Weekend Getaways near Ernakulam

Undoubtedly, Ernakulam is one of the preferred tourist locations in the tropical paradise of the country, Kerala. The district has some of the finest attractions in regards to pious religious shrines, groundbreaking scenic excellence and a thriving economy that simply magnetize thousands of people every year to this destination. It may be noted that such is the beauty of Ernakulam that the region has owned a place in top three rankings of World Travel and Tourism Council. It is the first district to reach 100% literacy and its is also the country’s first smoke free tourist destination.

The attractions of Ernakulam is endless and it is indeed a refreshing and invigorating experience visiting the district but for the tourism lovers it is an equally revitalizing experience to enjoy some of best destinations with awe inspiring scenic extravaganza around Ernakulam. It is the popular weekend getaways that make a vacation to Ernakulam far more thrilling and exciting. To provide an aid to those enthusiastic travelers here is a list of some of the popular tourist destinations from Ernakulam which can be traveled in few hours and where entertainment is guaranteed.

Alleppey

If the idea is to have a romantic getaway in the backdrop of picturesque natural environment then one of the best locations is Alleppey, also referred as the “Venice of the East” It is ideally described as the land of lagoons with enchanting view of the backwaters, verdant greenery and an amazing view of criss-crossing canals edged by series of palm trees. The place induces a refreshing and enticing journey to a wonderful vacation at this beautiful location.

Alleppey is one of the first planned cities of Kerala. With enough availability of the finest lakes, sun kissed beaches and tranquil backwaters the city is a vacationer’s paradise. Rowing and boat race are one of the primary entertainment options here. Apart from this the city holds some of the finest and pious religious sites with much popular temples like Ambalapuzha Sree Krishna Temple, Chettikulangara Bhagavathy Temple, Mullakkal Rajeshwari Temple, Mannarasala Sree Nagaraja Temple and St Andrews Church.

Distance from Ernakulam: 62km
Time by road from Ernakulam: 1hr 10min
Best time to visit: November to February

How to reach: The best way to reach Alleppey is by traveling through railways. There are seven direct trains traveling from Ernakulam to Alleppey of which the fastest one is Jan Shatabdi which reaches the destination in a time period 47 minutes. Traveling every day the fares of these trains are also quite low. Apart from these there are State transport buses which can be availed at a nominal fare of Rs112 but the traveling time increases to 2hrs in case of a bus ride. Click Here to Know More

Athirapally

To view some of the majestic waterfalls and some enchanting rainforests, the best place to visit is Athirapally, based in Mukundapuram of Thrissur district. Rich in biodiversity this is a place where two famous waterfalls Charpa and Vazhachal enrich the beauty of the location. Since its closeness to Western Ghats, the beautiful place remains the house of vivid wildlife, rare species of both clans of birds and animals. A spectacular and versatile collection of flora and fauna is visible here. To its geographical base and apt environment the Asian Nature Conservation Foundation have granted it to be an ideal place for national park

One of the best attraction of this place is the livelihood of the tribal based here known as Kodars. Spices like cardamom and ginger are avidly found here and are often collected by tourists.

Distance from Ernakulam: 70km
Time by road from Ernakulam: 1hr 30min
Best time to visit: November to February
How to reach: The best way to travel from Ernakulam to Athirapally is by hiring a private taxi which can travel the distance in a comfortable way with a fare not more than Rs 800.

Guruvayur

A beautiful town in Thrissur district, Guruvayur is famous for being the home of Lord Krishna as per the Hindu mythology. The name of the place also suggest a definite meaning where Guru is referred to Guru Brihaspati, Vayu stands for the God of Wind and Oor stands for land in Malayalam language.

Guruvayurrappan Temple is one of the primary attractions in the town. It is considered as the fourth biggest temple of the country after considering the influx of devotees in various temples per day throughout the year. Also named as “Bhooloka Vaikuntam”, this place is considered as the house of Lord Vishnu (Lord Krishna) on the face of Earth. Around the temple an impressive series of shops comprising of puja items as well as other necessary goods make the place more attractive. Apart from this one can also view other famous temples here like, Chamundeswari Temple, Harikanyaka Temple, Chowalloor Shiva Temple, Parthasarathy Temple and Venkatachalapathy Temple. Apart from this other attractions in the area includes the famous elephant Camp at Punnathur Kotta and Devaswom Museum.

Distance from Ernakulam: 79km
Time by road from Ernakulam: 1hr 45min

Best time to visit: During the month of April and Janmasthami due to elaborate festivals celebrated here. Otherwise the months of August to November are the time with best climatic conditions.

How to reach: The best mode of journey from Ernakulam is by railways. A direct train in the route is available which reaches the destination in 2hr 16 mins with a fare around Rs 50. Apart from this one can also travel by car which can reach Guruvayoor in less time but with a fare of around Rs 800. Read More about the City

Kanjirappally

Situated in the Kotayyam district, Kanjirappally is a town with a major population of Syrian Catholic Christians followed by Hindus and Muslims. Religious sentiment is quite strong in the city which also influences the culture of the place.

The major attractions of this place are some of the magnificent temples like Ganapathiyar Kovil, Madurai Meenakshi Temple, St Mary’s Church, St Domnic’s Syro Malabar Catholic Cathedral, Nainaru Mosque and others. All this temples provide a good view of the culture and tradition of the society here. Nainaru Mosque is another popular religious site here visited by thousands of Muslim devotees every year.

Distance from Ernakulam: 85km
Time by road from Ernakulam: 2hr 20min
Best time to visit: November to February

How to reach: The most convenient mode of journey would be hiring a cab through which one can reach the destination early as compared to other modes of travel and the fare of the same would be around Rs 1000. Other modes of travel include railway journey where one can travel from Ernakulam to Ettumanoor or Kottayam and from there take a cab to Kanjirappally. The journey would take a time around 3hrs but the cost of travel is around Rs 700.

Thiruvalla

Based on the banks of River Manimala, this is a pictorial town in Pathanamthitta district with a wide collection of heritage temples contributing to the rich culture of the place and responsible for naming the town as “Temple Town”of Kerala.

The most attracting feature of this place is the presence of legendary “Southern Tirupati” or popularly known as “Sri Vallabha Temple” is located here. Apart from this one can also visit the ancient Paliakkara Church which is believed to be dated back to AD 52 when Kerala was first exposed to Christianity. The brilliance of this society is the fact that here one can find the co-existence of temples, churches and even mosques portraying the cultural integrity of various religions.

Distance from Ernakulam: 93km
Time by road from Ernakulam: 2hr 15min
Best time to visit: November to February

How to reach: The best way to reach Thiruvalla is through traveling by train since direct trains like Parasuram Exp are available which reaches the destination in 1hr 39 mins and the fare is around Rs 50. One can also travel by Kerala SRTC buses which reach in almost 3 hrs time and the fare is around Rs175. A car travel will shorten the time of travel but the cost would be around Rs1000

Vagamon

Positioned at the borders of Idukki and Kottayam district this is a beautiful hill station and a hotspot for tourism lovers. The picturesque beauty of the hill station is in true terms mesmerizing. Be it the lush greenery or the fascinating hills, the gushing waterfalls or cool and refreshing air, the winding rivers or deep pine forest, the beauty around are beyond words to explain.

Often named as the “Scotland of Asia”, Vagamon is filled with natural excellence and adventurous sports which can be enjoyed for a different taste of entertainment. Be it trekking, rock climbing, paragliding or mountaineering, the adventurous sports available here guarantees a quality time in the hill station.

Distance from Ernakulam: 102km
Time by road from Ernakulam: 2hr 40min
Best time to visit: Throughout the year

How to reach: The best way to travel the distance from Ernakulam is by hiring a rental cab where the cost of journey would be around Rs1200 but time of travel would be less. Apart from this one can also travel by train to Ettumanoor or Piravom and from there take a cab to Vagamon where time of travel would be around 3hr 15min and the cost of travel around Rs 1000.

Idukki

Being one of the most preferred tourism destinations Idukki is a combination of scenic excellence, cosmopolitan society with huge historical significance. Having the highest peak of Western Ghats Anamudi based here along with the presence of second highest arch dam of the world, it is a place worth a visit. Historical significance also catches the eye of tourists here. It is believed that the beautiful town was not only an integral part of Chera Dynasty but it also housed many Europeans who preferred to settle here. From the industrial point of view since historic times, Idukki have been an important business hub with a lot of products like teak, ivory, sandalwood etc being exported to foreign countries.

Apart from scenic extravaganza, Idukki has three important dams, Cheruthoni Dam, Kulamavu Dam and Idukki Arch Dam which are popular tourist spots. Apart from this Ramakkalmedu, a popular hill station, Malankara Reservoir, a fun and entertainment zone is often visited by vacationers here. Mangala Devi Temple, Annamala Temple based here are supreme examples of architecture and a must visit for all.

Distance from Ernakulam: 119km
Time by road from Ernakulam: 2hr 50min
Best time to visit: November to February

How to reach: The best way to travel the distance is by taking a cab ride where the cost of travel would be around Rs 1200

Adoor

Based in Pathanamthitta district, this beautiful town is a perfect amalgamation of temples, tradition, festivals and culture. There are a huge number of temples in Adoor. Some of these temples are centuries old which make them more popular among the tourists.

Some of the best tourist spots here are Parthasarathy Temple, Pattupurackal Devi temple, Pandalam Mahadeva Temple, Sreenarayanapuram Mahavishnu Temple and Puthenkavil Bhagavathy Temple. Apart from this one can also visit Moolam market here which is considered as the oldest market of Kerala.

Distance from Ernakulam: 130km
Time by road from Ernakulam: 2hr 40min
Best time to visit: October to February

How to reach: The best way to travel to Adoor is by availing the Kerala SRTC buses which reaches the destination in 3hrs 30mins and the cost of travel is around Rs240. However, one can also hire a cab where the cost of travel increases to Rs 1300 whereas the time of travel lessens. One can also take a train to Kayakullam or Chengannur and from there hire a cab to Adoor where the time of travel is around 3hrs 20 mins and cost of travel is around Rs 600.

Kollam

A perfect amalgamation of industry, commerce and culture, Kollam is based on the banks of Ashtamudi Lake and it is the headquarters of Kollam district. From centuries the district has been a prime center of trade and business with various countries like china, Middle east, Europe etc. Till today the district earns major revenue to boost the economical status of the state. Kollam at present is the biggest producer and exporter of cashew nuts in its premium quality

Multiple attractions are present in the beautiful district of Kollam. Be it Thangassery Beach or Kollam Beach, Thirumullavaram Beach,Adventure Park ,Munroe Island, Ashtamudi Backwaters, Alumkadavu Boat Yard, Neendakara Port, or Sasthamcotta Lake, the attractions of this place seems simple unending. Apart from this there are multiple popular temple like Rameshwara Temple,and famous ashram known as Amritapuri Ashram and other cultural and religious place like Aryankavu,
Kottarakkara, Oachira, Chavara, and Karunagappally.

Distance from Ernakulam: 151km
Time by road from Ernakulam: 2hr 50min
Best time to visit: October to February

How to reach: The best and the most convenient way of travel to Kollam would be by railways. There are direct trains available which reaches the destination in 2hrs 17min and in a nominal fare of Rs75. Apart from there are private as well government buses to travel the distance in 3hr 30 mins with a fare of Rs300. One can reach Kollam through cab services also in 3hrs time but in that case the cost of travel would be around Rs1500.

Apart from the listed ones, in Kerala, there remains unlimited attractions spread across the state. One can visit Pathanamthitta, Kodungallor, Malampuzha, Devikulam, Palakkad, Kotarrakara, Sabarimala, Punalur, Thenmala, Varkala which falls within 200 kms from Ernakulam. There are some exciting places beyond the mentioned attractions which can be reached in few hours time and can be enjoyed at the best.