Shankumugham Beach, Kerala
Shankumugham Beach is located on the western side of the city of Thiruvananthapuram in the state of Kerala. The place is a perfect destination for the nature lovers. Nature lovers can spend a day in the midst of the nature in this beautiful beach. The sparkling blue water of the sea and the long white stretch of glittering sand can fill the heart with pure bliss. The Shankumugham Beach gives a sense of pleasure and relaxation at the same time. The place has a unique open air theatre with ample car parking facilities. The scrumptious food in the ‘Star Fish Restaurant’ is a must try for the foodies. At ‘Old Coffee House’, one can enjoy good food while experience the breathtaking view of the sunset.
The Shankumugham Beach also has a religious significance. It is considered to the ‘Arattukadavu’ of Shri Ananthapadmanabhan who is known to be the presiding deity of the city. During special occasions, thousands of devotees perform ‘Bali Tharpanam’. On the Arattu Day, the images of Lord Padmanabhaswamy, Lord Narsimha and Lord Krishna are taken to the sea in procession for a ceremonial bath. This procession is led by the Maharaja of Travancore with sword in his hand along with his royal entourage, members of temple authority and police guards. After the bath, the images are taken back marking the end of the festival.
The famous sculpture of Sagarakanya – a life size mermaid is a special attraction of this place. There is a skating school which offers training for those interested in learning skating. An indoor sports complex near the school provides badminton and tennis facilities. Shankumugham Beach is very close to the Trivandrum International Airport.