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Holiday Overview

Ashtamudi Lake (Nivalink Trip Dated - 14 April 2008)
View from resort (Nivalink Trip Dated - 14 April 2008)

This short break offers a combination of Beach and Backwater experience for a leisure traveller looking for best of views and least travel.

Route

Ashtamudi(2) - Kovalam(2)

Summarised Itinerary
  • Day-1 Arrival at Trivandrum. Proceed to Asthmudi. Evening Boat ride.
  • Day-2 Sightseeing in and Around Ashtamudi
  • Day-3 Proceed to Kovalam. Enroute Trivandrum sightseeing.
  • Day-4 Kanyakumari excursion OR Visit to Neyyar Dam
  • Day-5 Departure
Sightseeing Summary

Ashtamudi - Ashtamudi Lake (0.50 kms), Amritapuri Ashram (41.00 kms)

Kovalam - Hawa Beach and Lighthouse Beach (3.00 kms), Padmanabhaswamy Temple (11.00 kms), Napier Museum (14.00 kms), Aruvikkara (27.00 kms), Neyyar Dam (42.00 kms), Crocodile Rehabilitation and Research Centre (42.00 kms)

Preferred Arrival /Departure Destination
Arrival - Trivandrum Departure - Trivandrum
Best Season to Travel
  • Jan
  • Feb
  • Mar
  • Apr
  • May
  • Jun
  • Jul
  • Aug
  • Sep
  • Oct
  • Nov
  • Dec
Popular Extensions to the Itinerary

Ponmudi, a plantation centric hill station and a local getaway can be an excellent fit in between Kovalam and Ashtamudi.

Distances
  • Trivandrum to Ashtamudi -75 kms (2 hrs)
  • Ashtamudi to Kovalam -85 kms (2 hrs)
  • Kovalam to Trivandrum -11 kms (0.5 hrs)
Route

Trivandrum - Ashtamudi(2) - Kovalam(2) - Trivandrum

Detailed Itinerary

Day-1 Arrival at Trivandrum. Proceed to Asthmudi. Evening Boat ride. Arrive at Trivandrum and travel to Ashtamudi (75 kms - 2 hours). Ashtamudi is an eight cornered lake near Kollam renowned for its backwater experience. Evening boat ride in Ashtamudi Lake.

Day-2 Sightseeing in and Around Ashtamudi There are a few options for guests looking to explore around Ashtamudi. Guests may visit Amritapuri, home of renowned Spiritual leader Mata Amritanandamayi (Here free classes on Vedanta, Sanskrit, meditation and yoga are offered) or opt for a visit to Kollam Beach. Guests may also just relax and enjoy a backwater experience.

Day-3 Proceed to Kovalam. Enroute Trivandrum sightseeing. Proceed to Kovalam (90 kms - 2.5 hrs). Kovalam is a renowned beach destination in South Kerala visited for its premium / luxury resorts offering excellent views of the Arabian Sea. Enroute visit Padmanabha Swamy Temple and Napier Zoo at Trivandrum. Evening visit to the Lighthouse / Hawa Beach.

Day-4 Kanyakumari excursion OR Visit to Neyyar Dam Guests have an option for day excursion to Kanyakumari (85 kms - 3 hours), a renowned Pilgrimage and heritage destination OR undertake an excursion to Aruvikkara Dam and Neyyar Dam (Neyyar dam has been developed as a tourist centre and home to popular Lion safari park (where rescued lions are kept in natural environment), Deer park, Boating, Crocodile Rehabilitation etc).

Day-5 Departure Depart to Trivandrum (15 kms) for onward journey.

Detailed Sightseeing

Ashtamudi :

  • Ashtamudi Lake - Ashtamudi lake is an 8 cornered lake spread over a very large area and offering guests a nature centric lakeside experience. There are boat rides on offer here where guests can take hourly or day cruises. Guests looking for an experience opt for overnight houseboat cruises offered by DTPC

  • Amritapuri Ashram - Amritapuri Ashram is headquarter Mata Amritanandamayi Math (MAM) and is a spiritual center and international pilgrimage site. Here free classes on Vedanta, Sanskrit, meditation and yoga are offered.

Kovalam :

  • Hawa Beach and Lighthouse Beach - Hawa Beach and lighthouse beach interconnect each other and have a number of bars and beachside restaurants connecting them. At both ends there are number of hotels stacked next to each other. Guests arrive here in the evening for the sunset and then hangaround at one of the restaurat / Bars / Curio shops. Mornings one can see fishermen at work taking out fresh catch from their nets.

  • Padmanabhaswamy Temple - Padmanabhaswamy Temple (1566) is a Lord Vishnu temple in Trivandrum and one of the richest temple trusts in India and one the most visited temples in Kerala. The 100-foot seven-tier gopuram made in the Pandyan style architecture is the prime attraction for tourists.

  • Napier Museum - Napier Museum (1855) is an art and natural history museum situated in Trivandurm. Napier Museum is an art and natural history museum situated in Thiruvananthapuram. Museum is closed on Mondays.

  • Aruvikkara - Aruvikkara is a village at 17 kms from Trivandrum having a reservoir and garden that is renowned for its ancient Bhagavathi temple dedicated to Durga

  • Neyyar Dam - Neyyar dam has been developed as a tourist centre and home to popular Lion safari park (where rescued lions are kept in natural environment), Deer park, Boating, Crocodile Rehabilitation and Research Centre, Lakeside garden and a Watch tower.

  • Crocodile Rehabilitation and Research Centre - A crocodile farm was started at Neyyar Dam in 1977 for providing a safe haven for crocodiles. The number of crocodiles varies as muggers are raised and released to the Neyyar river and lake near the dam site. It also accommodates other reptiles like snakes that are caught straying at the tribal villages before they are released back into the sanctuary.

Destination Overview

Trivandrum - Trivandrum is a state capital of Kerala and access point to visit Beach Resorts of Kovalam / Varkala and plantation highlands around Ponmudi.

Ashtamudi - Ashtamudi means, 'eight-armed'. It is a palm-shaped extensive lake and backwaters area with eight prominent arms, adjoining the Kollam town.

Kovalam - Kovalam is one of the few developed beach retreats in India alongside Goa and home to several luxury beach resorts.

Access
Prefered Arrival : No ImageTrivandrumNo ImageTrivandrum
Prefered Departure : No ImageTrivandrumNo ImageTrivandrum
Distances
  • Trivandrum to Ashtamudi -75 kms (2 hrs)
  • Ashtamudi to Kovalam -85 kms (2 hrs)
  • Kovalam to Trivandrum -11 kms (0.5 hrs)

Ready Cost estimate for this itinerary is not available.

However Nivalink would be able to readily offer a cost estimate or customise the itinerary as per specific requirements.

All Nivalink packages offer a Quality Assurance for superior recommendations and hassle free travel experience.

Call 022-6150 6363 to speak to our travel planner or email ke-12@nivalink.co.in to connect with our travel planner for details on the itinerary: Kovalam Ashtamudi Break.

Email to expert@nivalink.co.in to connect with sector expert for specific ideas and recommendations.

Travel Ideas incorporated in the itinerary

Lines indicate the best available driving routes.
Arrows indicate connectivity other than Road (e.g. Waterways or Air).
Please click on the markers for more detailed Information.

Distances
  • Trivandrum to Ashtamudi -75 kms (2 hrs)
  • Ashtamudi to Kovalam -85 kms (2 hrs)
  • Kovalam to Trivandrum -11 kms (0.5 hrs)

Expert Speak

Kovalam and Ashtamudi compliment each other well as they offer differentiated experience. Both have excellent premium / luxury resorts that offer excellent views and therefore excellent for a flight getaways option.

Expert Connect

Nivalink has taken over 300 trips across India and select destinations overseas over last 10 years to verify hotels, evaluate destinations and understand its suitability with different profiles of customers across different seasons.

At Nivalink you are able to connect directly with experts who have travelled to these destinations and are able to offer novel ideas, honest perspectives and help you narrow down choices.

Email to expert@nivalink.co.in to connect with sector expert for specific ideas and recommendations.

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