POOVAR ISLAND
Enveloped in
serene Kerala backwaters, flanked by the Arabian Sea on the East and the
majestic towering Ghats to the West, opening out to the ocean and a dream
golden beach, Poovar Island is a tropical paradise. Swaying coconut palms,
endless golden sands, the ultramarine of the ocean, emerald backwaters, crimson
sunsets and lush green vegetation create a magical ambience.
It is one among
the natural wonders where the Lake, River, Sea and Beach meet the land. A rare
find in Kerala, the southern state of India Poovar is unspoilt and unexplored,
enveloped by the most serene backwaters, and opening out to the sea and a dream
golden sand beach. The historical importance of Poovar has its strong ties with
the legendary King of the erstwhile Princely State of Travancore, the great
Marthanda Varma Maharaja Raja .Marthanda Varma (1706 - 1761) was
born at a time when the royal power of his family was declining. In fact, the
Raja was once outsted from his throne and in exile. But, a strong ruler,
Marthanda Varama Maharaja not only regained his lost land but also enlarged his
kingdom besides reasserting the royal power during his 29-year rule from 1729
to 1758. Though Marthanda Varma Maharaja was proclaimed the successor of the
King, the two sons of the late King (Ettuveetil Pillamar) with the help of
Madampis tried to usurp power. The Maharaja had to flee from his land as he had
life threat from the Thampis and in the process landed up in Poovar. It was
Moosa marikar, a rich and aristocratic businessman in Poovar, who gave asylum
to the Maharaja. The business magnet of Poovar, Moosa Marikkar, also patronaged
the Maharaja for his regaining power of his lost kingdom. Among the
fascinations the Raja experienced at Povar during his shelter there was the
site of red flowers, chipped out from the Kovala trees standing along the
Neyyar riverbanks, floating in the river as a red carpet on water. The legned
is that the stream was named as "POOVAR" as the Raja described the
river as "POO-AAR" (meaning a stream of flowers). The beauty and
greenery of the picturesque and unparallel silence of Poovar captured the mind
of the Maharaja and, the success story of the Maharaja had close links with the
small and beautiful land of Povar, situated on the south of the Neyyar River.
SIGNIFICANCE OF THE STUDY
Poovar is truly a window into
paradise. Time stopped a few decades ago bowing to the sheer beauty of Poovar.
The tranquility of Poovar is punctuated by the sound of waves and the birds.
The area is abundant in well-preserved local flora, with hundreds of species of
spices, exotic flowers, complete with banana and coconut groves Poovar offers
several possibilities. Cruise to a neighboring fishing village in 2 minutes. Alter
course, and visit a centuries old martial arts village. Kerala is the
birthplace of a unique martial art form. The traditional lifestyles here
provide the experience of a natural museum. Thus the study about POOVAR ISLAND
is of highly important.
By
Preethi.P. Kurian
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