Shangumugham- A Silent Beach in the heart of the City

Who would expect to see a Beach in the heart of a busy city like Trivandrum? Not too far from Trivandrum International Airport, Shangumukham or Shangumugham is a cozy spiritual destination for all.  Shanghumugham beach is considered as the ‘Arattukadavu’ of Sri Ananthapadmanabhan - the presiding deity of the city. Moreover, there is a temple dedicated to Goddess Devi. This beach is also the prime location for Ganesh Nimarjan at the time of Vinayaka Chathurthi.

Keeping all the spiritual significance aside, Shangumugham beach is a cozy place to spend some quality time with your loved ones. With the beach covering the majority portion, there is a small shore for people to hold picnics. Luckily for me, the place is close to my residence and I often visit the beach with my friends. Every time we get there, we always find something memorable to cherish for rest of our life.

Apart from the beach, the main attraction of this place is the 30 m long structure of a Mermaid, known as the "Matsyakanyaka"(which is Mermaid in Malayalam). When we got there, we saw a huge crowd in front of the structure, taking pictures and standing bedazzled by the way the structure is constructed.

It wasn't until half past five when the crowd began turning up in huge numbers to witness the sunset. Unlike most of the places where I've seen the sunset, Shangumugham had a packed crowd on a perfect Sunday evening. Even though the place was packed, we were able to get a glimpse of the beautiful sunset.

Now that we have got an indoor stadium near the beach, we now plan on spending our weekends playing badminton on the court and watching the spectacular sunset after we finish playing. Also, for all those who try hard to find their inner peace, Shangumugham is a perfect place to visit. In addition to the beach, the temple and church hold the spiritual significance.



Having said that, Shangumugham is a perfect place to visit if you find it hard to travel far seeking an excellent beach to spend some quality time. Even though the place itself is not remote, it still remains one of the finest tourist spots and no doubt it will still remain one.

Quick facts

1. How to reach – Frequent buses to the beach are available.

2. Nearest town – Veli

3. Nearest railway station – Trivandrum, 8 kilometers away  

4. Nearest Airport – Trivandrum, 2 kilometers away

5. Places to stay – Ideal for one day trip, but if you plan to visit in the long run, the rooms can be easily found in Trivandrum, which is just 8 km from the beach. 

6. Best time to visit – There is no specific time for visiting, you can visit anytime.

7. Things to do – Sculpture of the famous "Matsyakanyaka" is just 100 meters from

the beach. Temple dedicated to Goddess Devi is a perfect place for finding the spiritual mood. Moreover, Valiyathura church is at a walkable distance as well.

8. Is it Child-friendly - Yes

Contributed by - Sooraj Ram

Chandigarh - The City Beautiful

The city is the capital of two states (Punjab and Haryana) and is a union territory too. Chandigarh city has been built with world-class architecture with a quality lifestyle. The city has a number of visiting places such as Rock Garden, Rose Garden, Sector 17 market, Sukhna Lake and Elante Mall (one of the biggest malls in India).

Apart from it, Chandigarh city is also one of the biggest industrial and educational hubs in North India. It has Punjab University, Post Graduate Institute of Medical Education and Research, DAV College, Indian School of Business and also has IT Park where numerous people work in MNC’s like Tech Mahindra, Airtel, DLF, Spice Jet call center, DT mall, and other IT companies. People come to this city to get job, education and world-class health facilities too.
     

However, to reach the city is not a big deal. It has Interstate State Bus Terminal, International and Domestic airports and a railway station too. People come from around the world come to admire the beauty of this during their holidays and folks from surrounding areas come to the city to spend their leisure time, shopping and to have food of variuos international cuisines.

Besides this, the city provides luxurious staying options for the visitors as per their needs and budget. It has various 5 to 7-star hotels like Hyatt Regency, Sukh villas, JW Marriott, Hotel Emerald and Taj Hotels along with some inexpensive hotel options too.

Also, Chandigarh city is connected with states like Punjab, Haryana and Himachal Pradesh. This city is at the distance of almost 2 hours from my hometown. I come to the city for celebrating my important days, to spend my leisure time with friends, during rose festival, to do shopping, during Christmas and also for the New Years Eve.

Furthermore, visitors who want to experience something amazing should come during certain seasons/months such as to celebrate Valentine’s Day, New Year’s Eve, Christmas parties and those who love flowers should come at the end of February month to enjoy the beautiful Rose Festival.

Not only tourism, education and IT industry Chandigarh city is also a preferable site for the video and filmmaking to shoot movies. The city has also given many celebrities to India such as Kirron Kher ( Actress and current MP from Chandigarh), Gurbani Judge (VJ), Ranvijay Singha (VJ), Yami Gautam (Actress), Yuvraj Singh (Indian cricket player), Late Shri Nek Chand (Architecture and Sculpture of Rock Garden), Satinder Sartaj (famous folk singer), Kiran Bedi retired IPS (Current Governor of Puducherry) and many more.

In addition to this, Chandigarh city has various international restaurants such as CCD, Mc Donald’s, KFC, Subway, Dominos and Pizza Hut. But if you are fond of enjoying Indian foods as Punjabi, South Indian, Gujarati and Kashmiri food then you have tremendous options for these as well like Sindhi Sweets, Pirates of Grills, Sagar Ratna, and Pal Dhaba are some of the best options for local cuisines.

 If I talk about my experience with locals of the city, they are broad-minded, jovial and most of the people are from Haryana and Punjab so, they have some behavior in their nature related to these certain states. Views of the people of Chandigarh city could be different from various people. Some people say Chandigarhians (people from Chandigarh) are stone hearted; they have no values for their family and relatives. But in my views, the city is swiftly developing and ahead from its various surrounding cities, the life in the city is quite busy and folks are involved in various extra activities such as sports, clubbing, discos and other gaming parlors. It does not mean they do not have time for their family and relatives.

Locals always help visitors of their city in any trouble, whether they need any police, medical and general help. Tourists do not need to be worried if they feel they are lost in Chandigarh; the city has its map structure at every circle, red light crossing, and markets. Police check posts are available at every circle of the city and always prepared to help anybody at any time.

During my last visit to the sector 17 market, an old age person got a heart attack while doing shopping with his wife. Police officers were at their post in the market, they took the matter in their hand and took that old man to the nearest hospital in their ambulance. This quick action by police officers saved the life of that old man. At the very next day, a local newspaper and a news channel were praising those police officers for their quick responsible action.

I believe, Chandigarh city is the beautiful, green and clean city in North India. Mates, who are fond of flowers, should visit the city to experience the beautiful, colorful and sweet fragrance Roses during Rose festival of Chandigarh City.

Chandigarh city also has a beautifully designed garden with home wastes, named Rock Garden. Spending spare time here could be the best option for kids and youngsters. They can view amazing sculptures and cascades designed inside the garden. 

For Shopaholics, sector 17 and Elante mall has an endless option for shopping globally famous branded clothes, shoes, sports equipment, shades, watches, perfumes and electronic equipment.

Alternatively, during evening time of each day, the sector-17 market turns into an open party venue, amazing lightening with fountains, music and some tasty street food options.

Some other facts about Chandigarh city

As I said in the starting of the article, Chandigarh city has international as well as domestic Airport, a railway station, ISBT 43 sector and ISBT 17 sector. It means the city is reachable from all the 3 ways easily by any person.

Nearest big cities to this beautiful cities are Patiala (less than 60km.), A beautiful hill station Shimla (almost 115 km.) and National Capital Delhi (almost 245 km.)

During the visit to the city, tourists can enjoy the beauty of Rose Garden, experiencing the company of people from different regions, cultures, and religions. At the bay of Sukhna Lake folks can enjoy their early morning walks or jog, visitors can enjoy boating at could amaze by the beautiful view of the sunset. Couples also can get a sketch of themselves by the amazing artists of the city and much more things to experience in the city. Here, tourists have multiple options to travel in the city such as hiring private taxis, hiring ola or uber cabs and also can travel through local AC buses in such inexpensive cost.

To sum up, tourists need not worry about taking their kids to the city as the city is safe and clean for the person of every age group. This city also has the options for kids to enjoy at certain places. So, come to the city during your upcoming vacations and experience some gorgeous natural view at various places in the city with world-class staying options!

Contributed by  - Harneet

Uccha Pind (Sanghol)

At Ludhiana to Chandigarh highway, there is a village which is predating to the Harappan civilization. The village Sanghol is in the territory of Fatehgarh Sahib District and also this place holds a special position on the archaeological atlas of India. Excavations at the site have yielded coins and seals related to Toramana and Mihirakula belonging to central Asia. A Buddhist Stupa was excavated in 1968, and in February 1985 a rich treasure of 117 beautiful carved stone slabs, which includes 69 pillars, 35 crossbars, figures, and figurines, was excavated by the experts of the Directorate of Archaeology, Punjab.

Tourist attractions in the village

Sanghol is famed for the Sanghol Museum. A large of the number of relics dating from the late Harappan civilization (1720 – 1300 BC) to 6th century AD, was found here.  More than 15000 artifacts were collected from this site and the majority of them are displayed in this museum. Sanghol also was known as Uchha Pind, There are some mythical stories about the destruction of this village. The main village sits very high clearly visible from the surrounding towns. It is also linked to the Kissa "Roop Basant" stories as well. Some people from surrounding villages say that its ancient name was Sangla-deep. There are a Buddhist Stupa and Monastery Complex dating back to 1st and 2nd century AD situated on the main road. A few kilometers towards Ludhiana there is a religious place where huge numbers of people come to pay homage and some miles towards Chandigarh city there is the village of Legendary singer Babbu Maan whose Film studio is also in his village Khantmaan Pur.

About Museum Gallery

The present building of the Sanghol Museum was inaugurated on April 10, 1990, as a unit of the Department of Cultural Affairs, Archaeology and Museums of the Government of Punjab. Excavations at Sanghol yielded archaeological treasures of great significance indicating a long history of the cultural heritage of Punjab. These treasures needed to be preserved and displayed at a place for public view and appreciation. With this thought in view, the Sanghol Museum was set up by the Government, not only to preserve Punjab' s Cultural treasures, but also to involve the public in the appreciation of the continuous cultural linkage that the land has maintained from the early ancient times and has witnessed large-scale movements and amalgamation of people and their culture.

A vast treasury of about 15000 antiquities has been collected by the department through various archaeological excavations and explorations at Sanghol. It comprises of antiquities of diverse nature like sculptures, terracottas, pottery, seals, sealings, coins, ivory, carvings, precious stones and other art objects.

The ground floor gallery exhibits the most important items of antiquities other than the stone sculptures. The pride of the Sanghol Museum, the stone sculptures, is displayed in the upper gallery.

The antiquities in the ground floor gallery have been arranged chronologically to highlight the development of socio-cultural and religious facts of the regional manifestations of the heritage of Punjab. Apart from the actual objects, a large number of charts, graphs, photographs, maps, and drawings have been displayed to supplement the viewing of the actual objects. Each of the items is given a label disclosing its identification and chronological placement. The methodology has been as per the latest display techniques followed in museums of the type. At the entry point has been displayed a Master Chart containing a brief history and important details of Sanghol as an archaeological site and of the objects obtained from the place.

The art of Punjab is not usually referred to by scholars as a distinctive regional expression in view of the paucity of sufficient materials, to go by the discovery of Sanghol sculptures together with the huge Buddhistic establishment which has opened up a new dimension. Punjab now can verily claim a distinctive contributory role in the cultural creativity in the visual arts even during the early centuries of the Christian era. The glory of the artistic participation of Punjab in the main-stream of Indian cultural efflorescence is evidenced by the archaeological discoveries of Sanghol.

The Chinese pilgrim Hieun Tsang of the 7th Century AD noticed flourishing Buddhistic establishments at Sanghol. It seems likely that he did see the lingering glory of the artistic achievements of Sanghol, the glimpses of which could still be had by the visitor to the Museum today through the well-preserved specimens of the sculptural art.

The collections on display are only of the selected objects. Scholars and keen lovers of art can have an access to the other art objects preserved in the reserve collection. For this, they will need taking permission of the appropriate authority.

 Some other facts about the village

There are many educational institutes near Sanghol village. The village is almost 40 kilometers away from Chandigarh University and also has big convent schools along with government schools which are equipped with latest educational facilities.

If any visitor is fond of eating roadside food, there is the availability of numerous ferries which provides delicious street food in vegetarian and non-vegetarian eatable items.

Moreover, on the state highway of Sanghol, a huge number of hotels are available. Some are too old and famous all over the Punjab state such as; Mittran da Dhaba, Zimidara Dhaba, Captain Dhaba and Raja Dhaba which gives the chance to taste pure Punjabi delicious food.

Apart from this, currently the village is developing; the lifestyle of locals has also changed. A flyover is also under construction which makes it easy to reach the village quickly from faraway places. A super hit Punjabi movie was also filmed in the village name “Jatt James Bond” starring Gippy Grewal and Zarine Khan.  

The ideal time to visit

The ideal time for visiting the place is from Octobers to March. Summers are extremely hot and temperature rises to 45˚C. There is a heavy rainfall observed in Monsoon season. Therefore, winters should be preferred for visiting here.

How to Reach

Fatehgarh Sahib is well connected through rails, roads and by air as well.

By Air

Fatehgarh Sahib city has no airport. The closest airport is 41 km away in Chandigarh. Chandigarh has a well-connected network of airways from 5 prominent cities of India and most of the domestic airlines reach Chandigarh.

By Train

This city has a well-connected railway network with a railway station running trains from all most of the cities of the country such as Delhi, Una of Himachal Pradesh etc.

By Road

The road network of the city is quite good and connects Fatehgarh Sahib to different cities with great transport facility. The daily bus service can be availed from Delhi, Chandigarh besides the neighboring cities. Taxis may also be hired.

Contributed by - Harneet

Fatehgarh Sahib: The place with historic and religious values

The name 'Fatehgarh', refers to the 'Town of Victory', because in 1710 Sikhs under the leadership of Banda Bahadur overran the city and razed the fort that was built during Balban's rule to the ground.

The city of Fatehgarh Sahib is historically vital for the Sikhs as two younger sons (aged 9years and 6years) of 10th guru Shri Guru Gobind Singh Ji were buried alive underlay by the Governor of Sirhind Wazir Khan.  By taking the revenge of the death of Guru’s younger son’s by Baba Banda Singh Bahadur, two Sikh temples (Gurudwaras) were built. One of the places where both the princes were martyred and the other one is where their funeral was held.

My visit to the holy city: Fatehgarh Sahib

After the completion of final exams of my Post Graduation, my friends decided to visit at Gurudwaras of Fatehgarh Sahib.  

Image: Gurudwara Shri Fatehgarh Sahib where two younger sons of 10th guru Shri Guru Gobind Singh Ji were buried alive underlay

Image: night view of Gurudwara Jyoti Saroop Sahib, Where funeral of Guru Gobind Singh Ji's two younger son’s was held.

Apart from religious places, Fatehgarh Sahib city has very few tourist attractions such as Aam Khas Bagh and Khanda museum is under construction just behind bus stand. 

Image: A view of Aam Khas Bagh

There are not many places for tourist attractions in the city, but if a person has interest in discovering historical places and has some religious value, Fatehgarh Sahib could be one of the good options. Moreover, the tour for this city could be done within little time. Tourists need not plan for a long time. 

Traveling and staying options

Fatehgarh Sahib City is well connected by road as well as railways. This city is approachable from the State capital of Punjab and Haryana. However, staying could be a problem in this city as the only option is to book a room in public houses of Gurudwara's at cheapest price.

Best time to visit

Accordingly, anyone could visit this city during any season but, (if a visitor is not afraid to visit in a huge crowd) in the ending week of every year, a fair has been organized in the city for three days, in the memory of younger princes of Shri Guru Gobind Singh Ji. This according to me is the best time to visit the place for its sheer vibrancy and the positive Vibes.

Things to do in Fatehgarh Sahib

If a tourist is a religious person and has the curiosity to know about religious history than it could be a good place for. All kind of religious stuff such as Kirpan (sword), Kangha (a wooden comb), Kadah (Bracelet made of iron, steel, and copper) and literature about Sikh religion, true story books about the heroes of the religion and also about the brief history of the city can buy from here. All the literature is available in Punjabi, Hindi as well as English languages. 

The food and the cuisine

Despite the things mentioned above, if I talk about food, this city has tremendous options for eating. Gurudwara's have their own langar halls where rich or poor have to eat by sitting on the ground in a line. Also available are hotels like Noormahal Regency, Samosa Express, Subway, Shiv Shakti and several non-vegetarian cuisine options. There are Restaurants with a plethora of international (Indianised) and domestic tastes in Chinese, Italian, South Indian, Punjabi and Kashmiri food choices are accessible. 

People in the city

Locals of the city are very friendly and helpful. Here, visitors can experience friendly relationships among Hindus, Sikhs, and Muslims. Even tourists can find people from other religions inside Gurudwaras. About this, I would like to share that in the fair of 2017, Muslims gave space for Sikhs to prepare food for the visitors inside their Mosque (Roza Sharee). All festivals are celebrated by the person from all religions and caste with same interest and joy.

Apart from it, I would like to share an incident; during our visit to the holy city a tourist from Kerala lost his wallet somewhere. So he was looking for help everywhere, he went to Fatehgarh Sahib gurudwara and met with caretakers and managers. After finding his problem genuine, they helped him with cash and booked his ticket for his destination, as well as they packed food for him.

If a visitor facing any kind of problem in Fatehgarh Sahib City, they can contact Police and also can ask for help to Gurudwara management committee. Sikh Temples are 24/7 open for its visitors even if they want food in the middle of the night.

Some other facts about Fatehgarh Sahib City

Fatehgarh Sahib is a developing city; it has numerous options for eating vegetarian and non-vegetarian foods. It has a big Law college (Lincoln College of Law), Baba Banda Singh Bahadur Engineering and Diploma college, Mata Gujri College besides newly framed University, named Guru Granth Sahib World University. It also has a world-class education providing school Baba Zorawar Singh and Baba Fateh Singh school. 

This city became a district in the year 1992. Fatehgarh Sahib City ranks first in the Swacch and Swast Bharat. Aam Khas Bagh is also famous as many of the stars choose this place for their movie or video song shooting. A short movie on Shaheed Bhagat Singh was completely shot in Aam Khas Bagh, in which famous stars of Punjabi film industry Shivinder Mahal, Ravinder Grewal and Victor Johns was in lead roles.

My views about Fatehgarh Sahib 

The city has emotional values not only for Sikhs but for followers of other religions too. I got peace of mind at the Gurudwaras, I love to spend my spare time there. I visit the fair every year for continuous 3 days/ I am a foodie too, so this city is also in my choice for tasting different cuisines. This city makes me feel as I am in my own city, everybody is so friendly, world-class educational institutes, different monuments to visit and easy to reach. If anyone is shopaholic there are two supermarkets and has various shops surrounding Gurudwara's.

Some details about fair (Shaheede Jorh Mela): 

As per Gurmukhi calendar, the fair starts every year from 11th of Poh month (during December month). At different places, religious storytellers narrate the story of younger princes and their grand-mother Mata Gujri Kaur Ji. In the story, they recite about how the governor of Sirhind tortures them. During these three days, every person sleeps on the ground as Mata Ji and her grandsons were pressurized to sleep on the floor without any warm cloth during coldest days of winter days.

Image: Palki Sahib yatra or nagar kirtan

In the last day of fair, a Palki Sahib procession takes place from Gurudwara Fatehgarh sahib to Gurudwara Jyoti Saroop sahib. A huge crowd follows this procession barefoot till it reaches its destination. 

Another image of Palki Sahib

Visitors to this fair can witness a huge crowd, who pay tribute to younger sons and mother of 10th Guru Shri Guru Gobind Singh ji.

A fact about Gurudwara Jyoti Saroop Sahib 

The land of Gurudwara Jyoti Saroop Sahib is still the costliest land which bought by Diwan Todar Mal from Governer Wazir Khan on the 12 December 1705 for not renouncing their faith and the death of their grandmother from the shock at the news of the sudden and despicable execution of the innocent youngsters. This wealthy merchant had to cover the required ground for cremation with 78000 gold coins to get the release of the three bodies in the 40,000 cm square. 

Contributed by -

Harneet, Punjab

Kalimpong - Paradise in Bengal

On April 2016 as the  four of our family were  planning for a small trip for three to four days ; we  headed to Kalimpong . If it is sounding like a very common place then let me inform you  that I will say you about a place out of track this time. After driving almost two and half hour from NJP  we reached Kalimpong town but did not stop there, we drove 1 km more till we reached Holumba Heaven, a stay for the nature and peace lovers with cottages.The place is away from the town located on the main highway and closest to nature. As we are a nature loving family this place was the best suited for us, away from the sounds and chaos of the town.It is a little expensive but the rooms are nice and really comfortable. We spend the day roaming on the hilly roads and enjoying the beauty. The weather was a little gloomy that day.

On the next day we went to  Delo park 9 km away from Kalimpong , a perfect place to spend the day.The park is really enjoyable with eye catching green views.Here you can revel a horse-ride around the park. One more attraction of this place is , here you quench the thirst of adventure by paragliding. The cost of paragliding is RS 3000/- per head. If this  talk about adventure excites you , I want to suggest  that , go 15 km from Delo, to Chitra ,where there is a rafting spot on the Tista river. There we were taken to the bank of the river along with the rafting boat and two men to help us.The cost of the rafting was RS 1000/- per head.The reckless ride on the rash hilly river was really awesome.It was a thrilling and safe adventure.I bet this will give you a memorable experience of your life, so do not miss it.One can also have more side scenes in the Kalimpong town like the monastery, Kalimpong science centre, cactus nursery ,pine view nursery , temple etc.

We spent the last two days of our trip in Chibo, a village 15 km away from kalimpong.There is only one staying place , Chibo Inn. The rooms and the services here is really impressing . I really felt complete from mind when I reached there.It is a place surrounded by forest and foothills as beautiful as a living dream. It is a small hilly village. The narrow walking roads makes their ways through the green small forests. The sun set and the sun rise in this place gave me the glimpses of heaven.

Through out the trip we got the sky blue and clear, except the day we reached. We were quite pleased with the foods and services offered by the places where we stayed.

I suggest the best times to visit this places are March April.This time the  weather remains really comfortable and clear most of the time. Make sure to have a pre-booking in the staying places  while planning your trip. Three to four days are enough for this trip.These places will leave a indelible impression in your mind.

Veli – Where the Lake meets the Sea

Being surrounded by water on one side, Kerala is a place to visit if you are in need for a place that, not only is worth taking a swim but also worth experiencing the breathtaking views. Veli is one such place which offers a perfect place for those who like to take some time to appreciate the beauty of nature. Located not so far from the capital city of Kerala, Trivandrum, Veli is a beautiful village that is a home for one among the finest places for boating and picnicking.

Having spent almost a year taking a trip around the coastal strip of Kerala, it took me a while to reach Veli. Once I got there, I was told that Veli Tourist Village is an integral part of Veli tourism. After handling the entry formalities, the first thing that grasped my interest was the huge sculpture of Conch. The sculpture is so big that a person can see it from a faraway point.
The place holds almost 10 to 15 sculptures, including the smaller ones. Out of these 15, the conch is the centre of attraction. The surroundings are green and are well maintained by the tourism faculties. After the massive conch, I walked across the place to see other sculptures.

As I walked towards the horizon, I get to see the floating bridge. Similar to the one you see on the internet, floating bridge is a nice little path to get past the land and move towards the shore. This connecting bridge is a fascination among the children and also a perfect place for those who wish to take a good retro style sunset picture with their loved ones.

Moving on, after safely walking across the bridge, the next thing that blew me away was the amazing Floating Restaurant. Just when I was a bit tired walking around and taking pictures, Veli floating restaurant run by KTDC offers a wide range of palate from which, I would highly recommend the South Indian cuisine. It's nothing like experiencing South Indian cuisine in South India.

Half past 5, it was the perfect time for me to find a place to watch the sunset. I got into the lagoon where one could clearly distinguish the lake and sea. Separated by a small yet beautiful line of rocks, I was fortunate enough to grab a spot near the reef to experience the sunset. Unlike most of the places I get to experience the sunset peacefully in Veli. After taking a quick dip in the Veli Beach, I wrapped my trip with a walk across the Golden sand beach.

Veli is a perfect spot for all those who seek to kill time by immersing themselves into the depths of the peaceful and beautiful nature. With a wide range of choices for people to pass time, as far as I'm concerned Veli tourist village is the best spot for picnicking and get-together parties. Moreover, the floating restaurant also offers a vacant space for people to host private parties. So, if you are planning a get together party, do it in style and posh by renting the Restaurant. Their service is top notch and I guarantee you that you will get to spend some quality time with your loved ones.

Quick Facts about Veli –

1. How to reach – Frequent buses to Veli are available from Trivandrum.

2. Nearest town – Veli

3. Nearest railway station – Trivandrum Railway Station, about 8 kilometers far  

4. Nearest Airport – Trivandrum International Airport, about 2 kilometers away

5. Places to stay – Ideal for one day trip, but if you plan to visit for a long run, then rooms can be easily found in Trivandrum, which is just 8 km from Veli. 

6. Best time to visit – There is no specific time for visiting, you can visit anytime.

7. Things to do – Take a walk across Veli strip and get to see the massive conch sculpture and pass the floating bridge. Boating and other water sports can be experienced and at last don’t miss the sunset.

8. Is it Child-friendly - Yes

Perumathura - The “Golden” Sand Beach

The fun part of exploring places is that you might never know what you are about to find, just like as if you are searching for a hidden treasure. I'm fortunate enough to say that I have had the pleasure of finding such gems hidden under the radar. Having spent most of my holidays riding around the coast, I got to see one among the hidden gems in Kerala, India. Being surrounded by water on two sides, India has a lot of beaches but only a few are known to people. Not so long from the capital city of Kerala, Trivandrum-there is one such beach called Perumathura which, as far as I'm concerned is one of the finest beaches to hang out.

Before heading to the main stop, the beach-the place continues to excite one, as one is on their way to the beach. The place that I'm talking about right now is the Muthalapozhi Bridge. The only way through which one could enter the beach, the bridge (fairly new as it was opened in the year 2015) offers a magnificent view. This place is what we call a "viewpoint". 

I never expected to see something this special since Perumathura is one among the hidden gems of India and I was expecting for a small beach surrounded by trees on four sides.  On the contrary, I felt I could just spend the whole day watching the beautiful beach from the bridge. 

The place itself is beautiful and luckily less crowded. It is almost impossible to find such a private beach, the last time that I found one was close to Cherai Beach in Kochi.  The moment I got there, the first thing that amazed me was the magnificent atmosphere. Unlike most of the beaches, Perumathura doesn't have a ton of waste deposits or anything that spoils a good atmosphere.  There are a little of things you could do while you are at the beach. First and foremost, enjoying the sunset without many people surrounding you to block your sight should be at the top of your priority list. Also, you could climb on top of the small stone alike structure to get a nice view. The Anjengo Fort, known for a great historic significance is just 6 to 10 kilometers away from the beach. So if you could get to the place early before the sunset, I suggest you take a visit to the fort. 

Apart from the Perumathura beach, you get to see a small harbor near the beach where small boats trade resources on a small level. If you are lucky, you might get to meet some down-to-earth people who will easily mingle with you. I got to know the story behind the name "Perumathura". The village got its name from the late king "Cheraman Perumal". The word "Perumathura" means "the residence of Perumal". The strange fact is that I never saw a sign or a statue of King Perumal on Perumathura, even though he was the one who ruled the place. 

It was half-past 7 when I got off the place. I reached there at around 4 PM and I didn't even know how time flew so fast. Perumathura is a place where you get to enjoy the cool breeze and breathtaking sights. If you are a photographer, then this is the best place for you to click a few pictures of nature. While you are at it, don't forget to snap a picture of the view from the bridge, which is probably the best thing that Perumathura offers to its visitors. 

Quick Facts about Perumathura Beach -

1. How to reach – Buses are available to Varkala. You could hire an auto from Varkala.

2. Nearest town – Varkala

3. Nearest railway station –  Varkala Railway Station, 12 kilometers

4. Nearest Airport – Trivandrum International Airport, 35 kilometers

5. Places to stay – Accommodation available at Varkala. This place is ideal for one day trip.

6. Best time to visit – An ideal time would be the monsoon season so that you could enjoy the green surroundings. However, Perumathura could be visited anytime.

7. Things to do – Take a walk around the beach to experience fresh and cool breezy air. Climb on top of the small stone structure to see the sunset. And of course, you can spend some quality time in the water.

8. Is it Child-friendly - Yes