Hi,
@Ashoka! Welcome to the forum!
Here are some places near Trivandrum that you can visit:
Places Under 100 Kilometres from Trivandrum
1. Varkala - This is just 45 kilometres away from Trivandrum so you can reach it within an hour or so. With its beaches, historical monuments and religious structures, Varkala is a great getaway from Trivandrum. Its best attraction is the
Papanasam Beach. It is the only beach in the state situated adjacent to a red cliff, which gives commanding views of the sea. Do visit the cliff during sunrise or sunset, when the views coincide with the rising or setting of the sun. Despite being the best attraction in Varkala, this beach is still less crowded than the beaches of Kovalam. Yet another gem in the city is the
Ponnum Thuruthu Island. A boat ride amidst the water can be an alternative to a backwater tour of Alleppey. You can also visit the Shiva temple located in the middle of the lake. Temples like
Janardhana Swami Temple and
Sivagiri Temple are also famous attractions of the city. Thus, Varkala is a great destination because it offers many attractions in its vicinity. Spas, resorts and hotels are also abundant in the city so you won't face issues with accommodation or relaxation options.
- Must visit places - Papanasam (Varkala) Beach, Ponnum Thuruthu Island, Janardhana Swami Temple and Sivagiri Temple
2. Kollam - This is about 71 kilometres away from Trivandrum or over 1 hour and 30 minutes of driving. A boat ride amidst the
Munroe Island of Kollam is sure to revive your spirits. Although it's relatively lesser known than its sister backwater in Alleppey, Munroe Island has a charm of its own. Cruising along the island is very scenic, but you won't be able to do it on a luxurious houseboat. Instead, normal smaller boats operate around the island and you get to see the village life as well. There are also many beaches that you can visit in Kollam like the
Thirumullavuram Beach and the
Kollam Beach. For those who enjoy nature, do visit the
Palaruvi Waterfalls and
Kumbhavurutty Waterfalls. Don't forget to climb the T
hangassery Lighthouse before you go home and enjoy the scenic views of the sea from the top.
- Must visit places - Munroe Island, Thirumullavuram Beach, Kollam Beach, Palaruvi Waterfalls, Kumbhavurutty Waterfalls and Thangassery Lighthouse
3. Kanyakumari - This is about 92 kilometres away from Trivandrum. It can take you around two hours to cover this distance by driving. It's a bit further away from Trivandrum and is located in Tamil Nadu. Still, having a rich heritage, Kanyakumari is very much worth a visit. From its temples, beaches and natural sceneries, it is surely one of the best destinations near Trivandrum. The most famous attraction here is the
Vivekananda Rock Memorial, dedicated to Swami Vivekananda. The only way to reach the memorial is through a boat ride as it is located in the middle of the sea. Sunsets are quite stunning when spent here. For the devout Hindus, a visit to the different temples in the city can fulfil them. Yet another great place to visit is the
Padmanabhapuram Palace, a wooden palace dating back to the era of the Maharajas. At the end of the day, a visit to the peaceful beaches of Kanyakumari and Sothavilai can refresh you.
- Must visit places - Vivekananda Rock Memorial, Padmanabhapuram Palace, Kanyakumari Beach, Sothavilai Beach and many more
Places Under 200 Kilometres from Trivandrum
1. Courtallam - This is about 108 kilometres away from Trivandrum or about 2 hours and so of driving. The city is also known locally as Kutralam and is also known as the
Waterfalls Region of Tamil Nadu. If you're someone who enjoys trekking to reach waterfalls, then Courtallam is the best destination for you. There are about nine waterfalls in the town alone which are best visited during the monsoon season. The biggest of these waterfalls is the
Peraruvi Waterfalls, which is about 60 metres high. Yet another famous waterfall here is the
Aintharuvi Waterfalls, which means five falls. Both these falls are accessible by vehicle so you won't need to trek to reach them. Other falls like the
Chitraruvi Waterfalls and P
uli Aruvi Waterfalls can only be reached by trekking. There are also some temples around Courtallam that you can visit. A visit to Courtallam is sure to bring you in one with nature and erase all your worries and problems away. However, there are no hotels in the town, only guest houses and home stays are available. But I think that adds to the adventure and simplicity of the vacation.
- Must visit places - Peraruvi Waterfalls, Aintharuvi Waterfalls, Chitraruvi Waterfalls, Puli Aruvi Waterfalls and many more
2. Alleppey - This is about 157 kilometres away from Trivandrum. If you haven't tried a houseboat tour, then it's a must to do that in Alleppey. Commonly referred to as the
Venice of the East, a tour amidst the backwaters of Alleppey is recommended for a relaxing vacation. A houseboat tour is the ultimate relaxation as food is served to you, included in the tariff. The sceneries include the backwaters, the wildlife and the surrounding villages. You can even add in an Ayurvedic massage to truly invigorate your spirits. Outside of the backwaters, there are numerous temples that you can visit in Alleppey. There's the
Ambalapuzha Shri Krishna Temple, dedicated to the Lord Krishna and serves delicious paal-payasam to the devotees. Or maybe you can visit the
Chavara Bhavan Shrine, a very small temple but exudes peace and serenity. Alleppey also has many beaches that you can enjoy like the
Marari Beach and
Andhakaranazhi Beach.
- Must visit places - Ambalapuzha Shri Krishna Temple, Chavara Bhavan Shrine, Marari Beach, Andhakaranazhi Beach and many more
3. Vagamon - This is about 186 kilometres away from Trivandrum and can take about 4 hours or more to reach. It is a hill station, with an elevation go about 1,000 metres above sea level. Thus, the city receives pleasant climate almost all-year round. If you're looking for something new, not commercialised and away from the hustle of the city, then Vagamon is a good choice. It is untouched by commercialisation and so its attractions are mainly naturally made. These attractions range from forests, hills, falls and lakes. If your idea of a vacation is seeing beautiful sceneries all around you, then there's no better place for that than Vagamon. The
Vagamon Pine Forests are picturesque and calming. Trekking amidst these forests would leave you wanting more. Then, there's the
Vagamon Lake, where you can spot birds frolicking in the waters. A beautiful yet underrated tourist destination, do visit Vagamon and see the beauty of this hill station for yourself.
- Must visit places - Vagamon Pine Forests, Vagamon Lake and many more
There you go, I hope this little list helps you! Enjoy your vacation!
