Kerala is lovingly referred to as ‘God’s Own Country’. And whoever has been there would know why. God has indeed put his mind and soul into the creation of this beautiful state, so as to make it emerge as one of his masterpieces. God’s loving care reflects in the pristine Arabian Sea, sparkling golden stretches of sand, swaying palm trees and a leisurely ambience. It poses a feast for the eyes and soothes the senses of the city-weary. Kerala is filled to the brim with tourist spots, both natural and man-made. However, Thiruvananthapuram, more commonly known as Trivandrum, the capital city of Kerala, is the biggest crowd puller. Trivandrum has emerged as a very popular tourist spot, thanks mainly to its beaches. Among its beaches, Kovalam Beach is the most renowned. Kovalam Beach is actually the conglomeration of three beaches: Hawah Beach, Lighthouse Beach and Samudra Beach. Again, among these stunningly beautiful crescent-shaped beaches, Lighthouse Beach happens to be the most popular, named so after the lighthouse perched on Kurumkal Hill, and attracts a huge throng. I spent most of my time here during my Trivandrum trip. Hawah Beach is mainly inhabited by fishermen and very few tourists. I wanted some time away from the crowd and had always wished to see ho fishermen set about their task; so I spent some time at the Hawah Beach and immensely enjoyed myself. Samudra Beach is also quite secluded. During high tides, most of the beach is covered by water. Kovalam Beach is a picture of merriment with jolly crowds and enthusiastic bathers and swimmers. I noticed several foreign tourists here apart from tourists from all over India. Tourists can sprawl out on the beautiful beach of Kovalam soaking the sun, take leisurely strolls across the soft sand, take refreshing dips in the warm inviting water and allow themselves to be mesmerized by the sunset and sunrise, during which times a riot of colors spreads across the sky and the sea, making the two vast stretches of blue ingle into one. The ocean also poses a picture-postcard view with tiny fishermen’s boats dotting the horizon. The airport closest to Kovalam Beach is Trivandrum. Those traveling by train will need to get down at Thampanur Railway Station, from where Kovalam Beach is about 15 kms away. As far as accommodation is concerned, tourists are spoilt for choice. There are hotels around Kovalam to suit every taste and budget. Among the premium hotels are included Hotel Samudra, The Travancore Heritage, Surya Samudra, Isola Di Cocco, Poovar Island Resort, Hotel Sea Face and Bright Resorts. There are quite a few deluxe hotels too, including Kadaloram Beach Resort, Swagath Holiday Resorts, Estuary Island Resort, Beach & Lake Resort, Hotel Uday Samudra and Palm Shore Hotel. Budget hotels include Pappukutty Beach Resorts, Marine Palace, Wilson Tourist Home, Hotel Seaweed Seaside, Hotel Raja, Hotel Rock Holm, Hotel Blue Sea etc. Trivandrum is famous for its Ayurvedic treatments. The best Ayurvedic resorts include Somatheeram Beach Resort, Santhatheeram Resort, Manaltheeram Beach Resort etc. Overall, Kovalam … [Read more...]
Travel places: Pristine Beaches of Diu
It’s surprising how many beautiful locations in India many of us don’t even know about. One such frequently overlooked spot is Diu. Tourists to West India often leave Diu out of their itinerary. They don’t know what they are missing. Though tourism is not very well developed in Diu, tourists who have landed there once, keep going back. This little island, nestling in the southern coast of the Gujarat Kathiawar Peninsula, charms tourists with its shy beauty, sparkling stretch of Arabian Sea, soft sand and unmistakable traces of its rich Portuguese history in the form of architectural wonders providing an apt background for the gorgeous scenic beauty. As they say, good things come in small packages. A load of beauty is packed in this 38.8 sq. km. island. This is the reason why Diu is gradually emerging as a favorite holiday spot for not only residents of West India but also of tourists from all over the country. I had spent two days in Diu as a part of my Gujarat tour and am glad I did. Today, it is difficult to find a beach that is virgin and unspoiled by human intervention. Diu boasts of several such beaches. Nagoa Beach is a horse-shoe shaped beach poses a pretty picture, being flanked by towering lush green Hakoa trees, and is set against the picturesque village of Bucharwada, which makes it a very popular tourist spot. However, that’s not the only beach in Goa. Ghoghla Beach is equally beautiful with its sparkling water and soft stretch of brown sand. It is an idyllic location to enjoy a few moments away from the hustle-bustle of everyday life, in the lap of nature. We enjoyed a magnificent view of sunshine and sunset here and watched, mesmerized, as the sun smeared red, orange and scarlet colors across the sky and the sea. For water sports lovers, there is the scope for indulging in water scooting and parasailing here. Jallandhar Beach is another very popular tourist destination in Diu. This beach shares its name with the Jallandhar Shrine perched proudly on a massive hillock. If you are looking for some time away from the maddening crowd and wish to relax with a book or a loved one, this is an idyllic location. If action is your idea of a perfect beach holiday, you can go for a refreshing swim or adrenaline-rushing sports like parasailing and water scooting. We had a leisurely boat ride in the calm waters in this beach and thoroughly enjoyed ourselves. Nagoa Airport in Diu is connected with Mumbai Airport through Jet Airways. The railway station nearest to Diu is Veraval. Diu is no short of hotels and resorts. Three star hotels include Ankur Hotel, Kohinoor Hotel, Hotel Radhika Resort, Hotel Rasal Resort, Suzlon Beach Resort etc. Budgtet hotels include Cidade de Diu, Ganga Sagar Hotel, Khushi International, Hotel Magico Do Mar, Hoka resort etc. From Ahmedabad, Mumbai, Vadodara, Daman, Palitana etc., Diu is easily accessible via highways. Traveller: Anwesha (Kolkata) … [Read more...]
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