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Veli
tourist home
Located 8 km from Thiruvananthapuram city, Veli, a delightful waterfront
park, has become increasingly popular among the natives and tourists
alike. The Veli  Tourist
Village is bordered by the Veli lagoon and the Arabian sea. The main
attraction at Veli is water - a large inland lake, separated from the
ocean by only a narrow sandbar.
This picnic spot offers boating facilities. You can opt for rides in
motor-driven safari launches, powerboats, pedal boats or rowboats. Pedalboats
and paddleboats can be hired to explore the charms of the lagoon in
a leisurely manner.
For a quick ride over the waters, speedboats
are available for hire. Boat rentals: * Safari boat: Rs. 10/- per head
* Speed boat: Rs. 120/- per person * Pedal boat: 4 seater - Rs. 50/-
for half an hour; 2 seater - Rs. 40/- for half an hour. Boat rides available
until 6.00pm, after which the lake reverts to the sole use of fishermen.
The eastern end of the lake is flanked by two scenic hillocks coming
through as a perfect hiking ground. Kayaks and hovercraft attract the
brave-hearted. A floating bridge connects the village to the beach and
a floating restaurant add to the overall excitement.
Children enjoy climbing over the huge sculptures designed by the well-known
sculptor Kanai Kunjiraman, which dot the landscape. It is a nice place
for  tourists
with young children to spend an afternoon. There are lots for the kids
to do, and they will meet many of their young Kerala counterparts, all
of whom will be eager to make new friends and try out their English.
For the children, there is a tiny lake within the park, with sturdy,
round "tub boats", equipped with miniature paddles. A small
cafeteria serves ice cream, cold drinks and snacks. There are pony rides,
and an open-air theatre. This serves as a center for cultural performances
and, with the ocean as a backdrop, provides the setting for an annual
arts festival.
The park can be reached in a 15-minute taxi ride from Trivandrum. There
are also special bus services to Veil from the city.
For more information, the office/KTDC restaurant
can be contacted at 0471 - 500785. Open 1000 - 1700 hrs.
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