Welcome to Kerala, popularly known as God’s Own Country. Living up to its sobriquet, the state is laden with multitudinous attraction, that wins the heart of every tourist. Be it a honeymoon couple, adventure enthusiast, leisure wayfarers, pilgrim devotees or tourists wanting to experience exotic holidays, Kerala has something to suffice all. The lustrous state is blessed with long stretches of golden beaches, unnerving backwater for houseboat cruising, romantic honeymoon destinations, fragrant spice and tea gardens and plethora of flora and fauna in the various wildlife parks. Kerala has them all!
Located in the Southern West corner of Indian peninsula, the state is shaped like a leaf and is ubiquitous with paddy fields, lofty palm trees and long stretches of shimmery water of the Arabian Sea.
Trivandrum & Kovalam
The capital of Kerala - Thiruvananthapuram, also known as
Trivandrum, is an ideal tourist destination boasting of
Kovalam beach and the famous Padmanabha Swamy Temple. The city is also popular for being the home to the famous ancient martial art form called Kalarippayattu. Pampering oneself at the Ayur Heath Centre and Ayurveda College is a must indulgence while in Thiruvananthapuram.
Kochi - The Lagoon Country
Kochi, also known as Cochin is a popular port city of Kerala, popular for its beaches and monumental heritage. Visit the Fort Kochi Beach, as it is one of the very few places in the country where one can see the traditional Chinese fishing nets. Other attractions in Kochi includes ferry ride from Ernakulam to Islands of Kothad, shopping at Mattancherry and Jew Street and enjoying lip smacking food at Krishna Inn located on Warriam Road.
Alleppey & Kumarakom - The Backwater Bounty
Alleppey is one of the most famous tourist destination in Kerala known for its backwaters. Popular for houseboat cruising, the city also houses Shree Krishna Temple as an important attraction. The best time to visit the city is during the month of August, when the most famous snake boat race is held here.
One of the paradisaical destination in Kerala is
Kumarakom, that is made from an assemblage of small islands near the Vembanad Lake. Besides fishing, tourists can enjoy sighting various unique migratory birds. Boating to the nearest island of Pathiramanal is an attractive way to explore the area.
Munnar & Wayanad - The Queen Among Hill Stations
Among all the hill stations in Kerala,
Munnar is the most visited one. Famous for its verdant tea gardens, the main attractions here includes churches, tea estates, waterfalls and the Eravikulam National Park. Tourists are advised not to miss Elephant Safari at the wildlife parks and shopping for tea and spices from the local shops.
Wayanad is also a very popular hill station in Kerala illustrious for its providing the tourists with a bit of heritage, wildlife, unique panoramic locations and the aromatic spice gardens. Trekking at the Eddakal cave is an enjoyable activity in Wayanad.
Thekkady - Among the Wild and the Wilderness
The home to the world popular Periyar National Park,
Thekkady is a fast growing tourist destination in Kerala. Beside the famous Periyar National Park, there are many other attractions like the Tribal Heritage Museum and Mangaladevi Temple, which as also gaining immense popularity. The tourists are advised to enjoy the Elephant safari held inside the national park.
The state of Kerala is swamped with tourists throughout the year. Tourists can visit this state at any time of the year. Easily connected from the rest of the country, Kerala is one of the hottest tourist destination on the international map and also has been declared as one of the ten ‘Paradise on Earth’. Plan a holiday tour to Kerala and enjoy the best of what God has to offer.
Other Destinations in Kerala
The domain of Kerala can be split into five main regions – Malabar, Northern Travencore, Southern Travancore, Central Travencore and Central Kerala. Each region has its own set of must-see destinations, so backpacking across Kerala can be an exciting and tiring task indeed.
Malabar and Central Kerala
This forms the northern part of Kerala. The northern part of Kerala is famous for its historical significance, heritage, spices, textiles and food and this is the most urbanized part of Kerala. Palakkad, the food basket of Kerala is in the Northern part. The Nagarhole National Park and Silent Valley National Park are located in the Malabar region. The Bekal Fort is an amazing testimony to yesteryear’s architecture and is a photographer’s delight.
There are famous forts present in the towns of Palakkad, Bekal and Thalassery. Also, very rare and exquisite jewels are stored in Kochi’s Hill Palace.
The Royal air still surrounds the palaces of yore that are present around Kerala, including the Palace of Sri Padmanabhapuram. Made entirely of granite and wood, it is an imposing structure that can hold you in awe for hours.
South Kerala – Travencore
The North, South and Central Travencore forms the southern part of Kerala and this region is famous for its picturesque beaches, backwaters, mountains, hill stations, monuments, temples and churches
Beaches
Kerala has a really long coastline that is dotted with numerous beaches throughout its length, the famous ones among these being Cherai beach, Kollam beach, Kovalam beach, Kozhikode beach, Varkala beach and Alapuzha beach.
These beaches are frequented by all tourists, with countless resorts offering value-added packages for travelers from abroad. Golden sands, tall and imposing lighthouses, skittering crabs and relentlessly gentle waves comprise these must-see havens of immense beauty. With a large cliff backing up its clear waters, the Varkala beach would be paradise on Earth for all you nature-buffs out there.
Looking for fun-filled beach parties and raves
Backwaters
Kerala is well known for its backwaters, comprising of many lagoons and rivulets and canals. These backwaters are widespread and can be noticed all around the state, yet only a handful of them are popular and attract tourists. Boat races are held in these backwaters during a specific time of the year.
Termed Vallam Kalli, this sport is really popular in the local neighborhood. In this sport, boats and catamaran races are held, and each boat can at least accommodate 50-100 rowers. Tourists flock to see these canoe races, especially during the month of August when a major tournament is held.
