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Kerala - Gods Own Country - Thiruvananthapuram
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THIRUVANANTHAPURAMKovalam
Location: 16 km south of Thiruvananthapuram
Kovalam, one of the loveliest beaches of India, is an internationally renowned beach resort with three adjacent crescent beaches.
A favourite haunt of tourists, especially Europeans, since the 1930s, Kovalam has miles of golden sand segmented into four sheltered, palm-fringed coves by rocky promontories.
Way to reach:
Thiruvananthapuram, the capital city of Kerala, is just 16 km from Kovalam and getting there is no hassle.
Nearest railway station: Thiruvananthapuram Central, about 16 km away
Nearest airport: Thiruvananthapuram International Airport, about 10 km Varkala
Location: 40 km north of Thiruvananthapuram and 37 km south of Kollam
A quiet hamlet on the outskirts of Thiruvananthapuram district with Varkala, with its many Ayurvedic massage centers, is fast becoming a popular health resort also. Akkulam Tourist Village Location: About 10 km from Thiruvananthapuram city
The Akkulam Tourist Village is a beautiful picnic spot developed on the banks of the Akkulam Lake, an extension of the Veli Lake.
There are boating facilities, a well-equipped children’s park, a paddle pool and a swimming pool for adults here. Getting there: Nearest railway station: Thiruvananthapuram, about 10 km away Nearest airport: Thiruvananthapuram International Airport, about 6 km Veli Tourist Village
Location: About 8 km from Thiruvananthapuram city
The Veli Tourist Village, built where the Veli lagoon meets the Arabian Sea, is replete with fish ponds, wading pools and landscaped gardens.
There are facilities for boating and water sports and a children's park around the floating bridge that connects the village to the beach.
Visiting hours: 7 am to 8 pm Way to reach:
Railway station: Thiruvananthapuram Central, about 8 km away rport: Thiruvananthapuram International Airport, about 3 km  Top Padmanabhapuram Palace
Location: Thuckalai, 52 km from Thiruvananthapuram, in the neighbouring State of Tamil Nadu This magnificient wooden palace of the Rajas of erstwhile Travancore (1550 to 1750 AD) is a fine specimen of Kerala's indigenous style of architecture. Some of the interesting sights in the palace, replete with intricate rosewood carvings and sculptured décor, include the 'Thaikkottaram' or the Queen Mother's palace, secret underground passages, the royal four poster medicinal bed and mural paintings. Visiting hours: 9 am to 5 pm on all days except Mondays Way to Reach: Museum and Art Gallery Location: Near the zoological park in the Museum compound in the heart of the city Visiting hours: Open from 10 am to 5 pm on all days except on Wednesday mornings and Mondays Way to Reach: Railway station: Thiruvananthapuram Central, about 2 km away Kuthiramalika Palace Museum Location: Adjacent to Sree Padmanabhaswamy Temple at East Fort The Kuthiramalika Palace, built during the reign of singer-composer Swathi Thirunal (1813-1834 AD), is a classic specimen of Kerala architecture.Kuthiramalika, which means Horse Bungalow, takes its name from the roof beams carved in the shape of horses’ heads. Visiting hours: 8.30 - 12.30 hrs; 15.30 - 17.30 hrs. Closed on Mondays Way to Reach: Peppara Wildlife Sanctuary Location: About 50 km from Thiruvananthapuram en route to Ponmudi The Peppara Wildlife Sanctuary, spread over 53 sq. km. on the Western Ghats, has a rich variety of flora and fauna, a damsite, eucalyptus plantations, crystal clear streams and rocky terrains. The sanctuary, established in 1938, is populated with elephants, wild boars, tigers, leopards, sambar, lion-tailed macaques, gaur, barking deer, Nilgiri Langur, cormorants and so on. Neyyar Wildlife Sanctuary Location: 32 km from Thiruvananthapuram The Neyyar Wildlife Sanctuary is home to over a hundred rare species of fauna including elephants, wild boar, porcupines, tigers and a variety of snakes The Neyyar Dam, a popular picnic spot which is part of the sanctuary, is a repository of some of the rarest medicinal herbs. A crocodile breeding centre and a lion safari park are located in the damsite.There are facilities for boating on the reservoir. Way to Reach: Ponmudi Location: About 61 km from Thiruvananthapuram city Altitude: 915 m above sea level Ponmudi, an enchanting hill resort nestling on the slopes of the Western Ghats, has misty blue hills, narrow winding pathways, aromatic tea gardens, an array of mountain flowers, exotic butterflies. This hill resort is a veritable paradise for trekkers and hikers. Way to Reach: Railway station: Thiruvananthapuram Central, about 61 km away Agasthyarkoodam Peak Location: 70 km from Thiruvananthapuram The spectacular cone-shaped Agasthyarkoodam Peak in the Western Ghats, which rises to a majestic height of about 1868m, is a haven of rare herbs and medicinal plants. The aborigines here dislike the presence of strange women because they believe that the mythological sage Agasthya, who is supposed to have lived in the forest, was a confirmed bachelor. Way to Reach: It is accessible only on foot, by trekking from Bonacaud or from Neyyar Dam. |
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