Just arrived in Trivandrum? Are you to jetlagged to see the sites? Or just want to escape from the busy roads of the city? Veli Tourist Park offers a nice alternative…

Nearby the capital of Kerala, 8km north of Trivandrum, at the junction of Lake Veli and the Arabian Sea lays a real treasure – the Veli Tourist Park. This wonderful park is a showcase for oversized and very often erotic sculptures by the local artist Kanai Kunihiram and first sculptor recipient of the prestigious Raja Ravi Varma Award.

The Park is not only a popular tourist destination but also attracts the growing Indian middle class especially at the weekend. A narrow sandbank separates the Veli Lake from the Arabian Sea. A floating restaurant serves good Indian food and aromatic masala tea, the spicy Indian black tea. Pony rides and a little marry-go-round as well as sturdy boats with little paddles on a small lake are catering for children’s need.

An open air theatre hosts an annual arts festival and other cultural performances. The main attraction of the park is undoubtedly the water. The Boat Club provides pedal or row boats. The beach invites for walks in the waves or a swim. For the western tourist, the most interesting thing is watching local people having fun in the sea while drinking the juice of a freshly cut coconut or eating a pre packed ice cream from the local ice cream stalls.

Local buses from Trivandrum go to Veli park on a regularly basis, but the easier way is to take a taxi or a tuc tuc.

Sabina Herbst