Kerala – India

Kerala – India

The God’s Own Country

The enchantment of Kerala and its enthralling beauty attracts tourists and nature lovers from all parts of the country and the world. Kerala is famous for its pristine beaches fringed by palm coconut trees and studded with silvery sands. Another speciality is breathtaking backwaters, which cannot be found nowhere else in the world. You can experience the charm of the land on your own with the trip on the houseboat or a stay atop the tree house. Its verdant hillstations, wild life & bird sanctuaries, lovely lakes, gushing waterfalls, art & architecture, beautiful cities, traditional villages and generous people all are to make Kerala one of the most preferred holiday destination. Though you plan your trip to kerala any time of the year, its best while celebrating the festival of Onam. The entire State is in the festival mood and the decorated boats throng the canals, lakes and the backwaters. There are several Ayurvedic Treatment & Spa Centers. You too should not miss to stay at Ayurvedic Treatment Centre or Spa Centre to rejuvenate yourselves.

Kerala is indeed a paradise on the earth and rightly called as the ‘God’s Own Country’. It is ideal destination for nature lovers, family vacationers and honeymooning couples. Holiday on breathtaking beaches of Kerala is an experience you will love to cherish for lifetime.   
      
               

Location:

Kerala is one of the most tranquil states of India. It lies in the extreme southwest of Indian peninsula. It is bordered by the Western Ghats on one side and the Arabian Sea on the other. The state can be divided into hills, valleys, midland plains and coastal belts.

Best time to visit:   November and March, August and September.

Route Map:

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How to Reach:

By Air:    The three major airports of Kerala Thiruvananthapuram, Kochi, and Kozhikode connect the state with other major cities of India. The international airport at Thiruvananthapuram caters to tourists from the Middle East too.

By Rail:            The state has around 200 railway stations that not only connects different parts of the state but also links the other parts of the country to Kerala. There are long-distance express trains that connect Kerala to Mumbai, New Delhi, Kolkata and Chennai.

By Road:       The state of Kerala is also easily accessible by road from any part of the country. National highways 47, 17 and 49 crisscross the landscape of the state. A number of state highway and other metalled roads networks among the important cities in the state.

By Cruise:        The backwaters is a specialty of Kerala and such places cannot be found nowhere else in the world. Backwaters are a network of lakes, canals and estuaries and deltas of forty-four rivers that drain into the Arabian sea. The canals connect the villages together and are still used for local transport.

Prime Attractions of Kerala:

Thiruvanadapuram:
Also called as Trivandrum is the capital of Kerala State. It is a beautiful and attractive seaside city. It is built on seven hills and an ancient city with traditions backing to 1000 BC. Some of the prime spots here are temples, palaces, zoo, Art gallery, Museum, Golf course and it is home to premier educational institutions.

Munnar:
Munnar is known as the Kashmir of  South India It is  located at 1600 m above sea level. The lush green mountains adorned by tea and coffee plantations are a sight to watch. Munnar gives you a heavenly feeling, with the thick mist surrounding you in the middle of the plantations. The nearby mountains present a spectacular view.There are also some waterfalls and trekking paths for the adventurous traveller.

Wayanad Wildlife Sanctuary:
Wayanad is a popular hill destination of Kerala & referred as ‘Nature at the best’. It’s a famous Wildlife Sanctuary and a great place to spot elephants in the wild. One can find this hillstation as more peaceful and with scenic views.

Kovalam:
Kovalam meaning "a groove of coconut trees," is just 10 km from the state capital of Kerala- Thiruvananthapuram. Kovalam is actually a combination of three small beaches. Among these, the southernmost beach, named Lighthouse Beach, is the most frequented beach in Kovalam. Earlier this beach of Kovalam was an anglers' paradise. It still has some small villages, just a few kilometres away, which belong to the fishing community. Gradually, this beach of Kovalam has been transformed to a tourist spot of great interest

Periyar Wildlife Sanctuary
Periyar Wildlife Sanctuary is situated on the banks of the Periyar lake - an artificial lake, at Thekkady. Here the high ranges of the Western Ghats are clothed in dense evergreen, moist deciduous forests and savannah grasslands. Below this thick green canopy roam herds of elephants, sambars, tigers, gaurs, lion tailed macaques and Nilgiri langurs.
In addition to elephant rides, cruises on the lake and treks to the ruined Mangaladevi temple - a beautiful old stone temple situated in the heart of the Thekkady forest, this sanctuary offers the unique opportunity to watch and photograph wild elephants at close quarters.

House boats:
In Kerala, houseboats are known as Kettuvalloms. Boats in a variety of shapes and sizes have traditionally been the chief mode of transport in the backwaters for wen and material since olden days. Thatched roof covers over wooden hulls. 100 ft in length, provided protection from the elements. Over, simple facilities were added to the boats used exclusively for travel. For the royalty, these boats even became comfortable living quarters.

Alappuzha:
This is famously known as Venice of the east. The Exotic backwaters are washed by the Arabian Sea, interlocked by a number of canals and bridges, this tiny marketplace is also famous for its Nehru Trophy Boat Race held every year. Alappuzha attracts tourists not only by its natural beauty but also through its locally made coir products that are of a very superior quality

Kumarakom:
This is the famous backwater tourist destination of Kerala. It is located 12 kms from Kottayam. Kumarakom is the most invigorating, fascinating paradise which lies on the banks of the beautiful Vembanad Lake. It also provides boating, fishing and sightseeing experiences, that are truly exhilarating. The slender coconut palms standing everywhere, remembers you of a poetic scenary. Here, you will come across plenty of traditional country crafts or houseboats, boats and canoes.

Ananthapuri: (Trivandrum)

Anathapuri is a very beautiful holiday destination that has been one of the most popular spots for couples since years. Situated at two hours ride from the city, this place has a gorgeous beach which gives you a wonderful view of the sunrise and sunset.

Silent Valley National Park:
Located 40 km from Mannarkkad, Silent valley is Extremely fragile, a unique preserve of tropical evergreen rain forests lying above the equator and the forest strip which causes the summer rains in Kerala.  The Silent Valley National Park has an area of 90 sq km is located in the north eastern corner of the district. It rises abruptly to the Nilgiri Plateau in the north and overlooks the plains of Mannarkkad in the south.

Where to Stay:

Kerala hotels are ideal, that make your stay comfortable and enjoyable. There are many luxury deluxe hotels, that are equipped with lavish interiors, all modern conveniences and comforts that will definitely bring you back to this God’s Own Land. Some of the best hotels are

·         Hotel Taj Malabar

·         Hotel Taj Residency

·         Hotel Le Meridien

·         The Renaissance

·         Quality Inn Presidency

·         Hotel Avenue Regent

·         Malabar House Residency

·         The Trident Hotel

·         Hotel Cochin Tower

·         The Woods Manor Hotel

Where to Eat:

Kerala has a distinctive cuisine, very unusual and different from the rest of India. Cooking in Kerala is all about discoveries, aromas and colors. Kerala cuisine is very hot and spicy and offers several gastronomic opportunities to those willing to experiment with the local cuisine. Some of the best restaurants are

·         Fusion

·         Cafe de la Mer

·         Sea Bee Restaurant

·         Velvet Dawn

·         Coconut Grove

Shopping:

You will find shopping in Kerala is very exciting and fascinating. Get ready for the delightful experience. Don’t miss the following items in your shopping,
Kerala Jewellery, Ivory carvings, pottery, brocade fabrics, earthenware products, sarees, handicrafts and articrafts made of teak. Also you can buy the famous wooden “Kathakali” face as a remembrance of this exotic place. To speak about eatables, taste the famed banana chips that are available at all shops. Kerala is also the land of spices. Since long past Kerala has carved a niche of its own in the global spice market for its rich flavored spices. Do pick up some exquisite variety while shopping in Kerala. The MG Road in Kochin, Station Road in Trivandrum are famous shopping joints.

Travel Tips:

·         The weather of Kerala is tropical. Its best to carry loose fitting cottons, straw hats, sunglasses and sunblock lotions.

·         If you are planning for hillstations, you require a sweater or shawl.

·         While enjoying your food, take care not to eat at unhygienic roadside stalls. Safe to drink only mineral water.

·         While visiting religious places, remember most temples do not allow foreign tourists and non-Hindus to enter. Even Hindu men are allowed into the sanctum of many only if they go bare-chested and don a dhoti and not trousers.

·         Photography is restricted in many temples, museum and wildlife sanctuaries, its best to get prior permission.

·         It is advisable to book your tickets and make reservations well in advance and also take care to book only through authorized travel agents.

·         Enjoy the Kerala’s Ayurvedic treatment, only at authorized resorts and holistic treatment centre.

Come & enjoy your treasure of unforgettable experiences to relish for lifetime.


Thank You & Visit Again…!

Happy Journey…!