Enchanting Kerala

KERALA TOURISM NEWSLETTER

Kalipara: A Spectrum of Blue Hues

Close your eyes and the silence thrums around you. Only the sound of the wind disturbs it. There is a gentle, cool nip in the air. At 1200 ft., when you are at the crest of this wonderfully secluded hill, and the thick mist thatenvelopes the peak drifts away, you are dazzled by a spectrum of blue hues you never knew existed.

Kalipara is Thiruvananthapuram's best-kept secret, ravishing you with a stunning 360-degree view of the city. This is where you get to watch the sun peep over the horizon, its first rays opening up the sky, and you enjoy the first colours of dawn.  Arriving here is an adventure in itself, hiking up the rocky side of the hill.

The trail towards the peak is steep and you need to manoeuvre some tricky pathways. Once you trek uphill and reach the peak, you get a bird’s-eye view of Thiruvananthapuram. The ravishing sweep of land in front of you is still only the microcosm of the city.   

Kalipara offers a magnificent spectacle of the lush peaks of the Western Ghats on one side and the horizon of the Arabian Sea on the other. Once here, keep your eyes peeled for every landmark in the city. It is unlike any other place in the capital, and is truly the ideal place to retreat to yourself, to complete peace and solitude.

The idyllic locale offers the ultimate reboot for your soul. It is one of those rare places where you can watch the sunset and the sunrise in their full glory. It also houses an ancient temple – the SreeKaliparaLokambika Temple. According to local lore, the deity used to be worshipped by the Kani tribe who dwelled in the mountains. Now the temple is frequented by believers from far and wide, and the site is noted for its sylvan surroundings.