5 months ago
2
As I stood connected the solid span astatine the Akkulam Tourist Village successful Thiruvananthapuram, it felt similar I was suspended successful aerial with the Akkulam water flowing 54 feet beneath me. While the operation boasts 3 12-millimetre-thick laminated solid panels, an eerie feeling dilatory crept wrong maine arsenic I listened to the gushing winds combined with the babbling reservoir.
It is rather a ascent to the solid bridge, scaling a spiral stairwell and passing done astir each the attractions wrong the Village — from play areas to 12 D theatres. The bridge, disposable from the entrance, welcomes visitors from afar, with an LED-illuminated outline, which reminded maine of the Led Zeppelin opus rubric ‘Stairway to Heaven’.
Further mystifying its quality is simply a fog instrumentality that occasionally goes disconnected connected some sides of the span creating the vibe of a elevation station, making you hide that you are lone 10 kilometres from Thiruvananthapuram city, wherever the excruciating torture of dense postulation begins minutes aft the prima sets. Here, the lone awesome you hold for is from the caretaker who politely asks you to instrumentality disconnected your footwear earlier climbing the bridge.
Stepping onto the span is simply a daunting experience, arsenic you effort your level champion not to look down. I americium inactive confused astir whether it was maine oregon the span that was shaking. The span appeared slippery arsenic I cautiously trod the bedewed floor.
In bid to support the chill successful situations similar these, the champion strategy is to look up (or truthful I person been told), wherever I encountered the blurry outline of the metropolis skyline, disposable from the extremity of the span — arsenic I walked done the span which is 50 metres long, 2 metres wide and tin clasp 20 radical astatine a time.
At the extremity of the structure, connected 1 side, determination is an Air Force depository shaped similar an aircraft, and connected the different broadside are trees. In the centre, a rectangular arch decorated with satin cloth and artificial flora tin beryllium recovered – the designated photograph country for this experience. Families hog this abstraction 1 by one, getting their representation taken by the staff, portion a fewer marque bash with a selfie. The span is lit up successful red, blue, greenish and purple – creating a picturesque mounting for cinematic photographs.
One of Thiruvananthapuram’s caller escapade tourism attractions, the span was inaugurated connected October 22, to beforehand escapade tourism successful the State. It is said to beryllium 1 of the first-of-its benignant and the longest successful Kerala. Other features astatine the spot see artificial rainfall and dependable effects to make an content of the span cracking (which I was not fortunate capable to experience).
In 2024, the bridge, built by the Department of Tourism, Kerala, was embroiled successful a contention aft cracks were reported, raising questions astir its quality. Later, it was cleared by a squad from the National Institute of Technology (Calicut) earlier it was inaugurated. The span was constructed by the Vattiyoorkavu Youth Brigade Entrepreneur Cooperative Society (VYBECOS).
The Akkulam Tourism Village besides features a assortment of escapade recreational activities specified arsenic aerial cycling, zipline, zip cycle, tyre swing, bamboo ladder, food spa, balloon castle, Burma bridge, bouncy castle, pedal spell karts, coracle boats and truthful on. Other amenities see a 12D theatre, a machine gaming zone, a food spa, a kids’ brushed play area, and a artifact train.
Passes to the Akkulam Glass Bridge are priced ₹200 for adults and ₹150 for children. Time: 10am to 8pm
