Poovar Island comprises of long stretches of sand, peaceful surroundings and a gentle breeze which tends to be refreshing. It is located at a distance of 27 km from Thiruvananthapuram. The island is known for its untouched and unexplored beaches apart from the backwaters, which is also one of the most striking features of the island.
The island is located at the mouth of the Neyyar river and is mainly home to the fishing communities, which makes it an ideal place for one to get to know the culture and the local traditions.
Best Time To Visit Poovar
The island is a place which can be visited throughout the year; however, the winter months and early summer months are most preferred by tourists who are not willing to get a suntan.
PC: Nagesh Jayaraman
Origin Of The Name
There is an interesting story of how the place got its name, before being known as Poovar. It was originally called Pokkumoosapuram. According to a popular story which takes you back in time, when there were riots in the then kingdom of Travancore, King Marthanda Varma reached Poovar while escaping from the riots and the Lords of the Eight Houses or the Ettuveetil Pillamar.
PC: Nagesh Jayaraman
The king reached the place, during the spring season and the trees on the banks of the river Neyyar fully bloomed and fell into the river which made it a beautiful sight. After witnessing this sight the king called it Poo - Var. When translated, Poo means flower and Var means river, put together it was called Poovar.
More About The Place
An active trade of timber, sandalwood, ivory and spices was said to have been carried out from here. It is believed that the ships which were owned by King Solomon of Israel landed in a place called Ophir which according to sources is Poovar. It is also one of the oldest Muslim settlements along the western coast of India.
PC: Nagesh Jayaraman
An estuary can be found adjacent to the island which is a natural wonder and the only sounds to be heard here are of the chirping of birds and the roaring of waves. One can enjoy the weather along with the farmlands of various spices, banana groves and coconut trees which sway to the wind and add on to the charm of the town.
If you come here looking for water sports then you are bound to return disappointed as the place does not offer any sort of water sports. Come here only to enjoy nature and the clear blue waters surrounding the place.
Canals And The Beach
The island of Poovar is surrounded by canals and the Neyyar river. The river and its backwaters are home to a rich variety of flora and fauna. As you cruise through the backwaters in Poovar you could easily spot a large variety of birds, some of which are the kingfisher, the brahminy kite and many more.
PC: Yogendra Joshi
One of the major attractions here apart from the river and backwaters is the beach which is well known for it cleanliness, all thanks to the location, which makes it one of the less inhabited beaches. The views which the beach offers continues to attract a large number of visitors from across the globe.
The beach separates the Arabian Sea and the river Neyyar and to reach the beach one must hop on to a water taxi. The scenic beach is filled with coconut palms and it provides all the luxury required for a peaceful and relaxing tour.