10 Peaceful Places To Visit Near Kilimanoor That Blend Culture, Nature, And Local Life Beautifully

Ponmudi Hills with lush greenery, one of the top places to visit near Kilimanoor.

Kilimanoor, situated in Kerala’s Thiruvananthapuram district, is a serene blend of heritage and natural beauty. The first and foremost places to visit near Kilimanoor and check out around Kilimanoor encapsulate everything beautiful about Kerala: golden beaches, misty hills, divine temples, and lively backwaters. Besides its heritage background as Raja Ravi Varma’s birthplace, Kilimanoor is a fantastic place to set off on an adventure, spirituality, and nature. If you are after either a quiet getaway for the weekend or a culturally and ethnically inspired trip and experience, the places to explore and visit in Kilimanoor’s surroundings will reflect history, relaxation, and diverse experiences.

10 Beautiful Places To Visit Near Kilimanoor

These places to visit near Kilimanoor provide lots of adventure and culture, and are ideal for a weekend getaway or a longer adventure.

1. Varkala Beach

Varkala Beach with cliffs and waves, one of the best places to visit near Kilimanoor.

Photo: Manas Nandurkar / Unsplash / Image For Representation Only

Varkala Beach is one of Kerala’s most beautiful littoral destinations. It’s known for its emotional escarpments that rise above the Arabian Sea to form a unique geographical point in southern Kerala. As one of the top places to visit near Kilimanoor, the beach has two halves, with the Papanasam Beach believed to have holy waters to wash down sins, and the precipice side bulging with shops and cafes. Conditions you might find include paragliding, surfing, and boat lifts. Alternatively, if you’re looking for some heartiness, you could have an Ayurvedic massage from the irons of one of the original gyms.

Distance From Kilimanoor: 24.6 km
Top Attractions: Papanasam Beach, Varkala Cliff Shops & Cafes, Paragliding, Surfing, Ayurvedic Massage

2. Ponmudi Hills

Panoramic view of lush green hills and misty landscape at Ponmudi Hills.

Photo: Bithinraj Mb / Pexels / Image For Representation Only

Ponmudi Hills is a great destination for travellers looking to explore misty landscapes and lush greenery. This hill station, aptly named the “Golden Peak,” is a peaceful getaway for travellers with rolling tea plantations and winding roads in abundance. Trekking to Agasthyakoodam Peak from Ponmudi is a popularly chosen trail by trekkers, and for good reason; this is one of the highest peaks in Kerala, so it’s a great opportunity to see panoramic views of the Western Ghats. The area is also rich in biodiversity and hosts a lot of rare orchids and exotic butterflies to photograph, making it the ideal place for a focus on photography in nature.

Distance From Kilimanoor: 58.8 km
Top Attractions: Agasthyakoodam Trek, Tea Plantations, Viewpoints, Rare Orchids & Butterflies

3. Anchuthengu Fort

Anchuthengu Fort on the coast, one of the scenic places to visit near Kilimanoor.

Photo: Athulvis / Wikimedia Commons

Anchuthengu Fort is among the most fascinating places to see near Kilimanoor. It is a literal point erected by the British East India Company in the 17th century. The fort is a coastal site that served as a commercial and military centre for the British during colonial rule. The remnants of the fort’s architecture, which have elements of both colonial and traditional Kerala architecture, create a sense of historic atmosphere. The site is impeccably situated amongst coconut groves and the Arabian Sea, which generates beautiful scenery to accompany the site and feels as though you’re time-travelling to another era. Half of the point is sand with a black beach and placid waters for enjoyment and relaxation between major spots.

Distance From Kilimanoor: 21.6 km
Top Attractions: Fort Remnants, Coconut Groves, Arabian Sea Views, Black Beach

4. Kallar Meenmutty Waterfalls

Kallar Meenmutty Waterfalls, with water cascading into a pool surrounded by greenery.

Photo: Mohanraja C / Unsplash / Image For Representation Only

Kallar Meenmutty Waterfalls is among the most stunning tourist attractions near Kilimanoor and is a breathtaking getaway that is accessible by a combination of adventure and serenity. The approach to Kallar Meenmutty is as exciting as the destination. It starts with a trek through thick forest, spice plantations, and rocky streams. The Kallar River contains boulders and natural swimming pools that provide great spots for breaks along the way. After walking for around an hour, you arrive at the falls, which are magnificent with water cascading down into a deep pool, which is great for a refreshing dip.

Distance From Kilimanoor: 47.3 km
Top Attractions: Trekking Trails, Natural Swimming Pools, Kallar River, Scenic Waterfall Views

5. Sivagiri Mutt

Sivagiri Mutt is a dome-shaped building, surrounded by trees, one of the spiritual places to visit near Kilimanoor.

Photo: Shagil Kannur / Wikimedia Commons

Sivagiri Mutt is one of the important spiritual development and cultural icons in Kerala. Sree Narayana Guru established the ashram, which serves as a tangible demonstration of his dedication to equality, together with educational advancement and societal transformation. The main structure, a large white domed building on top of a hill, is visible to people arriving from the highway, giving visitors a sense of peace when they arrive. During a visit, guests can pay respect to the samadhi of the Guru, spend time meditating in any one of the prayer halls, or learn more about the Guru’s life through various exhibits and writings that have been preserved at the mutt.

Distance From Kilimanoor: 20.3 km
Top Attractions: Samadhi of Sree Narayana Guru, Prayer Halls, Exhibits on Guru’s Life, Hilltop Views

6. Thiruvananthapuram City

Sree Padmanabhaswamy Temple in Thiruvananthapuram with traditional architecture.

Photo: Vishnu Prasad / Unsplash

Thiruvananthapuram, the vibrant capital of Kerala. This engaging city mixes modernity with tradition in a harmonious way. A recommended visit to Thiruvananthapuram must include a trip to the famous Padmanabhaswamy Temple, with its rich architecture and cultural and religious significance. The city offers several museums, including the Napier Museum, as well as arts spaces like the Kerala State Art Gallery, which offers an insight into Kerala’s cultural wings. With its crescent-shaped beach, Kovalam Beach offers water activities as well as the pleasure of succulent seafood. Food-avid lovers will be pleased to find (and eat) local Kerala-style meals at fairly priced restaurants.

Distance From Kilimanoor: 33.5 km
Top Attractions: Padmanabhaswamy Temple, Napier Museum, Kerala State Art Gallery, Kovalam Beach

7. Kottur Elephant Rehabilitation Centre

Kottur Elephant Rehabilitation Centre near Kilimanoor with two elephants standing.

Photo: FUTURE KIIID / Pexels / Image For Representation Only

Kottur Elephant Rehabilitation Centre is a satisfying place to visit for beast suckers and families. The centre aims to rehabilitate mammoths set up in prison. Callers occasionally have to engage with multitudinous mammoths when first arriving at the centre; feeding, cataracts in the swash or day-to-day health checks are constantly accepted by the mammoths, allowing for some sapience in Kottur’s commitment to conservation. Tenures are educational by design, and the significance of mammoths to the culture in Kerala is covered, as is the protection of mammoths in a formerly unchallenged terrain.

Distance From Kilimanoor: 48.7 km
Top Attractions: Elephant Feeding, Day-to-Day Care Activities, Educational Tours, Nature Walks

8. Veli Tourist Village

Veli Tourist Village beach with calm waters, sandy shore, and surrounding greenery.

Photo: Mohamed Adil / Unsplash / Image For Representation Only

Veli Tourist Village is one of the beautiful attractions near Kilimanoor and boasts the backwoods of Kerala intermingled with the coast. A prominent point of point is the floating ground that connects the lake to the beach, as it provides implausible views of the area, ideal for prints. In addition, there is a cornucopia of activities for families to enjoy, including pedal voyaging, speed voyaging, and horse lifts. The establishment also features aesthetically pleasing manicured flower amphitheatres, open-air dollies, and makes good use of the original food cells that serve authentic Kerala snacks like pazham pori and original fish bash.

Distance From Kilimanoor: 37.9 km
Top Attractions: Floating Bridge, Pedal Boating, Speed Boating, Horse Rides, Flower Gardens, Kerala Snacks

9. Peppara Wildlife Sanctuary

Leopard at Peppara Wildlife Sanctuary, one of the top places to visit near Kilimanoor.

Photo: AJAY KUMAR / Pexels / Image For Representation Only

Peppara Wildlife Sanctuary is a biodiverse sanctuary in the Western Ghats. The sanctuary is home to mammoths, leopards, wild boar, and a vast array of catcalls. It’s an absolute treat for all wildlife suckers. The Peppara levee creates a tranquil lake encircled by emerald timbers and makes for good voyaging and photographic opportunities. The sanctuary provides nature trails and guided treks through the evergreen and semi-evergreen timbers, where you can see medicinal plants and, indeed, rare species that dot the lush geography. The passages will be a wonder to any mountaineer or shooter and will be an adventure and literary experience to anyone who enjoys being in nature.

Distance From Kilimanoor: 47.9 km
Top Attractions: Nature Trails, Guided Treks, Lake Views, Wildlife Spotting, Medicinal Plant Exploration

10. Poovar Island

Palm trees and calm backwaters at Poovar, a scenic spot near Kilimanoor.

Photo: Midhun Subhash / Wikimedia Commons

Poovar Island is a tropical paradise where the backwaters, swash, and Arabian Sea come together. A boat lift through the mangrove timbers takes you to floating lodges, sparkling golden beach bars, and a plenitude of birdlife, all camera-friendly and perfect for those who just want to escape from the megacity and be at peace. Poovar Island is home to Ayurvedic resorts, which makes it great for anyone looking for ways to relax or try some hearty treatments. The clean flaxen strands are there for long walks, whilst the beautiful Frontier Creek, with its unique geography, was beautiful for anyone to take different angles of nature.

Distance From Kilimanoor: 73.3 km
Top Attractions: Mangrove Boat Rides, Floating Lodges, Golden Beach, Ayurvedic Resorts, Bird Watching

The top destinations to explore around Kilimanoor, some of the best places to visit near Kilimanoor, showcase Kerala’s charm through culture, nature, and scenic beauty. From Varkala’s beaches to Ponmudi’s hills and Poovar’s tranquil backwaters, each spot offers unique experiences. With a rich heritage, breathtaking viewpoints, and local activities, Kilimanoor is an ideal base for your trip. Book your weekend escape with TripXL to enjoy the true essence of Southern Kerala.

Cover Photo: Shraddha Wasnik / Unsplash / Image For Representation Only

Frequently Asked Questions

You must go to local restaurants to try Kerala-style sadya, seafood curries, appam with stew, and banana chips.
Yes, Peppara Wildlife Sanctuary is nearby, as well as Kottur Elephant Rehabilitation Centre, where there are good trekking and wildlife experiences.
Yes! You can enjoy trekking at Ponmudi Hills, paragliding at Varkala, boat rides at Poovar Island, and pedal boating at Veli Tourist Village.
Yes, there are several options ranging from Ayurvedic resorts, beachside cottages, hill station homestays, and budget hotels around popular spots like Varkala, Ponmudi, and Poovar.
Yes, many places, including Peppara Wildlife Sanctuary, Ponmudi Hills, and Anchuthengu Fort, offer guided tours that provide historical and ecological insights.

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