Kerala Tradition & Fascinating Destinations 2014 Kerala Tradition & Destinations 2014 | Page 134

Poovar : (12 km South of Kovalam) An isolated but spectacular beach,
Poovar is situated close to the Neyyar River estuary. A trading port in its
early days, it is today an important tourist destination.
Vizhinjam: Hardly one kilometre away from Kovalam and 17 kms away from
the city lies the tiny fishing village of Vizhinjam, a sobering contradiction to
the excesses of Kovalam. It is a big artificial harbour. A mosque on the
northern side and a church on the south both twanging prayer halls and
masses in the early hours.
Sivagiri Mutt: The Sivagiri Mutt is an Ashram founded by the great Hindu
reformer and philosopher, Sree Narayana Guru. The Guru breathed his
last here in 1928 AD, his Samadhi (resting place) continues to be thronged
by thousands every year. The Sivagiri pilgrimage is conducted in between
December 30 and January 1. The Sarada Temple and Sivagiri Mutt set in
picturesque hill of Sivagiri near Varkala.
Veli Tourist Village: (9km from the city. Open : 0800 - 1800 hrs) Veli tourist
village, situated by the sea side, is an exotic picnic spot. The gardens and
the lovely wading pools are very fascinating. One can avail the benefit of
boating and water sports in the lake here. The boat club has pedal boats,
row boats and motorized boats. Children can enjoy climbing over huge
sculptures which dot the landscape. Ph-2500785. Veli youth hostel - 2501230.
Boat Rentals (1000 - 1730 hrs).
Padmanabhapuram Palace: (52 km from the city. Closed on Mondays) This
was once the seat of the erstwhile rulers of Travancore. This superbly
built palace with teak, granite etc. stands within the massive stone town
walls that kept Tipu Sulthan unable to invade. The architecture is a class
apart, unbelievable for the current day architects. Ceilings carved in
floral pattern, windows laid with jewel-coloured mi ca, floors finished to
a glittering polish with a special compound of crushed shells, coconuts,
this palace invite envy from others. Now this palace is situated at
Thuckalai, in Tamilnadu,on the way to Kanyakumari but hardly 52 kms
from Thiruvanan- thapuram city. Ph: 2327310
Zoological Garden: Thiruvananthapuram Zoo, one of the oldest in the country,
was established as an annexe to the Museum in 1857 by the erstwhile
Maharaja of Travancore in order to attract more visitors. This Zoo was
originally set up for recreational purpose only.But with more and more
loss of forest and wildlife in the process of human development, the goal
of the Zoo changed from recreation to conservation. Today Zoos are seen
as the last resort for endangered animals and birds. Spread over in 55
acres of land located in the heart of the temple city of Thiruvananthapuram,
the Zoo offers a rare opportunity for the visitors to experience and enjoy
unparalleled picturesque and panoramic sylvan surroundings besides
vivid animal collections. The Zoo has 75 different species of animals not
only from India but from abroad also.
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THIRUVANANTHAPURAM|TRADITION AND DESTINATIONS