Day 01: Trivandrum - Kovalam
You are greeted on arrival at Trivandrum International Airport/Railway station by The Travel Planners representative. You will then be transferred to Kovalam, a city enriched with the rich Greenary of Coconut Palms and laced with golden sands. On arrival check in at a beach resort. Rest of the day free to relax and enjoy the beach. Stay overnight at Soma Palmshore.
Trivandrum
Lying at the southern tip of Kerala, Thiruvananthapuram or Trivandrum is the administrative and cultural hub of the state. It is blessed with natural landscapes as well as culturally significant religious sites that have been preserved for more than a thousand years. Some of the best places to visit in Trivandrum city are:
Padmanabhaswamy Temple: Dedicated to Lord Vishnu, this temple is located at the heart of Trivandrum. The Padmanabhaswamy temple is believed to be one of the108 abodes of Vishnu, where the deity can be seen in the eternal sleep posture.
Kovalam Beach: Kovalam Beach is one of the major Trivandrum tourist spots. It has a long coastline, a lighthouse on the shore, clear waters and swaying palm trees. One can just relax at the beach or indulge in activities like snorkelling, sunbathing and cycling.
Poovar Island: The Poovar village was established as a trading centre in the past and is now a major tourist destination. The amalgamation of backwaters and the island make it a splendid location to idly spend a day.
Napier Museum: The Napier Museum is named after Lord Francis Napier and has many rare collections of bronze articles, ivory carvings, and antique musical instruments.
Kollam
Kollam and its prominence have always been in talks for centuries. It is one of the market leaders in cashew trade and processing in India and was a significant part of the spice trade in the past.
Once known as Quilon, Kollam offers a variety of tourist attractions. Some of the places to visit in Kollam are:
Lighthouse: It was known as the Dutch Quilon and used to be a British Enclave. It was built in the year 1902 by the British and is visible from as far as 13 miles in the sea. It is 144 feet high and is one of the most visited lighthouses of Kerala.
Ashtamudi Lake: It is a serene lake lined with palm and coconut trees in the Kollam district. Ashtamudi translates into ‘eight coned’ in Malayalam. It is named so because of its eight arms or channels. It is also the entrance to the backwaters of Kerala.
Chavara: The Chavara village is an important industrialised zone of Kerala. On one side of the village flows the Ashtamudi freshwater lake, and on the other, there is the Arabian Sea. Chavara is rich in mineral deposits and supports the industrial establishments of Indian Rare Earths, Kerala Mineral and Metal factory, The Kerala Premo Pipe factory and the Titanium complex.
Thangasseri: The Thangasseri is a coastal village that has the ruins of the 18th century Portuguese fort and churches. Some of the oldest schools of Kerala can be found in this village.
Rameshwara Temple: It is an ancient temple that is believed to be built in the Pandian style of architecture dating back to the 12th century. The Rameshwara Temple is dedicated to Lord Shiva and is included in the 108 Shivalayams.
Overnight at Fragrant Nature - Lake View Room. The Fragrant Nature, Kollam has set new standards of experiential travel. It was established to offer the ultimate relaxation experience from the noisy and busy city life. Nestled between coconut groves, the resort is spread over five acres of lakeside gardens and is quite popular among travellers looking for a detoxifying and rejuvenating Ayurvedic tour.
