Thiruvananthapuram, a premium city in Kerala, is home to history,
tradition, culture, nature and inevitably modern innovation. All this
make the city of Trivandrum along the southwestern shoreline of Indian
mainland a great destination for tourists near and around. Being home to
various interesting attractions that range from beautiful hill stations
to historical locations, various popular venues in Thiruvananthapuram
serve as great options for indulging in exciting activities such as
picnicking. One of these exotic locations around Trivandrum is the
historic town of Neyyattinkara, which attracts the several tourists on their
trip to Thiruvananthapuram. Tourists in Trivandrum usually do not prefer
to miss a single day tour to Neyyattinkara for enjoying various activities and sightseeing. The weather in Neyyattinkara remains
pleasant throughout the year and thus a short trip to this striking
destination is enjoyable 12 months a year.
Location of Neyyattinkara
Positioned in the south of
Thiruvananthapuram 20 kilometres away from the heart of this city, the
historic town of Neyyattinkara is home to various interesting sites,
most being ancient, and serves to be a amazing spot for picnics and
one-day tours. It is a great feeling for the sightseers in the region to
explore the old monuments sited at this pictorial town along the
riverbanks of the Neyyar. Kara in Malayalam refers to the word ‘shore’
and thus Neyyattinkara means shore of the Neyyar River, which commences
its course at Agasthyakoodam in the Western Ghats from its southern
limits. 24-hour bus services are provided regularly along NH 47, which
joins Neyyattinkara to Trivandrum.
Historical sites in Neyyattinkara
Many
historic sites, some of which date back to the Neolithic period, prove
the existence of Neyyattinkara even during the pre-historic era. The
historical evidences that establish this fact are found at a short
distance from the main town of Neyyattinkara in its northeast at
Pandavanpara on the way to Kattakada. This area was formerly known as
Thenganad prior to the reign of the Travancore king Marthanda Varma. The
ancient sites in Neyyattinkara that are quite popular among the
picnickers and sightseers and worth visiting include:
First library of Neyyattinkara – Njanapradayini
Vizhinjam Cave Temple of the Ay kings
Pandavanpara cave paintings of the Neolithic Period
Anantha Victoria Marthandan Canal of the British Era
Historical relevance of Neyyattinkara
Picnickers
on their trip to Neyyattinkara do not usually miss to visit the
centuries old Shree Krishna Swami Temple. The Sree Krishna Temple in
Neyyattinkara is one of the most remarkable embodiments of ancient
architecture in this part of India, its popularity as a tourist site
being increased more and more over the years due to its association with
the legend of Marthanda Varma, the Travancore ruler who built this
temple in 1755. The time in history connected with struggle for
independence against the British autonomy has been marked distinctly in
Neyyattinkara with the birth of many freedom fighters and various
rebellious deeds against the brutality of the English people. Mahatma
Gandhi had also visited Neyyattinkara, the house where he stayed for a
day is known as Madhavi Mandiram. A visit to this famous historic site
along with a trip around the monument that is reminiscent of India’s
struggle for freedom are enjoyed by most picnickers in Neyyattinkara.
Churches to visit in Neyyattinkara
Innumerable
churches, most of these being the ancient ones, are situated across the
entire town of Neyyattinkara. In fact there are CSI churches to be
found in every locality of this historic city. The CSI Amaravila, which
used to be popular as the Emily Chapel, is one of the earliest built
churches in Neyyattinkara. The Emily Chapel was established in 1810 and
till day it remains a major tourist attraction in Neyyattinkara drawing
sightseers from all around. Established in 1845 the CSI Thozhukkal is
also an ancient church in this region Reverend John Cox being the
founder of this historic church in Neyyattinkara. Evangelical Churches
associated to Assemblies of God, Evangelical Church of India, Indian
Pentecostal Church of God, Thomas Syrian Church and many other
evangelical ministries dot the city of Neyyattinkara. For the picnickers
to enjoy a fascinating trip across these historically notable religious
sites in Neyyattinkara is a great option. These churches in
Neyyattinkara as well as the Syro-Malabar Catholic Churches located here
are worth exploring in order to be a part of the glorious past of
India.
Religious sites in Kurishumala
The
Vellarada Kurishumala, which is known widely as the Vellarada Holy
Cross Hills, and the Bonacaud Kurishumala, admired near and far as the
Bonacaud Holy Cross Hills, are the two most important religious sites
located near Neyyattinkara. These Holy Cross Hills of Kurishumala are
quite popular among the sightseers and holidaymakers in
Thiruvananthapuram and the areas around. KSRTC buses ply regularly from
Erattupetta to Neyyattinkara and Vellarada via Thiruvananthapuram, which
make Vellarada and Neyyattinkara accessible from Trivandrum for the
picnickers and vacationers in Kerala.
