[rjstyles69]

v&v simply fabulous man. I have been to most of these places featured but then never was able to capture so many pictures. Thosewere my pre- DSLR days and was a noob in photography.

Thanks for putting it up here , definitely a good place and worth a visit.

[v&v]

Originally Posted by cool_dube

Hi V&V,

Nice log and good snaps. Since I would be visiting both these resorts later this year, I have a few queries. Request you to please take some time and answer these:

a. I understand that Poovar Island Resort is approachable only by boat. Since I will be driving down, I enquired about parking facilities and was told that the resort has its own parking facility at the boat jetty with 24x7 security. I believe you too drove down. Did you use their parking facility? If yes, how would you rate it?

b. I believe the Club Mahindra Ashtamudi resort is approachable by road and one can drive right up. Is that correct?

c. I have booked floating cottages at both resorts but since you did not use one, not sure if you can provide any feedback

d. How similar/different are these resorts since both are more or less backwater retreats. I have planned 2 nights/3 days each for both resorts. Since you have seen both, would this 3+3 days be an overdose?

e. If I were to cut short my trip for various reasons, which of the two resorts would you recommend?

Thanks for your time...
Rahul

Thanks rahul. Now the answers to your queries.

a. Boat jetty means a not a public one, it is resorts private jetty only for guests with proper security and parking. Even i had this apprehension as i could not find details about it on the net. One can drive in to their private parking rest they will take care.

b. CM Ashtamudi is fully approachable by road. its on the bank of the lake. You will have to drive around 6 kms into to a village from Main NH.

c. CM Ashtmudi one cannot say is on backwater. it on the lake side. Activities are boating, travelling nearby villages, Monroe island for fishing,church. I feel if you have a good fishing kit, the fishing will be an exciting activity there. You also have speed boats, paddle boats and canoeing too. Of course you have a big house boat which you can book for a candle light dinner on Saturday evenings too. Apart from these you can also see around kollam, varkala beach and lots of temple.
Now making base at poovar is backwaters experience + sea/beach activity.
They have a big ayurvedic village in case you are interested. You can cover full TVL and around by staying here.

Now as for floating cottage is a mess if it rains otherwise it ok. More over i personally didt find much attractive or any special attraction apart it being floating. i have seen these cottage in both poovar and ashtamudi.
My opinion Land cottage at poovar and floating cottage at ashtamudi will be a good option. FLC at ashtamudi is much better than poovar.


d. Both resorts has enough material for 2N3D. You can visit other place around TVM and Kollam. Note : At Kollam you can try the backwater cruse from kollam to alleppy and back its a great option you can try for a day.


e. if you want to cut short, then cut short poovar, Only poovar 2D and 1N is enough. reach early by 11 at poovar as poovar has checkin time by 12.

cheers
vinod

[laluks]

Once my friend was telling they got a local boat coming close to the FLC at Poovar where some foreigners were staying and asked for cash!

[v&v]

Originally Posted by LongDrive lover

v&v, Amazing pics: Kerala at its best. You sure must have had fantastic vacations. Looking for more pics..

Thanks LDL. Rain god was kind enough with us as it didnt rain at all during our trip. Had a fantastic trip.

Originally Posted by lejhoom

V&V,
Very beautiful photos. Looking at those photos with water everywhere gives a huge respite from the heat here in Hyderabad.

Why don't those boat guys arrange for some safety jackets like the one your kids wear in the speed boat? I am really surprised at the attitude of most of these boatmen plying country boats. They seem to be under the impression that everything is under control!

Thanks lejhoom, even my concern was the same. they had shortage of safety jackets.I have mentioned the same in my feedback too.

Originally Posted by adityadeva

Thank you very much for the photographs,

your trip around poovar lake in a vallam(country boat) has filled me with the nostalgic memories of my childhood. I had those trips around Alappuzha.In Those days people in and around Alleppey were used to water transport, some times it was a necessity. Now a days nobody rows a country boat except for sand miners and fishermen. Thank you once more.

thanks aditya, ours was too the first experience in a vallam. it worth trying and worth every penny.

Originally Posted by sumeet007

Agree there completely.
Remembered a trip we did recently (4 families) stayed in a huge house boat for a day, next day were in a resort (Ilona).
From there we went looking for the govt. run boat ride in the kumarakom bird sanctuary, unfortunately none was available that day and hence went on foot inside the sanctuary, where we came across a couple of elderly boatmen with the small narrow boats(where you sit single file), and they offered a ride around, as the canal there looked innocuous, without a thought we filled the boats with ourselves and small children. in a few short minutes the boats came up and close to the vembanad lake with undulating waves, when we really feared the stability of these delicate boats, asked them to return back hastily and realized the danger later as none had any form of life jackets, etc.

yes sumeet, these vallams are safe only where the waves are small otherwise it scary. when we were on the island cruse on this vallam, there are certain places where the waves were big, the whole boat simply syncs with the waves. just move up and down.

Originally Posted by rjstyles69

v&v simply fabulous man. I have been to most of these places featured but then never was able to capture so many pictures. Thosewere my pre- DSLR days and was a noob in photography.

Thanks for putting it up here , definitely a good place and worth a visit.

thanks rjstyles, these places are a treat for photographers. would certainly like to visit these places again.

[v&v]

Originally Posted by laluks

Once my friend was telling they got a local boat coming close to the FLC at Poovar where some foreigners were staying and asked for cash!

yes, at FLC's thought gurads are around, but its open and any body can come close to the cottages and the balcony is facing the sea, so there is no restriction as such. Also i was told during rain small insect too creep in to the FLC. But what ever said it worth trying. When the big waves hit the FLC it certainly creates a turning or spinning feeling. I had this experience when we were dining at Ashtamudi on their floating restaurant. Couple of big wave hit the shore the whole restaurant was swinging. if caught unaware it give you a spinning like feeling as if you are going to have a blackout.

[v&v]

Photos of sunset from speed boat, night trek to nearby village to sea chinese fishing nets and sunrise photos

[v&v]

The southernmost tip of India and its where three seas meet: the Bay of Bengal, Indian Ocean and Arabian sea.

Our last leg on the trip. We started in the morning from the resort via kollam, TVM (Bypass) to kanyakumari. NH has bad patches between Kollam-TVM and roads in TN is bad lots of bad patches and high traffic density.Major town crossed is nagarcoil. Reached KK by Noon. Lots of hotel option. We checked in to Sea View. Bit pricey by one of the best hotels in KK. Got the sea view room on the fifth floor. The rooms were costing 4000 + taxes got negiotated for Rs 2800/- all inc. I think it worth that price with the kind of view it offers.

What we saw -

1. Devi Kumari Temple
2. Vivekananda Rock, Thiruvalluvar Statue
3. Beach and Sangam Point.
4. View tower
5. Sun Rise and Sun Set - (Could not see full sun set due to cloud )
6. Lord Shiva Temple
7. Padmanabhapuram Maharaja Palace while returning back. it around 30 odd kms from KK on NH47.


First few shot from the hotel room. (Vivekananda Road & Thiruvalluvar Statue)

[swiftnfurious]

Beautiful Pics V&V. I had never heard of this place [Poovar] before -- might pay visit this year. The backwaters are definitely interesting. Could you let us know how the rates were? And I think it shud hv been lesser now as this is off-season?

[laluks]

Originally Posted by swiftnfurious

Beautiful Pics V&V. I had never heard of this place [Poovar] before -- might pay visit this year. The backwaters are definitely interesting. Could you let us know how the rates were? And I think it shud hv been lesser now as this is off-season?

If you are a CM member - its your time share.
If you arer an RCI member, the rates could be around 10K plus access charges for a week.
If you are none expect rates northward of 5k per night (5K itself would be wishful thinking)

[jacs]

Nice pictures there V&V. I'm sure you had an amazing vacation. Though being from God's own country, I had never been to Poovar. It looks inviting.

[v&v]

Originally Posted by swiftnfurious

Beautiful Pics V&V. I had never heard of this place [Poovar] before -- might pay visit this year. The backwaters are definitely interesting. Could you let us know how the rates were? And I think it shud hv been lesser now as this is off-season?

Its is quite place for rejuvenation. Here is their website Kerala Backwater Resort | Kerala Beach Resort
i think Jun - Aug is their office season and otherwise its expensive. Good number of foreigners come to stay here.

[v&v]

Originally Posted by jacs

Nice pictures there V&V. I'm sure you had an amazing vacation. Though being from God's own country, I had never been to Poovar. It looks inviting.

Thanks jacs. Yap had nice vacation as it didnt rain at all. Same is my case too, i had never explored any tourist destination yet. Now onwards when ever i am in Kerala will ensure i visit a tourist spot for sure. Another big issue is transport, as my current drive was in my dad maruti. After driving bigger cars is too difficult and tiring too. We covered around 700 kms in it for this trip.
So i was thinking of bringing my baleno to Kerala by this year end .

[v&v]

More pictures of Kanyakumari

View of street leading to the temple



Beach behind temple, it was rough and rocky.


Night shots of Vivekananda rock and Thiruvalluvar Statue

[jacs]

Originally Posted by v&v

Thanks jacs. Yap had nice vacation as it didnt rain at all. Same is my case too, i had never explored any tourist destination yet. Now onwards when ever i am in Kerala will ensure i visit a tourist spot for sure. Another big issue is transport, as my current drive was in my dad maruti. After driving bigger cars is too difficult and tiring too. We covered around 700 kms in it for this trip.
So i was thinking of bringing my baleno to Kerala by this year end .

Yes V&V it makes more sense to have a car with power steering in Kerala being full curves and climbs. Most important is safety which is lacking in Kerala now a days. So your dad is going to rock in the Baleno .

[v&v]

Originally Posted by jacs

Yes V&V it makes more sense to have a car with power steering in Kerala being full curves and climbs. Most important is safety which is lacking in Kerala now a days. So your dad is going to rock in the Baleno .

jacs my dad will still use his good old maruti only. milage and small comfort.