Trips
Head to the beach
Away from Poovar up the coast is the ‘famed’ Kovalam beach, for lively swimming, beach front boutiques selling Kashmiri and Lamani handicraft, and plenty of restaurants with tasty but dubious food. Fusion, German Bakery and Beatles have a very good track record and kitchens which are up to standard.
Take care in the sea as the rips are strong… always best to stay near other Europeans as generally Indians are not strong swimmers. Haggle for handicraft!
Village life
A drive out into the villages can be really interesting to witness rubber tapping, an oil mill, or even a cashew nut factory. The local fruit, vegetable, and fish market, is a riot of colour with sareed ladies looking for the best buys. A journey on into the foothills takes you away from palm garden and into banana and rubber plantations with the amazing backdrop of the high Western Ghats. This is where most of the hydro electric dam sites are and the Neyyar Dam is the biggest near us. It is also the location of the Sivananda Ashram, famed for its style of Yoga throughout India and the west.
For a unique experience we are fortunate to have endeared ourselves with a tribal village situated up in the remote Ghats in what we can only describe as an Avalon setting. The huge lake and “close encounters” peak create dramatic surroundings and the water is so pure that a swim off the bows of the ferry boat is a must.
Into the city
Trivandrum city, the capital of Kerala, is a bustling, hot and polluted place. Nevertheless the architecture within the old fort area is certainly worth a look and the Padmaswamy Temple is the best example of Dravidian architecture outside the neighbouring state of Tamil Nadu. The city museum, zoo, and palace gardens are all of great interest and shopping for textiles is certainly a must. Parthas has the biggest and best selection of silk and cotton textiles together with fine sarees and shalwar kameez. They even stock a very acceptable range of menswear.
Taxis from Poovar to Trivandrum are always on hand and the drivers usually negotiate a waiting time rate. For short journeys auto rickshaws are great fun. Generally the driving in India is unlike anything you will have seen before. If you are brave enough we have our Bullet motorcycle and Scuti car for your use as well as a hired Scorpio land cruiser for air conditioned comfort.
A popular day trip
For a full day out many enjoy a drive down to Kanyakumari, where the Indian Ocean and Arabian Sea meet. On the way back it is possible to visit the famous Travancore Palace which is entirely constructed of exotic hardwood. Beautifully carved and inscribed, it is a well preserved testament to the skill and aesthetic of carpenters three hundred years ago.
Alternatively you could stop at Suchindram temple that is famous for the musical pillars. The pillars are constructed in such a way that when they are tapped, they give off various musical notes.
Extended trips
If it’s your first trip to India and you would really like to see some diversity then we would recommend five or so days with us and your balance days (if applicable) doing a ’round’ trip. Travelling in India requires a degree of patience, flexibility and effort alien to Europe but the experience will surely never leave you. Kerala and Tamil Nadu, our neighbouring state, have a rich architectural, cultural and scenic heritage. We would suggest, if time permits, the following itinerary:
Day one:
Early start for Madurai and Meenakshi Temple via Shencottah and Tenkasi.
Overnight at Madurai.
Day two:
Morning viewing temple. Local lunch and onto the Hill Station of Kodaikanal.
Night stop at Kodaikanal.
Day three:
Kodaikanal to Munnar and the Tea Gardens via Palani and Indira Ghandi National Park. Night stop at Devikolam near Munnar.
Day four:
Munnar to Cochin, the sea port famed for its Chinese fishing nets, grave of Vasco de Gama and the Jew town quarter with its beautiful synagogue. Night stop at Cochin.
Day five:
Morning looking around the old fort area and perhaps a visit to Bolgatty Island Palace. Afternoon continue on south to Kovalam, Kerala’s famed beach for sun and sand. Prepare for your flight departure as timings dictate.
The above is just a guide with some key locations which you could research further.