Barely are there a few places left around here which is actually
explored and that gets me excited any more. But I realized these shockers still
exist but unfortunately get shadowed by the bigger touristy names around. For example
Poovar in Kerala. Heard of it? No..Yeah? Been there? No? No..? Well, I am not surprised
because if someone asked me to go explore Kerala I would also first visit
places like Alleppey, Munnar or Kochi maybe.
But let me tell you what you are missing and why you should
plan a trip to Poovar ASAP!
Poovar is a small fishing town, untouched & unexplored. In
Malayalam it literally translates into, Flower River (Poo-Var). Like any other
beach town this hidden hamlet has its own share of swaying coconut trees, clear
blue sea and sandy brown sand. But what sets this place apart from other beachy
places is the fact that it is located at the mouth of an estuary. Pristine
backwater on one side and the gentle sea on the other, it has all the Kerala
elements one looks forward to.
I stayed at this place called Estuary Island. It is an island
because it is surrounded by the backwater on three sides and by the ocean on
the fourth. A relatively new property, the view from the deck is spectacular.
It makes you want to kick your shoes, put up your feet and wriggle your toes
while basking in all the serenity. The villas have the traditional Kerala
roofs, sloped and tiled with an interior that is very classy yet traditional!
(*PS- go during to the monsoon to get great off-season deals)
One must-do here is to take a short backwater cruise around
the island. It can transport you to a
sort of mini Amazonian forest (minus the snakes and mosquitoes). The still
green river water enveloped with a canopy of low lying green vegetation carries
one beyond the present realm of reality. The vibrant birdlife with its water
crows, woodpecker, cranes, the white headed kites etc. this place is definitely
a birdwatcher’s paradise. Their occasional calls are the only things you can
hear apart from the paddling of the oars.
In Poovar, an early morning visit to the Fishermen village
is essential so you witness the everyday life of the fishermen and also chose
what you want for lunch! You can easily spot a fishing cove by the number of
crows in the area and the amount of jelly fishes on the beach. I spotted both
and was excited to witness a fish auction, where the men would throw in their
catch together and sell it the women who bid the highest.
The beach here is everything you can imagine, virgin, soft
and private. As I sat on the beach looking at the ‘Elephant-in-the- Sea’ stone
structure, I wondered whether I should keep this place a secret. But then
beauty is one such thing that can never be hidden. And in Poovar you can not
only see & hear beauty but feel it too. And on my part, it would have been such
a shame to not share it.
If I were you, this is how I would include Poovar to my
Kerala itinerary. Fly into Trivandrum, travel to Varkala, soak up some sun,
surf a bit then travel 70 KMS down south to Poovar, and then head 70KMS south
to the southernmost tip of the Indian sub- continent, Kanyakumari and then back
to Trivandrum.
Facts:
- Best time to visit is
after the monsoon and during winters
- The nearest airport is
Trivandrum which is 25KMS away
- It is best for couples who
are looking for some privacy, but people like me also can be spotted
- Not for all the party animals.
Finish that in Varkala and come here for some solitude
- Ensure you eat the
fabulous sea food here
