to Ankamali route. Venchoor is a small junction with a few shops. The site is 113 cents and the cost quoted is INR  4500000  which works out to  39823  per cent. For access there is  2 KM Tar Road  and 0.5 rock surface from Venchoor. 

The land type is  Rubber estate and the slope is gentle. There are two valuable old teak trees in this site.

The gentle slope can be seen till the wall at the far end which is also included in this site.

Situated only 13 Kms from CIAL, this site is closest seen so far. It has no great view. And the  ground water level could in places be 40 feet below.  Shafique & Ashraf are the agents, A  Good buy except there is no land available for expansion in future. Hence cannot be shortlisted.

Kuruppampady 2

This site is on the northern and eastern side of Kuruppampady town and only about a couple of Kilometers away from the Aluva-Munnar Road. 

The 30 degree slope of this site was the main drawback. An old quarry, could be a plus point as it gave a ready-made place for a multi-storey building with multiple level access. Planting of Pineapple was in progress during the visit.

Planting of Pineapple in progress during the visit. Rubber plantation on three sides and road access on the top of slope

This old quarry, could be a plus point as it gave a ready-made place for a multi-storey building with multiple level access

Another view of the quarry from the middle of it. The background trees are across the access road on the top of the quarry.

View over the quarry from its left side close to the access road

Though the price stated was around thirty thousand INR per cent, this could not be shortlisted, as the slope was against it. 

Kuruppampady

 Kuruppampady is situated about five kilometers from Perumbavoor on the Aluva-Munnar road, in Kunnathunadu Taluk, of Ernakulam district, in Kerala, India. It is 16.7 Kms  or 23 minutes from CIAL, Nedumbassery airport.

5th August 2012: Sunder's visit photos:

Sunder Raj, Majid, and Shafique at the site, with the shed and house hardly seen behind them.

The Rubber shed

Well maintained

Towards the end of the site which is the lowest lying land

Visitors look from the house

Walking back to the front

Foreground slope and a well behind the two plantain shoots

The owner's cow grazes, to the left of the firewood is the location of the shed. Taken from the side of the house 

The shed with firewood stacked beside it

Older report of 18 July 2012:

The first site that we saw here seems ideal. Just 2.6 Kms from Kuruppampady's private bus stand  there was 150 cents of estate property available. The total quoted was INR 5000000 which worked out to INR 33333 per cent. 2 KM of Tar Road was pucca while 0.6 KM was only rock surface.

The type of land was Rubber estate

The rubber estate house where the owner stays

The type of land was Rubber estate with an internal road reduced to a path that could take a lorry.

As said before, being 16 Kms  from the Nedumbassery Airport,   more than makes up for the lack of view. Deepest ground water level could be thirty feet. Pump, rubber press, electricity, and water connection, with Panchayat number is already available. Agents are Shafique & Ashraf.

This site is recommended because of the cheapest pricing, only 2.6 Kms from Kurupampady town, untapped rubber trees, with mild slope, despite a short unsurfaced access road of 500 meters. The site is shortlisted.   

Muttathu Parambu

This place is a couple of Kilometers away from the shores of the Vembanad lake and accordingly there is no mad price rush of the resorts seen here. At least that is what I expected, but owners live their pipe dreams and refuse to come down!

We saw one place with 250 cents costing INR 10000000  thereby the quote being  40000 per cent. The access is good Tar Road and the type of land is sandy one as seen in coastal areas and used as mixed farm land.

The land is sandy one as seen in coastal areas and used as mixed farm land

Ponds like this can easily be dug in this type of sandy land. Ground water level is usually four to six feet, and could become level with the ground during monsoon. Inflorescence is Acacia which helps to reduce the ground water level.

The approach road within the site can take a lorry, outside the site is Tar road

Another site in Muttathu parambu which is adjacent showing sandy land without any farming attempted as yet

Muttathu Parambu is about 75 Kms  from CIAL; the site seen has no good view, Ground water level is six feet below, Agents are  Raja & Sukur, and the conclusion is it is an uneconomic quote as frontage is not available. Hence this site is not shortlisted.