Welcome
to Kerala, God's Own Country.
Kerala is a state on the tropical Malabar Coast of southwestern
India. Nicknamed as one of the "10 paradises of
the world" by the National Geographic traveller,
Kerala is famous especially for its ecotourism initiatives.
Its unique culture and traditions, coupled with its
varied demography, has made it one of the most popular
tourist destinations in India.
With the Arabian Sea on the west, the
western ghats towering 500 - 2700m on the east and Kerala
is networked by forty-four rivers. Kerala is a very
easy place to simply sit back and enjoy. The name means
"land of coconuts" and the palms shade nearly
the entire state from the tropical sun; many call the
beach at Kovalam the best in India, tranquil stretches
of emerald backwaters, lush green hill stations and
exotic wildlife, ayurvedic health resorts, enchanting
art forms, magical festivals, historic and cultural
monuments, an exotic cuisine… all of which offers
a unique experience.With the Arabian Sea on the west,
the western ghats towering 500 - 2700m on the east and
Kerala is networked by forty-four rivers. Kerala is
a very easy place to simply sit back and enjoy. The
name means "land of coconuts" and the palms
shade nearly the entire state from the tropical sun;
many call the beach at Kovalam the best in India, tranquil
stretches of emerald backwaters, lush green hill stations
and exotic wildlife, ayurvedic health resorts, enchanting
art forms, magical festivals, historic and cultural
monuments, an exotic cuisine… all of which offers
a unique experience.
Popularly visited attractions in the
state include the beaches at Kovalam, Cherai and Varkala,
the hill stations of Munnar, Nelliampathi, and Ponmudi,
and national parks and wildlife sanctuaries such as
Periyar and Eravikulam National Park. The "backwaters"
region — an extensive network of interlocking
rivers, lakes, and canals that center on Alleppey, Kumarakom,
and Punnamada — also see heavy tourist traffic.
Food
Most
restaurants, coffee shops, eateries or cafes offer a
Cosmopolitan fare for Chinese, Continental, Indian or
American. You can find many who specialize in Kerala
Delicacies.
Clothing
Ideally
light cottons. However the cooler hill stations may
warrant woolens.
Communication
Kerala
has a well-knit communications network. With telephone,
fax and Internet centers in almost every corner. Enabling
you to get in touch with any part of the world easily.
Religion
58
% Hindu, 21 % Muslim and 21 % Christians.
Places
of Tourist Interest
Alappuzha
(Alleppey)
Ernakulam (Cochin)
Idukki
Kottayam
Kollam
Palakkad
Thrissur
Trivandrum
Kozhikode (Calicut)
Festivals
& Events
In God's Own Country, there is hardly
a month without an occasion to celebrate, where the
myriad facets of its culture and traditions are displayed
through various forms of immaculate expressions.
One can witness Kerala's unique colors during the festival
of Onam, feel the captivating rhythm and speed of the
Snake Boat Race or the Panchavadyam, capture the motion
and feminine charm of Thiruvathira dance, or you may
even fill heart with the ethereal display of light and
sound during the Thrissur Pooram.
When to Go
The best time to visit Kerala is
during December to May.
How to Reach
By Air: The International
airports at Thiruvananthapuram , Kochi (Cochin) &
Kozhikode facilitate easy access by air. Direct flights
operate from Singapore, Colombo, Maldives, Kuwait,
Muscat, Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Riyadh, Doha and Bahrain.
By Rail: All major tourist destinations
and important cities of India are well-connected by
rail to Kerala.
Interesting
Fact
Have you ever gone houseboat
cruising on the backwaters of Kerala? If you haven’t,
make sure you do. This one’s really an absolutely
wonderful, unforgettable experience!
The houseboats of today - huge, slow moving, exotic
barge used for leisure trips - are the reworked
kettuvalloms of olden times. The original kettuvalloms
were used to carry tonnes of rice and spices - a
standard kettuvallom can hold up to 30 tonnes -
from Kuttanad to the Kochi port.
The kettuvallam or ‘boat with knots’-
was so called because the entire boat was held together
with coir knots only - not even a single nail is
used during the construction. The boat is made of
planks of jack-wood joined together with coir. This
is then coated with a caustic black resin made from
boiled cashew kernels. With careful maintenance,
a kettuvallom can last for generations.
Write about Kerala
If you are Kerala insiders or
had been to Kerala recently, then we request you
to contribute to our site. Share your knowledge
and experience today with fellow visitors of this
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