Kerala Picnic Spots

Veli Tourist Village: The Lake attracts hundreds of visitors' everyday. Pedal boats and paddleboats can be hired to explore the charms of the lagoon in a leisurely manner. For a quick ride over the waters, speedboats are available for hire. Besides water sports, am 18 acre Waterfront Park with floating bridge connects the village to the Shankhumukham beach and also there is a children's park around the floating bridge. The Veli Tourist Village has abundance of fish ponds, wading pools and landscaped gardens, along with facilities for boating and water sports. A children's park around the floating bridge connects the village to the beach. A beautifully landscaped garden and facilities for swimming, boating, etc, on the placid waters of The village is now open from 10 am to 8 pm. Children enjoy climbing over the huge sculptures which dot the landscape.
Best Season to Visit: Through out the Year.

Visiting hours: Open 0700 - 1800 hrs.

Transport Terminals: Nearby is the Shankhumukham beach

Location: 8 kms from Thiruvananthapuram city
How to Reach?
By Air: Nearest Airport is Thiruvananthapuram International Airport, about 3 kms away
By Train: Nearest Railway Station Thiruvananthapuram central, about 8 kms away

Kaviyoor: Kaviyoor is located on the banks of the river Manimala and is famous for its temples. The Kaviyoor Trikkukkudi Cave Temple, also known as the Rock Cut Cave Temple, is of historical importance and is preserved as a monument by the Archaeological Department. It bears close resemblance to the Pallava style of architecture and has prompted historians to date it to a period as early as the eighth century AD. The engravings here are among the earliest specimens of stone sculptures in Kerala. Enshrined in a square cave is the main deity of the shrine, Lord Shiva, represented in the ' Shivalinga' which is about three feet high and carved out of rock. The shrine also has idols of Ganapathy, Maharshi and Dwarapalakas. Another important shrine in Kaviyoor is the Hanuman Temple which stands on a small hillock and is built in the gable style architecture peculiar to Kerala.

Best Time to Visit: Through Out the year.

Transport Terminals:
Nearest City: Thiruvalla
Route: Thiruvalla - Thottabhagom - Kaviyoor.
How to Reach:
By Air: Nearest Airport Thiruvananthapuram (132 Km)
By Rail: Nearest Railway Station Thiruvalla (8Km)

Chellarkovil: Chellarkovil is just 15kms from Kumily. This sleepy little village with its breathtaking view of the plains and cascading waterfalls is a feast for the eyes. The village slopes down to the famous coconut groves of Cumbum in neighbouring Tamil Nadu.

Best Time to Visit: September to May

How to Reach?
By Air: Nearest Airport Madurai in Tamil Nadu, about 140 kms away and Cochin International Airport, Nedumbassery, about 190 kms away.
By Rail: Nearest Railway Station Theni in Tamil Nadu, about 60 kms away.

Anamudi: Anamudi is the highest peak in South India with 2695 meter above sea level Ideal for trekking. The ten mile long rope way from Munnar to Kandala and 2.5 mile long rope way to the 2810 ft. high top station are in use for transporting. A protected area, the sanctuary is divided into three regions - the core area, the buffer area and the tourism area. Visitors are allowed only to the tourism area - Rajamalai - the region lying beyond the road entry into Eravikulam. Here one can observe the Nilgiri Tahr at close quarters.

Best Time to Visit: September- May

Transport Terminals: Eravikulam, which is 15 kms from Munnar

How to Reach?
By Air: Nearest Airports Madurai (Tamilnadu) about 142 kms away from Munnar; Cochin International Airport, about 150 kms away from Munnar.
By Rail: Nearest Railway Stations Kottayam, about 142 kms away from Munnar; Ernakulam, about 130 kms away from Munnar.

Kollengode: Kollengode is 19 kms from Plakkad. Palakkad is known as the granary of Kerala, is a land of palms and paddy fields. And enshrines the pristine beauty of rural Palakkad. The village gets its name from the blacksmith (Kollen) community who live here. The Kollengode Palace, built in the traditional style, and a shrine of Lord Vishnu are the major attractions. Seethakundu and Govindamalai near Kaachankurichi are ideal spots for adventure trekking. Major Attractions: Endless paddy fields, an ancient Vishnu temple and The Kollengode Palace.

Best Time to Visit: September to February

How to Reach?
By Rail: Nearest Railway Station Palakkad, about 19 kms from Kollengode
By Air: Nearest Airport Coimbatore, about 55 kms from Palakkad town.

Aveezhapoonchira: The place is 15 km from Thodupuzha and is spread over 1000 acres, this land locked by green Hillocks skirts Kottayam district. The place gets its name from the fact that there is not a single tree in the vicinity and hence no leaf falls here. The verdant landscape, punctuated with four hills, each rising to 3,200 feet, is ideal for trekking. During the monsoon when the valley fills up to form a scenic lake. One of the best Places in Kerala to enjoy sunrise and sunset.

Best Time to Visit: September To May

Transport Terminals: Kanjar

How to Reach?
By Air: Nearest Airport Cochin International Airport, about 76 kms from Kottayam town
By Train: Nearest Railway Station Kottayam, about 57 kms from Thodupuzha

Vandiperiyar: The River Periyar flowing through the centre of Vandiperiyar nourishes its vast tea, coffee and pepper plantations. A major trade centre, Vandiperiyar is also home to a number of tea factories. The Government Agriculture Farm and Flower Garden have a delightful array of rose plants, orchids and anthuria.

Best Time to visist: September to March

Transport Terminals: Thekkady, 18 kms away

How to Reach?
By Air: Nearest Airports Madurai Airport (Tamil Nadu) and Cochin International Airport.
By Rail: Nearest Railway Station Kottayam

Bolghatty Island: This lush, lovely island is famous for its palace of the same name. The Bolghatty Palace, built in 1744 by the Dutch and later taken over by the British, is today a popular hotel run by the Kerala Tourism Development Corporation.

Best Time to Visit: Through out the Year

Transport Terminals: Cochin's Marine Drive

How to Reach?
By Air: Nearest Airport Cochin International Airport, 20 kms from the city.
By Rail: Nearest Railway Station Ernakulam, 2kms from the city

Bekal Hole Aqua Park: The Park is just I km north of Bekal Fort, off the highway is a unique 'Aqua Park', the only one of its kind in north Malabar. Pedal boats and water cycles offer hour's long relaxation on the cool stretches of the Bekal Hole backwaters.

Best Time to Visit: Summer & Winter

Transport Terminals: Bekal Fort (1 km away) And it is 13 kms south of Kasaragod, 16 kms from Kanjangad and 4 kms from Pallikkara.

How to Reach?
By Rail: Nearest Railway Station Pallikkara, Kanjangad and Kasaragod Railway Stations.

Wagamon: Wagamon is a hill station noted for its misty meadows, splashing waterfalls, and exciting trekking paths. Nestled in the lap of the Western Ghats and surrounded by Shola forests, Wagamon is simply enchanting with the three hills - Thangal Hill, Murugan Hill and Kurishumala, which reflect the Christian-Hindu-Muslim unity. What registers deep in the memories of a visitor to Wagamon is its unique aroma, thanks to the wild orchids, medicinal plants and the dense pine forests here. The vast undulating landscapes, narrow valleys, and waterfalls in rocky terrain everything adds to the adventure factor of Wagamon.

Major Attractions are: Boating, Trekking, Ayurveda, and Drive through the Teekoy valley.

How to Reach?
By Air: As Kottayam lacks an airport, the nearest airport to reach Wagamon is from Cochin International Airport situated in Nedumbassery. The airport is around 100 km from Wagamon.
By Rail: The nearest railway station to Wagamon is in Kottayam, which is 64 km away. By Road: Wagamon is well connected with the places in Kottayam and Idukki districts. To reach Wagamon, one can use the nearest KSRTC bus stand in Erattupetta. From Kottayam Wagamon is about 64 km away.

Ponmudi: This salubrious hill-station showcases luxuriant green hills, scenic winding roads, vibrant singing birds, natural springs, fluttering butterflies, vast expanses of spice and tea plantations peppered with small built yet pretty cottages,. Ponmudi forms a stretch of the mammoth Western Ghats, has been rightly named Ponmudi, meaning 'The Golden Peak'. One is welcomed by the thick tropical forests that carpets the foot of the Ponmudi hill range. The thickly entwined foliage paving way to extensive tea plantations on the way uphill is indeed a feast to the eyes. Ponmudi also has the advantage of being a hill station in close proximity to the sea and the famous beaches of Trivandrum.

Major Attractions: Trekking, Hiking and Bird watching and listening to the avian orchestra are entertaining as well as relaxing.

How to Reach?
By Air: The nearest Airport to Ponmudi is the Trivandrum International Airport.
By Rail: The nearest Railway Station is Trivandrum Central By Road: The hill station is well connected by good roadways.

Mararikulam: Mararikulam or Marari the place which is not changed with the passage of time it gives a completely new experience to a holidayer as it offers an unblemished and pristine shoreline, swaying coconut palms, thatched huts, small paths that crisscross through courtyards and a striking view of the sunset. You can experience the local charm with matchless traditional Kerala hospitality, at Mararikulam. Explore the stunning backwaters, the tranquility of the village and the spectacular sceneries that promise a relaxing and inspiring experience.

Major Attractions: Visit traditional coir making units and indulge in numerous beach activities.

How to Reach?
By Air: Nearest International Airport is at Cochin (about 90 km away)
By Train: Alleppey is the Nearest Airport. By Road: Mararikulam is connected with all major destinations in South India by road.

Vythiri: Vythiri, the land blessed abundantly by nature, is one of the most popular tourist haunts of Kerala. The salubrious climate and scenic beauty of Vythiri made it a popular hill-retreat during the colonial times. During this era, many English planters made Vythiri their home. Rocky terrains, lush forests, numerous waterfalls and wild streams make Vythiri an ideal destination for adventure travelers. There are numerous opportunities here for trekking, rafting, wildlife adventure safari etc. For Ornithologists, Vythiri is a heaven - ideal for spotting an exciting array of exotic birds.

Major Attractions: Boating in Pookot Lake, Trekking, Bird Watching, Elephant Safari and Rafting.

How to Reach?
By Air: The nearest airport is situated at Kozhikode at a distance of around 90 km away from Vythiri.
By Train: Kozhikode railway station, located at a distance of 68 km, is the nearest railway station.
By Road: Vythiri is well connected by a network of roads to the rest of the state and to the neighboring state of Karnataka.