another drawing card for the nature lovers to visit Thiruvananthapuram during monsoon . The leisure zone in Thenmala includes the sway bridge , sculpture garden , boardwalk . Adventure zone includes rock climbing , bird watching , mountain biking , and rappelling . The deer rehabilitation center and the Shenduruney Wildlife Sanctuary also make the visit to Thenmala highly recommended .
The active travelers can go in for trekking along the various routes available in the hilly terrains . Mankayam ecotourism zone is one such area . Mankayam River has two spectacular waterfalls – Kalakayam and Kurisadi . A half-day trek to the interior area would take one to Ayampara waterfalls and might give a glimpse of wildlife . For the more adventuresome , there is a one-day trek to Varayadin Mottai . Sighting of Nilgiri Tahr is a possibility in this trek which goes through rolling valleys and shola forests . Trained guides provide camping options too at this place . The picturesque water body at Veli is a picnic spot where the lake meets the Arabian Sea .
Akkulam , an extension of Veli Lake has a calm and serene atmosphere with its natural beauty . The dam site at Aruvikkara is gifted with scenic beauty .
Moving on to the beaches , Kovalam - one of the finest international beaches during the monsoon gives one a purely divine experience . Those of you who want to rejoice in the fresh air along the beach , this is the right time . A walk along the beach where the sand is covered with sea water would elate the mind . The sight of swaying palm trees and the ocean waves hitting the shore would charge the mind .
A keen photographer would never miss a chance to photograph the Western Ghats during the monsoon season . The rains restore the true beauty of the Sahyadris from being dry lands in summer . Viewing this through lens would give a sense of paradise for the photographer enthusiasts .
Even those indoor people too would find Kerala as an apt destination to be during the monsoon . A visit to the museums such as Folklore museum at Koyikkal palace , Kuthiramalika palace museum , and Numismatics museum , would be highly enlightening . For pilgrims Sree Padmanabhaswamy temple and
Hari Kishore S Tourism Department Director
“ Being the first state in India to receive Monsoons every year , Kerala enjoys a good position for marketing the unmatched vibrance of the season and to attract travelers .
The rugged charm of rainy season with sunny interludes , along with the lush greenery , streaming waterfalls , rejuvenation with Ayurveda etc .. gives wide scope for an offseason campaign and Kerala Tourism has been promoting Monsoon Tourism as a grand season for a long time .”
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THIRUVANANTHAPURAM
July 2013
METRO mart