Kerala Cities

Varkala:
Varkala is located 45 kms from Thiruvananthapuram city is an important hindu pilgrimage center. Varkala is known for Papasnanam Beach and 2000 years old Sree Janardhana Swamy Temple. Sivagiri is also the final resting place of Sree Narayana Guru, the great social reformer.

The 'Sivagiri Pilgrimage' is usually conducted between 30th December and 1st January every year. The Sivagiri Mutt - a religious retreat was founded by Sree Narayana Guru (1856 - 1928) the renowned philosopher and social reformer of modern Kerala. Even decades after the Guru breathed his last here in 1928, his Samadhi (resting place) continues to be thronged by thousands of pilgrims.

The Sivagiri Mutt is also the headquarters of the Sree Narayana Dharma Paripalana Sangham, a religious organization established by the Guru to propagate his concept of 'One Caste, One Religion, One God'.

How to Reach

Nearest railway station : Varkala.

Nearest airport : Thiruvananthapuram International Airport, about 46 km from Varkala.


Periyar:
The very sound of the word thekkady conjures up images of elephants, unending chains of hills and spice scented plantations. In the periyar forest of thekkady is one of the finest wildlife reserves in india, and spread across the entire district are picturesque plantations and hill towns that hold great opportunities for treks and mountain walks.

Access :

Air - Nearest Airport : Madurai (Tamil Nadu) 140 kms, Kochi (Nedumbassery - 185 km), Thiruvananthapuram (265 kms).

Rail - Nearest railway station is Kumarakom 114 kms. Madurai station is about 136 kms.

Road - An excellent road network from kumily (4 kms) links the to all major towns and cities in india.

Places to visit :

The Periyar Wildlife Sanctuary - Lying close to the plantations, in the rich jungles of periyar in thekkady is one of the world's most fascinating natural wildlife reserves - the periyar wildlife sanctuary, spread across 777 sq km, of which 360 sq.km is thick evergreen forest, the periyar wildlife sanctuary was declared a tiger reserve in 1978.

The splendid artificial lake formed by the mullaperiyar dam across the periyar river adds to the charm of the park. This is the only sanctuary in india where you can have the unique experience of viewing wildlife at close quarters from the safety of a boat on the lake.

The greatest attraction of periyar , however, are the herds of wild elephants that come down to play in the lake. You can also see wild Elephant, gaur, sambar deer, tiger, jungle cat, sloth bear and wild boar which can be sighted from the boats also 265 species of birds including migrants the hornbill, stork, woodpecker, kingfisher, raptor, cormorant, grackle etc.