If you’ve had long travel plans in your list which never materialised, replan and make them happen by choosing short trips from your town. For all the Trivandrumites out there, here are five weekend getaways you can trail off to for that perfect work-life balance:
1. Ponmudi: Kerala's golden peak
Ponmudi translates to 'golden peak' or a crest of gold. And if the gold here stands for nature's bounty, then this place is truly bathed in gold.
The peak that lies to the northwest of Thiruvananthapuram, nestles cozily in the lap of the Sahya mountain ranges, a part of the Western Ghats.
Ponmudi is a veritable paradise, ideal for a weekend’s rest or for a holiday experience. Ponmudi, perhaps, will be one of the few hill stations in the world, which is mere 60 km away from the sea. The place is cold and covered in mist even during the hottest summer. A drive up, maneuvering the 22 hairpin bends, is a trip in itself. The tea plantations, the brooks and the evergreen forests are some of the sights to savor.
Do you love the sun-kissed beaches, good seafood and some moments of peace? Then, Varkala is the place to be. Surfing is the latest thrill on Varkala beach, the only cliff beach in Kerala. The waves that gather momentum as it close in on the sandy beach makes Varkala an ideal spot to learn the art and sport of surfing.
5 reasons for spending a weekend at Varkala
Techies from TechnoPark in Thiruvananthapuram have added the surf training at Varkala to their weekend schedule. Other major attractions include the Papanasam Beach, Mineral water springs, Sivagiri Mutt and the Vishnu temple.
3. Kappil: Where the sea meets the lake and the sky
Kappil is one of those lesser explored yet beautiful places near Varkala. Here, the sea and the lake are separated by a sandbar. And during the rains, the sandbar is breached and the lake flows into the sea.
The beauty of Kappil is in its rustic setting. The sea, the beach, the village life, and a road that divides the narrow stretch of land. It does not offer a competition to the other touristy beaches or the lakes full of houseboats. But, a ride on the boat on this lake, the view you get when you stand on the sandbar, they are just stunning.
If you are starting from Thiruvananthapuram and want to spend some quality time at Kappil, it is ideal that you leave soon after lunch.
4. Neyyar: The land where ghee flows
There are a number of reasons to visit Neyyar - from the abundant wildlife that include lions, elephants, tigers, leopards, bears, wild buffaloes, and birds to the huge diversity of flora - trees, creepers, rarest of the rare orchids, and more.
Neyyar is the southernmost river in Kerala; it originates from Agasthyakoodam and joins the Arabian sea at Poovar. Neyyar's wild beauty beckons travellers. You can trek to Meenmutti waterfalls too. It is a two-day trek. The halt at the end of the first day is at Kombai settlement colony; here Neyyar flows like a little child. Further downstream, she is joined by her tributaries Kallar, Valliyar and Mullayar, and transforms herself into a roaring, mighty river.
5. Mankayam: A trip through the woods
Less than 50 kilometers from Thiruvananthapuram city is Mankayam. It has been declared an ecotourism zone recently and is managed by the state forest department.
The Mankayam river is a tributary of the Chittar river, which starts from the Chemunchi hill ranges. And at Mankayam, it cascades down a rocky cliff forming two different waterfalls - Kalakayam and Kurisadi.
