Best Places to Visit Near Trivandrum- Weekend Getaways | Indusgo

If you are an avid traveler, then Trivandrum in Kerala should top your list. In fact, there are a plethora of tourist places near Trivandrum that you must visit if you’re coming to Trivandrum. From rich wildlife to heritage forts and museums to hill stations and dense forests, there is a ton to explore near Trivandrum. Check out the best places to visit near Trivandrum, and plan a fun weekend trip to have a great time.

How to plan a weekend drive from Trivandrum? 

The best way to plan a weekend drive from Trivandrum is to hire a self-driven car. Most travelers opt for a self-driven car on rent as it is a cost-effective option where you can hire the car of your choice and enjoy a smooth drive to your destination. 

You must study the entire route carefully and plan your pit stops to save time and have a hassle-free journey. Refrain from traveling on rainy days; however, if you're expecting a sunny day or pleasant weather, you can plan for your weekend trip. 

Top places and weekend getaways from Trivandrum 

These are the best weekend getaways from Trivandrum. Just hire a rental car and drive towards these holiday destinations for a memorable time with your friends and family.

1. Neyyar Dam

This place contains both a dam and a sanctuary and is one of the unique places to visit around Trivandrum.. If you are travelling with children, you should start your weekend trip with this Neyyar Dam. The Neyyar Sanctuary consists of a crocodile park, a lion safari, and a deer park. This place is so beautiful, that you will need 1-1.5 hours in this place to look around completely. The tranquility of nature will amaze you. 

You must start your drive at around 7 AM to get a soothing driveway. If you choose to come to Trivandrum between November to February, then you will get a soothing climate to drive. The time to reach this place is around 1hour and may vary according to the distance from the place you get to stay in Trivandrum

If you have children aged 5-10, this is an ideal place to start your weekend trip. As mentioned,  the trip is to start at 7 AM; you need to call the car rental company and have the car delivered to your hotel at around 6 AM. There are small foothills where you can trek. 

Therefore, you can keep some trekking equipment with you that you can use either here or in the next weekend location. After you completely enjoy your visit to the Neyyar Dam and Sanctuary, you can start for the next location, which is around another 1.5 hours of drive from this place. One suggestion would be to have an early lunch on the way to driving.

2. Ponmudi

One of the best weekend getaways from Trivandrum is Ponmudi.This location is filled with tea and coconut plantations. The locales are breathtakingly beautiful. You will enjoy the scenic beauty from the car drive and after you reach there. Once you reach there, you will take another hour to see the location. 

 Since you will not get good restaurants near this place to have your lunch, you should take your lunch before reaching this place. There are many hairpin curves while driving towards Ponmudi which is why you must be very careful while driving through those turns. You can walk through the plantations or drive through the way, whichever you like. However, walking will allow you to behold the scenic beauty in a better way.

Also Read: Places to Visit in Between Kochi and Trivandrum

3.Mankayam Waterfalls

This is one of the best places to visit near Trivandrum, within 100 kms. You can start your journey by travelling for 1.5 hours to Mankayam waterfalls.  Tourists can visit the waterfalls and the forest around . Those starting their weekend trip early in the morning from the Mankayam waterfalls can take a bath at the Kurissadi ghats. This place opens as early as 8 AM, so you can start at 6:30 in the morning, to take a bath before it starts crowding near the waterfalls. 

  Also Read: 10 Best Places of Kerala to Visit with Family

4.Thenmala Sanctuary 

This sanctuary is built across the Kallar river and is best for a one-day trip from Trivandrum.. This location is only 15 kilometers away from Ponmudi tea plantations. Therefore, before crashing back to your hotel, you can  look in at the sanctuary and enjoy some sports and adventures. The most famous activities of Thenmala sanctuary is tree climbing and trekking. 

 As mentioned earlier, if you are used to trekking, bring some light trekking equipment along with you on the drive. The meaning of name of this sanctuary is honey hills. There is one waterfall you can see before returning, named Palaruvi waterfalls. There is a deer park  beside the Thenmala dam and once this park ends, there is a park where children can play on various rides.

5. Poovar Coastal Regions

On this weekend trip, you  can keep the last place to visit as Poovar coastal regions. This contains a very beautiful beach which is around 2-hour drive from the Mankayam waterfalls. If you are starting your trip with Mankayam waterfalls, you can stay in a resort in Poovar and visit the sanctuaries the next day from Poovar. This areas' mangroves and backwaters are breathtaking, and you need at least 3-4 hours to  look around completely and enjoy the beauty. This is one of the best attractions near Trivandrum. 

Since there are a lot of hotels in this area, you will not have any problem with taking your lunch here. After  lunch, you can stay for another hour over here, before heading back to Trivandrum. Please note that boating and rides are available in this place, which will be a great attraction for the children. If you finish this location a little earlier than lunchtime, then you can take some time to visit another nearby location. This is the famous Kovalam beach. Here also you will get a lot of restaurants for dining, and this place is around 12 kilometers away from Poovar.

Conclusion 

With our thoughtful list of top places to visit near Trivandrum, we are sure you are flooded with ideas for a thrilling weekend getaway. The only word of caution we would like to give is that you must study the road map before heading out. It will help you understand the roads better and take an alternative route if you're stuck in a traffic jam or due to bad weather. If you are still unsure about the place, hire a rental car with a driver to avoid facing any hassle.