Poovar, a picturesque village nestled almost at the southern tip of the Thiruvananthapuram District in Kerala, South India, is a popular tourist destination that offers an ideal remote getaway. This natural tropical inland is renowned for its scenic beauty and serene environment, making it a place where one can be at perfect peace and free from the humdrum of daily, monotonous life. The island is believed to have derived its name from the astonished comment of the King of Travancore, Marthanda Varma (1706–58), who, upon seeing abundant flowers floating in the nearby Neyyar river during spring, exclaimed, “poo-var,” meaning "flower and river" in the local parlance.
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| Poovar Island,Kerala, .thrillophilia.com |
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| Poovar Island,Kerala,.thenewsminute.com |
Poovar is geographically unique, dominated by a dreamy golden beach and calm Kerala backwaters, yet flanked by the vast Arabian Sea on one side and the dense, wooded Western Ghats on the other. The estuary here provides open access to the sea during high tides. The landscape is characterized by rich, lush green vegetation, forming a magical carpet for nature lovers, and mild-swaying coconut trees line the waterways. In the quiet atmosphere, against the backdrop of mild chirping of tropical birds, the beautiful silhouette of these trees during the evening sundown invites travelers to just forget themselves, get lost, and positively go into a reverie.
Opportunities for a memorable stay in this place of perfect stillness are plenty. For comfortable accommodation, numerous lodges are available, including both floating and landing cottages set in an ideal ambiance to suit various budgets. For rejuvenation, the island is home to Ayurveda centers, where oil massages help visitors relax, and special natural treatments are available for age-related health ailments. Not satisfied with just relaxing, tourists can also embark on a nice boat drive through the calm, sun-lit backwaters to the golden beaches, opening out to the ocean.Beyond its natural allure and modern amenities, Poovar holds significant historical importance. It is believed to have been
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| Poovar Island. keralatravelpal.com |
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| Poovar island, Kerala, coconut groves. visitindia.org.in |
an important mercantile trading center for high-quality spices, sandalwood, ivory, and timber in antiquity. Intriguingly, it is speculated that around 1,000 BCE, ships owned by King Solomon of Israel landed in Ophir, which some believe was Poovar (or alternatively Bepur near Kozhikode). The estuary itself witnessed the ancient mercantile trade and the first arrival of Europeans on the Malabar coast. Furthermore, when the village was under the control of the Chola dynasty (later half of the 9th century till the beginning of the 13th century), it was a well-known seaport. The village is also a site of early Islamic history, as Malik Deenar, a Muslim preacher from Iraq, is believed to have built one of the oldest mosques here around 648 CE. Poovar Island, with its perfect blend of history, scenic beauty, and peaceful atmosphere, truly epitomizes the tranquility of "God's own country."
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