Famous for its scenic location, Chowara is a fishing village near Kovalam, and is a preferred picnic spot for the people of neighbouring towns and villages. In the mornings, you can see fishermen hauling in their catch for the day and dragging huge nets onto the shore.

On top of a nearby hill is the famous Chowara Ayyappa Temple, which affords the most excellent view of the beach and the ocean beyond, due to its high vantage point. You can also visit the ancient church of Analothbhava Matha, or drive a short distance to arrive at the pristine Azhimalathara Beach.

Since as early as the 1930s, Kovalam Beach has been an internationally famous stopover for tourists. There are three crescent-shaped beaches with a rock wall that make Kovalam one of the best spots in the country for sea swimming. You can also go on a catamaran cruise or sunbathe.

The aquamarine waters and clean stretches of sand are perfect for a leisurely stay. To this effect, several hotels and resorts have been established in Kovalam suiting a range of budgets. In fact, there are a number of affordable cottages by the beach, so you can wake up to the sound of the waves crashing on the beach, and a lovely sea breeze while staying in a comfortable, homely room.

One of the biggest and busiest shipping ports of the region, Vizhinjam is a natural port located 2 km south of Kovalam. It is home to the Sagarika Vizhinjam Marine Aquarium, which uses the image pearl technique to create customised pearls from pearl cement.

While this is the top attraction of the aquarium, it is also a treasure house of marine wealth, home to a number of rare and exotic species of fish. You can observe schools of angelfish, clown fish, seahorses, box fish, cow fish, eels and wrasses protected in large tanks. Another tank, which imitates a reef, has many types of coral.

On the periphery of Thiruvananthapuram is the Aruvikkara Dam, which serves as an important source of clean drinking water to the residents of the city.

Located on the banks of River Karamana, it is a scenic picnic spot where visitors can enjoy a boat ride in a stream full of fish. You can also take a stroll through the lovely park that has been laid out near Aruvikkara, and spend some time by the artificial waterfall that has been built inside it. The park is shaded by tall trees, allowing a respite from the hot Kerala sun.