1)Alleppey
Alleppey: Located at a distance of just 74 Kms is Alleppey ( Alappuzha ), famous for its boat races and combination of lakes, backwaters, lagoons ,canals ,rivers, coconut palms ,paddy fields and many more .
How to Reach:
Air : The nearest airport is Cochin International Airport.
Rail: Alappuzha railway station ( ALLP ) is a major station on the Ernakulam–Kayamkulam coastal line.
Bus: The KSRTC bus service helps tourist travel throughout the state at an affordable price.
Must do things in Alleppey:
When in Alleppey , Do the Backwaters! Tourists around the globe adds Alleppey houseboat cruise to their bucket list. A well reputed houseboat would have all basic amenities along with a Kitchen, A bedroom , a sundeck , a common area and a lounge. Most of them would also have a TV , AC and bathrooms equipped with both hot and cold water. Your day in a Houseboat would start with meet and greet , cruising the backwater , there will also be a 30 mins -1 hr halt at a village where you can expect to buy fresh catch from the fisherman. You can then give it to your Houseboat chef who will serve you at dinner with no extra cost. You will spend the rest of the day cruising . The chef would serve you food that would leave you finger-linking. Are you a vegetarian? Well no worries! You can ask your chef for vegetarian meal and they would love to serve you the same .
Other activities to do:
If you have the luxury of time, you may extend another day in Alleppey to explore the famous beaches of Alleppey like Marari Beach , Alappuzha Beach. Interested in History and Culture? well you may also visit the grand Krishnapuram Palace.
Images from Alleppey Houseboat
2.Munnar
The Kashmir Of Southern India
Munnar is gifted with natural beauty all around. Virgin forests, waterfalls , river streams , beautiful valleys and tea plantation all around, Ohh! did I miss the rare species of animals and plants ?
How to Reach
AIR: The nearest airport to Munnar is Cochin. From Cochin you can hire a cab for Munnar. It is a scenic route .
Rail: There are two railway stations from which Munnar is accessible . The most popular one is Cochin /Ernakulam and the other one is Alwaye (Aluva) or Angamal
Must to visit places in Munnar
The must to visit places include Pothamedu View point, Matupetty Dam, Blossom Park, Cheyappara Waterfalls, Echo Point,Eravikulam National Park, Kundala Lake, Lockhart Gap, Rose Garden, Nyayamakad Waterfall, Photo Point in Matupetty Road, Tea Garden and Tea Museum visit
Must Try :
One of the less known but must try places is the Punarjani Traditional Village. Its a performing Arts Theatre showcasing Dance Forms primarily - Kathakali and others like Mohini Aatam which runs from 5-6 pm. Next show is for the Martial Arts - Kalaripayattu which starts from 6-7pm.
Places to Visit Near Kovalam:
Air:
Rail:
4. Poovar
Places to Visit Near Poovar:
3. Kovalam
Kovalam is a smal coastal town ,famous for its beaches and offer enchanting views of the ocean. Kovalam is also popular for its temples and sunsets.
Samundra Beach , Light House beach and Vizhinjam Marine Aquarium are worth a visit when you are in Kovalam. Other nearby attractions includes Poovar which is just 18 kms from Kovalam.
The journey to Poovar itself is a once in a lifetime experience. One needs to hire a speed boat and pass through the mangroves,sail the majestic Neyyar River ,cross the backwaters and then reach Poovar.
The sands in Poovar Beach are golden in color popularly known as Golden Sand Beach.
Mother Mary statue, elephant rock, coconut island, floating restaurant, floating cottages etc
are some of the top attractions in Poovar
The nearest airport to Kovalam is Trivandrum International Airport.
The nearest Railway Station to Kovalam is Trivandrum Central Railway.