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‘How good a swimmer are you?’ asked the form the manager at Soul & Surf handed us to fill. This seemingly innocuous dart in our direction was actually one of those existential questions in the true sense of the word. And as we were to find out soon, the answer possibly determined our survival in the middle of an ocean. The sea waves charge at 55 kilometres per hour. Can we be faster? After all, we are just pool swimmers! These were the thoughts that lingered on hindsight when we filled the ‘You will not be responsible if we die surfing’ form, sitting in the 200-year-old reception building at Soul & Surf in Varkala. Yep, we had signed up for the beginners surfing lessons with them, and though we knew that the instructors were ISA qualified, we were apprehensive. Turns out, we weren’t required to be that great a swimmer to surf. Let us rewind a bit… As we had stated in our earlier blog on Places to visit in Varkala, we wanted a quiet and secluded place to stay (away from the North Cliff’s hullabaloo) and wished to learn surfing. When we stumbled upon the Soul & Surf’s website, we were sold. The place single-handedly satisfied both purposes – The hotel is located on a quiet street on the South Cliff, and it has its own in-house surf school. Soul & Surf brought us an unforeseen fortune, and we booked right away; both the stay and the surfing lessons. In this article, we will highlight our stay and surfing experience with Soul & Surf, Varkala. Soul & Surf, Varkala Soul & Surf’s website claims that it is a ‘hotel’, but ask us, and we would classify it more as a mix of a hotel, a homestay and a hostel. Hotel because it gives privacy and access to all modern amenities, homestay because it made us feel at home, and hostel because of the laidback yet energetic vibes it triggered within us. Layout of Soul & Surf, Varkala Soul & Surf is located on a secluded street on Varkala’s South Cliff. The property’s boundary wall is covered with thick shrubbery, with a profusion of pink bougainvillaea flowers growing all over the gate. Riding inside, we came face-to-face with an old Keralan traditional house. The signpost outside the house indicated that it was the reception. We later realised that it is a 200-year-old structure bought by Ed and Sofie Templeton when they first thought of establishing Soul & Surf in 2009. The building was quite airy and rendered much-needed comfort after a ride in the scorching sun. This old Keralan heritage structure at Soul & Surf houses the reception office, a merchandise store, a large and cosy lounge area with a small library at one end, a shower/ changing room, and a veranda. Right beside the old reception building is a vast cliff garden that directly overlooks the Arabian Sea below. The lush garden is bedecked with several outdoor lounge chairs and hammocks for guests to hang out under the canopy of trees and play with pet dogs. It also houses Soul & Surf’s in-house café cum restaurant named Soul Food Café. The dining area gives a beautiful view of the sea. On the other end of the old building is the surf school – a small room with loads of surfboards and all accessories required for surfing. And besides that is where the accommodation block is. It is a new, modern, simple, clean building with elegant designs and an eye for detail. It is a three-storeyed building with an open-air roof-top yoga shed. Accommodation block at Soul & Surf, Varkala Soul & Surf’s accommodation block contains three different types of rooms, and they have named them pretty straightforward yet peculiarly. The categories are Quite Nice rooms, Nice rooms and Really Nice rooms. Nice rooms are basic, clean and are ideal for budget travellers. Quite rooms are good-sized, stylish rooms with a balcony and an optional air-conditioner. The Really Nice rooms have an air-conditioner and are pretty big, open and airy with a sea-view balcony. Each room has an en-suite bathroom with solar-powered hot water. Soul & Surf also lets out a few rooms present in the old Kerala heritage building with a cottage vacation vibe. When we entered the ‘Really Nice’ room at Soul & Surf, we were transferred to a different world altogether. The sea green and white colour décor instantly soothed our senses. The rooms are designed to give a classic beach décor look with sheer white curtains that provide a screen for the room without blocking out the light. It felt like entering beautiful sets of a Bollywood movie being shot at a beach. The Really Nice room at Soul & Surf, Varkala, is quite big, airy and has a balcony that gives a good view of the sea (slightly obstructed by trees but no complaints whatsoever). The balcony has a small sit-out with chairs, a table and a cloth dryer that proved extremely useful. The room is air-conditioned with lots of natural light from the large windows and a small sit-out area (our favourite) that gives a view of almost the entire property with the patch of the garden looking out over the ocean. Amenities at Soul & Surf, Varkala The furniture includes a king-size bed, a study table, a sofa, a centre table, bedside tables with lamps and an enormous wardrobe. Everything in the room was thoughtfully placed, and we loved the designer’s attention to detail. The room was adorned with some very often ignored but practical things like laundry bags, beach bags, an extra set of towels, magnifying mirror, ash-tray, a full-length mirror, glass water bottle, and extension cord for charging multiple devices. What turned out to be the most helpful is their A-to-Z guide, placed in every room, that lists down all valuable things to know about Soul & Surf and beyond. Guests at Soul & Surf are free to re-fill their glass water bottles provided in the rooms from the water filling stations placed all across the property. They are also free to pick up and read any book from the library as far as they put it back by the end of their stay. And oh, they also provide free Wi-fi that actually works pretty well as per Indian standards, making Soul & Surf an excellent place for long workations (work vacations). Surf School at Soul & Surf, Varkala The Surf school at Soul & Surf operates seamlessly in the old school way. On the ground floor of the accommodation building is a wall blackboard at the entrance. The guests who wish to take surf lessons have to write down their name on the board before mid-day and be ready for the lessons the next day morning by 6:30 AM. Everything else is taken care of by the surf instructors. You will also be required to fill a ‘Waiver form’ to take the surfing lessons. The surf instructors at Soul & Surf, Varkala, are International Surfing Association (ISA) certified and are experts in water safety and rescue operations. Our time at Soul & Surf, Varkala Well, let’s talk about an average day at Soul & Surf. We had enrolled for the Beginner’s surfing lessons with Soul & Surf for 3 days. Each day, we rolled out of bed at 6:30 AM and meandered over to the surf house located next to the reception. Then followed a meet-and-greet session with the instructors and other surfers over a cup of black coffee. Later, we mounted our boards on top of a tuk-tuk (autorickshaw) and headed to the beach. The tuk-tuk followed the instructors who assessed and searched for a beach with the best waves. Once at the beach, we did some warm-up exercises and were split up into groups based on the ability levels (beginners, intermediates and experts). The ISA certified instructors at Soul & Surf are super patient, easy-going, humble and attentive. They taught us how to paddle and pop up on the board with other useful tips and tricks like how to carry the board (beginner boards tend to be long and thick and are a real pain to handle), how to tie the surfboard leash string, and when and how to lay on the board once inside the water. Finally, after some practice on the sand, we were ready to catch some waves. The first day entirely went in learning how to be one with the sea and understanding the board. It didn’t take us time to know that consistency is the key to master surfing. Standing on the surfboard for a few seconds on the wave gave us a tremendous sense of achievement; of course, after a lot (read: assload) of falls, rolls and tumbles under the water. If you take the process positively and try to have fun, you nail it sooner than others. By the end of the first day, we caught a few waves (more accidentally than regularly). Our little successes were celebrated each time by other surfers and the instructors. That gave us more confidence and willingness to learn more. The following two days went in further learning, watching other surfers, understanding the cues, and manoeuvring the waves with helpful guidance from the instructors. We took breaks in between to lie on the shore and soak ourselves in the goodness of Vitamin D. After two days on the waves, we were getting the hang of it and couldn’t wait to get back out to surf for the third and last day. Slowly but steadily, our timing of paddling, catching the waves and popping up on the boards became better by the third day. Finally, we felt confident riding a few bigger swells and felt really powerful nailing them. Our instructors took to the waves too and showed us what real surfers look like! Not only were they catching the biggest waves, they were one with their surfboards flashing the biggest smiles, making us realise that we still have a lot to learn. Like everything else in life, surfing the waves successfully depends a lot on timing. It is incredibly crucial that you choose the right wave, paddle at the right moment, and pop up on the surfboard at the right time. By the time we were done with surfing lessons, the sun used to be all bright and shiny, and we forced ourselves out of the water, bargaining for some more time from the instructors. Then, finally, we had to find the last remnants of energy to carry our boards back to the tuk-tuk. Back at Soul & Surf, everyone used to be in high spirits, chattering about the morning surf. All of us, along with our instructors, used to sit around the big wooden table, eating the healthiest energy-packed breakfast prepared and served lovingly by the staff, boasting about the big waves we caught and laughing about how many times we nose-dived and rolled under the board. Honestly, late morning breakfast sessions, which sometimes lasted for hours, were the best times we have had at Soul & Surf. After all the stories that were told and tips and tricks exchanged, we dragged ourselves to our cosy rooms. Voila, they were cleaned and ready for a nap! In the afternoon, we mostly fell asleep because we were very exhausted by so much physical activity. Also, because the heat and humidity of Keralan afternoons did not allow us to step out much. Evenings were mostly spent sipping refreshing drinks at the Soul Café, networking with other guests in the lounge area of the garden, or reading a book that we picked from the small library at Soul & Surf. Sunset times were special at Soul & Surf, as it brought with it a cool breeze and the magical colours lingered on the horizon. Down from the cliff garden, we would see people taking a dip in the sea and up there, there were tourists paragliding. One evening, we also climbed down through the private beach access stairs from the cliff garden to the beach. We hardly found anyone at this part of the Papanasham beach, and it felt so good to have quality time. Late evenings, we rode down to the Varkala town to sample some of the fantastic array of restaurants at the North Cliff – the most active area of Varkala. And again, the nights were early, and we would get ourselves some much-needed rest to prepare for the next day’s surf. Soul Food Café at Soul & Surf, Varkala Soul Food Café is the in-house café cum restaurant at Soul & Surf. It is open to the guests who are staying at Soul & Surf and any walk-in guests or tourists. The cafe is located in the clifftop garden with a gorgeous view of the vast ocean and makes for a good hang-out spot. Soul Food Café has a short but delicious menu that includes sumptuous meals with generous proportions. The complimentary breakfast that they serve after the surf sessions is nutritious and fulfilling, starting with a healthy juice and followed by choice of mains. The staff also mixes up a variety of ingredients to make refreshing drinks. Other activities at Soul & Surf, Varkala When Soul & Surf goes full-house, the staff organises outdoor cinema nights where they serve mouth-watering stone-baked pizzas. The environment at the hotel is always lively, and you could also request a night with a bonfire, barbeques and live jamming. Yoga classes are conducted by certified instructors in the morning and evening at the roof-top shed. Soul & Surf also organises free surf lessons for local kids every weekend, hoping that they might make a living with an increase in surf tourism in the region. They hire staff and surf instructors from the local community and pledge to give 1% of their profits each year to the environmentally focussed ‘1% For the Planet’ charity. They also organise beach clean drives and have partnered with ‘Mossy Earth’ to plant two trees for each person that books a holiday with them. Few surfing tips for beginners: Surfing can be really trying for your arms and shoulders. Start training them weeks before your surf lessons. Wear fully covered clothes. As we write this from the backwaters of Munroe Island, our arms and fingers are numb, while our knees and elbows are bruised (Damn, we wore shorts on the first day). But we have the biggest smile on our face for having learnt a sport. Fix a point at the shore and keep your eyes concentrated on it to master balancing on the board. Even if you are into yoga and surfing, Soul & Surf is a beautiful place to do nothing, hang out, relax, eat, sunbathe and lounge around, making it ideal for every type of traveller. You can book your stay and surf lessons with Soul & Surf through their website. It’s fun adding a new skill to your repertoire every year. Try surfing this time! Let us know if you liked our review on Soul & Surf, Varkala or if you have any questions in the comment section below. PIN THESE IMAGES

Kerala, a strip of land between the Arabian Sea and the Western Ghats, is blessed with an abundant coastline, Varkala being one of the towns on the shore. While the beach facing areas in Kovalam are gasping for air with tenacious souvenir-sellers and bumper-to-bumper hotels, the cliffs of Varkala prove to be a saving grace for this precipice town. We were ecstatic about being greeted by a ragged line of red cliffs in Varkala. Before visiting Varkala, we had seen beaches by a cliff (in Gokarna and Goa), but neither have a cliff line as long and vibrant as Varkala. Once a tiny virgin town, Varkala is a top-rated backpack beach destination today. With countless cafes, restaurants, homestays, and hotels, it is no longer a lesser-known paradise. Popular amongst surfers, bohemians and now digital nomads, Varkala will greet you with an incredible view of the infinite and unblemished sea, soaring coconut and palm trees that silhouette the deep blue sky, and music exuding every sea-facing café and restaurant. What we really felt is, more than a tourist spot, Varkala is a feeling. You go there to chill, relax and have fun, just like Goa! You visit Goa with a list of places to see, and you end up doing nothing but beach hopping and participating in water sports. Similarly, Varkala is a destination for lazy holidays and long weekends filled with sun, sand and festivity. With laid-back vibes and rocksteady music-loving backpackers, it is a place to while away days, even weeks. In this article, you will find places to visit in and around Varkala, things to do, the best way to reach, places to eat and stay, and the best time to visit Varkala. Location of Varkala: Varkala is located in Thiruvananthapuram (Trivandrum) district, atop a 3-kilometre-long laterite cliff that looks down upon South Kerala’s most picturesque beaches. It is situated about 46 kilometres north of Trivandrum, the capital city of Kerala state. For a tourist, Varkala’s charm lies entirely along the seashore. Best time to visit Varkala: As with all the seaside town, Varkala enjoys tropical weather. The best time to visit Varkala highly depends on what you want to do. October to February are the best months for those who want to relax and see the places of interest. The temperature remains pleasant during these months for sightseeing. However, if you are interested in surfing, the months before and after the monsoon (March, April, May, October, November) are ideal. It’s rainy between June to September, and these are the best months to enjoy the monsoon glory. How to reach Varkala: The nearest airport to Varkala is the Trivandrum airport, from where you can hire private taxis to reach Varkala. The nearest railway station is Varkala itself, which lies on the South-Western Railway Line. From the railway station, you can hire an autorickshaw to get to your accommodation in Varkala. In season, the cliffside shops and restaurants rent out scooters or motorbikes to tourists for ease of transportation. Places to visit in Varkala: On your trip to Varkala, you could choose to visit 4 beaches each unique in its own way, a happening street with amazing views on the cliff and an age old temple if you are interested. Read on to know more about these must visit places in Varkala. 1. Janardhana Swamy Temple The Janardhana Swamy Temple is believed to be 2000 years old, which is two millennia – can you believe it! Just this fact was enough for us to go check out the temple. The temple sits above the beach road. The perennial spring that feeds the temple tank can be seen right from the road. It is surprisingly and controversially closed to Non-Hindus, but they can still enter the temple grounds, where there’s a banyan tree and shrines of Hindu deities. Janardhana Swamy Temple holds extreme importance amongst devotees and is referred to as ‘Dakshin Kashi’. Varkala town got its name from the shrine in the Janardhana Swamy Temple. The story goes that Sage Narada was once on his way to visit Lord Brahma, his father. Lord Vishnu was allured by Narada’s singing and followed him. When they reached, Vishnu disappeared but not before Brahma spotted him and bowed down to him. Unaware, the almsmen nearby mistook the gesture and laughed at Brahma to bow down to Narada, his own son. In a fit of rage, Lord Brahma banished them to Earth. Narada threw his Valkalam (a garment) at a place and asked the almsmen to perform their penance. The area soon started to be called Valkala and later, Varkala. Lord Vishnu blessed the spot with a pond that stands beside the Janardhana Swamy Temple today. Hence, the deity of the temple is Vishnu. The holy water that the almsmen drank became purifier of sins (papanashini), and therefore the adjacent beach is named Papanasham beach. You will have to climb 50+ stairs to reach the Janardhana Swamy Temple. The shrine sits between perfectly handcrafted stone pillars. To enter the main sanctum sanctorum, the men must wear a dhoti and be bare-chested, while the women have to be dressed fully covered and appropriately. Dhotis are available in nearby shops if you aren’t carrying one. Janardhana Swamy Temple timings: The temple is open from 6 AM in the morning till 12 in the noon. It reopens at 4 PM and closes by 6:30 PM again. 2. Papanasham Beach or Varkala Beach While a few beaches in Varkala are calm and churn out great surfing waves, a few others have powerful currents; Papanasham beach being one of them. The beach is also called Varkala Beach. It is believed that a holy dip in the sea at this beach will wash away all your sins. Do remember to swim between the flags set up by the lifeguards. Body surfing boards can be rented from shops/ shacks lining the beach, but again, be wary of powerful currents. On new moon days, the beach gets crowded with pilgrims, and that’s the best time to stay away. The panorama of the crescent-shaped Papanasham beach is heightened by the long stretch of red laterite cliff rocks, which stand there as soldiers guarding the sea. These are extensive unique geological formations with winding lane atop lined with hotels, restaurants, and shops. A natural spring originates from one of the cliffs and is believed to have curative properties. Hence, no harm in taking a dip here. 3. Black Sand Beach At the northern end of the North Cliff, the laterite rocks plunge down into the Black Sand Beach. The beach stretch is short, but hardly anyone visits it. Black Sand Beach is ideal for people seeking silence, solitude and serenity by the sea. Locally, the beach goes by the name ‘Thiruvambady’ beach. It can be reached by descending the North Cliff or by taking the Thiruvambady road. The unique feature of the beach is, as the name suggests, the black coloured sand. Here, you can opt for a boat ride with the local fishermen if you wish to. 4. Edava Beach Edava Beach is a fishermen beach situated north of Black Sand Beach. Its location is lovely with one kilometre of a straight road, where there’s backwaters on one side and the sea on the other. An estuary connects the sea with the backwaters. The sea waves at Edava Beach are highly conducive to surfing and are often sought after by beginners and experienced surfers. We learnt to surf here and at the Kappil beach. 5. Kappil Beach Kappil Beach is the northernmost beach of Varkala and kind of on the outskirts. This is the point where the lake backwaters meet the sea. A long stretch of land separates the sea and the backwaters at Kappil Beach. There are no shops, no shacks, no vendors, no traffic at the beach. This makes Kappil Beach a closely guarded secret as usual tourists do not flock here. Kappil Beach generates waves for all levels of surfers in different seasons. The waves are pristine and win the hearts of numerous soul-searching surfers. 6. The North Cliff The North Cliff is the most happening place in Varkala, and hence the most popular also. The Papanasham Beach is best viewed from above the North Cliff. Whether you choose to visit the beach or not, climb the North cliff and do not miss out on watching the beautiful sunset from atop. The orange-pink colours in the sky after sunset will surely make you bow before nature. Tonnes of shops and restaurants line up the narrow lane that runs through the cliff's edge (From Helipad to the Black Sand beach). No vehicles are allowed in the cliff edge's lane and you will have to park your vehicle at the Helipad area (free of cost). From here, you can walk the entire lane and take in the beautiful views of the Arabian sea on the left. On the right, you can shop for little trinkets, souvenirs as well as eat local to global cuisines that the restaurants have to offer. The North Cliff is best visited during the evening time. Places to visit around Varkala: While you may enjoy spending your leisurely time in Varkala sipping coffee and relaxing by the beach, if you are visiting Varkala for a longer duration, you may want to hop around to check out some other interesting places to visit around Varkala. You can choose from a variety of places around Varkala ranging from backwaters canals and lakes to world's largest bird statue perched over a hill. Read on to know more. 1. Anjengo Fort and Lighthouse Anjengo Fort and Lighthouse are located 15 kilometres south of Varkala. Situated right on the shore, the fort is also called Anchuthengu, which means five coconut palms. Anjengo used to be one of the most important bastions of the British East India Company in the 1690s. Hence, the Rani (Queen) allowed the Britishers to build a fort here. The Anjengo fort was established in the year 1699 and served as an important landmark during the Anglo-Mysore War. The fort is surrounded by a beautiful garden that is great to spend some relaxing time. The Lighthouse is located very close to the Anjengo fort. It is 130-feet tall and offers a panoramic view of the surrounding village and the Arabian Sea from the top. 2. Kollam Kollam town is located in the district of the same name about 25 kilometres north of Varkala. The town is referred to as the ‘Gateway to backwaters of Kerala’ as it is surrounded by several water bodies, including lakes, rivers, sea, lagoons, and inlets. Ashtamudi Lake, Kollam beach, and Thangassery lighthouse are the nice to visit tourist places in Kollam. 3. Jatayu Earth’s Centre Jatayu Earth’s Centre is world's biggest bird statue located about 30 kilometres northeast of Varkala. It is the latest attraction that houses a giant sculpture of the mythological bird, Jatayu, sitting on top of a hill in the Chadayamangalam area. From the base, you can either climb the hill or take a cable car to get to the top. The bird sculpture at the Jatayu’s Earth Centre is dedicated to Women’s honour and safety. Due to the lack of stay options at the Jatayu Earth’s Centre, Varkala makes a perfect base to explore the magnificent sculpture. 4. Munroe Island Munroe Island is located 50 kilometres northeast of Varkala on Ashtamudi Lake. It is called the ‘Hidden Venice of India’. Munroe Island is highly popular amongst foreign tourists (and slowly gaining national recognition) for the backwater canoe tours through the narrow winding canals and the mangroves. If you want to get the real feel of living in an authentic Keralan village, Munroe Island is the place for you. 5. Kovalam Kovalam is a beach town located 60 kilometres south of Varkala. The town is known for its three spectacular crescent-shaped beaches and Ayurvedic herbal treatments. Apart from the beaches, the Vinzhinjam Lighthouse is the main attraction and amongst the best places to visit in Kovalam. The beaches at Kovalam are pretty calm and hence perfect for swimming and surfing. Activities / Things to do in Varkala: 1. Surfing Varkala is one of the few surfing destinations in India and a perfect one, to say the least. The beaches here are perfect for beginners to learn surfing. And once the shorter wave time (early morning) is over, the experts can take over the big waves. You will find several surf schools in the town that teach you the ABC’s of surfing. If you are an experienced surfer, you can rent a surfboard from the beach-side shops and ride the waves on your own. We learnt surfing from Soul and Surf – a surf school cum accommodation situated on the South Cliff. 2. Paragliding The cliffs of Varkala are perfect spots to take off and land while paragliding. If you are an adventurous soul and wish to see the bird’s eye view of the coastal area, then you must try paragliding in Varkala. The sport highly depends on the wind conditions, and hence an instructor follows you for your safety. You can enquire about the sport at the Helipad on the North Cliff or ask someone at your place of stay. Places to eat in Varkala: From a culinary perspective, Varkala is a heaven for those who want to indulge in delicious meals. We were on constant restaurant and café hop during our stay in Varkala and tried out several different cuisines. Seafood lovers will have a gala time here, and so would the diet-conscious people. Here’s a list of some eateries we tried: Soul Food Café: This is an in-house café at the Soul and Surf – a stay plus surf school on the South Cliff, Varkala. They offer a short but delicious menu with excellent food and homemade juices. The location of the café is to die for. InDa Café: Located inland, InDa café is a homestyle European café that offers a creative menu. The Green bowls here are delicious, and so is the Banoffee pie. Visit InDa Café at dinner time when the ambience is impressive with fairy lights and hanging lamps. Darjeeling Café: Located on the North Cliff, Darjeeling Café features giant dreamcatchers and candlelit tables with some sea views. But honestly, we weren’t too impressed with their food, staff or service. It has made a name for itself but based on our experience, we wouldn't recommend it. Coffee Temple: Another in-land cafe, this place was hard to find trying to follow google maps and easy to find if you just ask someone. Set in a verandah of their home, Coffee temple serves fantastic coffee and a plethora of tummy-filling munchies. Make sure you try their crepes and French toast. Chimney Restaurant: Chimney serves authentic Keralan thalis, North Indian food and sea food. Give this restaurant a try when you are super hungry and crave Indian food. The other eateries that we recommend on North Cliff are God’s Own Kitchen if you are into seafood; Café Italiano for pizzas, pastas, lasagna and bakery items; Café Del Mar for coffee and cakes; Little Tibet for vegetarian food. Other in-land restaurant you ought to visit is True Thomas for its ambience and tasty food. Places to stay in Varkala: Varkala has plenty of stay options to choose from. Most places to stay in Varkala are along the North Cliff but if you are looking for peace and solitude, head to the quieter areas at the South Cliff; else, go inland. With the ebb and flow of demand, the tariffs fluctuate wildly. We wanted to stay by the cliff but also wanted some seclusion. Our search for such a stay ended at Soul and Surf. Soul and Surf in Varkala is set on the South Cliff overlooking the endless sea. The hotel has simple and clean rooms with designer touches and splashes of style and attention to detail. It also has an in-house surf school which was a huge plus. The surf instructors at Soul and Surf are ISA qualified, extremely patient with beginners (and experts), and down-to-earth. If you want to learn surfing, think no further. And even if you do not fancy surfing, you will thank us for recommending Soul and Surf. The vibes here are just so chilled and comfortable. They offer commendable hospitality and have a vast veranda up-front with a soulful café where you could spend your entire day (literally) adorning the sea. If you are thinking beach destination, then give Varkala a try. As you may have realized by reading this article, Varkala is synonymous to good vibes. Hope this travel guide helps you in planning your travel to Varkala. Pin this article for later. Drop your questions and thoughts, if any, in the comment section below. PIN THESE IMAGES

India’s natural beauty is often overshadowed by its colourful culture and magnificent architecture. We strongly felt this on our trip to Munroe Island in South Kerala. Although Munroe Island is not as well-known as its counterpart Alleppey, it leads the way in South Kerala with some inspiring waterfront homestays and resorts that will leave you not wanting to… well, leave. Nestled on the banks of the Kallada River, Munroe Island is rightly known as the ‘Hidden Venice of India’. Hence, when we planned our trip to South Kerala, we ensured that we spend enough time at Munroe Island. Our search for a waterside stay led us to Green Chromide Homestay, Munroe Island. Green Chromide Homestay, Munroe Island: Green Chromide Homestay is a simple yet upscale waterfront chalet located near the starting point of the Kallada Boat Race in Munroe Island, Kollam – South Kerala. The chalet at this homestay in Munroe Island is an independent wooden house run by a local family. Hence, it has the features and charm of a homestay where you stay and are cared for by a family, as well as the comfort of a hotel where you get utmost privacy. How to reach Green Chromide Homestay, Munroe Island: Green Chromide Homestay is located on one of the edges of Munroe Island. You can easily reach the homestay by crossing the Kallada River Bridge. It is situated near the Munroe Island post-office as soon as you enter the island. The nearest railway station to Green Chromide Homestay is Munroturuttu, located just 3 kilometres away from the homestay. You can hire an auto-rickshaw from the Munroturuttu station to reach the homestay. The nearest airport to Green Chromide Homestay is the Trivandrum airport, located about 78 kilometres away from the homestay. You can either hire a direct private taxi for the homestay or reach the Trivandrum railway station and catch a train for Munroturuttu or Kollam. Alternatively, you can call the hosts at the Green Chromide Homestay, and they will arrange for suitable transport at an affordable cost. We reached Green Chromide Homestay on a two-wheeler that we had rented from a motorcycle rental agency near Trivandrum airport. The ride to the homestay is pleasant, with smooth winding roads and a lot of greenery around. On the final stretch, we passed through some narrow lanes and thick coconut/ palm plantations. Independent wooden cottage at Green Chromide Homestay, Munroe Island: Green Chromide homestay is hosted by a very humble family. You can expect to find a big joint family in this part of India. We received a warm welcome from Ms. Sunaina, the main hostess, and her family of 9. They live in a bungalow with a huge veranda in the front. We parked our two-wheeler in their parking area. Right opposite their bungalow is the private property where the hosts have built this beautiful, independent chalet that overlooks the Kallada River. It is surrounded by various plantations and has a big veranda and garden in the front. We always desired to stay in a wooden log cabin, and staying in the wooden chalet at Green Chromide homestay fulfilled that dream. We learnt later that this pinewood cottage at the homestay was imported from Canada to Munroe Island. It was assembled and installed in the premises near the river in a matter of 3 days. It sits on a raised platform and has a large bedroom, a washroom and a small kitchenette area. The bedroom has a comfortable king-size bed, bedside tables, a corner study table, and a wardrobe made of wood. The bathroom is big with a separate shower area. The chalet is equipped with modern amenities like an air-conditioner, water heater, reliable Wi-fi connection and reading lights. The window in the bedroom opens directly to the enchanting views of the Kallada River. The room was freshly sanitized before our arrival giving us an assurance of a safe stay. We were provided with bottled drinking water, quality linen and basic toiletries. Right outside the chalet entrance at Green Chromide homestay is a small front porch that directly overlooks the flowing Kallada River. The hosts have thoughtfully placed a cloth dryer in the front porch of the chalet, which proved to be super helpful to us. We were permitted to use the host’s washing machine, iron table, and kitchen area if we required. As the chalet at Green Chromide homestay is made of wood, it acted as a natural insulator and protected us from the heat and humidity outside. The chalet is built in a small piece of land close to the island’s settlement yet provides utmost privacy. The riverside chalet is surrounded by a garden with many crops and cultivations like banana, coconut, papaya, jack fruit and pepper. A few hammocks hanging around in the garden completes the look of this beautiful homestay in Munroe Island. A riverside tiled canopy is installed in the garden at Green Chromide Homestay, below which a small dining table is laid out with few chairs. This used to be our favourite spot at the property. We used to sit here almost the entire day and enjoy the cool breeze from the Kallada River. Sipping tea, watching the sunset, observing people, fishermen and boatmen were our favourite activities that we used to enjoy from the tiled canopy at Green Chromide homestay. The pathway from the chalet to the patio is well-lit during the night-time for ease of movement. Hosts at Green Chromide Homestay, Munroe Island: Ms. Sunaina, our hostess, and her family are really passionate about hosting guests from all around the world and showcasing them the countryside life of the backwaters of Kerala. They made us feel at home throughout our stay and were on their toes to make our stay comfortable. They helped us with directions to places of interest, arranged for a canoe ride, and on our request, sat with us when we wanted to understand the way of living and culture of Munroe Island. They were full of interesting information on the local area and its history. They suggested things to buy, the best shops to go to, and good places to drink and eat at Munroe Island. Meals at Green Chromide Homestay, Munroe Island: Our hostess and her family at Green Chromide homestay cooked delicious local delicacies and served us home-cooked meals. They procure locally-grown vegetables and grocery that are free from harmful chemicals and pesticides. We had all our meals in their garden by the side of the river, which was bliss. One afternoon, they prepped a mouth-watering traditional Kerala Sadya lunch for us that was served on a large banana leaf. The culinary delights rustled in the kitchen of Green Chromide Homestay will stay on our taste buds for a very long time. The meals at this homestay in Munroe Island were mostly South Indian, but if you are not too fond of the local dishes, you can always ask them to prepare alternative cuisines. We are vegetarians and did not have any complaints in terms of food. However, if you are non-vegetarian, you might be in for treat as we learnt that their speciality is Green Chromide fish which is found right at the banks of the homestay. Fishes are freshly sourced from the river and cooked. Things to do while staying at Green Chromide Homestay, Munroe Island: 1. Plan a trip to all the places to visit in Munroe Island: While Munroe Island isn’t a place for sightseeing hungry tourists, it has its own share of beautiful places to visit. As we mentioned in our earlier blog on Travel guide to Munroe Island, if you have just one thing to do on Munroe Island, take a canoe tour surrounding the backwaters of the island. The canoe ride takes you around Munroe Island through narrow canals as well as bits of Ashtamudi lake angd will surely be an experience to remember. Honestly, we went to Munroe Island just to relax, but our hostess Ms. Sunaina recommended us some places to visit with such enthusiasm that we ended up discovering little gems across the island, and we are forever thankful to her for that. We have written a dedicated blog on Places to visit in Munroe Island that you can check out. 2. Cycle your way across the Munroe Island The hosts at the Green Chromide Homestay have bicycles that you can borrow and go around wandering the length and breadth of Munroe Island. Riding across the island is super stress-free with no traffic, no pollution, and lots of greenery around. Choose narrow lanes, and you will find yourself riding parallel to the serene canals emerging out of the backwaters. Breathe in the dust-free air pregnant with floral fragrance, and get up and close to nature. 3. Catch the sunset from the homestay When viewed from the garden of Green Chromide Homestay, the sun sets exactly in the centre of the Kallada River. The sight of the sun setting over the crimson-hued waters of the Kallada River will leave you completely recharged. 3. Immerse yourself in Nature The best thing about Munroe island is being so close to nature. From waterways and canals to narrow lanes and plethora of trees, it has the ideal setup to immerse yourself in nature. No other experience can be as rewarding as walking through the narrow lanes of Munroe Island. Nowhere in the urban setup will you find such a place like Munroe Island to rejuvenate. Mornings and evenings are the best time to jog amongst the nature surrounding the Green Chromide Homestay. You can even ask the hosts for a village walk and they will happily arrange for a guided tour. Explore and get lost in the natural beauty around you. 4. Go fishing / swimming The cottage at the Green Chromide Homestay is right on the banks of Kallada River, and you can actually do fishing from the garden premises itself. ‘Green Chromide’ is actually a variety of fish commonly found in the Kallada River backwaters. The hosts at the homestay have fishing gear that you could borrow, catch a fish/ prawn, and request the host to cook it for you. You can even help them in the kitchen and learn a skill or two of Keralan cuisine. A refreshing swim in the Kallada River is all that one could ask for in the scorching Keralan hot and humid weather. Again, you can go swimming right from the homestay’s premises. Remember, the Kallada River is deep and only good to swim for expert swimmers. 6. Do nothing Yes, that is an option too while staying at Green Chromide Homestay. Trust us, you won’t get bored. Sit in the garden, relax/ sleep on the hammock,read a book, listen to the fisherman passing by selling his catch of the day, dive into the Kallada River (only recommended for expert swimmers), attempt your favourite yoga pose, meditate, hear the birds call, or just watch the sunset and the stars shine as darkness sets in. We had a gala time staying at Green Chromide homestay’s real and homely environment. Apart from the family, we met several generous local people in Munroe Island whose passion for sharing their culture touched our hearts. We would love to stay with Green Chromide Homestay again and again without a doubt whenever we plan to visit Munroe Island in the future. Apart from the independent chalet, Green Chromide Homestay also hosts two double rooms on the first floor in their own bungalow. Both the rooms are garden facing and have an attached bathroom. The riverfront garden area near the chalet can be used by the guests staying in the double rooms as well which is a bonus. You can book the chalet or the double rooms directly through their website or through one of the below mentioned travel portals. Check the current prices of Green Chromide Munroe Homestays by clicking on below links - PIN THESE IMAGES Green Chromide homestay is a perfect place to stay in Munroe Island for solo travellers, backpackers, adventure enthusiasts, families as well as for laidback life-stylers. You will be spoilt for choices when staying at this homestay in Munroe Island. Did you like our review of Green Chromide Homestay, Munroe Island? Let us know in the comment section below.

Munroe Island is a network of 8 islets located at the confluence of the Ashtamudi Lake and the Kallada River in the Kollam district of South Kerala, India. The 8 islets of Munroe are separated by small canals and lakes, forming an extensive and beautiful network of waterway. The main island, also called Mundrothuruthu, Munroturuttu and Mundro island, still remains unheard of to many Indians even today. While Alleppey is famous as the Venice of India, Munroe Island is rightly known as the 'Hidden Venice of India'. After Munroe Island gained some popularity through social media, the residents started opening their houses to welcome visitors. Munroe Island has been quite popular with foreign backpackers for a while who visit Kovalam, Varkala and Munroe for a laidback and budget-friendly beach and backwater experience, respectively. Some of the island's main attraction is cruising through the narrow canals, passing under the naturally formed mangrove arches and low-lying bridges, experiencing the village life and witnessing the famous Kallada Boat race up-close (held during the Onam festival). We would, in fact, recommend Munroe Island over its more popular counterpart Allepey (Alappuzha), due to lesser crowds, more serene landscape and lower costs. Read on to know more about Munroe Island. Location of Munroe Island Munroe Island is located barely 20 kilometres away from Kollam town in South Kerala. In contrast to Kollam's bustling business centre, Munroe Island is laid-back, peaceful and calm. On two sides, Munroe Island is surrounded by the Kallada River and its tributary, and on the other two sides, it's surrounded by the vast Ashtamudi Lake. Have a look at the below Google map to get a better idea about the island's location. How to reach Munroe Island Wondering how to reach Munroe Island? The island is accessible by rail, road and waterways. However, to reach the Peringalam ward in Munroe Island, locals and visitors have to take government-run boat services. Nearest railway station: Munroturuttu Nearest airport: Thiruvananthapuram (Trivandrum) Rail: The cheapest way to reach Munroe Island is through railways. The island has got its own railway station called Munroturuttu. Munroturuttu railway station can be reached by train in 20 mins from Kollam railway station, 2 hours from Trivandrum railway station and 3 hours from Kochi railway station. You can hire auto-rickshaws from Munroturuttu railway station to get to your resort/ homestay/ area of interest. Note: Please cross-check the train timings and make your rail ticket bookings at the IRCTC website. Road: From Kollam railway station (26 kilometres away from Munroe Island) or Trivandrum airport (80 kilometres away from Munroe Island), you can hire a taxi to reach Munroe Island. You can also inquire with the hosts you are staying with on the island, and they can arrange a pick-up. If you are driving yourself, turn towards the Adoor-Kollam road from Highway no. 744 at Kundara. Go straight until you take a left on the Munroe-Chittumala road to reach Munroe Island. Waterways: You can hire a motorboat, houseboat or shikara from DTPC Kollam to take you for a tour of Munroe Island. Usually, the trip to Munroe Island from Kollam starts at 9 AM and 2 PM, from where you ride leisurely for 3 hours in the lake/ canals. However, we highly recommend that you reach the island either by train or by road and then do the canal cruise in a country boat rather than hiring a boat from Kollam. Best time to visit Munroe Island Though Munroe Island can be visited throughout the year, it's best to visit between October and February. From March it starts becoming extremely hot and humid till May. By the start of June, the monsoon arrives, often flooding the low-lying areas of the island. If you want to be a spectator of the Kallada boat race held in the Kallada River at Munroe Island, visit the island 28 days after the Onam festival. You can google and find out the Onam festival dates and add 28 days to it or simply google the date for the Kallada boat race. Depending on the Malayalam calendar, it mostly happens by the end of September or the start of October. Munroe Island is the best place to view the Kallada boat race conveniently. History of Munroe Island British started governing the State of Travancore (Modern day southern Kerala and southern Tamil Nadu) in 1795 and started appointing administrative heads. Colonel John Munroe was nominated for this position in 1810. He was a very popular administrator as he introduced many reforms in the region. He played an important role in improving revenue and the judicial system as well as decreasing corruption in the state. As you might have guessed, Munroe Island is named in honour of Colonel John Munroe. He is said to have integrated several backwater regions by digging canals. John Munroe presented a deserted island to a missionary church society to set up a religious, academic centre for training priests. The members of the Church society, in turn, expressed their gratitude to the head of Travancore by naming the island after him. Things to do at Munroe Island OR Places to visit in Munroe Island 1. Canoe tour to the Mangrove Arch If you have limited time and decide to do one thing while visiting Munroe Island, it has to be a 2-hour canoe ride through the backwaters surrounding the island. The canoe tour was the highlight of our trip and is one of the best things to do at Munroe Island. Such a tour takes place in a local country boat where a boatsman rows the boat manually with the help of a thick wooden pole. The backwaters are shallow in most areas, and hence the boat can be sailed without engines. We sailed in narrow canals surrounded by divine nature during our 2-hour canoe boat ride in the backwaters around Munroe Island. We went past villages and observed the daily village life that involved coir-making, prawn farming, fish farming and country boat construction. At most places, the water was so still that it replicated a mirror, and we were able to see perfect reflections of the stooping palm and coconut trees surrounding the canals. The canoe ride was adventurous as well, as we had to bend down while passing below the low-lying concrete bridges and constantly watch out for the tree branches that bent precariously over the water, ready to hit our faces. We sailed through several zig-zag tiny canals that finally opened up to the vast Ashtamudi Lake. The most surreal part of our canoe tour was towards the end when our boatmen rowed the boat towards thick mangrove plantations and sailed the canoe beneath a naturally formed mangrove arch. We experienced the canoe tour twice – once early in the morning and once in the evening. It was incredible to watch both the sunrise and the sunset through the mangrove arch while on the canoe. This mangrove arch is one of the most instagrammable spots in South Kerala. Tip: We recommend that you take a canoe tour early in the morning for three reasons – one because the water is still in the morning and hence you can see great reflections, two because the surroundings are peaceful in the morning when all you can hear are just the sounds of nature, and three because the canals become crowded with several other canoes in the evening. Cost of a canoe tour: In 2021, we were charged INR 1200 for a 2-hour ride canoe ride. Generally, a single canoe can accommodate a maximum of 4 people. 2. S-curve viewpoint or Munroe viewpoint As the name suggests, the S-curve viewpoint provides a beautiful view of Ashtamudi Lake. This is the place to visit in Munroe Island, from where you can find boatmen for a canoe tour. They offer several packages for different time durations depending on the different types of boats. There's a straight road that leads to the backwaters. On our visit, this road was partly submerged due to high tide. So, we parked our two-wheeler on the main street and walked through ankle-deep water to reach the end of the road. From here, we watched the beautiful sun setting behind the mangrove plantation. There's also a tiny restaurant and a 2-star hotel on the S-curve where you could spend some quality time sipping on a cup of coffee while munching snacks. 3. AD 1878 Dutch Church The Dutch church, located on the banks of the Ashtamudi lake, was constructed in the year 1878. The church is isolated, and hardly anyone visits it. In fact, there's no direct route to the Dutch church. You will have to park your vehicle on the main road, walk a bit, cross the railway line, and walk some more through the fields to reach the church. The structure of the church is still intact and bears a colonial look. No regular services are held at the church, and it was closed on our visit. We walked past the church towards the Ashtamudi lake, and after crossing a few coconut tree plantations and a statue of Mother Mary, we reached a shed at the end. It seemed like an old boating dock. Here, we had the entire place to ourselves, and we saw one of the most incredible sunsets of our trip from this spot. The lake seemed so enormous from here that it almost looked like an ocean. It is an excellent place for photography that the visitors are hardly aware of. Undoubtedly one of the best places to visit on Munroe Island. Tip: The Dutch Church is best visited during the evening time during sunset. 4. John Munroe Bungalow or Museum John Munroe Bungalow is where the resident colonel, John Munroe, carried out his administrative work. The bungalow dates back more than 200 years old and is now converted into museum sorts. The house is colonial-styled with a vast veranda in the front. Inside, there are photographs of John Munroe and his family and descendants. The main highlight of the bungalow is the Indian style toilet seat that is covered with a glass casing. It is believed that it was shipped especially for John Munroe from Europe and the locals say it could be one of the first toilets in India. The bungalow is converted into a rehabilitation centre today. Tip: Look out for the caretaker of the bungalow, who will be happy to show you around. 5. Munroe mocktail Munroe mocktail is a small shop run by a local who mixes up unique ingredients to prepare a mocktail. The guy does his job so effortlessly that you will be really amazed to see him prepare the drinks. One of our favourite things to do at Munroe Island was riding to Munroe mocktail and sipping on a glass of freshly made mocktail every day. Do not miss out on his milk plus ice cream plus fruits mocktail/ shake. The guy is even lovely to chat to. 6. Perumon railway bridge Another great place to view sunset at Munroe Island is the Perumon railway bridge. This bridge is a short ride away from the Dutch church. This is the place where a major train accident took place in the year 1988. A memorial for the victims is installed at an edge near the bridge. There are, in fact, two rail bridges now – one for incoming trains and the other for outgoing ones. There's also a ferry point nearby where large government ferries ship passengers and vehicles to the other side of the island. All in all, it is an excellent place to visit in Munroe Island. 7. Raghu Munroe Art Gallery: This is a small shop run by a very deserving artist, Raghu Munroe, who paints beautiful paintings of Munroe Island's landscapes. He is a very down-to-earth person who identifies stunning places in Munroe, clicks photographs on his mobile phone, comes back and starts painting the replica on canvas in bright colours that he imports from Germany. He sells his paintings at a very nominal price which you could get framed or gift to your loved ones. 8. Others If you are interested, you can participate in fishing – either in Ashtamudi Lake or in the Kallada River. You can even hire a canoe, bring in your own fishing gear and go on a sail for your catch of the day. Munroe Island's water bodies are rich in fishes like green chromide, tilapia, murrel, pear spot, and lobsters, crabs, clams, oysters, and prawns. Bird watching is amongst the other things to do in Munroe Island. Apart from the local birds like egrets, herons and water ducks, you can also spot storks, kingfishers, kites and African love birds. Munroe Island Hotels/ Resorts: Due to Munroe Island's recent popularity with foreign travellers coming here for extended stays, several local families have opened up their houses that double up as homestays. A few private resorts/ hotels have also popped up on the island, although the real charm lies in staying with a localite in their homestay and understanding the tradition and culture of the region. We stayed at two completely different accommodations on our trip to Munroe Island, and each had its own charm. Green Chromide homestays – A simple yet super-comfortable waterfront chalet located right on the banks of the Kallada River and run by a caring and welcoming family. It is ideal for those who prefer to stay in serene settings with friendly hosts. It is also suitable for a workcation with good wi-fi connectivity and wholesome meals. Apart from the private chalet, they also have budget-friendly rooms in their bungalows that are nicely furnished. Read our review and experience of staying at Green Chromide Homestay. Vini's Farm – A luxurious stay on a tiny island where we had the entire island to ourselves. There was no one else except the staff members, and there were several activities to indulge in like kayaking, a canoe tour, swimming, a few outdoor sports and a bonfire. Though a bit on the expensive side, staying at Vini's Farm is a one-of-a-kind experience. It is ideal for honeymooners or couples looking for privacy and a peaceful stay. Read our review and experience of staying at Vini's Farm. The future of Munroe Island Researchers believe that Munroe Island is slowly sinking. Even we came across several abandoned villas that were underwater. While some believe that the sinking of Munroe Island is due to the 2004 tsunami, many others think it is because of global warming. Another reason for the island's slow sinking could be the construction of the Kallada dam in Thenmala. The water from the Kallada River used to bring clay-rich soil that used to sediment at the island's periphery giving it support and fertility. With the dam's construction and the salinity brought in by the high tides from the sea, Munroe Island's so-called support has alleviated, causing it to sink bit by bit. Destruction of thick mangroves and the continuous vibrations caused by the trains passing the island could be the other reasons researchers attribute to the island's sinking. In recent years, studies also say that it is not the land that is sinking but heavy structures such as big concrete houses that have subsided. Hence, many new properties or accommodations for travellers are wooden or built on raised platforms. While the government continues to study and take measures to tackle the sinking situation, Munroe Island definitely has huge potential in terms of tourism. We feel that it could match Allepey's popularity as a backwaters destination over the years. Along with other beachside and hillside destinations of Southern Kerala, this area seems to edge out for us compared to Central Kerala's more popular destinations. PIN THESE IMAGES Sightseeing hungry tourists often look for places to visit in Munroe Island. However, the island is a place to relax, live amongst nature and understand the long-lost Keralan culture. If you keep an open mind, there are plenty of things at Munroe Island to maze you. Do let us know if you liked this travel guide to Munroe Island, South Kerala. Also, follow our Instagram and Facebook handles to see the beautiful pictures of Munroe island and other such new destinations. Suggested Reads - Places to visit in Kovalam Tourist places in Kollam Places to visit in Varkala Jatayu Earth's Centre #India #SouthIndia #Kerala

Kollam in South Kerala is a seaside town regarded as the ‘Gateway to backwaters of Kerala’. So, when looking for a resort/ hotel in Kollam, we specifically decided to stay by the backwaters. Numerous lake-side resorts have come up on the banks of the backwater lakes in South Kerala. Searching for an offbeat accommodation, we soon unearthed this unique retreat on the Paravur Lake named ‘Fragrant Nature Backwater Resort and Ayurveda Spa’. Situated on the outskirts of Kollam town, The Fragrant Nature Resort is on the banks of Paravur Lake, right where the Ithikkara River meets the lake. The vast resort spread over five acres of land is an ideal getaway for anyone who loves nature. Here is a detailed review based on our experience. Location of the Fragrant Nature Backwater Resort in Kollam: Just a short ride away from the busy city of Kollam is The Fragrant Nature Resort. The resort lies nestled amongst thick palm plantations on a breathtakingly beautiful waterside land alongside Paravur Lake. The entire five-acre stretch of long land faces the backwaters. If you are blindfolded and brought to Fragrant Nature Resort, you might as well believe that you are on an island. Directions to reach the Fragrant Nature Backwater Resort in Kollam: From Kollam railway station or Trivandrum airport, you could hire a cab to take you to The Fragrant Nature Resort in Kollam. Alternatively, you could also call up the resort in advance, and they will arrange a transfer for you on nominal charges. We reached Fragrant Nature Resort, on our two-wheeler that we had rented from a bike-rental agency in Trivandrum. Our Experience at Fragrant Nature Backwater Resort in Kollam: Fragrant Nature Resort, Kollam, is accessed via the Paravur-Chathannoor road. After leaving the main road, a kilometre ride on the narrow suburban street took us to the walled estate. Once inside, we didn’t feel like being in the countryside. Crossing the main gate, we reached the parking area, which was huge. The vehicles are protected from the scorching sun with a canopy of trees. The chirping of birds instantly caught our attention and relaxed our senses. The reception at Fragrant Nature Resort, Kollam is an old Keralan style building with vintage furniture. The wooden structure with long steep clay tiled roof gives it a traditional touch. Big glass windows offers view of the Paravur backwaters. A vast old brass pot fountain with rubble on the sides adorns the reception entrance at Fragrant Nature Resort. There is ample seating space in the periphery of the fountain. The comfortable sofas are ornamented with bright blue silk cushions that look trendy to the entire set up. Our check-in process at the Fragrant Nature Backwater Resort was hassle-free, and we were quickly escorted to our rooms. The staff at the reception were pleasant and welcoming. The way from reception to the rooms is through a paved pathway surrounded by abundant nature. We stayed in the Premium Lake View villa named Kani Konna, which means the ‘Golden yellow flower’ (Cassia fistula), which is the state flower of Kerala. Our Premium Lake View villa at Fragrant Nature Backwater Resort in Kollam: The Premium Lake View villas at the Fragrant Nature Backwater Resort in Kollam has a large living room equipped with comfortable sofas, a centre table, air-conditioner, and a refrigerator. The living room opens up to the bedroom through a small passage having a cupboard and a luggage rack. The bedroom is spacious and is tastefully decorated with luxury linen. It has a king-sized bed, side tables with lamps, and a dressing/ study table with a big mirror in the front. This room is again equipped with modern amenities, including a satellite TV, air-conditioner, ceiling fan, and tea/ coffee maker. The attached bathroom is big with a separate shower area, hairdryer, and quality toiletries. The Premium Lake View villa at Fragrant Nature Backwater resort has contemporary décor. The lighting inside the room is purposefully kept warm to impart a relaxed feel to the body and soul. Once we entered the room, we left the outside world at the door. The best part about our premium lake view villa at Fragrant Nature Resort, Kollam, was that it opened up to a big balcony overlooking the backwaters on one side and to a private tropical open-roof garden at the other – both through large glass doors. The view of Paravur backwaters from the balcony was stunning, and we preferred sitting on the chairs in the balcony more than being in the room. The floor of the open garden was laid with pebbles along with a few plants that the birds visited every morning. We really appreciated how everything was placed so thoughtfully. We later learnt that all the other types of rooms at Fragrant Nature Resort, Kollam, were designed in the same manner, and each one of them was lake facing. They basically have 3 categories of rooms - Lake view rooms which are primarily housed in a separate building near entrance of the resort, Premium Lake view villas which are spread across the property and they have one special room - A private pool villa. Lake view rooms have easy access to parking areas and recreation facilities. Premium lake view villas as you may have already realized are spacious with verandah and living room. You can choose one closer to restaurant and swimming pool or choose one that is towards the far end of the property. The best room in the property is the private pool villa which we found ideal for honeymooners. The layout of the Fragrant Nature Backwater Resort in Kollam: The Fragrant Nature Backwater resort is laid out in a long stretch of land from east to west. The parking and reception are towards the east, along with the gym, kid’s playing area and the conference/ meeting rooms. Then comes the restaurant, followed by the swimming pool and amphitheatre. The entire property is landscaped and consists of two levels. The lower level has the Ayurvedic Spa centre and the boating dock. Wooden steps or bridges are built at various points to get from the upper level to the lower level. Further towards the west is the Sunset Bar or the Coffee Shop, Yoga Centre and the badminton court. Different types of rooms are spread in the gardens from east to west, each facing the waterfront. Everything at the property is surrounded by big trees, well-maintained lawns and flowering pots with cosy seating areas at every nook and corner. Food at the Fragrant Nature Backwater Resort in Kollam: The first-floor roof-top restaurant ‘Sandhya’ at the Fragrant Nature Resort, Kollam, has a nice view of the Paravur backwaters. Tables and chairs are placed at safe distances and sanitised every time a guest uses them. We really liked that there are baby chairs and a small play area to keep the kids indulged while their parents dine. The food we had at Fragrant Nature Resort in Kollam was freshly prepared and utterly delicious. When the guests staying at the property were more in number, breakfasts used to be continental buffet; else, we were allowed to order as per our taste. Orders for dinner were taken in advance by the evening, and the chefs customised meals as per our taste. Dinners mainly were a candlelight affair. We had requested a Sadhya lunch one morning, and the chefs were kind enough to accept our requests. Kerala originated Sadhya involves a variety of traditional vegetarian dishes served on a banana leaf. While placing each delicacy on our lunch leaf, the restaurant manager explained its importance and how it was made. We savoured the Sadhya food with our bare hands, and it was the most delicious meal we had on our entire Kerala trip. The traditional dessert named payasam was served at the end of the meal, and though our stomachs were full, it left our hearts wanting for more. We were licking our fingers by the end of it. The Coffee Shop or Sunset Bar at the Fragrant Nature Backwater Resort in Kollam: On the westernmost end of the property at Fragrant Nature Resort, Kollam is a coffee shop named ‘Ritulahari’. Right outside the café is a spot that offers fantastic sunset views over the backwaters. This area doubles up as a yoga centre in the morning. Honestly, when we booked our stay with Fragrant Nature Resort, we felt that since the property is in-land, we will miss the sunsets as opposed to the beachside stays. But we were so wrong. We were amazed to find such picture post-card perfect sunset views with from this spot at the resort. Due to COVID regulations, the café was closed, but we can totally imagine how incredible it would be watching the sunset while sipping a cup of coffee. The Paravur Lake Backwaters at the Fragrant Nature Backwater Resort in Kollam: As we already mentioned, the entire five acres of land of the Fragrant Nature Resort in Kollam is located on the banks of Paravur Lake, exactly where the Ithikkara River meets the lake. The undisputed main attraction of staying at Fragrant Nature Resort is sailing the backwaters and meandering through the mangroves. The resort has its own houseboat, country boat, paddle boat and speed boat, along with a dedicated boating dock with ample seating areas. Paddle boating is complimentary for all the guests staying at the resort, whereas ride in the speed boat and houseboat is nominally charged. One of the mornings, we went for a one hour of sailing in the Paravur backwaters in a houseboat. The big Kettuvallam (houseboat) was traditionally built with bamboo poles, coconut fibres, bamboo mats, coir ropes and wooden planks. It had a thatched roof cover over wooden hulls. An experienced staff member from the resort navigated the boat through the green-blue water of the backwater canals. He also allowed us to get our hands on the boat’s wheel. It felt like a journey through another world as we glided past paddy fields, coconut groves, temples, wildlife and tiny villages. We came across several fishermen in their country boats and villagers going about their daily lives. The relaxing experience gave us a chance to switch off from the stress of life, meditate on the views and slow down to reconnect with nature. Other amenities at The Fragrant Nature Backwater Resort in Kollam: Ayurvedic Spa Centre: The ayurvedic spa centre at The Fragrant Nature Resort, named ‘Prana’ is the major highlight catering to guests who look for rejuvenation or medical therapy. The state-of-the-art spa is equipped with traditional massage tables and has warm subdued lighting that immediately relaxes the nerves. Authentic massage oils and Ayurvedic medicines are used by experienced medical practitioners to treat ailments. After consultation with qualified doctors and expert dieticians, the chef in the restaurant prepares personalised meals for the guests to help enhance the effect of the treatment. Indoor game area and Gym: The Fragrant Nature Resort, Kollam houses a dedicated recreation room in one of its buildings. It has games like carrom, chess, table tennis, and foosball which helps keep the kids as well as the adults engaged. The gym at The Fragrant Nature Resort in Kollam is housed in the indoor game area and has some basic workout equipment. The best part about the gym is that it has big glass windows that overlook the Paravur lake backwaters. Swimming Pool: The outdoor swimming pool at The Fragrant Nature Resort, Kollam, is big, clean and well-maintained. It is aptly built amongst nature, surrounded by trees and gardens. It has varied depth levels for swimmers of different categories. Badminton Court: The badminton court at The Fragrant Nature Resort, Kollam, was a surprise. The concrete open air court is a welcome recreational activity for children and adults alike. The rackets and corks are kept right beside the court for ease of use. Gardens: Well-manicured gardens are mushroomed all over the property at The Fragrant Nature Resort, Kollam. The well-tended gardens have paved pathways to take a leisurely walk and relax on one of the benches overlooking the serene lake. The acres of lush greens are surrounded by tall trees, palm oasis and exotic flowering plants. We loved reading books for hours together in one of the many seating spots in the resort's garden. Children's play area: A small area with swings, slides, see-saw and merry-go-round is built near the pool at The Fragrant Nature Resort that the kids will surely love. Souvenir Shop: The small in-house souvenir shop at The Fragrant Nature Resort, Kollam, sold a few traditional attires, authentic spices and little trinkets like jewellery and hand-made handicrafts. Amphitheatre: Also known as the Kala Kendra, the open-air amphitheatre area at The Fragrant Nature Resort, Kollam is located close to the swimming pool and is used for local traditional performances and stage shows. The staff at The Fragrant Nature Resort were always on their toes to serve and help us. They were extremely polite, always smiling and showered us with immense hospitality. The housekeeping staff decorated our rooms and the surrounding with beautiful flowers each day, which we found really nice. Stay at The Fragrant Nature Backwater Resort in Kollam to feel closer to nature. Cruise on the lake, pamper yourself with a relaxing traditional spa treatment, stroll in the gardens, watch sunsets, stargaze at night, have a glimpse of the rustic village life, participate in yoga and reconnect with nature. You can also plan on visiting tourist places around Kollam which includes the amazing Jatayu's earth center while staying at Fragrant Nature. The resort makes for a great stop when travelling from Cochin/ Alleppey to South Kerala or even as a day trip if you live around Trivandrum area. You can book yourself a leisurely stay at The Fragrant Nature Resort in Kollam through their website or any other travel portals mentioned below: Did you like our review of The Fragrant Nature Backwater Resort, Kollam? Let us know in the comment section below. Pin below images for bookmarking this article for future. PIN THESE IMAGES

Kollam (formerly known as Quilon) is a district in the state of southern Kerala, India. It is blessed with incredible water bodies, including tranquil lakes, lagoons, rivers, inlets, estuaries, scattered islands and meandering canals. The Kollam town, which served as a leading spice market in medieval times, is one of the oldest ports on the Malabar coast. Today, Kollam is regarded as the 'Gateway to the backwaters in Kerala'. It is also famous for the Kallada Boat race in the Kallada River that joins the Ashtamudi Lake near Munroe Island. There are quite some very unique and interesting tourist places in Kollam that we think should be in every travellers' radar. Though Kollam is a less touristy destination in Kerala, some of its areas are slowly gaining popularity amongst foreign and Indian tourists. We spent three days in Kollam and roamed about the town exploring tourist places in Kollam on our two-wheeler. Hence, we are optimistic that this article can act as a complete guide for you to visit Kollam. Also read: Places to visit in Kovalam - South Kerala Rockholm at the Lighthouse beach - Recommended stay in Kovalam, South Kerala HOW TO REACH KOLLAM: Kollam is located about 75 kilometres north of Trivandrum, Kerala's capital, and about 140 kilometres south of Kochi (Cochin). The main town is surrounded by serene backwaters towards the northeast and southeast and by the Arabian Sea towards the west. Trivandrum International airport is the closest airport at about 68 kilometres south of Kollam. From Trivandrum airport, you can quickly get taxis or government/ private buses to Kollam. You can also take a train to Kollam from the Trivandrum railway station. The nearest railway station to Kollam is Kollam Junction that is located within the town itself. This rail line is well connected to all the junctions lying on the Western Railway route. We reached Kollam on a two-wheeler that we had rented from a rental agency close to Trivandrum airport. The highway from Trivandrum to Kollam is in a good state, and it takes about 2 hours to reach Kollam. BEST TIME TO VISIT KOLLAM: Kollam, being a seaside town, enjoys tropical weather throughout the year. The months between November to February are the best time to visit Kollam as the temperature is moderate and conducive for sightseeing and backwater cruising. June to August is monsoon when the town shines with all the greenery and rain-washed glory. TOURIST PLACES IN KOLLAM: Here is a compilation of best tourist places in Kollam. Note that we have considered Kollam district, hence most places would require some travelling from main Kollam city and just few average tourist places are inside Kollam city. Kollam beach or Mahatma Gandhi beach Thangassery Light House St. Thomas Fort Ashtamudi Lake Munroe Island Paravur Lake Thanni Beach Jatayu's Earth Center Kilimanoor Palace Thenmala 1. Kollam beach or Mahatma Gandhi beach Kollam is endowed with a long coastline with several beaches, the best being the Kollam beach. This beach has a vast shore that stretches for miles where the locals flock to play football in the evening. The south of the beach is a fishermen's abode where each morning they gather and work as a team for the catch of the day. Kollam beach is, however, not too safe for swimming. The waves are big and powerful; hence the lifeguards do not allow anyone to venture out into the sea. We visited Kollam beach both in the morning and evening. In the morning, we were glad to find so many fitness enthusiasts jogging or exercising or playing sports on the shore. Evenings at Kollam beach are a different scene altogether. The beach is trendy amongst both locals and tourists who come here to watch the sunset. The sunset views are pretty impressive, we must say. We rate Kollam beach to be amongst the best tourist place in Kollam. At one end of Kollam beach, Mahatma Gandhi national park houses a children's play area and a marine aquarium. You will also find several shacks at the rear side of the beach that sells quick bites. 2. Thangassery Light House The Thangassery lighthouse is located in an area named Thangasseri in Kollam city. The lighthouse is painted with red and white oblique bands and stands in stark contrast to the deep blue sky and the green palm outcroppings. Thangassery Lighthouse is 41 metres tall and has a lift that takes you almost close to the top, from where you have to ascend two flight of stairs to reach the balcony. The Thangassey Lighthouse makes for a quick-visit tourist place in Kollam. On our visit, the lighthouse was closed for tourists due to Central Government COVID restrictions. However, we are sure the panoramic view from the top must be incredible as you get the view of the Arabian Sea in the front and the stunning view of the backwaters from the rear end. We recommend visiting the lighthouse in the evening or early mornings. Entrance fee to Thangassery Lighthouse – INR 20 per adult; INR 10 for mobile photography Timings of the Thangassery lighthouse – The lighthouse is open from 10AM to 1PM and from 3PM to 6PM. 3. St. Thomas Fort St. Thomas Fort, also known as Thangassery Fort, is a ruined fort located on the Kollam town's seashores. The fort is very close to the Thangassery Lighthouse (200 metres) and is surrounded by a small green park. The fort was built by the Portuguese as a trading port between China and UK. Today, St. Thomas Fort remains in ruins and is managed by the Archaeological Survey of India. Though the ruins of the fort speak of its rich history, it remains a neglected monument and is not really considered as a tourist place in Kollam. The government is building the 'Thangassery Breakwater Tourism' area nearby, giving the fort its due attention. Else there is nothing much to see in these ruins from tourist point of view. Note: No entrance fee is charged to visit St. Thomas Fort ruins. 4. Ashtamudi Lake Ashtamudi Lake is the most sought-after backwaters in Kerala and a must-visit tourist place in Kollam. This 16-kilometre-long lake is the second largest lake in the state. Ashtamudi, meaning eight branches, draws its name from the eight channels that connect to this one lake in Kollam and the surrounding areas. The lake further divulges into small canals. Kallada River, formed by three other rivers' confluence, discharges into Ashtamudi Lake that further meets the Arabian Sea. Ashtamudi Lake is known as the gateway to the backwaters of Kerala. It is best explored via a houseboat ride or a country boat ride along its many branches and canals. The lake is surrounded by coconut groves and palm trees, with little towns and villages interspersed. The lake is a livelihood source for many locals who earn a living by either fishing or coconut retting for coir production. Kollam is the main town along the banks of this Ashtamudi Lake. However, you can also explore Ashtamudi from the surrounding towns and villages, including Kollam (Boat Jetty near KSRTC bus station), Kundara, Neendakara, Chavara or Munroe Island. While bigger comfortable and luxury house boats are a great experience, a country or canoe boat ride in the narrow canals amongst the mangroves would be a far enthralling experience. While the backwaters of Alleppey (Alappuzha) and Kumarakom around Vembanad lake are much more popular, we feel they are over commercialized and unnecessarily expensive. Kollam and Munroe Island has the same potential and not yet fully tapped making them a much better destination from our perspective. Interesting fact - There is a government boat ride from Kollam to Alappuzha to Kochi - one of the longest backwater journey in Kerala and takes more than 8 hours. Locals use this ride for transportation as it stops along number of smaller towns. 5. Munroe Island Munroe Island is an inland island group located at the convergence of Ashtamudi Lake and Kallada River in Kollam district, South Kerala. This group of 8 islets are about 25 kilometres from the main town of Kollam. Munroe Island is accessible by road, rail and waterways from Kollam and the nearby towns. The famous Kallada boat race in Kerala starts near Munroe Island and can be best viewed from here. The island is rapidly gaining popularity as a tourist place in Kollam for travellers who choose to prefer the peaceful environment of Munroe more than the crowds and chaos of Alleppey. Munroe Island is an ideal tourist destination for vacationers interested in experiencing the true backwater plus village life. We stayed here for 4 nights at two different properties – Vini's Farm, where the entire small island belonged to us, and at Green Chromide Homestay, where we relaxed at our private cottage on the banks of Kallada River. At Munroe Island, you can participate/ watch the coconut coir retting process, look out for migratory birds, cruise the narrow canals of the Ashtamudi backwaters, visit fish/prawn farms, and explore the naturally made mangrove arch. Unfortunately, the island's low-lying areas are under the threat of submerging in high tides, and we suggest that you visit the island before global warming takes it over. 6. Paravur Lake Paravur Lake is part of the system of lakes and canals that make up the Kerala backwaters. It is located in Kollam district (15 kilometres south of Kollam town) and is one of the emerging tourist destinations that attract many tourists. Both Paravur and Ashtamudi lakes are connected as a part of the Trivandrum-Shoranur canal system. Paravur Lake joins the Arabian Sea at Pozhikara near the Thanni beach. We stayed at Fragrant Nature Resort in Paravur, located in a rural backwater setting along the banks of Paravur lake. From there, we hired a houseboat for a 1-hour backwater cruise in the lake, and it was one of the best experiences that we have had in South Kerala. Cruising through the mangroves standing along the sides of the lake intensified the backwaters' beauty and made it even more attractive. We highly recommend staying along the banks of Paravur lake and give this water body a place in your itinerary as a tourist place in Kollam. 7. Thanni Beach Thanni beach is located about 15 kilometres away from Kollam town near Paravur Lake. Thanni beach is formed by a thin stretch of land that divides the Arabian sea and Paravur Lake. The backwaters of Paravur lake meet the Arabian Sea at one end of the Thanni beach. The confluence of lake, ocean, backwater and golden sand makes a beautiful setting. The beach is serene, not very crowded and is ideal for sunset viewing. Do include this tourist place in Kollam in your itinerary. 8. Jatayu Earth's Centre Jatayu's Earth Centre is located at Chadayamangalam in the Kollam district. It is located about 40 kilometres away from the main Kollam town. Jatayu's Earth Centre houses the world's largest sculpture of a bird named Jatayu, a demi-God in Hindu mythology. The sculpture is 200 feet long, 150 feet wide, and 70 feet in height and opened to visitors in mid-2018. Jatayu Earth's centre is a must-visit tourist place in Kollam. As per Ramayana, Jatayu is the bird that tried to save Sita when Ravana was abducting her in his airborne chariot. The bird sculpture at Jatayu symbolises the protection of women and is built in their honour and safety. The sculpture is made on the top of a hill that can be accessed by either ascending the stairway or riding a cable car. There is a rock theme park on the hill that offers adventure activities like rock climbing, ziplining, archery, valley crossing, bouldering, rappelling, and jumaring for adventure enthusiasts. Entrance fee to Jatayu's Earth Centre – INR 240 per person Ticket price for Cable Car ride to Jatayu's Earth Centre – INR 300 per person Visiting time to Jatayu's Earth Centre – 10 AM to 6 PM 9. Kilimanoor Palace Kilimanoor Palace is the birthplace of the famous Indian painter Raja Ravi Varma located in Kollam district, South Kerala. It is situated about 40 kilometres southeast of Kollam town. It is a great tourist place in Kollam for art lovers. The descendants of Varma family still live in this palace. The palace compound comprises of the Keralan traditional building built around the Nalukettu and two ponds. The house showcases the room of Raja Ravi Varma with his self-made paintings and artefacts that adorn the wall. You can easily club a visit to Kilimanoor with Jatayu which is just about 15-20 mins drive from each other. 10. Thenmala Thenmala is the first planned ecotourism destination set up by the Kerala government that lies just north of the Thenmala Dam over the Kallada River. Thenmala town is located approximately 65 kilometres away from Kollam town. Situated in Western Ghats' foothills, it is pretty close to Tamil Nadu as well (15 kilometres). The eco-park in Thenmala boasts of several activities like boating, trekking, mountaineering, camping and biking. It houses a zoo, a butterfly park and a wildlife sanctuary. Thenmala eco-park is an ideal destination for tourists looking for both adventure and leisure. You can book the government accommodation right inside the eco-park and opt to stay in one of their five different categories of interesting rooms. It also makes for a perfect destination for photographers who can spot rare migratory birds. Places to stay in Kollam: Kollam isn't a very well-known and touristy town. Beachside resorts in the main town are few and quite ordinary. Instead of the beach, we highly suggest a peaceful stay on the serene backwaters of Kollam. Fragrant Nature Resort, Kollam is what we would recommend. It is located right on Paravur Lake banks and offers fantastic views of the backwaters from each of its room. Fragrant Nature Resort, Kollam is set in a vast area, has its own in-house restaurant and an Ayurvedic centre, and offers several activities like paddle boat ride, speed boat ride and houseboat ride in the Paravur lake backwaters. Places to eat in Kollam: Kollam is famous for seafood. However, you can easily find restaurants serving all different types of cuisines in the town. We really loved munching in the unique dishes prepped at the Holborn Restaurant on the Kollam beach road. The portions were large, and everything we tried tasted delicious. Another place where you can try out mouth-watering delicacies is Eight point Art Café located inside the Asraman Picnic village campus near Ashtamudi Lake. It is an art gallery cum café set up in a restored heritage building. It has a breezy verandah and serves a short yet thoughtful menu of sandwiches, cakes and refreshing drinks. We hope this article answers all your questions about what you can do in Kollam. If you have already been to Kollam and think that we missed out on adding an important tourist destination to visit, please let us know in the comment section below. If you found this article useful, pin it for later. PIN THESE IMAGES

Kovalam is a tropical paradise in the heart of South Kerala. The main reason behind the hordes of tourists swarming Kovalam is its three crescent beaches (Kovalam beach, Lighthouse beach and Ashok beach), which are demarcated by natural rocky and palm-filled outcroppings. Who might not want to stay seaside in a beach town? Since there are hundreds of seaside accommodations to choose from in Kovalam, you might find yourselves in a dilemma. What if we tell you that we have extensively studied all the seaside properties and have identified that one clear winner that ticks all the boxes? Rockholm at the Lighthouse beach is a luxurious seaside Ayurvedic retreat located in a perfect setting near the Lighthouse beach, yet purposefully tucked away from the chaos of city life. Read more: Places to visit in Kovalam, South Kerala - India Rockholm is one of the first few seaside hotels that was built in Kovalam in the 1980s. Since then, it has established business on word of mouth to date. Rockholm at the Lighthouse beach is now a renovated, full-fledged Ayurveda and Yoga centric beach hotel that offers unmatchable hospitality to its guests. Location of Rockholm at the Lighthouse beach: Rockholm at the Lighthouse beach is perched on a rocky terrain in Kovalam, 22 kilometres away from Trivandrum (Kerala's capital town). True to its name 'Rockholm', this seaside property is perched on a rocky terrain that overlooks the emerald blue waters of the Arabian Sea, right next to the Lighthouse beach. We rode to Rockholm at the Lighthouse beach on our rented two-wheeler from Trivandrum. As we left the Trivandrum-Kanyakumari highway and neared the seaside property, the roads became narrow and descended quickly towards the sea. We were sceptical if we would even get a proper place to park on these slopes. But, on reaching Rockholm at the Lighthouse beach, we were glad to find an appropriate space for parking. COVID precautions taken at the Rockholm at the Lighthouse beach: At the cosy reception at Rockholm at the Lighthouse beach, we received a warm welcome from the Front Office staff. We felt more relaxed when we saw everyone with their masks on. We were offered a hand sanitiser, and our body temperature was checked. This made us feel that we are in safe hands. We later found out that even the restaurant staff took all the necessary precautions related to COVID spread. After a few check-in formalities, we were escorted to our rooms. Our Superior Ocean View room at Rockholm at the Lighthouse beach: Our room at the Rockholm at the Lighthouse beach was on the second floor. We were overjoyed as soon as we entered our Superior Ocean View room. We immediately felt at home owing to the minimalistic yet comfortable décor. The floor-to-ceiling glass door to the balcony gave an incredible view of the emerald blue sea. The Superior Ocean View room at Rockholm at the Lighthouse beach, Kovalam, is spacious and comes with a king-sized bed with side lamps, a wardrobe, a study table, and lots of space to keep the luggage. All the furniture is made of wood and has a contemporary feel to it. The en-suite bathroom is as big as the room, with a separate shower area, a large basin and quality toiletries. The toiletries, in fact, caught our attention, for they are kept in such thoughtful small pourable ceramic jars. Defined by the refreshing art deco concept, the room is fitted with all modern amenities like an air-conditioner, a tea/ coffee maker, an LCD TV with satellite channels, a safe deposit locker, high-speed internet, hairdryer, refrigerator, and a geyser. To reduce the impact of plastic bottles on the environment, the Rockholm at the Lighthouse beach provides purified drinking water for guests in recycled glass bottles in all rooms and restaurant. Organic, eco-friendly and anti-slip hand-woven hemp rugs adorn the floor. However, the highlight of our room at the Rockholm at the Lighthouse beach was the huge balcony. It gave a breath-taking view of the secluded beach on one side and the landmark red and blue Vizhinjam lighthouse in immediate proximity on the other. We spent a lot of time lazing on the Rattan chairs placed on the balcony. Layout of the Rockholm at the Lighthouse beach: We were very impressed by the layout of the Rockholm at the Lighthouse beach. The rooms and suites are located across 3 buildings named – Residence Ocean, Residence Arogya and Residence Sky. All the 23 rooms (2 suites and 21 ocean view rooms) at Rockholm, Kovalam offer spacious balcony views of the stunning Arabian Sea at close quarters. Each room is furnished with Burmese teak king-size beds and eco-friendly décor that lends a contemporary chic charm. Art has a special place at Rockholm with presence of unique artefacts, paintings, and murals inspired by the culture and essence of Malabar coast. Such antiques are spread across the property in lobby, rooms, and the open spaces. The property is landscaped, and space is organised into several levels. The buildings spill down the slopes. The garden, which has further private access to a secluded beach, is at the base level. The restaurant is at a level higher than that, and the reception is still higher. The rooms and suites are distributed at all levels. Only someone who stays at the property understands the entire landscaping. The Ayurveda consultation room is in one of the buildings, and the treatment centres and the Yoga centre are strategically located at the garden level with a view of the sea. Ayurveda and Yoga at Rockholm at the Lighthouse beach: Ayurveda is at the heart of Rockholm at the Lighthouse beach's philosophy. They have well-equipped treatment facilities, qualified doctors, experienced therapists, and in-house dieticians to help the guests follow their Ayurvedic treatment regimes. The guests first have to consult with the team of resident Ayurvedic doctors, who study the patient's imbalance of doshas, general complaints and body constitution, and then prescribe a treatment program. Hence, the Ayurveda treatment for each guest is unique. The restaurant staff is informed about each guest's diet plan based on the treatment. The three Ayurveda treatment rooms at Rockholm at the Lighthouse beach have ample ventilation, natural lighting and fresh air and are equipped with traditional wooden treatment tables. Additionally, an adjoining steam bathroom is also available to help achieve the wellness needs of the guests. All the medicines and Ayurvedic massage oils used in the treatments are traditionally prepared authentically at their very own Ayurvedic oil production facility named 'Nattika Life'. Rockholm at the Lighthouse beach offer 14-day to 28-day Ayurvedic therapies that are extremely popular with foreigner guests. Yoga practice at Rockholm, Kovalam, is done in accordance with the Ayurveda treatment. It is mandatory to consult with a resident yoga master before starting the yoga program. The yoga asanas are chosen according to an individual's needs after discussion with the yoga master. Both 'wellness', as well as 'progressive' form of yoga asanas, are practised. The guided yoga and meditation practices are conducted at the open-air, tranquil Bodhi yoga hall that gives an incredible sea view. Restaurant at Rockholm at the Lighthouse beach: Rockholm at the Lighthouse beach boasts of an in-house restaurant named "Naivedya' that overlooks the Arabian Sea. This sea-facing restaurant has both an open-air dining space and an indoor closed dining space (for hot summers). They have a limited yet sufficient ala-carte menu, but we highly recommend that you go by the chef's meals suggestions. The chef specialises in creating authentic dishes with a coastal touch and international signatures. The chef at Naivedya restaurant prepares personalised meals for the guests on a long-term Ayurvedic treatment regime in consultation with qualified Ayurvedic doctors and dieticians. The meals are prepared in harmony with Rockholm's fundamental philosophy of Ayurvedic and Sattvic principles – farm-fresh and seasonal produce. Every dish served has a tasteful mix of balance, flavour and nutrition. A complimentary Continental breakfast is served every morning. Activities at Rockholm at the Lighthouse beach: Keeping in view the guests' interest, Rockholm at the Lighthouse beach hosts a range of thoughtful and complimentary activities for each day. For example, one of the resident Ayurvedic doctors delivers an interactive Ayurveda lecture each Sunday, which is aimed towards guests interested to know more about this alternative therapy. Mondays are for a leisurely visit to the in-house herbal garden that grows a wide variety of medicinal and healing plants. Along with the walk in the garden, guests are educated of the health benefits and therapeutic value of Ayurvedic plants. A cookery class is held every Tuesday, where the resident chef teaches various cooking techniques using Indian spices. Wednesdays are for relaxation when a local artist is invited for a live music concert and guests enjoy the soulful Indian classical music. For those interested to understand the various aspects of yoga asanas and pranayamas, a Yoga talk is delivered every Thursday by an experienced yoga practitioner. Things to do when staying at Rockholm at the Lighthouse beach: 1. Plan a trip to all the places to visit in Kovalam The Vizhinjam Lighthouse is just 200 metres away from Rockholm at the Lighthouse beach. You can take a morning stroll at the Lighthouse, Hawa and Kovalam beaches that are nearby. In fact, all the touristy and happening places are just a stone throw's away from Rockholm. We have written a dedicated blog on Places to visit in Kovalam that you can check out. 2. Watch the sunset at Rockholm's private secluded beach As stated earlier, Rockholm at the Lighthouse beach has its own private access to a secluded beach beside the property. We call this a 'Secret beach'. This beach is super clean (cleaned by the Rockholm staff every few days), receives slow and shallow waves and hence is ideal for swimming. Don't get us started about the sunset view from this secret beach! Have a look at the pictures below. The sunset view with the red and white lighthouse in the foreground is an experience that you should not miss out on while staying at the Rockholm at the Lighthouse beach. 3. Indulge in an Ayurvedic massage/ spa After our stroll at the Lighthouse beach and confronting so many locals offering cheap Ayurveda massages and treatments, we were just sceptical about what's genuine and what isn't. Until we spoke with the doctor at the Ayurveda consultation room at Rockholm. Based on our mental well-being and body composition, she prescribed us the best Ayurveda therapy. She even answered all our questions related to sanitisation, cleanliness and the use of authentic oils. Our body temperatures were checked, and we were then escorted to the treatment centre, which was super-clean and relaxed us immediately. For safety purposes, we kept our masks on while getting the massage treatment. But, all in all, the 1-hour Ayurveda treatment made us feel the most relaxed that we had felt in months, maybe years. We saw no compromise on the genuineness of the therapy or its authenticity. And did we talk about the treatment centres being seaside? The sound of the waves and the aroma of the incense stick was a beautiful addition to our therapy. The in-house Ayurveda doctor at Rockholm at the Lighthouse beach is very courteous and happily agreed to give us information on the basics of Ayurveda that we were interested in. She even suggested basic yoga asanas and gave us diet recommendations that we could practice back at home. 4. Gorge on the Sattvic food The chef and the restaurant manager at Rockholm at the Lighthouse beach are friendly and welcoming. We asked if they could dish out some authentic local cuisine for us, and they readily agreed. That particular day, the chef prepared a proper Keralan meal that included Kerala rice, tomato rice, lentil curry, sambar, avial, thoran, papad, pickle, and payasam (sweet). And oh, that tasted so so delicious; words shortfall to describe the entire experience. Then onwards, we hardly ordered from the menu and always asked the chef at Naivedya restaurant to suggest us the meals. All that we had at Rockholm at the Lighthouse beach was light on the stomach, prepared with the right amount of spices, and freshly prepared with local produce. We certainly had a blast trying out the traditional delicacies prepared with the utmost affection. 5. Participate in Rockholm's complimentary activities We stayed with Rockholm at the Lighthouse beach for 2 days, out of which one was a 'High-tea and meet & greet' day and the other was the 'In-house herbal garden visit' day. We enjoyed both these complimentary activities, especially the garden walk. An experienced Ayurveda practitioner took us around the small garden that they have and explained the Ayurvedic uses of all the garden plants and herbs. We were amazed by the amount of knowledge that the lady had and how passionately she talked about the plants. We indeed learnt quite a few interesting things about the common plants that we come across daily! 6. Eat, read, sleep, repeat There can't be a better place to do this in Kovalam than Rockholm at the Lighthouse beach. We used to borrow books (some very interesting collection) from Rockholm's small library, lie down at one of the hammocks or the sunbeds in the garden, literally sleep to the sound of the hypnotic waves on the comfiest mattress and pillows in our room, and we have already talked a lot about the oh-so-yummy food. Do we need to say more? 7. Spend a relaxed evening in the garden at Rockholm All our evenings at Rockholm at the Lighthouse beach were spent at their garden or the private secluded beach. The Vizhinjam Lighthouse is visible from the garden and makes a perfect subject for sunset photography. 8. Spend time on your balcony Trust us, if you don't spend time on your balcony, you will regret it later! When we weren't doing anything that's listed above, we sat in our balcony gobbling the gorgeous view of the deep blue sea, watching the local fishermen looking out for their catch of the day in their small boats, wondering where those huge ships sailed to after it left the Vizhinjam port, marvelling at the Vizhinjam lighthouse, and spotting the mighty eagle sustaining its flight without flapping its wings. We had a gala time staying with Rockholm at the Lighthouse beach and receiving their unmatched hospitality. We hope to keep returning to Rockholm at the Lighthouse beach and keep creating such soulful memories. It's high time that Indians understand the importance of our very own 5000-year-old science of healing, the way the foreigners do! If not for Ayurvedic treatments, we highly recommend vacationers (especially honeymooners) to book Rockholm at the Lighthouse beach for their visit to Kovalam. In fact, this property makes an excellent place for an extended workation and a staycation, owing to their high-internet speed and peaceful setting. You can book your stay with Rockholm at the Lighthouse beach through their website or any of the below-mentioned travel portals. Did you like our review of Rockholm at the Lighthouse beach? Let us know in the comment section below. Feel free to pin this article for future reference. PIN THESE IMAGES

Kovalam is undisputedly South Kerala's most popular tourist destination. The small town has a special place in Kerala's tourist circuit as it is synonymous with swaying palm trees and tranquil spotless beaches. The hippies discovered the beauty that Kovalam is back in the 1970s, and since then, tourism has never looked back. Significantly lesser-known than Goa, Kovalam has its own share of cafes, restaurants and hotels lined up across its shoreline. The beaches are calmer than those in Goa and thus offer a perfect opportunity to swim and surf. In this article, we take you through various things to do and places to visit in Kovalam. Once a pretty fishing village with serene beaches, Kovalam today bustles with tourism. The town has been built in an old-fashioned unplanned way back from the beach. Due to this, the beach areas are super-crammed, and access to beach-side properties is via a maze of narrow lanes. Having spent three days circling this town on our two-wheeler, we are confident that this article will act as a complete guide for anyone who wishes to visit Kovalam. In this article you will find - Best time to visit Kovalam How to reach Kovalam Places to visit in Kovalam Where to Stay in Kovalam Ayurveda in Kovalam Where to eat in Kovalam BEST TIME TO VISIT KOVALAM: Kovalam enjoys tropical weather throughout the year. The months between November to February are the best time to visit Kovalam as the temperature is moderate and conducive for beach hopping and sightseeing. March to May is the low-season time in Kovalam as it gets hotter and the best time to visit if you want to ditch the crowds. June to September is monsoon when the town has a different charm altogether with all the greenery and rain-washed glory. HOW TO REACH KOVALAM: Kovalam is just a stone's throw away from Trivandrum (Thiruvananthapuram), the Kerala state's capital town. Hence, reaching Kovalam by covering the odd 20 kilometres southwards from Trivandrum has never been difficult. The nearest airport to Kovalam is Trivandrum International airport (about 20 mins away). The nearest railway station to Kovalam is Trivandrum central railway station (about 25 mins away). From the airport or railway station in Trivandrum, you can quickly get taxis and auto-rickshaws for Kovalam. The drivers quote double the tariff. So, keep your bargain skills up. You can also enquire the closest bus stand and choose to take a bus. As for the journey, smooth, straight roads lead to Kovalam from Trivandrum, making the journey comfortable. As per our usual standard, from Trivandrum airport, we went straight to a motorbike rental agency and rented a two-wheeler for the entire duration of our South Kerala trip. For travellers, who intend to change location every few days, this is our best advice – get yourself a two-wheeler or a self drive car. It saves a lot of internal transfer cost for sightseeing as well. We reached Kovalam in about 35 minutes riding our rented two-wheeler. PLACES TO VISIT IN KOVALAM: Kovalam beaches Though being a small town, Kovalam has many beaches dotted on its shoreline, each unique in its own way. For clarity on locations, let us begin by listing the Kovalam beaches starting from up north and slowly moving towards the south. 1. The Northern trio: Samudra beach, Ashok beach and Grove beach Samudra beach is the northernmost beach of Kovalam and attached to the same banks as the Ashok beach. In fact, there's just this one stretch of beach, the north of which is called Samudra beach and the south is called Ashok beach. Both these beaches receive a lesser number of tourists than the other famous beaches in south Kovalam. Samudra beach is a dedicated spot for the fishing business, and every morning, you will find local fishermen arranging their fishing nets and boats to leave on a fishing voyage. The beach shore is seldom seen during high tide, and the crashing waves directly hit the rock formations. It is the best beach in Kovalam to just lie down and relax to the sound of waves. You can even opt to swim, but don't venture too deep and stay away from the big rocks towards the end. A few sea-facing restaurants dot the Ashok beach's rear end, with Kerala Government's KTDC Samudra Hotel in the backdrop. Grove Beach (also spelled Grow beach) is separated from the Ashok beach by a small peninsula of rocks that is easily walkable. In fact, the parking area for all these three beaches is the same, and you can just stroll peacefully from one coast to the other, not realising that you are on a different beach. There's a mosque right on the Grove beach, and this again is a fishermen beach. You will find yourself surrounded by plenty of local boatmen on this beach, coercing you to take a motor-boat ride where they promise you to show all the Kovalam beaches. They even offer parasailing and snorkelling packages. 2. The Southern trio: Kovalam beach, Hawa beach and Lighthouse beach The southern trio beaches are separated from the northern trio beaches by a cliff that houses the 5-star hotel The Raviz and the Halcyon Castle, a family retreat built by the royal family. The Kerala government has now sold the castle to the Raviz group; hence only tourists staying in The Raviz have access to the castle. Like the northern trio, the three beaches of the southern trio, namely Kovalam beach, Hawa beach and Lighthouse beach, are all located close to each other, and you can easily hop from one coast to the other. First things first, the approach road to all these beaches is narrow and extremely steep (70-degree angle; not exaggerating!). Hence, be really careful with your vehicles while driving down to these beaches. The lanes, as well as the shorelines, are filled with shops and cafes and restaurants and hotels and whatnot. Kovalam beach is a crescent-shaped beach, again full of fishermen with their fishing boats lined on the shore and the boatmen haggling tourists by offering them a motor-boat ride. A small stretch of rocks separates Kovalam beach and Hawa-Lighthouse beaches. Hawa beach and Lighthouse beach are a part of the same crescent shoreline. The northern part of the crescent is the Hawa beach, and the southern is the Lighthouse beach. The rocks that separate Kovalam beach from Hawa beach is called Edakallu rock garden, the sunset viewing point as per the Google maps. However, ironically this point does not give you a good sunset view. Hawa beach and Lighthouse beach are relatively cleaner than the Kovalam beach. Nevertheless, they are just another crowded beaches with lots of people lazing on the sand or playing in the water and the vendors asking if we want a sunbed to lie down and relax. Psst! At the end of the Lighthouse beach is a cliff that houses the Vizhinjam Lighthouse. The deep red and white colour lighthouse stands tall in contrast to the deep blue sky as a backdrop. The Lighthouse beach can also be approached by climbing down the slope from the Vizhinjam Lighthouse. The below photograph is taken from the lighthouse end of the Lighthouse-Hawa beach with Edakallu rock garden towards the left end. Note: The names' Northern trio' and 'Southern trio' are not the official names and have been given by us. You can visit all these six beaches in 2 hours unless you decide to participate in any water activities at any of these beaches. 3. The secret beach Well, there's no name to this beach, and hardly any tourists visit it except the one's staying at Rockholm at the Lighthouse beach. So, we named it as a secret beach. However, we spoke to one local at the beach who declared its name to be 'Chairman' beach while others call it Rockholm beach. This beach lies a short stretch of shoreline that lies between the Lighthouse cliff and the cliff housing the Inspection Bungalow. Basically the hill with lighthouse separates Lighthouse beach and this secret beach. The Secret beach is secluded and is only visited by locals in the evening to play football. There's no proper well-marked approach way to this beach. Rockholm at the Lighthouse beach has built its own path to this beach. The locals trail down a rocky hillock at the back of this beach. But, once you're at this beach, you mostly have the entire stretch to yourself. The beach is clean, and the sea is shallow and calm - excellent for swimming. The sunsets are amazing too, and you can click the lighthouse with the setting sun, something you cannot do from Lighthouse or Kovalam beach. We watched all our sunsets in Kovalam from here. Tip: Wait till it is slightly dark, and the beam of the light from the lighthouse shines through. 4. Chowara beach Chowara beach is the southernmost beach of Kovalam. It is located about 10 kilometres away from the popular Lighthouse beach. There are several accommodation options at Chowara beach, and many others are coming up. You could book one of these if you have already seen the northern beaches on a previous trip to Kovalam and wish to spend some peaceful time away from the tourist-infested southern trio beaches. Luxurious wellness retreats are located at Chowara beach, and hence it is popular amongst foreigners, who spend 14 to 28 days at the retreats to receive Ayurvedic treatments. Chowara is basically a fishing village that is now slowly developing into a major tourist destination in Kovalam. It is also popular amongst religious visitors as a famous temple (Aazhimala temple), and a church (Analothbhava Matha church) is located right at the beach. The beach is sheltered by numerous coconut trees that make it stand out from the other beaches in Kovalam. The long stretch of beach is broad, clean and receives gentle waves that make it ideal for swimming and sunbathing. Non-beach places to visit in Kovalam 1. Vizhinjam Lighthouse If there's one thing that you could visit in Kovalam, visit the Vizhinjam Lighthouse. The lighthouse is located on the top of a cliff right beside the Lighthouse beach. The cylindrical red and white tower of the lighthouse can be seen from far off places in Kovalam. The lighthouse, which is still functional, was built in the year 1972. Tourists are allowed to climb to the top of the lighthouse, which is 118 feet tall, and enjoy the panoramic view of the Arabian sea, the nearby beaches and the town of Kovalam from atop. A lift is installed in the lighthouse that goes up to a certain level, after which you will have to climb the stairs. The view from the top is stunning. You can see the vast ocean in the front, Kovalam beach to the right, and the secret beach, the mosque and the Vizhinjam harbour to the left. The road leading to the lighthouse is narrow; however, you can drive a four-wheeler right up to the entrance. The lighthouse in itself is spectacular, especially during the night when the distinctive light beam spreads afar at regular intervals. Due to the 2020 pandemic, the lighthouse was closed for tourists on our visit. Nevertheless, we admired it from afar and clicked a lot of photographs. We also came to know that a musical fountain show is organised on some days during the evening at the lighthouse, which we are sure must be fantastic. Entrance fee to the Vizhinjam lighthouse – INR 20 per adult, INR 10 per child, INR 50 for foreigners Vizhinjam lighthouse timings – 10 AM to 1 PM and 2 PM to 6 PM Note: Vizhinjam lighthouse is closed on Mondays 2. Vizhinjam harbour Vizhinjam harbour is a vital fishing harbour located 5 kilometres south of the Lighthouse beach. If you have been to Marine Drive in Mumbai, you know how it will feel being at the Vizhinjam harbour. The harbour is a key point in connecting the shipping business between India and the Middle East. You will find several big and medium-sized ships anchored here. A port is also being built near the harbour by Adani Group. Vizhinjam harbour is an excellent sunset destination. There's even a viewpoint called Evening Park that has lots of seating area installed by the government for visitors to watch the sunset. We also felt that the harbour is a good sunrise point as well. The best part is that it is never crowded so you can have a peaceful time here, unlike the Southern trio beaches. We just felt that the place needed some cleanliness and wasn't very well maintained. But full marks for the location and views. 3. Aazhimala Siva temple Aazhimala Siva temple is located at the northern end of the Chowara beach in Kovalam. It is popular amongst Shiva devotees who flock to the temple from far and near. Even if you are not a religious person, we would highly recommend visiting the temple, for it's located right on the beach and has a 58-feet tall statue of Lord Gangadhareshwara (a form of Lord Shiva) with the Arabian Sea in the background. The Aazhimala Siva temple is the only place in Kerala where the sea is not eating into the coast but is actually receding. Just a 15-minute visit to the Aazhimala Siva temple will make you feel peaceful and rejuvenated. The constant sound of the waves crashing the shore and the utter silence in the temple has such unique power to calm your senses. This temple is best visited in the morning (Kovalam becomes really hot after 10 AM) or evening. Even if the temple is closed during your visit, you will be able to enter the Siva statue premises, as there is another entrance to visit only the statue. You can combine the visit to the Aazhimala Siva temple along with the Chowara beach. Aazhimala Siva temple timings - 5:30 AM to 11 PM and 5 PM to 8 PM Other places to visit in Kovalam All the above-mentioned sightseeing places can be covered in a 2-3 day visit to Kovalam. But it is always better if you could spend more time. If you are someone who is on an extended stay in this town, we also recommend visiting the picturesque Juma Masjid mosque near the Vizhinjam harbour, the Vizhinjam harbour statue, which is a look-alike of the Christ the Redeemer, the Marine Aquarium and the Rock-cut cave temple (that again are very popular). Spend your mornings visiting the in-land destinations and evenings at the beaches, watching the beautiful sunset from various viewpoints. Afternoons can be spent indoors getting an Ayurvedic spa treatment or simply relaxing on a hammock under the coconut trees' shade. You can even take surfing class offered by the surfing school at Kovalam beach. Here is a map of places to visit in Kovalam that will give you a better idea - WHERE TO STAY IN KOVALAM: The town of Kovalam brims with hotels and resorts. You can find accommodations suiting all budgets; however, they tend to fluctuate between seasons. But why stay away from the beach in this beach town. The beach-side resorts and hotels are also aplenty, and it can get really confusing when it comes to selection. We highly recommend staying at Rockholm at the Lighthouse beach near the Vizhinjam Lighthouse. What we loved about this luxurious property is that it is located just a stone's throw away from the happening (and crowded) areas of Kovalam (Read: Kovalam beach and Lighthouse beach). Yet, it is tucked in a cosy peaceful corner beside the lighthouse with access to a private beach. And we can bet that no other property in Kovalam can offer the sea views that Rockholm at the Lighthouse beach provides. All their rooms are sea-facing and provide an excellent view of the blue waters of the Arabian sea. You can literally spend your entire time in the balconies that the property boasts of. More about it in our upcoming blog! AYURVEDA IN KOVALAM: Innumerous Ayurveda centres mushroom around the Kovalam beaches offering Ayurveda treatments and cure for all illnesses in a perfect holiday setting. Well, Ayurveda is Kerala's biggest tourist attraction, especially for foreign tourists. However, we suggest that you be on your guard and do not falls for spurious Ayurveda centres. Opt for the ones run by qualified physicians or run by reputed practitioners. Enquire everything before you go for treatment. The authentic centres use genuine Ayurvedic massage oils, do not reuse the leftover oil on other customers, have a certified masseuse (always a female masseuse for women and a male masseuse for men), and have a dedicated room and massage table for the treatment. As mentioned earlier WHERE TO EAT IN KOVALAM: All the hotels and resorts have their own restaurants that offer good Kerala food, particularly seafood. However, there are lots of independent restaurants lining the Lighthouse beach and Kovalam beach to interest you in alternative cuisines if you want a change. There's a Swiss Café serving Swiss specialities and a German Bakery known for its coffee, cakes and other snacks. We hope this article answers all your questions about planning your own trip to Kovalam. If you have already been to Kovalam and think that we missed out on some critical information or a place to visit, please let us know in the comment section below. PIN THESE IMAGES

A Sunflower field is a fascinating place to visit, both for a photographer and a regular traveller. When you look at a sunflower, it would surely bring a smile on your face. But when you look at a blooming sunflower field, it is difficult to name what you feel. All we can say is our heart fluttered the moment we first laid our eyes on a sunflower field. In this article we take you on a visual journey of sunflowers fields and leave you with a quick guide on how to shoot sunflowers. To start with, we were so captivated by the idea of visiting sunflower fields that we scoured the internet looking for information on when and where we can find Sunflower fields in India. We could not find much useful information but finally found one picture on Indiamike forum where someone posted a picture of a sunflower field taken between Hampi and Badami in Karnataka in the month of August. Based on this little glimmer of hope, we rented a bike from Hampi and set out on a trip to explore places around Hampi yearning to see sunflower fields on the way. Note that this was before Gundlupet near Mysore was even written about and named as flower pot of Karnataka. Little did we know about the jackpot we were going to hit. Before we get into full fledged fields and some photography tips on shooting Sunflowers, lets understand what the Sunflower plant looks like. Over the years, there have been varieties of sunflowers developed around the world. The sunflower plant could be 10-15 feet high when full grown, though most flowers we encountered were 4-5 feet high. Most of the flower plants that you might be familiar with would be more elaborate, meaning they would have many flowers in one plant. Sunflower is a seed head plant meaning one plant has only one flower which is full of seeds. It does have a wild version which could have many flowers in one plant, as the name suggests. However, they are not too common and you would not come across a farm of wild sunflowers. A small sunflower bud almost looks like a face with its eyes closed. The bud is smaller in size and has its petals all curled in while the plant grows in height. This is because the Sunflower has all its florets in the central area and needs protection before they are developed. At some point, usually when it has reached its maximum height, the petals slowly start peeling back and opening up. You may find some flowers which have their petals partially open. You would then start seeing how spectacular a Sunflower could be. It can take 3-4 months for a Sunflower plant to fully bloom. But once it does, it surely looks so pretty. It feels like a face that had its eyes closed is now happy and smiling. The face is bright and all lit up. Once the petals have fully opened up, the central disk of florets continues to grow. If you are interested in getting some tips of how to photograph Sunflowers, scroll down to end If we go deeper and focus on this amazing pattern that the florets form, you will see a structure in the randomness. The objective of the flower is to have as many seeds as possible in the central area. Now how would it achieve this? It starts growing from the centre outwards, but what should be angle at which each seed grows so that it maximizes the number of seeds? Sounds like a mathematical problem? Well go on to read about Golden ratio, Golden angle, Fibonacci series and how a Sunflower uses these concepts here. Without making this article geeky, the only point of all of this is that nature has a way to make things beautiful which is scientific and mathematical. We perceive things as beautiful because they follow some scientific principles and mathematical rules. And a Sunflower is one of the many such beautiful things found in nature adhering to these concepts. If you are someone who feels lost in all the above logics, just see the below pictures to be hypnotised by nature's magical patterns. Sunflowers are also known as composite flowers, because within the large flower head that you cannot miss, you might not realize hundreds of small florets. These florets contain pollens. The primary purpose of the lovely yellow petals is to attract bees and butterflies. These bees and butterflies are important for pollination. After the sunflowers have been pollinated, seeds start forming underneath the florets. These are little heavier and as more seeds form, the flower finds it difficult to bear the weight. It then starts to droop and that is a sign of the sunflower ageing. The Sunflower seems to look sad and the leaves start drying up. The view of an entire sunflower field at this stage is quite heart aching. What remains is a drooping black head full of sunflower seeds. Thats when you know its time to harvest. You remove the head, pluck out the seeds, some seeds are used for processing oil or consumption while others are used to store and sow for next cycle. And thats how the life of Sunflower goes, something we realized was so similar to humans. The most interesting thing about Sunflower is also something you may have already heard of - They are heliotropic plants - meaning the plants responds to sun's movements. However, this is seen mainly in younger days of the plant while the flower is still growing. Once the flower is fully open, it stops following the Sun and stays where it was, usually the east. What is incredible is what happens at night. Sunflower obviously detects direct sunlight and tracks it through the day heading from east to west. But it also has an internal clock (again similar to humans) which works with its ability to detect light. This internal clock helps it go from west to east during the night in anticipation of the next sunrise. Isn't that amazing? This happens till they get old and stop moving. When they would get old, they continue facing the same direction through rest of their lives, usually east. Knowing how plants which are fixed, non-movable things show this movement is even more interesting. It turns out that the growth in stem is responsible for heliotropism. At night when the flower needs to move from west to east, it seems there is growth in only west side of the stem. This allows the flower to automatically tilt towards east. The opposite happens during the day. The plants know that Sun is extremely important for their growth and they want to take as much as possible. It almost feels like they are in love with Sun and keep chasing their love through their prime. And don't be surprised in case you come across a rebel who refuses to look in the direction where everyone else is looking. We all know fellows who choose to walk on a different path against the tide! How to shoot Sunflowers So now that you know enough about Sunflowers, you surely want to click good pictures of a sunflower field. Here is a quick photography guide that you can download which will help you shoot sunflower fields. In case you would prefer private online coaching to learn photography or any such creative arts, you could also seek a personal tutor at Tutor hunt. Click on image below to sign up for our newsletter (2-3 mails per month) and access a quick guide to shoot sunflowers Hope you enjoyed going through this photoblog and learnt a few things about Sunflowers and how to photograph them. Pin one of these images to mark this article for future reference. Feel free to drop in your comments below. Check out other photography blogs.

Hampi is a small historic town located on the banks of picturesque Tungabhadra River in the Indian state of Karnataka. It is a frequently visited weekend destination for city dwellers of Bangalore and Hyderabad to have a laid back scenic trip and by locals for religious purposes. It is also very popular with foreigners who stay here for weeks together on the hippie island. But there is much more to Hampi than a weekend destination. There are many interesting places around Hampi that most travellers miss out on. From other historic monuments and caves that will leave you in awe to Sunflower fields that will make your heart flutter with joy. From getting a bird eye view of Karnataka's largest dam to artistic craftwork of tribal women, there is so much more to immerse yourself into. In this article, we talk about various places around Hampi and how you can plan a trip to visit them. We have been to Hampi many times, and each time we were lucky enough to uncover hidden gems in and around Hampi. While first trip to Hampi should always be about understanding and seeing Hampi and places in its vicinity, one can explore places around Hampi (upto 150 kms) over a long weekend in subsequent trips. So here is a compilation of places to visit near Hampi - Badami Pattadakal Aihole Sandur Hospet Sunflower fields Bellary Toranagallu 1. Badami Badami, located at a distance of 140 kilometres from Hampi, is a small town that used to be the capital of one of the greatest and most abiding dynasties in Southern India – the Chalukyas. This place to visit near Hampi lies on the fertile banks of the Malaprabha River. It is nestled in a shallow ravine that cuts through the sandstone landscape of the surroundings. The Chalukyan kings who reigned Badami adorned the capital with some beautiful rock-cut temples that date between the 6th and 8th century CE. Badami is adorned with four main caves, several lesser caves, a few temples, and other monuments, all surrounding an enormous man-made water body – the Agastya Lake. All the monuments are made of the fine red-grained (or brown) sandstone, hence the name Badami (colour of badam/ almond). On a cliff overlooking the Agastya Lake is the Badami fort. In-state of ruins, today, it is a troubled witness of ancient human violence. The main attractions in Badami, namely the Badami caves, Agastya Lake, Bhutanatha temple, Badami fort, Upper and Lower Shivalaya temples, Archaeological museum, and the lesser caves, are all located in one complex. Tourists that visit Hampi treat Badami as a day-trip destination. But we suggest an overnight stay in Badami to explore this place to visit near Hampi properly. You could also move on to explore the heritage sites at Pattadakal and Aihole on the next day if you spend a night in Badami. Decent accommodation facilities are available in the town. This place to visit near Hampi is best explored after the monsoon ends – when the Agastya Lake is brimming with water, and numerous waterfalls are formed along the southern hills. Read more about the places to visit in Badami and other important things to know before visiting the town in our dedicated blog on Badami. Entrance ticket to the monuments in Badami – INR 5 per person 2. Pattadakal Pattadakal is an even smaller town located at a distance of 136 kilometres from Hampi and 22 kilometres from Badami. This town is again situated on the Malaprabha River banks and is a legacy of early Chalukyas. Pattadakal was looked after as an amalgamation between North Indian and South Indian architectural styles due to its location. The name Pattadakal means 'a place of coronation', where several Chalukyan Kings were crowned. The places to visit in Pattadakal include 10 major temples in a complex, nine of which are based on Hinduism and one on Jainism. The group of monuments at Pattadakal suffered from the scourges of nature and were brought to the attention of the government only in the 1960s. In 1987, they were inscribed as UNESCO World Heritage sites. Today, they are managed and maintained by the Archaeological Survey of India. Having been ruled by various kingdoms and empires, the group of monuments at Pattadakal is evidence of architectural forms from multiple religions and parts of India. The 10 major temples are clustered together in one complex surrounded by beautiful gardens on all four sides. Pattadakal is the best place to visit near Hampi if you are an architecture-buff. You will need at least a day to see all the monuments properly, else 2 hours are enough to cover the major temples. Pattadakal hardly has any decent options for an overnight stay. It is best to book a hotel or a guest house in Badami if you wish to spend a night nearby. Both Pattadakal and the nearby heritage town of Aihole can be visited as a day trip from Badami. Monsoon and winter is the best time to explore this place to visit near Hampi. Read more about the group of monuments in Pattadakal and other important things to know before visiting the town in our dedicated blog on Pattadakal. Entrance ticket to the group of monuments in Pattadakal – INR 40 per person 3. Aihole Aihole is a heritage town located along the Malaprabha River banks in the Bagalkot district of the Indian state of Karnataka. It is barely 10 kilometres away from Pattadakal and 138 kilometres from Hampi. This place to visit near Hampi is a major centre of historically important Chalukya monuments. Aihole was once a breeding ground for the innovative building of new architectural styles. Today, the small town has become a centre of studies of Indian religion and art history. It houses over 100 big and small temples and several other significant monuments. The Durga temple in Aihole is dated from the mid-6th to mid-7th century CE and is an excellent example of a semi-circular temple. The experimentation with stone artwork, and architectural designs that were done in Aihole monument construction, were later used in a refined manner in the group of monuments in Pattadakal and Badami. Most temples in Aihole are spread across a radius of a 1-kilometer area in the town's center. It would take over 2 hours to explore all of them. Winter and monsoon is the best time to explore this place to visit near Hampi. The Badami-Pattadakal-Aihole circuit is popular amongst foreign as well as Indian tourists. There are no hotels or guest houses in Aihole; hence it is recommended that you book your stay in Badami, a place to visit near Hampi. Read more about the group of monuments in Aihole and other important things to know before visiting the town in our dedicated blog on Aihole. Entrance ticket to the monuments in Aihole – INR 25 per person 4. Sandur Sandur is a small village located about 40 kilometres away from Hampi in Karnataka. We heard and read about Sandur while we were in Hospet and could not travel to Hampi as the Tungabhadra River was flooded. We started looking for places to visit near Hampi, which is when we came across this town. Once known as Skandapuri, in honour of the temple dedicated to Skanda, today, the town is called Sandur (meaning 'town between hills'). The area is rich in forests, flora, fauna, and deposits of iron and manganese ore. We visited the Sandur Kushala Kala Kendra, which is a non-profit organization founded in the year 1988. The organization promotes handicraft-based livelihoods. This craft is indigenous to the women of the Lambani tribal community who reside in Sandur. Their embroidery work on bright fabrics is embellished with intricate stitches, which are now a part of modern-day outfits. This exquisite artisanship has won the Lambani women recognition and helped them make a living. Their artform even earned the tag of geographical indication in 2008. As many as 500 women work at the Sandur Kushala Kala Kendra. A few of them were dressed in their unique traditional dress named phetiya-kanchali, a baggy skirt with an ornamental blouse. The women have first-hand knowledge of 39 different embroidery designs stitched meticulously onto sarees, stoles, dupattas, kurtis, bags, cushion covers, and pouches, wall-hangings, and other apparels. The products are embellished with cowrie shells, beads, mirrors, coins, and other decorations. These products are then sold in an in-house outlet, from where we picked a few of them. Lambani embroidered products are also exported to countries like the USA, Netherlands, and Japan. Apart from the Sandur Kushala Kala Kendra that helps local women keep the traditional art alive, there are a few other places to visit in Sandur, like a few former iron and manganese quarries and a beautiful lake near the Narihalla dam. For luxury seekers, a stay in the royal Shiv Vilas Palace is highly recommended. Sandur is amongst the best place to visit near Hampi if you are into nature, art, and crafts. 5. Hospet (also called Hosapete) Tungabhadra River flows through the centre of Hampi, dividing the town into two divisions that are entirely world apart. However, the Tungabhadra Dam is located about 8 kilometres away from Hampi in a town named Hospet, which is relatively nearby. If you are nearby, do not give this place to visit near Hampi a miss. The Tungabhadra dam construction was envisioned as early as the 1860s, but the dam was built entirely only in 1953. There's a beautiful and well-maintained garden, named Pampavana Garden, at the dam site, which includes a small zoo, an aquarium, and lots of different plant species with substantial open spaces for picnicking. We visited the Tungabhadra Dam in August month when it was still monsoon. It was continuously raining, and the dam was brimming with water during our visit. Owing to the full capacity of the reservoir, the boating facilities were closed down. We climbed the 1000 steps to the lighthouse up a hill located right next to the dam. Generally, you will find lighthouses on the seashores to keep a vigil and guide ships. But here, there's a lighthouse next to a dam (purpose unknown). From atop the hill next to the Tungabhadra dam, we could get a glimpse of the entire reservoir and the green valleys surrounding it. Though entry to the lighthouse is restricted, the panoramic view from the site was breathtakingly beautiful. Out of the dam's odd 33 gates, 28 gates were opened to discharge water into the Tungabhadra River; hence, Hampi was flooded. An inspection bungalow cum a guest house is located atop the hill, open only for government officials visiting the dam. If you prefer staying close to the dam, you could book an overnight stay at Hotel Mayura, located right next to the Tungabhadra dam circle. We also happened to get an incredible view of the dam from the Tungabhadra bridge, constructed over the Tungabhadra River, and another smaller bridge near Fatima church while riding towards Badami from Hospet. The water flow was so ferocious that it completely scared us. All in all, we found the Tungabhadra dam to be the best place to visit near Hampi. We will let the pictures speak what we saw! Entrance ticket to the dam – INR 20 per person Entrance ticket to Pampavana garden – INR 20 per person 6. Sunflower Fields If finding vast sunflower fields blooming with gorgeous yellow flowers excites you, you must indeed explore the places mentioned above to visit near Hampi. Planning a road trip between June to September will work best to catch the flowers in full bloom. The little villages around Hampi are home to hundreds of sunflower fields. You will see them lining both sides of the road as you drive from Hampi to Badami, Aihole, Pattadakal, or Sandur. The little patches of yellow that seemed hidden from afar turned into a vast expanse covered with hundreds of thousands of sunflowers as we closed in each time. We spent hours exploring all the fully bloomed fields that we passed by. It was hard to get enough of them. Locals privately own all these sunflower fields, so be respectful of the surroundings and their privacy. Do not trespass in fenced areas. You will find that a few farmers are chatty and would love to give you a tour of their field and tidbits on how they are grown. 7. Bellary The city of Bellary, situated in the historic Bellary district, is located about 60 kilometres away from Hampi. The name of the town is also spelled as Bellari. Ballary or Ballari. The city is known for the Bellary Fort that stands tall atop Fort Hill. This Fort Hill is the second largest monolithic hill in the world, and it is popularly known as 'Bellary Gudda.' The King built the fort during the reigns of the Vijayanagar empire. We recommend visiting the fort in the late afternoon so that you can also catch its illuminated version (Only on Sundays and National holidays) in the evening. Beside the Bellary Fort Hill is another hill named Kumbara Gudda known as the 'Face Hill. If you view this hill from the southern side, it looks like a human being's face. Apart from these two hills, several temples spread across the Bellary city that might interest your religious stance. 8. Toranagallu Toranagallu, located oddly 38 kilometres away from Hampi, is a town that is famous for housing a very artistic museum called the Kaladham museum. This museum is located at the entrance of Vijayanagar township in Toranagallu. Kaladham is a very thoughtfully curated museum, which is an exact mini-replica of Hampi. The 5-minute 3D show that has been created to showcase the entire site at Hampi is incredible. The virtual tour is a must for everyone interested in knowing the history of Vijayanagar. The museum structure is constructed with stone pillars and bamboo roofs that walks you through beautiful pictures of Hampi and its surroundings (about 15000 images taken over 25 years). During the evening, the place looks even lovelier with all the lightings and the water fountain. They also have set up a souvenir shop where you can collect artifacts for your loved ones. Entrance ticket to the Kaladham museum - INR 50 per person Museum Timings - 5:30 PM to 8:30 PM every day (Closed on Tuesdays). Also, open from 10 AM to 1 PM on Sundays. PIN THESE IMAGES We hope this list of places to visit near Hampi helps you plan your week-long trip to the heritage towns around the area. If you are aware of other such places to visit near Hampi and want us to include them in this list, do let us know about it in the comments section.

Pattadakal and Aihole in Karnataka, India are historically famous as the cradle of Hindu temple architecture. The architectural skills that the sculptors learnt in Badami were then further polished in the monuments of Pattadakal and Aihole. Pattadakal, Aihole and Badami are not as well-known as its neighbour Hampi, and hence can be counted as offbeat destinations. All these towns can be visited as a weekend trip from nearby metros like Bengaluru, Hyderabad and Chennai. PATTADAKAL, KARNATAKA – INDIA: Pattadakal is basically a group of temples located in a huge complex. All the temples in the complex are mostly dedicated to Hindu and Jain deities and date back to the 7th and 8th century CE. The group of monuments at Pattadakal were included in the list of UNESCO World Heritage site in the year 1987. They are of significant importance and are protected and managed by the Archaeological Survey of India. Location of Pattadakal, Karnataka, India: Pattadakal town is located in the northern part of the Indian state of Karnataka, approximately 22 kilometres away from Badami, 136 kilometres from Hampi, and 13 kilometres from Aihole. The town lies in the Bagalkot district of Karnataka, on the west bank of the River Malaprabha. History of Pattadakal, Karnataka, India: Pattadakal, meaning – a place of coronation, was used to coronate the Kings during the Chalukya dynasty. The town, along with nearby Badami and Aihole, became a place of cultural and religious importance in that era. It was during that time the temple complex was built in Pattadakal where the architectural styles from northern and southern India were fused. After the fall of Chalukya empire, the town was under the rule of several other kingdoms. In 13th Century, under the reign of Delhi Sultans, the town was raided and plundered, and several temples were destroyed and looted. The reign again changed hands from Sultanate to Vijayanagara empire to Adil Shah dynasty to Mughal empire to Maratha empire to Haider Ali to Tipu Sultan and finally to the British empire in the late 18th century. Being ruled by such varied kingdoms and empires, Pattadakal temples today are an evidence of architectural art from all sorts of religions (including Islam, Hinduism and Jainism) and parts of India (north, central and south). The group of monuments at Pattadakal, Karnataka, India or Places to visit in Pattadakal: Out of the plenty of temples in Pattadakal temple complex, 10 are of major significance – 9 are Hindu temples dedicated to Shiva and 1 is a Jain temple dedicated to a single Jina. All 10 temples are clustered together in one complex that is surrounded by gardens on all four sides. The ASI staff maintains the cleanliness of the entire complex and they have done a really great job at it. 1. Virupaksha temple This is the largest of all the temples at Pattadakal. It is built in Dravidian architectural site and is dedicated to Lord Shiva. The intricate carvings on the interior and exterior walls of the temple depict images of Hindu deities like Narasimha, Nataraja, Vishnu, Brahma, Durga, Saraswati and Lakshmi. It is said that the design and layout of the popular temple at Ellora Caves in Aurangabad is similar to that of Virupaksha temple of Pattadakal, Karnataka. 2. Mallikarjuna temple This temple is also dedicated to Lord Shiva and is believed to be built around the same time as Virupaksha temple. Small shrines of Lord Ganesha and Goddess Durga can be found inside the Mallikarjuna temple. Sculptures of Lord Krishna can also be found in the carvings at the walls of this temple. 3. Kashi Vishwanatha temple This temple is a comparatively smaller amongst the temples at Pattadakal. This temple resembles the other temples except that it sits on a raised platform with carvings of animal and bird designs. 4. Jambulingeshwara temple This temple highlights a beautiful sculpture of dancing Shiva and Parvati at the entrance. Jambulingeshwara is a small yet a beautiful temple built in north Indian style architecture. 5. Papanatha temple This temple is noted for its Dravidian and Nagara style architecture. The temple is long with several pillars and lacks consistency in architecture and sculpture details. Papanatha temple has intricate carvings of deities, and decorated mantapas. 6. Sangameshwara temple This temple has a square layout and is believed to be built between 720 and 733 CE. It is also believed that the Sangameshwara temple has been built over an existing older temple, that possibly dates back to 3rd century CE. 7. Chandrasekhara temple This is a small temple without a towering ceiling. The walls of Chadrasekhara temple lack ornamentation and extensive carvings. 8. Kadasiddheshwara temple Much of this temple is in ruins with damaged sculptures and eroded carvings. The Kadasiddheshwara temple is built in Nagara style architecture. 9. Galaganatha temple This temple is believed to be used for ceremonial functions as it has several mandapas in its architecture. The Galaganatha Temple is however mostly in ruins now. 10. Jain Narayana temple This is a Jain temple and has a statue of a Jain deity carved in its sanctum sanctorum. Jain Narayana temple is also long and has several mantapas containing seated Jinas. Apart from these 10 major temples, there are several other monuments in the Pattadakal temple complex that are worth a visit. You need at least 2 hours to visit all the temples and monuments in the Pattadakal complex. And if you are a history or architecture buff and wish to explore each temple properly, you will need more time. AIHOLE, KARNATAKA – INDIA: Aihole is another major archaeological site featuring cave temples that date back to the time period between 6th and 12th century CE. It is a small-town set amidst rural villages and farms. The monuments at Aihole are manged by the Archaeological Survey of India and are protected under the laws of Indian government. Location of Aihole, Karnataka, India: Aihole, again is located along the Malaprabha River valley in the Bagalkot district in the Indian state of Karnataka. It is approximately 10 kilometres away from Pattadakal, 35 kilometres away from Badami and 138 kilometres away from Hampi. All of these towns are major centres of historically important Chalukya monuments. History of Aihole, Karnataka, India: Aihole was ruled by the Early Chalukya dynasty during the period between 6th to 8th century CE and by the Late Chalukya dynasty till 12th century CE. During this period, Aihole served as a hub of Hindu temple architecture. In the 13th century, the region was plundered by the Delhi Sultanates. The ruins were then protected by the Vijayanagara empire ill 15th century. After the collapse of Vijayanagara reign, Aihole came under the reins of Adil Shahi rule, post which it changed hands to the Mughal empire in the late 17th century. Haider Ali and Tipu Sultan conquered the town in the late 18th century, followed by the Britishers. For much of the 20th century, Aihole was neglected. The Indian government slowly started excavations and formations of archaeological parks. The artifacts were then preserved in ASI museum and the town became a centre of studies of Indian religion and art history. The group of temples in Aihole, Karnataka or Places to visit in Aihole: The temple architecture in Aihole is an experimentation with stone artwork, design styles, materials and construction techniques. These experimentations yielded the hundreds of temples that stand in Aihole today. There is about a hundred Hindu temples, a few Jain temples and one Buddhist temple in Aihole. The Hindu temples are dedicated to Lord Shiva, Vishnu, Durga and other Hindu deities, and the Jain temples are dedicated to Lord Parshvanath, Mahavira, Neminath and other Jain Tirthankaras. Most of the temples in Aihole are spread across a radius of 1 kilometre in a main complex at the centre of the town. The major monuments at the site are: 1. Durga temple Durga temple is the most exquisitely decorated monument in Aihole. The name of the temple is derived not from Goddess Durga but because of its proximity to a fort (Durg in Hindi language). Durga temple, standing on a high platform, is dedicated to Lord Vishnu. 2. Lad Khan temple Lad Khan temple is named after a Muslim commander under Adil Shahi Sultan who stayed there for a brief period. The temple is dedicated to Lord Shiva with a seated Nandi in its front. 3. Meguti temple Meguti temple is a Jain temple built atop a small hill. Now in ruins, the temple sits on a high platform and has a carving of a Jain Tirthankara. The temple site provides a incredible view of the Aihole town. 4. Ravanphadi cave Ravanphadi cave temple is also located atop a small hill about a kilometre away from the Durga temple. The 6th century carvings in the temple depicts dancing Shiva, Parvati, Ganesha and Kartikeya. 5. Hucchimalli temple Hucchimalli temple has shrines dedicated to Shaivism tradition. The sanctum is adorned with a sculpture of Vishnu standing atop a large cobra. 6. Suryanarayana temple Suryanarayana temple has a pyramidal shaped ‘shikara’ on the top. It has a Surya statue in a chariot in its sanctum sanctorum with each hand holding a lotus flower. 7. Konti group of temples These group of temples is located in the middle of the Aihole market street amidst the houses. The artwork in the temples are of unique perspectives with deities found in unusual postures. Beyond these temples, there are several hundreds of others, most of them in ruins. More temples are believed to be excavated every day that witness to the vigorous experimentation on temple architecture. How to reach Pattadakal and Aihole, Karnataka, India: Air: Belgaum, 150 kilometres away from Pattadakal and 164 kilometres from Aihole, is the nearest airport to the town of temples. From Belgaum airport, you can either hire a prepaid taxi or take a bus to Pattadakal and Aihole. Flights from major airports in India including Hyderabad, Chennai and Bengaluru, operate to Belgaum. Rail: Pattadakal and Aihole do not have a railway station. You can reach Badami railway station and then take a bus or hired taxi to Pattadakal and Aihole. The Badami rail line is well connected with daily trains operating from Bengaluru, Chennai and Hyderabad railway stations. The train journey is almost 12 hours long from both Bengaluru and Hyderabad. Road: Pattadakal and Aihole towns are well connected by road to nearby metros like Bengaluru, Chennai and Hyderabad. From Badami, Hampi, Hospet or Hubli, you can either hire a taxi or hop into a government bus to reach Pattadakal and Aihole, Karnataka. We rented a motorbike from Hampi and rode to Badami, Karnataka through the NH50 highway. We spent a night in Badami and after exploring the Badami caves and the surrounding temples, we rode to Pattadakal and finally to Aihole. The route from Hampi – Hospet – Badami – Pattadakal – Aihole is extremely scenic with several sunflowers’ fields on the way (if you travel in the month of August/ September). We stopped by at least 3-4 fields in between that were blooming with bright yellow sunflowers. Being a small town, there are hardly any options to stay in Pattadakal and Aihole. It is best that you book your stay in Badami, Karnataka. Both Pattadakal and Aihole can be visited as a day-trip from Badami. However, if you are a history buff and would like to explore minute details of each monument, you better visit both the towns on separate days. PIN THESE IMAGES Hope you got a better idea of the towns of Pattadakal and Aihole through this guide. Do let us know if you have any questions or if you feel we missed out on some crucial information.

Hampi - The Land of Boulders and Ruins in Karnataka, attracts a huge tourist crowd every year. Just 140 kilometres from Hampi, lies an absolutely beautiful but underrated town named Badami. Badami is often under-looked or clubbed together on a day trip from Hampi with Pattadakal and Aihole. However, we feel that Badami has the potential to be a standalone tourist destination and at least 1-night should be spent at this place to get the most out of this unexplored gem. This article will act as a complete guide for you to plan your trip to Badami in Karnataka. Location of Badami, Karnataka: Badami is located in the Bagalkot district of the Indian state of Karnataka. It used to be the capital of Chalukyas (Indian royal dynasty that ruled central and southern India) between the 5th and the 8th century. Badami lies 450 kilometres away from Bengaluru and 420 kilometres away from Hyderabad. It is often visited as a weekend destination from both Bengaluru and Hyderabad. As stated above, trip to Badami is mostly clubbed with the nearby popular destination Hampi, which is just 140 kilometres away. How to reach Badami, Karnataka: Air: Belgaum, which is 150 kilometres away, is the nearest airport to Badami, Karnataka. From Belgaum airport, you can either hire a prepaid taxi or take a bus to Badami. Flights from major airports in India including Hyderabad and Bengaluru, operate to Belgaum. Rail: Badami railway station line is well connected with daily trains operating from Bengaluru and Hyderabad railway stations. The train journey is almost 12 hours long from both Bengaluru and Hyderabad. Road: Badami town is well connected by road to nearby metros like Bengaluru and Hyderabad. From Hampi, Hospet or Hubli, you can either hire a taxi or hop into a government bus to reach Badami, Karnataka. We rented a motorbike from Hampi and rode to Badami, Karnataka through the NH50 highway. The route from Hampi – Hospet – Badami is extremely scenic with several sunflowers’ fields on the way (if you travel in the month of August/ September). We stopped by at least 3-4 fields in between that were blooming with bright yellow sunflowers. It was fun speaking with the farmers and photographing the colorful surroundings. History behind the name 'Badami': The small town of Badami was formerly known by the name Vatapi. Vatapi was a demon killed by a sage named Agastya. Hence, the man-made lake in Badami is named after the sage. It was named Badami as the sandstone rocks in the area are "Badami - Almond brown in Hindi language" in color. Places to visit in Badami, Karnataka: Badami Caves There are in total 4 sets of rock-cut caves in Badami, Karnataka which are together known as Badami Caves. One can drive/ ride directly to the Badami caves. It has a huge parking lot from where you have to walk and climb on foot to explore the caves. Each of the set of caves in Badami, Karnataka is considered as examples of Indian rock-cut architecture. All caves are carved into a cliff’s monolithic stone face which is considered to be soft sandstone. Each cave includes an entrance with a verandah that further leads to sandstone pillar and the main hall. Each set of caves is a little higher than the other. Ascending a few steps from the parking lot you enter ‘Badami cave 1’. And further up the stairs comes Badami cave 2, then Badami cave 3 and finally Badami cave 4. All caves are linked with a stepped path with intermediate terraces that overlook a man-made earthen lake named as Agastya Lake. The view of Agastya Lake from the level of Badami cave 3 and 4 is incredible and should not be missed. Badami cave 1 was excavated in the 5th century and is dedicated to Lord Shiva. A large rock carved in the shape of Shivalinga forms the centre of the cave. The ceilings, the walls and the pillars are all adorned with deeply cut sculptures of deities and swans and all things considered holy. The highlight of Badami cave 1 is the unique sculpture of 18-armed Nataraja, also known as the ‘King of Dancers’. Climbing about 60 steps from the façade of Badami cave 1 is ‘Badami cave 2’. Badami cave 2 was excavated in the 6th century and is dedicated to Lord Vishnu. Meditating deities on the opposite side of the entrance guard the approach. The highlight of Badami cave 2 is the ceiling that is adorned with Fish-Wheel with 16-spokes finely carved in the rock that is surrounded by Swastika patterns. The pedestals of several deities in Badami cave 2 are adorned with sculptures of dwarfs. Another 60 steps from Badami cave 2, takes you to ‘Badami cave 3’. Badami cave 3 is the largest of all the 4 caves of Badami. The cave is adorned with exquisitely carved sculptures of 8-armed Vishnu, Shiva, Indra, Varuna, Garuda and Narasimha. The walls are sculpted with friezes of various episodes of Mahabharata. The pillars are adorned with sculptures of divine couple deities like Shiva-Parvati and Naga-Nagini. Indeed Badami cave 3 is the most ornate of all the caves of Badami. Descending a few stairs from Badami cave 3 will take you ‘Badami cave 4’. Badami cave 4 is the smallest of all the caves of Badami, Karnataka. It is considered to be unfinished and left incomplete by the sculptors. These set of caves are also referred to as Jain cave temple as it is dedicated to the most revered figures of Jainism like Parshvanath and Bahubali. The walls of Badami cave 4 are carved with sculptors of Mahavira and other Tirthankaras. Apart from these set of 4 caves, other cave monuments and medieval age temples have also been found around the Agastya Lake but those remain away from the tourists’ eye due to lack of maintenance. In a few of them, water gushes every monsoon, submerging the caves under the water. Though being the most touristy place to visit in Badami, Badami caves are a must-visit. Caves Timings: 9 AM to 6 PM. Open on all days Entrance fee: INR 5/ person Photography: Still camera – Free, Video Camera – INR 25 Badami Archaeological Museum The Archaeological museum in Badami is right beside the Badami caves' parking lot. The museum was set up by the Archaeological Survey of India in the year 1979. We suggest you explore the museum before visiting the caves as it will give you a clear insight into the Chalukyan dynasty. The museum houses antiquities that include sculptures and inscriptions that were excavated from places in and around Badami. All the relics date back to the time between the 6th century and the 16th century. Like the Badami caves, the Archaeological museum at Badami also has 4 galleries. However, that’s where the similarity ends. The galleries exhibit sculptures of Lord Shiva, Lord Vishnu and Lord Ganesha along with other deities. Exquisitely carved Makara Torana panel (that depicts scenes from Bhagwad Gita) is the highlight of the museum at Badami, Karnataka. Museum timings: 9 AM to 5 PM. The museum is closed on Fridays. Entrance fee: INR 5/ person (Free for children up to 15 years) Photography is not allowed inside the museum. Badami Fort and Upper & Lower Shivalaya Temple A reasonably easy uphill climb from a small entrance just outside the ASI museum in Badami will take you towards the Badami Fort. The series of steps to Badami fort (about 365 in number) is through a narrow gorge. In some places, it is so narrow that you will have to slide sidewise and slip into the other end. The Badami Fort is believed to be from the 6th century. The fort is however weathered and is in ruins. The only evidence of the fort that has been left is the bastion. The view of the opposite hills and the Agastya Lake from the Badami fort is incredible. Climbing a bit further from the Badami fort, you reach the Lower Shivalaya temple and then the Upper Shivalaya temple. The Lower Shivalaya temple’s outer walls have been dismantled and only the empty pedestal remains. The Upper Shivalaya temple has beautiful carvings of Ramayana characters like Kumbhakarna and Lord Krishna. As such there’s not much to see in the temples, however, the panoramic view of the rocky landscape and that of the Agastya lake that you get from the top is stunning. Agastya Lake Agastya Lake is a man-made step lake surrounded by almond-brown sandstone hills. The Badami caves, Badami fort, upper and lower Shivalaya temples and Bhutanatha temple all surround the Agastya Lake. The lake is fed by waterfalls from the southern hills each monsoon. If you visit Badami during monsoon, you will find a series of waterfalls from the southern hills pouring water into the Agastya Lake. During summer, however, the lake is reduced to a big pond and almost about all the ghat steps leading to the lake are visible. Agastya Lake looks extremely picturesque during the early morning. The view of the lake from atop the Badami caves and the Upper and Lower Shivalaya temples is incredibly stunning as well. Agastya lake is an awesome place to spend some time in peace. You could choose to sit on the ghat steps and soak in the beauty of the nature surrounding the lake. If you are interested in getting some cool heritage pictures, with Bhutanatha temple in the backdrop, the place is photogenic too. Out of all the places to visit in Badami, we found Agastya Lake to be the best. Bhutanatha Temple Bhutanatha temple is surrounded by Agastya Lake on three sides in peak monsoon season. However, in summer, you will find less/ no water around the temple. Bhutanatha temple was build in the 8th century during the rule of Chalukyas in Badami. The temple houses Lord Shiva as a deity in its sanctum sanctorum. Bhutanatha temple is set against a backdrop of beautiful reddish cliffs. The Bhutanatha temple mostly remains deserted and hence you can peacefully enjoy the tranquillity and serenity of the place. The temple has splendid architecture and beautiful stone carvings. A few other temples and small caves are located in the vicinity of the temple which are worth exploring if you have time in hand. Apart from the ones mentioned above, there are a few other temples like Mahakuteshwara temple and Mallikarjuna temple located in Badami that you can visit if you can squeeze them in the time you have. Duration of visit to Badami, Karnataka: Badami is often explored in a day-trip from Hampi. Very few tourists opt to spend a night in Badami. However, we highly recommend spending at least 2 nights in Badami, Karnataka. On day one, you can reach Badami by afternoon after exploring the sunflower fields on the way. In the evening you can visit the Badami caves, Badami fort and upper and lower Shivalaya temples. On the next morning, you can plan to visit the Agastya lake and Bhutanatha temple in the morning, followed by a visit to the ASI Museum. Rest of the time can be spent in exploring the other sight-seeing spots in Badami itself, or you can move on to explore the heritage sites at Pattadakal and Aihole. Best time to visit Badami, Karnataka: Monsoon is hands down the best time to visit Badami. If you are lucky and on-time, you will be able to witness the Agastya lake being filled by the waterfalls from the southern hills. If you wish to do that, visit Badami right after the monsoon ends. Winter is also one of the good times to visit Badami, Karnataka. Summer in Badami is hot and sunny. The sandstone of the caves as well as the ghat steps tend to become hot in the summer heat. Even the Agastya lake tends to dry up in the summertime. Hence, any time between August and February will be ideal to explore this heritage town. Where to stay in Badami, Karnataka: As we stated earlier, not many tourists opt to stay in Badami; hence the stay options are also less in number. However, there are some decent accommodation options in Badami like Hotel Mayura Chalukya, Clarks Inn Badami and Krishna Heritage hotel. All of these stay options provide basic facilities along with dining options for a comfortable stay. The most distinctive feature about tourism in Badami is that all the places of interest (Badami caves, ASI museum, Badami fort, upper and lower Shivalaya temples, Agastya Lake, Bhutanatha temple) are located in one complex. Hence, you do not have to move around a lot to see all these sight-seeing spots. You can also hire a tourist guide if you are interested to deep-dive into the history and culture of the place. You can find a guide outside the museum or in the parking lot near the Badami caves. PIN THESE IMAGES Badami is a must-visit destination if you are nearby in Hampi, Karnataka. Go explore this place now and let us know how you find it! Happy travelling. #India #SouthIndia #Karnataka #Badami