📍 Kerala, India
Kerala · 6 destinations & hidden spots
Kollam district
Named for its eight prominent channels ('Ashta' meaning eight, 'Mudi' meaning branches), this sprawling palm-fringed palm-shaped estuary is a designated Ramsar wetland and the southern gateway to Kerala's celebrated houseboat cruises. Famous for canoe village tours and Munroe Island canals.
Jatayu Nature Park Road, Chadayamangalam, Kollam border
Home to the world's largest functional bird sculpture, perched 1,000 feet above sea level on a rocky hill. The monumental 200-foot-long sculpture honours the mythical demi-god Jatayu who fought to save Sita, and is reachable via a scenic state-of-the-art cable car ropeway.
Kovalam, Thiruvananthapuram district
Kerala's most famous coastal destination, comprising three adjacent crescent beaches separated by rocky headlands. The southernmost Lighthouse Beach is renowned for its 35-metre-tall striped stone lighthouse offering sweeping panoramic views over the turquoise Arabian Sea and palm groves.
Hidden Gem
Ponmudi, Nedumangad taluk, Thiruvananthapuram district
A serene, mist-cloaked hill retreat nestled at 3,600 feet in the southern Western Ghats. Reached via a winding road with 22 scenic hairpin bends, it features cool mountain breezes, rolling tea estates, orchids, and trekking trails through shola forest valleys.
East Fort, Thiruvananthapuram
An ancient, monumental Hindu temple built in an intricate fusion of Chera and Dravidian architectural styles. Dedicated to Lord Vishnu in the 'Anantha Shayana' posture (eternal cosmic slumber on the serpent Shesha), featuring a grand 16th-century 100-foot gopuram and carved stone pillared corridors.
North Cliff, Varkala, Thiruvananthapuram district
A dramatic geological marvel where soaring red laterite cliffs plunge directly into the Arabian Sea beach below. Known as Papanasam ('destroyer of sins'), the beach has natural mineral springs, peaceful golden sands, and a cliff-edge walking path lined with cafes and artisan shops.
