1. Bonacaud

Spread over an area of 2500 acres of valleys, waterfalls and hills, Bonacaud is the base station for exploring the well-known Agasthyarkoodam in the Agasthya hills of the Western Ghats. This place is around 12 km from IISER Tvm campus. The thick green wilderness of this place will very soon colonize all recesses of your mindscape. En route, you may also check out the Vithura Jersey farm and the beautiful Vazhvanthol waterfalls near the forest check-post. It offers a fascinating view of the nearby Peppara dam and its catchment area. The snaking road further leads to the tea estate.

Google map location: https://maps.app.goo.gl/KRDDB4XA3tvuAX259

2. Ponmudi

Popularly known as the ‘Ooty of Trivandrum’, this place offers magnificent views of mountains from almost all the points. The tea plantation along the winding paths to Ponmudi will be a delighting sight as well. Located about 25 km from the IISER Campus and 55 km from Trivandrum Central Railway station this is a perfect place to be during the season. 

Google map location: https://maps.app.goo.gl/tmod8BQ6QQF4kXu6A

3. Kallar Meenmutty Waterfalls

The Kallar Meenmutty waterfall is about 43 km from Trivandrum Central Railway station and is just 13 km away from IISER Campus. You can drop by this beautiful waterfalls en route to Ponmudi. A 2 km gentle walk to the waterfalls through the tranquil forests will refresh you as well. 

Google map location: https://maps.app.goo.gl/S8q8ZAj73G7RevSu9

4. Peppara Wildlife Sancutary

Peppara Wildlife Sancutary offer one of the best trekking options in the capital city. The terrain is undulating with elevation ranging from 100 m to 1717 m and the trekking to Vazhvanthol is an amazing experience. This area includes tropical moist evergreen forests and myristica swamps and is a part of the Agasthyamala Biosphere Reserve. This location is around 44 km by car from Thiruvananthapuram Central, and 17 km from IISER Tvm Campus. 

Google map location: https://maps.app.goo.gl/WjejUFUuKUXZEu1k9

5. Jawaharlal Nehru Tropical Botanical Garden And Research Institute, Palode

KSCSTE – JNTBGRI maintains a 300 acre conservatory garden for the wild tropical plant genetic resources with conservation, management and sustainable utilization of tropical plant resources. It’s one of the premier R&D organization in Asia, devoted to conservation and sustainable utilization of tropical plant diversity. The institute is recognized as a ‘National Centre of Excellence in ex situ conservation and sustainable utilization of tropical plants diversity’. It is around 26 km away from IISER Campus and 40 km from Thiruvananthapuram Central.

Google map location: https://maps.app.goo.gl/67DKr1MbvsnpYkT38

6. Kovalam

A magical beach around 14 km away from the Trivandrum Central, is one of the iconic tourist places of Kerala. Lighthouse beach, Hawah beach and Samudra beach are some popular destinations where one can spend the evenings. The top view from the lighthouse is one of the alluring experience of the spot. The Vizhinjam sea port is located approximately 3km away and is quite popular for the delicious food items that it has to offer. There is a wide range of fish items that the tourists will surely love. Kovalam beach is around 55 km from IISER Campus and 14 km from Thiruvananthapuram Central.

Google map location: https://maps.app.goo.gl/2Fz1nA3UHBz2s1kR7  

7. Varkala

Varkala is a calm and quiet hamlet which lies on the outskirts of Thiruvananthapuram district. It has several tourist attractions that include a beautiful beach, a 2000 year old Vishnu Temple and the Ashramam Sivagiri Mutt nearby. The place is nearly 44 km from the Central railway station and 71 km away from IISER Campus.

Google map location: https://maps.app.goo.gl/bUtrbgXRRfhYCfXV8

8. Poovar Islands

Poovar Island is a ‘solitude seekers’  sanctuary which is bordered by backwaters and Neyyar River near its confluence to Arabian Sea.
This place is located around 57 km away from IISER campus and about 30 kilometers south of Trivandrum and can be accessed by boat. Kovalam beach is just 12 kilometers away from the location. Beach, island, backwater, river and sea – all meeting in a single locale casts a magical charm, unique to Poovar.

Google map location: https://maps.app.goo.gl/UVd1DZTPAchaPPr4A

9. Shangumugham Beach

Located at a distance of 48 km from IISER Campus and 7 km from Thiruvananthapuram Central, Shangumugham Beach is one of the nearest beaches to the Trivandrum airport. The adoring waves and calming breeze will soothe your mind. You will also get to see a gigantic 35m long mermaid structure. The mesmerizing of the sunset at Shangumugham Beach is one of the highlights of the beach. 

Google map location: https://maps.app.goo.gl/gFWtBk2JK7ZhrS4x8

10. Napier Museum and Zoo

Situated at the heart of Trivandrum city (6 km from Thampanoor) and 40 km from IISER Campus, Napier museum displays the rich heritage of Kerala. The beautifully maintained garden alongside is one of the best places to hang out and spend a day. The zoo nearby is home to over 100 species of indigenous and exotic animals across the globe. There is also an art gallery for art lovers and also an aquarium nearby. 

Google map location: https://maps.app.goo.gl/ijTuv6greaQqe53e9

11. Neyyar Dam And Wildlife Sanctuary

The Neyyar reservoir is easily navigable and extends 9.06 sq. km and is around 35 km away from IISER campus and 30 km from Thiruvananthapuram Central. The Agasthyakoodam hills, lies in the premises of the sanctuary. It boasts a beautiful Watch Tower, a Deer Park, a Lion Safari Park and a Crocodile Rehabilitation and Research Centre as well. The Neyyar Wildlife Sanctuary, of which the dam is a part, is the habitat of over a hundred species of fauna including the Asian Elephant, tiger, leopard, Slender Loris and reptiles and amphibians like the King Cobra, Travancore Tortoise, etc. One can avail boating facilities at the reservoir which provides for a beautiful panoramic view of the area.

Google map location: https://maps.app.goo.gl/Y4U7L379yEQCHa9s8

12. Veli Tourist Village

The Veli Tourist Village is at the location where the Veli Lake meets the Arabian Sea, and it provides a unique boating and picnicking opportunities. Visitors can hire pedal boats or paddleboats as per their convenience. One can also roam the gardens and have a nice picnic or choose to employ the boats for the entire duration of the trip. The view and feel of the place is extremely unique, considering it is merely 12 kms from the capital city of Thiruvananthapuram and 46 km from IISER Campus.

Google map location: https://maps.app.goo.gl/qEq5hv2DrScY6jH56

13. Sree Padmanabhaswamy Temple

This temple displays a supreme blend of Kerala and Dravidian styles of architecture and is believed as one of the richest place of worship. A speciality of this temple is its presiding deity Lord Vishnu enshrined in the “Anantha Shayanam” posture, the eternal yogic sleep on the serpent Adisheshan. The temple is situated 3 km from the Central railway station and nearly 43 km from IISER campus.

Google map location: https://maps.app.goo.gl/5SSoWnTr3D9bFL1c8

14. Kottur Ecotourism

Kottur offers bamboo rafting through the green waters of Neyyar and one can also avail boating in Neyyar reservoir of Kottur. The place offer two-seater and four-seater pedal boats. The boating is for 30 minutes. Kottur elephant rehabilitation centre, nestled in the foothills of the Western Ghats, retains its serenity. Visitors arriving at 09.00 hours will get to watch the elephants taking bath and is one of the most magnificent sights that one shouldn’t miss. If you reach around 10.30 hours, you get to watch the elephants being fed by their handlers. This location is around 34 km from IISER campus and 33 km away from Thiruvananthapuram Central.

Google map location: https://maps.app.goo.gl/38mguScFs214Sd8w6

15. Thenmala

Thenmala, lies at the conjunction of the Kollam-Shencottah road and the Trivandrum-Shencottah road, boasts one of India’s first planned ecotourism destination. It has 10 Ecotourism spots that cover the great hill ranges of Thiruvananthapuram, Pathanamthitta and Kollam districts and was selected by the World Tourism Organisation as one of the premier eco-friendly projects in the world. Adventure tourists can spend an entire day happily at Thenmala. Thenmala Dam, Shenduruney Wildlife sanctuary, Butterfly Safari Park, Leisure Zone are some of the major tourist destinations. This place is around 60 km from IISER campus and 73 km from Thiruvananthapuram Central.

Google map location: https://maps.app.goo.gl/VpHCxzjt3o7Lutv27

16. Jatayu Earth’s Centre

This is one of the world’s largest bird sculpture which consists of a rock theme park within, which suits the expectations of adventure enthusiasts which includes climbing activities designed around the natural rock formations on the hillside. The Jatayu Adventure Center (Jatayu Earth’s Center), at Chadayamangalam, 50 km from Thiruvananthapuram and around 52 km from IISER campus, is a unique combination of artistry, mythology, technology, culture, adventure, leisure, and wellness. The virtual reality museum and the theatrical magic that renders the story of Jatayu add to the magic of the destination. The state of the art ropeway offers on a bird’s eye view of God’s Own Country just as the helicopter rides do as well.

Google map location: https://maps.app.goo.gl/kt7dmW1GwJ1FHvKn9