<< Backwater of
Kerala >>Trivandrum City
Backwater
The
lagoons, lakes, canals and rivers are lined up with dense
tropical vegetation on either side. It is a breathtaking bout to
experience a solitary and calm glide through this network of
waterways.
The
backwaters form a specially attractive and economically valuable
feature of Kerala. They include lakes and ocean inlets which
stretch irregularly along the coast. The biggest backwater is
the Vembabad lake, some 200 sq kilometers in area, which opens
out into the Arabian Sea at Cochin port. The Periyar, Pamba,
Manimala, Achenkovil, Meenachil and Moovattupuzha rivers drain
into this lake. Veli, Kadhinamkulam, Anjengo (Anju Thengu),
Edava, Nadayara, Paravoor, Ashtamudi (in Kollam Dist.)
Kayamkulam, Kodungallur (in Trissur Dist) and Chetuva are some
of the other places where you may go for backwater cruising. The
backwaters of Kerala stretch over 1900 Kilometers, providing
drinking water and irrigation facilities.
Trivandrum District
Brief History Of Trivandrum Thiruvananthapuram
district, had a political and cultural history in the early
past, which was in some respect independent from that of the
rest of Kerala More...
Thiruvallam (6 kilometers from
Thiruvananthapuram)
This serene backwater stretch, enroute to Kovalam, is famous for
its canoe rides. It is the meeting point of two rivers-Killi and
Karamana. A temple dedicated to Parashurama, the legendary
founder of Kerala, is located in Thiruvallam.
Agasthyakoodam About 1869 meters above sea
level, Agasthyakoodam is the highest
peak in the Western Ghats, next only
to Anamudi. Tradition says that the
great sage Agasthya, had his abode
in this peak. The place is also
noted for its abundant ayurvedic
herbs.
Akkulam Akkulam is one of the beautiful picnic
spots, in the suburbs of
Thiruvananthapuram city.
This place is only 10 kms.
away and is easily
accessible by road. The spot
is developed on the banks of
Akulam Lake, which is an
extension of the Veli Lake.
The calm and serene
atmosphere and its unique
natural beauty are a
fascination for tourists.
The Boat
Club, which started
functioning in 1989, now
operates speed, safari,
pedal and row boats from
Akkulam to Veli Tourist
Village. A traditional style
Kettuvallom is also
available for overnight
stay. The swimming pool at
Akkulam is equipped with
glider and other playing
facilities. The Children’s
Park is a unique amusement
spot. The newly commissioned
musical fountain is an added
attraction.
Anchuthengu
Situated 40 kms. north of
Thiruvananthapuram, along the sea
coast, Anchuthengu is a place of
historic importance. It was here
that the first settlement of the
English East India Company was
established in 1864 A.D.
Historically, the limits of area
where five coconut palms stood (Anchuthengu,
corrupted as Anjengo) was given on
lease to the Company by the King of
Travancore for trade purposes. The
remains of the old English Fort,
which had withstood many a siege,
can be seen here even today.
Aruvikkara
Sixteen kms. north of
Thiruvananthapuram, gifted
with lavish scenic beauty is
Aruvikkara.
Thiruvananthapuram gets its
water supply from the
Aruvikkara reservoir. There
is an ancient temple
dedicated to Durga, on the
banks of the river.
Aruvippuram
The place is about seven kms. from
Neyyattinkara. There is a small
waterfall here. A Siva temple
founded by Sree Narayana Guru
attracts a large number of
worshippers during the Sivarathri
festival. It is a beautiful spot for
holiday seekers.
Balaramapuram Balaramapuram is famous for
its hand-spun cloth. Weaving is a
cottage industry here with
cooperative activity. It is 13 kms.
south of the city towards
Kanyakumari on National Highway 47.
Meenmutti and Kombaikani Waterfalls
These are two
magnificent waterfalls on the upper
reaches of the Neyyar reservoir. A
trek of two kms, through dense
forests, would take one to Meenmutti
waterfalls and a further two kms, to
the Kombaikani waterfalls. The
waterfalls and forests around them
are worth experiencing.
Neyyar Dam Lying amidst the southern low
hills of the Western Ghats, 29 kms.
from the city, the catchment area
offers facilities for boating and
mountaineering. A three-hour climb
over the hills across the reservoir
affords the thrill of hiking. There
are two beautiful waterfalls on the
way. A Lion Safari Park and a
Crocodile Rearing Centre have also
been set up in the reservoir.
Neyyattinkara
Neyyattinkara is an ancient town,
situated about 20 kms. South-east of
Thiruvananthapuram. The Sree Krishna
Swami temple, founded by King
Marthanda Varma (1729-1758), is of
historical importance. Within the
premises of the temple, there is a
historic jack tree, known as Ammachi
Plavu, in the hollow of which
Marthanda Varma is believed to have
hid himself and escaped death at the
hands of his enemies.
Peypara
Peypara is 50 kms. from the city on
the way to Ponmudi. The sanctuary
there, with its rich mammalian fauna
and avis is emerging as a big
attraction to wild life enthusiasts
and ornithologists. It was
established in 1938 over an area of
53 sq. kms. on the western ghats.
Elephants, sambar, leopard,
lion-tailed macaque and cormorant
are commonly seen here.
Ponmudi A pleasant resort with an
elevation of 912 M
above sea level,
Ponmudi is reached
by road from
Thiruvananthapuram.
There are several
tea and rubber
estates around the
hills. A hill tribe
called Kani live in
the surrounding
areas. Ponmudi is
fast developing as a
hill resort with
room and dormitory
accommodation
facilities,
hill-trails for
hiking, a collection
of flowering trees
and a deer park.
Ponmudi is 61 kms.
from
Thiruvananthapuram.
Poovar Poovar is 29 kms. from the city. It
was a trading centre in
early days and one of
the ancient ports of the
district. It is said
that the legendary
Jesuit Missionary, St.
Francis Xavier, visited
the place in the 16th
century.
Vizhinjam About two kms. south of Kovalam,
Vizhinjam is believed to
have been an ancient
port. The Portuguese and
the Dutch had commercial
establishments here.
Vizhinjam is a harbour,
with a light house. This
place is being developed
into an International
Deep Water Container
Transhipment Terminal.
Sarkara Sarkara is 35 kms. north of
Thiruvananthapuram and
six kms. west of
Attingal. There is a
famous temple which is
dedicated to Goddess
Bhagavathi. A grand
festival, Sarkara
Bharani, is conducted in
this temple during
March-April.
Varkala
Fourty one kms.
north of
Thiruvananthapuram
by rail and 51
kms. by road,
Varkala is a
pilgrim centre.
The Samadhi of
Sree Narayana
Guru, the great
social reformer
and philosopher,
attracts
devotees in
thousands. The
cliffs and
mineral water
springs at the
‘Papanasam
beach’ are worth
a visit. The
inland waterways
system
connecting
Kollam in the
north with
Thiruvananthapuram
in the south,
passes through
two tunnels in
the hills. The
Janardhana Swamy
Temple here
attracts many
devotees.
Thiruvallam Thiruvallam is about six kms.
south of the
city, on the
Thiruvananthapuram-Kovalam
road. There is
an ancient
temple here on
the banks of the
Karamana River,
which is
dedicated to the
Trimurthis of
the Hindu
pantheon. A
shrine of
Parasurama,
built entirely
of granite is
found in this
temple.
Kovalam This beach, 12 kms. south of
Thiruvananthapuram,
is one of the
finest beaches
in India. A high
rocky promontory
jutting into the
sea has created
a beautiful bay
of calm waters
for sea bathing.
The India
Tourism
Development
Corporation had
developed
Kovalam as an
integrated
seaside resort.
There
are numerous
hotels
offering the
best of
facilities at a
reasonable cost.
Museum and
Zoo The Museum
building itself is an
architectural splendour.
The Napier Museum, the
Natural History Museum,
the Reptile House and
the Shri Chitra Art
Gallery are all within
the zoo complex amidst a
well laid-out garden and
park. There is a lake
and a boat club jointly
operated by the
Department of Museums
and Zoos and the
District Tourism
Promotion Council.
The zoo offers a
rare opportunity
for the visitors
to experience an
unparalleled,
picturesque and
panoramic sylvan
landscape with a
wide range of
animal
collections.
The zoo has 75
different
species of
animals not only
from India but
also from
abroad. It has
several species
of animals and
birds from
Ethiopian and
Australian
zoological
regions. The
Lion-tailed
Macaque, Nilgiri
Langur, Nilgiri
Tahr, Manipur
deer, Indian
Rhino, Asiatic
Lion and the
Royal Bengal
Tiger are
prominent among
the indigenous
endangered
fauna, while
giraffe, hippo,
zebra and cape
buffalo are
guests from the
African region.
A new era will
be ushered in
with the
completion of
the ongoing
modernisation
work in the zoo
which will
provide for
thrilling
encounters with
the animals out
in their open
air landscapes.
Veli Lagoon On the outskirts of Kerala’s
capital, by the side of
the placid waters of
Veli lake, the Boat Club
attracts the city people
and tourists. Veli,
developed as a major
tourist spot by
providing facilities for
pedal-boating, row
boating, swimming, get
together, etc. is just
the right place for an
exciting outing.
The Youth Hostel
at Veli which is hardly
three kms, from the
airport, provides
inexpensive dormitory
type accommodation. Veli,
with its palm fringed
lake is easily
accessible by road.
Shanghumugham Beach
Shanghumugham Beach is
very near to the
International Airport
and is easily accessible
from the Kovalam Beach,
Veli Tourist Village and
Akkulam Tourist
Village. Shanghumugham
beach is noted for its
cleanliness. The vast
stretch of white sand
and the serene
atmosphere, away from
the crowd in the city,
provide all the
ingredients for
relaxation and for
spending an ideal
evening. There is also a
“Star Fish Restaurant”
with eating kiosks and
open air theatre with
car parking facilities.
Veli Tourist Village (8 kilometers from
Thriruvananthapuram)
The Veli Tourist Village is bordered by the Veli lagoon and the
Arabian sea. The lagoon here is separated from the sea by a
narrow sand bar. Facilities at the village include water sports
in the lagoon and an 18-acre waterfront park with a floating
bridge that connects the village to the beach
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The
backwaters form a specially attractive and economically valuable
feature of Kerala. They include lakes and ocean inlets which
stretch irregularly along the coast. The biggest backwater is
the Vembabad lake, some 200 sq kilometers in area, which opens
out into the Arabian Sea at Cochin port. The Periyar, Pamba,
Manimala, Achenkovil, Meenachil and Moovattupuzha rivers drain
into this lake. Veli, Kadhinamkulam, Anjengo (Anju Thengu),
Edava, Nadayara, Paravoor, Ashtamudi (in Kollam Dist.)
Kayamkulam, Kodungallur (in Trissur Dist) and Chetuva are some
of the other places where you may go for backwater cruising. The
backwaters of Kerala stretch over 1900 Kilometers, providing
drinking water and irrigation facilities.
