Friday, May 14, 2010

Kerala Tour (Trivandrum-Kanyakumari)

Kerala can be a dream destination for any one. It is really difficult to make up your mind to go all the way 3000+ KMs for excursion when you have Himachal and Uttaranchal in your neighborhood. After much thinking and %#*&@$)!&% I finally finalized my program for Kerala, God’s Own Country. I was to reach Trivandrum on 19/03/2010 around 6-00 AM and leave on 23/03/2010 in the evening by Trivandrum Rajdhani.

The news of extraordinarily hot march was reaching Delhi and troubling me. For them 34 Centigrade was really hot. Any way there was no looking back and by 7-00 AM we were in the refreshment room run by IRCTC on Trivandrum railway Station tasting our first IDLIs. It was really hot but tolerable. There is plenty of accommodation available near the railway station. Railway station is adjacent to East-Fort (literally the city centre). You get transport for every where from here TSRs (Three wheelers) as well as Local buses. In the evening you can visit KOVALAM. So many things were heard about this beach and it was worth it. There is enough public transport available for Kovalam beach from East-Fort.









Trivandrum is an excellent city in every manner. We were staying in Poonkulam on a small hill towards Kovalam beach. Evening is perfect time for visiting Kovalam. Although a little crowded but you always get some space for you and your family.

It was time for me to decide about back waters. Travel websites generally speak of some destinations (backwaters) around Trivandrum too but there is none, the locals say. If you want to try just reach Kollam or Alleppy. Both the points are easily reachable from Trivandrum by two trains in the morning. We reached Alleppy to catch the Government Boat for Kollam (75 KMs, 8 Hours and Rs. 300/-).









This program turned out to be the best part of the tour. We would have missed “GOD’s OWN COUNTRY” had we skipped this. Alleppy really a world different from the one we live in. Water and canals all around. Life is different here.


The colorful Boats









And the colorful houses catch our eyes.









Our three days were really “well spent” in every manner.

Kanyakumari was nearby and easily reachable by train as well as bus. We spent a night in Kanyakumari also. The story of three meeting sea and the sights of the Thiruvallavur statues and Vivekananda Memorial makes your trip to Kanyakumari a must.









We also visited the Suchindram temple.


SOME MORE PHOTOS