My Kanyakumari Visit (Cape Comorin)

Last week I  decided to visit Kanyakumari with my friend Rajan. 

Kanyakumari is a famous tourist destination situated at the southern tip of the Indian subcontinent. Kanyakumari is also known as Cape Comorin.

We started our journey to Kanyakumari from Trivandrum in the early morning. There is a nearly 85-kilometer journey from Trivandrum to Kanyakumari.

We went to Kanyakumari by motorcycle.  I must say the route is very beautiful. You can watch the Western Ghat on your way.

You can see a Church on the hill.

At Kanyakumari, we can have a clear view of sunrise and sunset. Thousands of people come to Kanyakumari just to watch the sunset and sunrise. 

Besides the sunrise and sunset, the confluence of three ocean bodies (the Bay of Bengal, the Indian Ocean, and the Arabian Sea) is another attraction of Kanyakumari.

Vivekananda Rock

No one can miss Vivekananda Rock due to its spectacular sight and importance. This rock was named after the memory of Vivekananda, who meditated on this rock. 

There is a meditation center at Vivekananda Rock to celebrate the memory of it.

Vivekananda Rock Memorial was built in 1970. It is a popular crowd-puller now. 

Thiruvalluvar statue at Kanyakumari

It is a big statue of Thiruvalluvar, a great poet, and author of the Thirukkural.

This statue has 133 feet in height and 7000 tons of weight. To visit the Vivekananda rock memorial and Thiruvalluvar statue, we need to use the boat service available there.

The Mahatma Gandhi memorial also attracts tourists besides the Thiruvalluvar statue and Vivekananda Rock.

1. Alleppey- Venice of The East
2. Golden Valley Tourist Spot
3. Kollam Beach
4. Vazhvanthol Waterfalls At Kanithadam

Evening at Kollam Beach (Quilon)

Kollam beach is one of the most suitable places to spend an evening in Quilon (the English name for Kollam).

 
This beach is situated very near to the town and well maintained for tourists.



Till evening Kollam beach looks deserted like most other beaches in Kerala.


We reached Kollam beach around 3'O clock in the evening.



We were lucky to spot some of the fishing boats here at that time.



When it reached 4:30 PM, the number of visitors increased.





How to Reach Kollam Beach

The nearest airport is Thiruvananthapuram International Airport and, Kollam town is well connected with railway and road.

1. Janardana Swamy Temple
2. Photos of Trivandrum Museum
3. Vazhvanthol Waterfalls At Kanithadam
4. Varkala Papanasam Beach

Vazhvanthol Waterfalls Near Kanithadam, Trivandrum

Our latest trip was to one of the least explored tourist places in Thiruvananthapuram named Vazhvanthol. 

Vazhvanthol waterfall is situated near Kanithadam, Vithura, and it is an emerging tourist destination for those who love trekking and site seen. 

We started our journey to Vazhvanthol Waterfalls from Trivandrum with a team of 15 members.

It is a 45-kilometer journey (According to Google map, the distance from Vazhvanthol Waterfalls to Trivandrum is 48 km), and it took more than one hour to reach the Kanithadam forest check post.

We need to pay entry charges for each person and vehicle.

Idol Worshiped by The Tribal People



After obtaining permission from the forest check post, we started our journey to the waterfalls. It was wonderful trekking through a dense forest which we cannot forget in our life.


We need to walk 2.2 km from check post to Vazhvanthol waterfalls.


We found a beautiful spot to took some photos.




Sometimes we took some rest.


If you are a fan of trekking, you cannot avoid the trip to Vazhvanthol waterfalls. Have a look at the photos we took.





The route to Vazhvanthol Waterfalls is very adventurous.


We assure you the bamboo bridge is very strong.






At Vazhvanthol Waterfalls

Finally, we reached Vazhvanthol Waterfalls. Though it was just a 2.2 km journey, we felt at least a 6 km journey. 

I would like to give you an advice, do not come here without food.



There is a natural swimming pool at Vazhvanthol waterfalls.


Some of us (including me ) managed to reach the top.

1. Janardana Swamy Temple
2. Manimala River
3. Tomb of Blessed Kunjachan at Ramapuram
4. Varkala Papanasam Beach

Alleppey- Venice of The East (Alappuzha)

This time we decided to conduct a get-together with my old college mates at an easily accessible place for all of us.  Finally, we concluded the name of a popular tourist place in Kerala. Alappuzha was our choice. 

Alleppey, also known as Venice of the East, is the backbone of Kerala backwater tourism.

The interconnected water canals and Vembanad lake make the Alleppey the best place for backwater tourism.

Boat Races in Alappuzha

The boat race is one of the major tourist attractions in Alappuzha (Alleppey). In boat races, you can watch a group of Snake boats ( Chundan Vallam) competing with each other to get the first position.

Nehru Trophy Boat race is the most popular boat race, and it is conducted every year. Punnamada Lake is the actual location of the Nehru trophy boat race.

The photo provided above is not a Chundan Vallam. It is another category of boat called Kettu Vallam (House Boat). 

We hired a House Boat to celebrate our get-together. 

Pearl Spot (Karimeen) in Alleppey



Karimeen (pearl spot ) is very tasty and available in Alleppey.


One interesting notice we found.


History of Alleppey Town

 Raja Kesavadas founded the Alleppey town in 1762. Today, this town is the center of the coir business in Kerala. By 2012, Alleppey town will celebrate its 250th anniversary.

Pathiramanal is another tourist spot near Alleppey. It is a small island in Vembanad Lake.

Kuttanadu Region


Kuttanadu is situated in Alleppey, and this place is below sea level. If you go there, you can enjoy the beauty of paddy fields.

Houseboat in Alleppey


Houseboats (Kettu Vallam)are available in Alappuzha.


How to reach Alleppey


The nearest airport is Nedumbassery International Airport (86 kilometers). Alleppey is well-connected by roads and railway.

1. Pradeep's Marriage at Palakkad
2. Golden Valley Tourist Spot
3. Kollam Beach
4. Vazhvanthol Waterfalls At Kanithadam

Sree Padmanabhaswamy Temple Trivandrum

Sree Padmanabhaswamy Temple is one of the important pilgrim centers in Trivandrum city.

It is one of the famous pilgrim centers in Kerala where only Hindus are allowed to enter the temple. So it is one of the must-see spots for Hindus who visit Trivandrum.


Location of Sree Padmanabhaswamy Temple TVM

Sree Padmanabhaswamy Temple is located at the heart of Thiruvananthapuram city. The exact location of Sree Padmanabhaswamy Temple is at East Fort TVM.

1. Thirparappu Waterfalls Kanyakumari
2. Bekal Fort Kasargod
3. Kumarakom Backwater
4. Photos of Trivandrum Museum

Richest Temple in the world

Sree Padmanabhaswamy Temple is the richest temple in the world right after the discovery of ancient treasure stored in this temple. 

100k Crore Indian Rupees is the estimated value for the ancient treasure found in the temple. This sum is accumulated over time by the donation of Travancore kings and devotees of Lord Vishnu.

1. Janardana Swamy Temple
2. Manimala River
3. Tomb of Blessed Kunjachan at Ramapuram
4. Varkala Papanasam Beach

How to Reach Sree Padmanabhaswamy Temple

This temple is situated less than one kilometer from Trivandrum central railway station. East Fort bus terminal is very near to the temple.

1. Pradeep's Marriage at Palakkad
2. Golden Valley Tourist Spot
3. Kollam Beach
4. Vazhvanthol Waterfalls At Kanithadam

 The nearest airport is Trivandrum International Airport (7km).

Shanghumugham Beach Trivandrum

Shanghumugham Beach is one of the important tourist destinations near Trivandrum, Kerala state. If you go further from Shanghumugham, you can reach the famous Veli tourist village.

One of the major attractions of Shanghumugham beach is the presence of rare clean white sand. Shangumugham beach is a perfect place to watch the sunset and sunrise.

1. Pradeep's Marriage at Palakkad
2. Golden Valley Tourist Spot
3. Kollam Beach
4. Vazhvanthol Waterfalls At Kanithadam

Mermaid sculpture Shanghumugham Beach

The first thing you will notice at Shanghumugham Beach is the sculpture of a mermaid. 

This sculpture of Jalakanyaka (Malayalam word for Mermaid) is created by the famous Kanayi Kunjuraman.

1. Thirparappu Waterfalls Kanyakumari
2. Bekal Fort Kasargod
3. Kumarakom Backwater
4. Photos of Trivandrum Museum

How to reach Shanghumugham Beach 

Shanghumugham Beach is accessible from Trivandrum city by an 8-kilometer journey.

 Trivandrum International Airport is situated very near to Shanghumugham Beach.

1. Janardana Swamy Temple
2. Manimala River
3. Tomb of Blessed Kunjachan at Ramapuram
4. Varkala Papanasam Beach

Exploring Trivandrum Museum (Napier Museum TVM)

Napier Museum TVM is one of the important hangout places in Trivandrum. It is named as Napier Museum after Lord Napier.

It consists of a Zoo, Botanical Garden, and Sri Chitra Art Gallery. However, the Trivandrum museum is famous for the morning walk of health-conscious people in Thiruvananthapuram. 

If you go to the Trivandrum museum in the early morning, you will be surprised to see the large crowd, including children and old men, gathered for the same reason, Jogging.

Napier Museum Thiruvananthapuram is one of the good hangout places.




One of the major attractions is the big trees in the museum compound.



If you are interested in archaeology, you cannot miss the Napier Museum. There you can find a good collection of artifacts and other valuable details.



Trivandrum Museum was built in 1855 and rebuilt in 1874.



If you are in Trivandrum, Napier Museum is one of the best places to spend your evening.



The Garden near Kanakakkunnu palace is a good spot to spent time with friends.

1. My Kanyakumari Trip
2. Vazhvanthol Waterfalls Near Kanithadam
3. Alleppey- Venice of The East
4. Sree Padmanabhaswamy Temple

How to reach Trivandrum Museum

Napier Museum is situated in Trivandrum city, and you can reach there from Trivandrum central by 10 minutes journey.

Other Trips

1. Thirparappu Waterfalls Kanyakumari
2. Bekal Fort Kasargod
3. Kumarakom Backwater
4. Shanghumugham Beach

Kumarakom Backwater Tourism

Kumarakom is one of the important backwater tourist spots in Kerala. It is situated in the Kottayam district on the shore of Vembanad lake, and you can reach there by a 16-kilometer journey from Kottayam town.

This place is also famous for Kumarakom Bird Sanctuary, where you can find many rare species of birds.

 If you are interested in bird watching, you can see a lot of native birds as well as migratory birds.

The former name of Kumarakom Bird Sanctuary was Baker’s Estate.



Local Birds present in Kumarakom

The local birds available in Kumarakom are:

waterfowl,

cuckoo,

owl,

egret,

heron,

cormorant,

moorhen,

darter,

Brahminy kite

duck




Migratory birds in Kumarakom

The famous migratory birds in Kumarakom are:


Siberian crane

Teal,

Lark,

Flycatcher


Houseboat in Kumarakom

Houseboats are available in Kumarakom, and it is advised to book in advance if you are planning to visit Kumarakom in peak season.

1. Thirparappu Waterfalls Kanyakumari
2. Bekal Fort Kasargod
3. One Day at Pathiramanal Island
4. Photos of Trivandrum Museum

How to Reach Kumarakom

There is a 16 km journey from Kottayam to Kumarakom.

The nearest airport at Cochin (80 km)

1. Golden Valley Tourist Spot
2. Kollam Beach
3. Vazhvanthol Waterfalls Near Kanithadam
4. Alleppey- Venice of The East

One Day at Pathiramanal Island

As part of my Kumarakom boat trip, we landed on one of the most celebrated inland islands in Kerala. 

I am sure you can guess that name easily. Can you guess the name from the photo provided below?

It is Pathiramanal Island, a beautiful small island situated in Vembanad Lake and a home for different types of birds.

This island is open for tourists and bird watchers and a must-see tourist spot in Kerala. It is a plastic-free area, and tourists are not allowed to carry plastic.

Pathiramanal Island is under Kerala Tourism Department, and they preserve the island with all its natural beauty.

If you like a long backwater journey, Pathiramanal is a good picnic spot.


Pathiramanal is a very small island, and you can cover it by walking.



How to Reach Pathiramanal Island

To reach Pathiramanal Island, you need to hire a motorboat and travel through Vembanad lake.

 Either you can start your journey from Alleppey or from Kumarakom.

1. Janardana Swamy Temple
2. Manimala River
3. Tomb of Blessed Kunjachan at Ramapuram
4. Varkala Papanasam Beach

We started our journey from Kumarakom, and it was a wonderful trip.

The estimated area of the Pathiramanal island is 19.6 ha.



Tourist Information

Nearest Railway Station: Alleppey (Alappuzha)

Airport: Cochin International Airport

Other Trips

1. Thirparappu Waterfalls Kanyakumari
2. Bekal Fort Kasargod
3. Kumarakom Backwater
4. Photos of Trivandrum Museum

Trip to Thirparappu waterfalls

Thirparappu waterfalls is a famous tourist spot situated in Kanyakumari, Tamil Nadu.

Water comes to Thirparappu waterfalls from the Kodayar River, and there are so many beautiful spots near it. 

We (me, Pradeep, Jineesh, and, Tibin) planned a trip to Thirparappu waterfalls one week ago and had our trip in Jan-09-2011.

 There is about a 55-kilometer journey to Thirparappu waterfalls from Trivandrum city, and We took about one and a half hour to reach there.

 We first went to one of the resting places near the waterfalls and took our lunch. After lunch, we covered a little bit of area by walk and then went to the waterfalls.

Some of the photos we took:

swimming pool

Another attraction is a well-maintained swimming pool near the waterfall. The water is fresh as it flows from the waterfalls, so there is no need to worry about hygiene. 

The only problem we faced was the presence of a huge crowd here. If you are looking for a family picnic place, Thirparappu is the right spot.

Thirparappu Mahadevar Temple

If you are a religious person, you can visit Thirparappu Mahadevar Temple. Lord Shiva is the deity, and it is one of the important Shiva temples in the Kanyakumari district.

Boating facility at Thirparappu waterfalls

There is a boating facility available for tourists. Pedal boats are available for rent, and tourists can travel through the river. 

1. My Evening at Bekal Fort
2. Travel With Manimalayar
3. Tomb of Blessed Kunjachan at Ramapuram Forane Church
4. Evening at Varkala Papanasam Beach

It is a pleasant experience due to the spectacular scenery(thick vegetation) on both sides of the river. After spending our half-day, we returned to Trivandrum with a clean and pleasant mind.

1. Golden Valley Tourist Spot
2. Pradeep's Marriage
3. My Kanyakumari Trip
4. Kollam Beach