The name POOVAR ISLAND, might sound quite unheard off to tourists .....But I can bet , that it's rightly called Mini Maldives on Indian soil.
It's located some 17kms from Kovalam, in Trivandrum City of Kerala. The location is a perfect getaway for both honeymooners as well all adventure enthusiasts. Now it's amongst the most sort after destination, because of its floating resort at the mouth of Poovar river as it merges into the Arabian Sea.
It's located some 17kms from Kovalam, in Trivandrum City of Kerala. The location is a perfect getaway for both honeymooners as well all adventure enthusiasts. Now it's amongst the most sort after destination, because of its floating resort at the mouth of Poovar river as it merges into the Arabian Sea.
HISTORY:
Poovar is a small village situated in Trivandrum on the coast of Kerala. It marks the end of the territory of kerala. It lies close to Vizhinjam, which is a natural harbour. The village has been an ancient trading center of timber, spices, ivory and sandal wood.
The so called poovar island is off the mainland , in between the poovar river and Arabian Sea. The beach is quite a spot hidden away from usual hustle bustle of the city life. The remoteness of Poovar makes it a fabulous place for solace and solitude.
The sunkissed golden sand beach, verdant coconut palms on both side of the river creates a magical experience and above that the sail across the Mangrove jungles makes it stand out of the experience of other backwaters drive of kerala.
Poovar is a small village situated in Trivandrum on the coast of Kerala. It marks the end of the territory of kerala. It lies close to Vizhinjam, which is a natural harbour. The village has been an ancient trading center of timber, spices, ivory and sandal wood.
The so called poovar island is off the mainland , in between the poovar river and Arabian Sea. The beach is quite a spot hidden away from usual hustle bustle of the city life. The remoteness of Poovar makes it a fabulous place for solace and solitude.
The sunkissed golden sand beach, verdant coconut palms on both side of the river creates a magical experience and above that the sail across the Mangrove jungles makes it stand out of the experience of other backwaters drive of kerala.
My experience :
The first time I came to know of this place from a feature on Travel XP channel on TV , I made up my mind to add this destination to my list of Destinations in India .......But whatever I saw in TV programme, this destination proved much more to my expectations.
I &my husband though planned a visit to Poovar Island during our Dasherra vacation but due to some serious engagement, we had to drop the idea ...then luckily my husband got 4 days official Diwali holidays and we just couldn't spare this opportunity to visit Poovar. Though everything had to be planned at the last hour, for which our expenses shoot up but nevertheless , it finally happened ....We got out airtickets to Trivandrum, booked hotel at Kovalam as well poovar island and a vehicle for 4 days to go around as ,besides Poovar Island, I planned for Ponmudi hill station and Suchindrum temple, Nagarcoil-Marthandam as well Kanyakumari to my itenary for 4 days Vacation .
It was 28th Oct 2016, around 8pm that we landed at Trivandrum airport, since our vehicle was waiting outside , we did not spend much time as we had to head for Kovalam, which is quite far away from city limit..... We had our booking at a star hotel at Vizhinjam Port side of Kovalam beach. ....We were quite exausted also , by the time we checked in the hotel....then it was just food and off to sleep as the next morning we had our plans to head for Poovar Island.
Morning , when I woke from sleep , I was mesmerised by the view of Kovalam beach from my hotel balcony ....I felt that my door opened up to the waters of Arabian Sea. .....After breakfast, we left for Poovar around 9.30am.....Poovar is not very far off from Vizhinjam Port ...but the road is quite narrow with lots of traffic and no divider. ...so can't drive fast in this route...the journey is just picturesque. ...net and tidy village all across ...home looked quite wealthy. ...finally we reached Poovar Island resort gate...As we had our prior booking , so not much headache, from here we were ferried to our Island resort ,almost 20 mins sail across....
(3/4 resorts are there at Poovar Island,but prior booking is must specially during holidays )........we were but mesmerised. .........
Then comes the cruising in the Poovar....it's bit expensive, as 1hr cruising charge 3500 rs....but if one skip off the cruising , might repent later on ,that's my personal experience. Even my husband was not ready for it when he heard the cost....some people go in for 1.5hrs , 2hrs , 3hrs and the price keeps varying.
The best part of the trip was the cruising thru the poovar backwaters , then the mangrove jungles and then the open sea to the Golden Beach.....
These were simple motor boat that sailed across ....very thrilling and adventurous as it sailed thru the mangrove jungles,where some shots of Anaconda movie was picturised as per the locales and that's how it became so popular destination.
I was so so excited that my camera kept clicking away one after another.....Just loved the Golden beach , which disappears in the Arabian Sea at high tide....Standing on the Golden beach, the Arabian Sea waves looked so so scarry. ...it's so so huge...
Unfortunately, the weather turned bad all of a sudden and we had to leave the Golden beach. ...when it started pouring heavily ,everything became so scarry, .....even the current of poovar river increased 3 / 4 fold....we just rushed back to our resort to enjoy our night stay there...maybe I can't explain my feelings during our stay .....I didn't feel very very comfortable as the rooms gets a floating feeling though it's provided with all classy amenities. .....I felt the same uneasiness , when I first stayed in the house boats at Dal Lake , Srinagar. .....Though , the bad weather spoiled few extra moments at the Golden beach. ...but overall a new experience to add to my memories ....
The first time I came to know of this place from a feature on Travel XP channel on TV , I made up my mind to add this destination to my list of Destinations in India .......But whatever I saw in TV programme, this destination proved much more to my expectations.
I &my husband though planned a visit to Poovar Island during our Dasherra vacation but due to some serious engagement, we had to drop the idea ...then luckily my husband got 4 days official Diwali holidays and we just couldn't spare this opportunity to visit Poovar. Though everything had to be planned at the last hour, for which our expenses shoot up but nevertheless , it finally happened ....We got out airtickets to Trivandrum, booked hotel at Kovalam as well poovar island and a vehicle for 4 days to go around as ,besides Poovar Island, I planned for Ponmudi hill station and Suchindrum temple, Nagarcoil-Marthandam as well Kanyakumari to my itenary for 4 days Vacation .
It was 28th Oct 2016, around 8pm that we landed at Trivandrum airport, since our vehicle was waiting outside , we did not spend much time as we had to head for Kovalam, which is quite far away from city limit..... We had our booking at a star hotel at Vizhinjam Port side of Kovalam beach. ....We were quite exausted also , by the time we checked in the hotel....then it was just food and off to sleep as the next morning we had our plans to head for Poovar Island.
Morning , when I woke from sleep , I was mesmerised by the view of Kovalam beach from my hotel balcony ....I felt that my door opened up to the waters of Arabian Sea. .....After breakfast, we left for Poovar around 9.30am.....Poovar is not very far off from Vizhinjam Port ...but the road is quite narrow with lots of traffic and no divider. ...so can't drive fast in this route...the journey is just picturesque. ...net and tidy village all across ...home looked quite wealthy. ...finally we reached Poovar Island resort gate...As we had our prior booking , so not much headache, from here we were ferried to our Island resort ,almost 20 mins sail across....
(3/4 resorts are there at Poovar Island,but prior booking is must specially during holidays )........we were but mesmerised. .........
Then comes the cruising in the Poovar....it's bit expensive, as 1hr cruising charge 3500 rs....but if one skip off the cruising , might repent later on ,that's my personal experience. Even my husband was not ready for it when he heard the cost....some people go in for 1.5hrs , 2hrs , 3hrs and the price keeps varying.
The best part of the trip was the cruising thru the poovar backwaters , then the mangrove jungles and then the open sea to the Golden Beach.....
These were simple motor boat that sailed across ....very thrilling and adventurous as it sailed thru the mangrove jungles,where some shots of Anaconda movie was picturised as per the locales and that's how it became so popular destination.
I was so so excited that my camera kept clicking away one after another.....Just loved the Golden beach , which disappears in the Arabian Sea at high tide....Standing on the Golden beach, the Arabian Sea waves looked so so scarry. ...it's so so huge...
Unfortunately, the weather turned bad all of a sudden and we had to leave the Golden beach. ...when it started pouring heavily ,everything became so scarry, .....even the current of poovar river increased 3 / 4 fold....we just rushed back to our resort to enjoy our night stay there...maybe I can't explain my feelings during our stay .....I didn't feel very very comfortable as the rooms gets a floating feeling though it's provided with all classy amenities. .....I felt the same uneasiness , when I first stayed in the house boats at Dal Lake , Srinagar. .....Though , the bad weather spoiled few extra moments at the Golden beach. ...but overall a new experience to add to my memories ....
