Explore the Akkulam Glass Bridge in Thiruvananthapuram for an adrenaline-filled, scenic experience

As I stood on the glass bridge at the Akkulam Tourist Village in Thiruvananthapuram, it felt like I was suspended in air with the Akkulam lake flowing 54 feet below me. While the structure boasts three 12-millimetre-thick laminated glass panels, an eerie feeling slowly crept within me as I listened to the gushing winds combined with the babbling reservoir.

It is quite a climb to the glass bridge, scaling a spiral stairwell and passing through almost all the attractions inside the Village — from play areas to 12 D theatres. The bridge, visible from the entrance, welcomes visitors from afar, with an LED-illuminated outline, which reminded me of the Led Zeppelin song title ‘Stairway to Heaven’.

Further mystifying its appearance is a fog machine that occasionally goes off on both sides of the bridge creating the vibe of a hill station, making you forget that you are only 10 kilometres from Thiruvananthapuram city, where the excruciating torture of heavy traffic begins minutes after the sun sets. Here, the only signal you wait for is from the caretaker who politely asks you to take off your footwear before climbing the bridge.

Stepping onto the bridge is a daunting experience, as you try your level best not to look down. I am still confused about whether it was me or the bridge that was shaking. The bridge appeared slippery as I carefully trod the wet floor.

In order to maintain the cool in situations like these, the best strategy is to look up (or so I have been told), where I encountered the blurry outline of the city skyline, visible from the end of the bridge — as I walked through the bridge which is 50 metres long, two metres wide and can hold 20 people at a time.

At the end of the structure, on one side, there is an Air Force museum shaped like an aircraft, and on the other side are trees. In the centre, a rectangular arch decorated with satin fabric and artificial flora can be found – the designated photo area for this experience. Families hog this space one by one, getting their picture taken by the staff, while a few make do with a selfie. The bridge is lit up in red, blue, green and purple – creating a picturesque setting for cinematic photographs.

One of Thiruvananthapuram’s recent adventure tourism attractions, the bridge was inaugurated on October 22, to promote adventure tourism in the State. It is said to be one of the first-of-its kind and the longest in Kerala. Other features at the spot include artificial rain and sound effects to create an impression of the bridge cracking (which I was not lucky enough to experience).

In 2024, the bridge, built by the Department of Tourism, Kerala, was embroiled in a controversy after cracks were reported, raising questions about its quality. Later, it was cleared by a team from the National Institute of Technology (Calicut) before it was inaugurated. The bridge was constructed by the Vattiyoorkavu Youth Brigade Entrepreneur Cooperative Society (VYBECOS).

The Akkulam Tourism Village also features a variety of adventure recreational activities such as aerial cycling, zipline, zip cycle, tyre swing, bamboo ladder, fish spa, balloon castle, Burma bridge, bouncy castle, pedal go karts, coracle boats and so on. Other amenities include a 12D theatre, a computer gaming zone, a fish spa, a kids’ soft play area, and a toy train.

Passes to the Akkulam Glass Bridge are priced ₹200 for adults and ₹150 for children. Time: 10am to 8pm