We visited the famous Sumathi Valavu aka Karzakan forest in Bahrain today.
A green spot hidden away from the concrete city, this place is famous among malayalis for its close resemblance to the beautiful avenues of Kerala’s landscapes.
In real it is a small and narrow rocky road of mud, that is shaded by a canopy of trees on both sides.
Location and directions– Karzakan Village
Best time to visit– Since it is a shaded area, any time is okay but if you are going to spend some time near the beach it is better to visit in the evenings after 6 during summer or any time during the months of November- January.
Visiting fee- None
Entertainment aspects– None. No tickets. No food options in the stretch. It’s a short stretch that can be covered in a 15-20 minute walk.
Why is it called Sumathi Valavu – the story
It is called as the Sumathi Valavu because somebody in Bahrain got reminded of the haunted Sumathi Valavu in Thiruvanantham District. The place where a young woman named Sumathi was murdered a long time back and is believed to be still making appearances as reported by some visitors.
If you visit Karkazan in the night, you may get the feel of visiting a haunted area because there is no lighting in this stretch.
What can you find in Sumathi Valavu or Karzakan forest
About half a kilometre long, you can enjoy the shaded kachcha road with the tall trees all above and around you.
A lot of birds and insects singing and calling just as you hear in Kerala.
A canal running along the side of the canopy. It is dirty though.
The stretch opens the way to a beach spot. This is also a beautiful location if you go at the right time. A wonderful place to simply sit and talk.
A small pond near the beach spot which is full of small fishes and a few jelly fish. We missed this though. Our friends informed about this later.
How to make this a good experience?
Go either early morning or early evening, when there’s not much crowd and its not too hot.
Remember to follow Covid specific rules.
Walk the stretch. Please don’t drive it out. Cycling the stretch can be fun too.
If you try to be quiet you will be able to enjoy the birds calling too.
Make sure you have your masks and sanitizers.
Carry a bottle of water if you’re going in the summer.
Stay safe!
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