Where the river meets the sea & the sand meets the bank- Poovar, a hidden paradise

Shadowed by the bigger touristy names in Kerala like Alleppey, Munnar, etc, Poovar is a small fishing town, untouched & unexplored.  

60 kms north of the southernmost tip of the Indian sub continent, in Malayalam it literally translates into, Flower River (Poo-Var). Like any other beach town this hidden hamlet has its own share of swaying coconut trees, clear blue sea and sandy brown sand. But what sets this place apart from other beachy places is the fact that it is located at the mouth of an estuary. Pristine backwater on one side and the gentle sea on the other, it has all the Kerala elements one looks forward to.

Poovar beach in all it's beauty

View of Estuary Island resort deck

The path to ...absolute beauty, with Poovar beach beyond

Resort with it's traditional look and feel

The backwater cruise through small green tunnels

Brilliant reflection on the still backwater

Some of the  birds I managed to capture 

...With wild flowers and wild fruits all around, how could I not be smiling?

Small fishing boats docked on the beach  with view of the resort behind

Fish auction in progress

While the fishermen wait for the verdict, the crows wait for some fishes to come their way

bringing the catch together before distribution

natural rock  formation of an 'Elephant in the sea'

• Best time to visit is after the monsoon and during winters
• The nearest airport is Trivandrum which is 25kms away
• It is best for couples who are looking for some privacy
• Not for all the party animals(*go to Goa instead)
• Ensure you eat the fabulous sea food here

I stayed at this place called Estuary Island. It is an island because it is surrounded by the backwater on three sides and by the ocean on the fourth. A relatively new property, the view from the deck is spectacular. It makes you want to kick your shoes, put up your feet and wriggle your toes while basking in all the serene beauty around. The villas have the traditional Kerala roofs, sloped and tiled with an interior that is very classy yet traditional!

One must-do here is to take a short backwater cruise around the island.  It can transport one to a sort of mini Amazonian forest (minus the snakes and mosquitoes). The still green river water enveloped with a canopy of low lying green vegetation carries one beyond the present realm of reality. The vibrant bird life with its water crows, woodpecker, cranes, the white headed kites etc.  this place is definitely a birdwatcher’s paradise. Their occasional calls are the only things you can hear apart from the paddling of the oars.

In Poovar an early morning visit to the Fishermen village is essential so that you can witness the life of the fishermen and also chose what you want for lunch! You can easily spot a fishing cove by the number of crows in the area and the amount of jelly fishes on the beach.

 I spotted both and was excited to witness a fish auction, where the men would throw in their catch together and sell it the men/woman who bid the highest.

The beach here is everything you can imagine, virgin soft and private. And the gentle sea breeze seemed to pull away all my city rattle and left me smiling. As I sat on the beach looking at the ‘Elephant-in-the- Sea’ stone structure, I wondered whether I should keep this place a secret. But then beauty is one such thing that can never be hidden. And in Poovar you can not only see & hear beauty but feel it too! And on my part, it would have been such a shame to not share it.