Tourist spots in Thiruvananthapuram - Part 1

Shanghumugham Beach
This beach is located near to the city and is known for its white sanded beach. The visitors can see from here the sea swallowing the sun slowly and compensating the loss of light by stars ascent one after one from nowhere.

Thiruvananthapuram –> Enjackal -> Shanghumugham

Veli Tourist Village
This beautiful picnic spot is situated by the sea side, 9 Km. away from the city. The landscape, gardens and wading pools here are very attractive. There are facilities for boating and water sports in the lake. The boat club at Veli has pedal boats, row boats and motor boats for hire.

Thiruvananthapuram –> Enjackal/Chackai -> Veli

Kovalam Beach
The Kovalam beach, situated 16 Km. south of Trivandrum city, is one of the best beaches in India. On account of its natural location, it affords facilities for safe sea bath. A rocky promountary jutting into the sea render the beach safe for sea bathing even in the roughest weather.

Thiruvananthapuram –> Manacaud -> Thiruvallom -> Kovalam Jn -> Kovalam

Vizhinjam
Vizhinjan is located 17 km south of Thiruvananthapuram city and 2 km south of Kovalam. Vizhinjam’s land mark is a cave temple and a fishing harbour. There is a single celled shrine inside with a loose sculpture of Vinandhara Dhakshinamoorthi. A semi-complete carvings of the images of Lord Shiva and Goddess Parvathi are there outside the cave. The fishing harbour is a natural port and the busiest harbor in the district. A Marine Aquarium here is rich with a variety of underwater fauna, though the building it housed is lacking elementary maintenance.
Thiruvananthapuram –> Manacaud -> Thiruvallom -> Kovalam Jn -> Vizhinjam

Chowara Beach
The long stretched white sand beach is ideal to unload the strains and swallow sea-breeze. It is 5-6 kms south of Kovalam.

Thiruvananthapuram –> Manacaud -> Thiruvallom -> Kovalam Jn -> Vizhinjam -> Mukkola -> Chowara

Azhimala Beach
It is a very quiet beach, near to Chowara Beach. There is a temple in the name of Azhimala. The temple is very near to the beach.

Thiruvananthapuram –> Manacaud -> Thiruvallom -> Kovalam Jn -> Vizhinjam -> Mukkola -> Azhimala

Poovar
Poovar is located 18 km from Thiruvananthapuram city, and 8 km from Kovalam. This beautiful place is close to the Poovar river, backwaters and the sea.
Thiruvananthapuram –> Karamana -> Balaramapuram -> Neyyatinkara -> Kanjiramkulam -> Poovar

Azhimalathura Beach
Little away (to the South) from Chowara. A jumbo stretched beach. The only beach in Kerala where the sea is hesitant to swallow the coast. A perfect seducement to weave dreams. Leads to Poovar.

Aruvippuram
There is a small waterfall in Aruvipuram and the name of this place is derived from this waterfall. Aruvipuram village is famous for Sree Narayana cult and a Shiva temple established and consecrated by social reformer Sree Narayana Guru.

Thiruvananthapuram –> Karamana -> Balaramapuram -> Neyyatinkara -> Perumbhazhuthoor -> Aruvippuram

Neyyar Dam & Wildlife Sanctuary
Neyyar Dam is one of its kind in Thiruvananthapuram and is built for or irrigation purposes. A tall Waterfall, Lion Safari Park, Crocodile Rehabilitation and Research Centre , Deer park, a vast reservoir with Western Ghats hills and forests as background and a decently maintained park are the attractions at Neyyar Dam. Facilities for boating are provided in the reservoir.

Thiruvananthapuram -> Vazhuthacaud -> Pangode -> Thirumala -> Malayinkezhu -> Katakada -> Neyyar Dam

Kallar
Kallar is located 45 km from Thiruvananathapuram city, en-route to Ponmudi. Kallar’s importance is stemmed from Kallar river and its picturesque banks and par excellent surroundings. Natures’ bounty is showered liberally on Kallar. Kallar River was formerly known as Vamanapuram River. Kallar literally means stone-river. This change in nomenclature is right. The river beds and banks are massed with boulders, rocks and pebbles in varied shapes and colours – all are the products of landslides during the monsoon.
Thiruvananthapuram –> Peroorkada -> Nedumangadu -> Vithura -> Kallar

Meenmutty Waterfalls
Meenmutty Waterfalls are situated on the upper reaches of the Neyyar Reservoir in Thiruvananthapuram District. Located near Kallar, on the way to Ponmudi from Thiruvananthapuram, the waterfalls along with its serene surroundings offers a unique and invigorating experience. A trek of two kms from Kallar, through dense forests, would take one to Meenmutti waterfalls. Situated near the Meenmutty waterfalls is another splendid waterfall - The Kombaikani Waterfalls.

Thiruvananthapuram –> Peroorkada -> Nedumangadu -> Vithura -> Kallar -> Meenmutty

Kombaikani Waterfalls
Kombaikani Meenmutti Waterfalls are two magnificent waterfalls on the upper reaches of the Neyyar Reservoir. A trek of 2 kms through dense forests, would take one to Meenmutti waterfalls and a further 2 kms, to the Kombaikani waterfalls. The waterfalls and forecasts around them are worth experiencing.

Ponmudi
Ponmudi is a beautiful hill station situated 61km away from Trivandrum at an elevation of 2000 feet above sea level, and can be reached only by road. Ponmudi has a cool healthy climate and the forest trails are good for trekking.

Thiruvananthapuram –> Peroorkada -> Nedumangadu -> Vithura -> Kallar -> Ponmudi

Chathancode/ Bonacuad
Chathancode is a tribal hamlet lying on the foothills of Agasthyamalai and falls within the boundaries of Peppara Wildlife Sanctuary of Thiruvananthapuram Wildlife Division. It is at a distance of about 50 Kms from Thiruvananthapuram.
Thiruvananthapuram –> Peroorkada -> Nedumangadu -> Vithura -> Bonacadu -> Chathancode

Agasthyakoodam
This is a prominent peak in the Sahyadri ranges and is conspicuous for its height and isolation when seen from a distance. For about 2000 feet in the line of the range, it rises up in the form of a sharp pointed cone. This peak can be approached on foot from Bonacadu (61 Km. from Trivandrum) and from Neyyar dam (32 Km.)

Kappil
Kappil is known for Kappil Beach. Here backwaters hug the sea. This beautiful sand beach is scenic but isolated, as it is still undiscovered. No overcrowd of tourists, no vendors’ trap, no shoppers’ price-hike.

Peppara Wildlife Sanctuary
12 km from Vithura. The sanctuary is located in an area of 53 sq km. Ideal for trekking. For trekking permission from Chief Wildlife Warden at Thiruvananthapuram is required. The landscape and the picturesque beauty of the wildlife’s kingdom is a trekking paradise,dotted with cardamom planatations and endless slopes of green tea bushes. It would make a refreshing overnight break.
Thiruvananthapuram –> Peroorkada -> Nedumangadu -> Vithura -> Peppara

Peppara Dam
It is 50kms north east of Thiruvananthapuram, which is on the way to Ponmudi.
Thiruvananthapuram –> Peroorkada -> Nedumangadu -> Vithura -> Peppara

Aruvikkara Dam
Aruvikkara is located 16 km away from Thiruvananthapuram city on the banks of Karamana River. There is a dam, Aruvikkara Dam, here. Plus a Durga temple and stream near the Dam. There is plenty of fish in the stream which come to the shore with no fear seeking food from the visitors who liberally feed them.

Thiruvananthapuram –> Peroorkada -> Aruvikkara

Akkulam Lake & Children's Park
This lake is situated 3 Km away from Ulloor junction. Boating facilities are provided in the lake. The children's park here is one of the biggest in Kerala. The Park has all the luring components to make the children merry-go-round.
Thiruvananthapuram –> Keshavadasapuram -> Ulloor -> Akkulam

Varkala
Varkala is a small town located 32 km north of Thiruvananthapuram city, is a seashore retreat and Hindu pilgrimage centre. Varkala’s 12th century Jananardhana temple is the centre-stage of the pilgrimage. Varkala’s allure is specific on 2 km red cliff face stretching from the South cliff to the Thiruvambady beach at the north end and the Shivagiri Mutt, the pilgrim centre.
Thiruvananthapuram –> Enjackal/Chackai -> Kazhakutam -> Attingal -> Varkala

Pallithura
Till 1962 Pallithura was unknown to outside world. In 1962 Thumba Equatorial Rocket Launching Station (TERLS) took shape in Pallithura. The unofficial name of Pallithura is Thumba. TERLS is the cradle of Indian Space Program.

When the Pallithura was acquired for TERLS the entire population of the area was rehabilitated in a nearby area. The population consisted mostly of fish-folk Christians of Roman Catholic faith. All basic facilities including education and a church were created in the new settlement. The authorities took care to ensure living, conveyance, marketing and entertainment facilities with no room for complaints of any sort.

Navaikulam
Navaikulam is an ancient centre of Vedic scriptures.

There is a great old library here in the name Vivekodayam Grandhasala (library), affiliated to Kerala State Library Council (KSLC). It has acquired ‘A’ grade, the highest grade granted by KSLC. The library has in possession a big collection of books winged to almost all subjects.

Puthenthope
Puthanthope is a coastal village located 19 km northwest of Thiruvanathapuram city. Coconut palms and cashew trees filled village is just 2 km from Vikram Sarabhai Space Center of Indian Space Research Organization. Two man made hills at north and south during the Portuguese regime stand as a mute witness to history.
St Ignatius Church located in a spacious compound is a hall mark of Puthenthope.

See the part 2 of this post here.

Source: karmakerala.com