| Poovar is one among the natural wonders where the Lake, River, Sea and Beach meet the land. A rare find in Kerala, the southern state of India |
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| Poovar is unspoilt and unexplored, envoloped by the most serene backwaters, and opening out to the sea and a dream golden sand beach.The historical importance of Poovar has its strong ties with the legendary King of the erstwhile Princely State of Travanmcore, the great Marthanda Varma Maharaja |
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| Raja Marthanda Varma ( 1706 - 1761 ) was born at a time when the royal power of his family was declining. In fact, the Raja was once outsted from his throne and in exile. But, a strong ruler, Marthanda Varama Maharaja not only regained his lost land but also enlarged his kingdom besides reasserting the royal power during his 29-year rule from 1729 to 1758. And, the success story of the Maharaja had close links with the small and beautiful land of Poovar, situated on the south of the Neyyar River |
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| The story was like this |
| Though Marthanda Varma Maharaja was proclaimed the successor of the King, the two sons of the late King ( Ettuveetil Pillamar) with the help of Madampis tried to usurp power. The Maharaja had to flee from his land as he had life threat from the Thampis and in the process landed up in Poovar. It was Moosa marikar, a rich and aristocratic businessman in Poovar, who gave asylum to the Maharaja. The business magnet of Poovar, Moosa Marikkar, also patronaged the Maharaja for his regaining power of his lost kingdom. |
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| Among the fascinations the Raja experienced at Poovar during his shelter there was the site of red flowers, chipped out from the Kovala trees standing along the Neyyar riverbanks, floating in the river as a red carpet on water. The legned is that the stream was named as "POOVAR" as the Raja described the river as "POO-AAR" ( meaning a stream of flowers). The beauty and greenery of the picturesque and unparallel silence of Poovar captured the mind of the Maharaja |
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| More about poovar |
| Poovar Beach, near the Kovalam Beach, separates the River Neyyar from the sea. Poovar is basically a fishing village and the only way to reach Poovar is through water. Known for its pristine and virginal beauty, Poovar Beach is haunted by those who love solitude. Beach activities and water sports are not developed in this beach because of the fishing population. The estuary there is one among the natural wonders where the Lake, River, Sea and Beach meet the land, and is situated adjacent to the Poovar Island; a rare find in Kerala, the southern state of India. It is enveloped by the most serene backwaters and opening out to the Sea and a dream golden beach |
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| Poovar is truly a window into paradise. Time stopped a few decades ago bowing to the sheer beauty of Poovar. The tranquility of Poovar is punctuated by the sound of waves and the birds. The area is abundant in well-preserved local flora, with hundreds of species of spices, exotic flowers, complete with banana and coconut groves |
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| Poovar offers several possibilities. Cruise to a neighbouring fishing village in 2 minutes. Alter course, and visit a centuries old martial arts village. Kerala is the birthplace of a unique martial art form. The traditional lifestyles here provide the experience of a natural museum |
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| The Poovar beach separates the river from the sea and is quite breathtaking. Because of the active fishing population the beach is not really used as a sunbathing spot or for swimming as the currents are quite strong. |
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| The Fishing Village |
| The village near Poovar is largely inhabited by fisher-folk. The fishermen here make a living by fishing in the old-traditional ways. They live a unique water-based lifestyle completely relying on the river and sea for everything from their daily livelihood to transportation. The village is ideal to experience the real-taste of a typical Kerala coastal village and their unique ways of living. |
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| Vizhinjam |
| Vizhinjam, located close to the Kovalam Beach, has a small sea port. There are a multitude of internationally acclaimed beach resorts and Ayurvedic treatment centers in and around Vizhinjam. The place also served as the imperial capital of the Ay rulers, who ruled Southern Kerala till the 10th century AD. A cave atop a boulder houses unfinished reliefs of Siva, Parvati and Kirata Murti bearing witness to ancient Pallava connections. |
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| How to reach |
| Nearest Airport - Thiruvananthapuram (Trivandrum) International Airport : (travel time - 45 minutes by road. Nearest railway station Thiruvananthapuram (Trivandrum) - (travel time - 45 minutes by road |
