Vellayani Lake

They say God must have been in a good mood when he created Kerala. This south Indian state is truly blessed with nature’s bounty and has numerous pristine beaches, magical backwater channels, chilly hill stations, mysterious forests, and of course, a bounty of lakes.

Though there are a number of brackish water lakes, there are only two freshwater lakes in Kerala. They are the Vellayani Lake located on the outskirts of Trivandrum and the Sasthamkotta Lake in neighbouring Kollam city. The Vellayani Lake is a favourite tourist spot for those visiting Kovalam beach. You could take a drive from Trivandrum city which is just around 7 km away or you could do it the more fun way and hire a country boat from Kovalam and sail down to the lake. A perfect day trip enjoying mother nature at her best.

There is a whole new variety of flora and fauna to be seen here. A variety of water birds, some of which are migratory are a source of pleasure for nature enthusiasts and birders alike. Closer to the shoreline, you can see lots of lotus blooms too, and if you are lucky enough, you might be able to get someone to pluck some for you! Its grassy banks provide a popular picnic area too, with many people preferring to hang out till late evening. The tranquil moonlight creates an enchanting glimmering sheen over the lake’s surface, providing the perfect romantic backdrop for young lovers too.

Vellayani Lake is immense in size covering an area of over 7.5 km. It is a rain-fed lake that is used for irrigational as well as drinking water purposes too. A popular feature of this lake that never ceases to amaze the tourists is the fact that a road runs through the middle of the lake. The sea-facing side of the lake is locally named as ‘Kochu Kovalam’ meaning ‘small Kovalam’. The Government Agricultural College is also nearby. Its main building was once the summer palace of the erstwhile Travancore royal family.

The lake comes alive with the beat of hundreds of oars during the Onam festival when traditional boat races are conducted in its waters. It is the best time to visit the lake so you can enjoy the festive boat races too. Getting here is easy as Trivandrum has an international airport as well as excellent rail and road connectivity. You could stay over at the magnificent The Leela Kovalam, A Raviz Hotel, in Trivandrum and enjoy all that nature has on offer in this region.