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Places
to see in Kerala
Kerala, situated on the lush and tropical Malabar Coast, is one of
the most popular tourist destinations in India. Named as one of the
"ten paradises of the world" and "50 places of a lifetime" by the
National Geographic Traveler magazine, Kerala is especially known
for its ecotourism initiatives. Its unique culture and traditions,
coupled with its varied demographics, has made Kerala one of the
most popular tourist destinations in the world. Growing at a rate of
13.31%, the state's tourism industry is a major contributor to the
state's economy
Until the early 1980s, Kerala was a relatively unknown destination;
most tourist circuits focused on North India. Aggressive marketing
campaigns launched by the Kerala Tourism Development Corporation,
the government agency that oversees tourism prospects of the state,
laid the foundation for the growth of the tourism industry. In the
decades that followed, Kerala's tourism industry was able to
transform the state into one of the niche holiday destinations in
India. The tagline God's Own Country, originally coined by Vipin
Gopal, has been widely used in Kerala's tourism promotions and soon
became synonymous with the state. In 2006, Kerala attracted 8.5
million tourist arrivals, an increase of 23.68% over the previous
year, making the state one of the fastest-growing destinations in
the world.
Popular attractions in the state include the beaches at Kovalam,
Cherai and Varkala; the hill stations of Munnar, Nelliampathi,
Ponmudi and Wayanad; and national parks and wildlife sanctuaries at
Periyar and Eravikulam National Park. The "backwaters" region, which
comprises an extensive network of interlocking rivers, lakes, and
canals that centre on Alleppey, Kumarakom, and Punnamada (where the
annual Nehru Trophy Boat Race is held in August), also see heavy
tourist traffic. Heritage sites, such as the Padmanabhapuram Palace
and the Mattancherry Palace, are also visited. Cities such as Kochi
and Thiruvananthapuram are popular centres for their shopping and
traditional theatrical performances. During early summer, the
Thrissur Pooram is conducted, attracting foreign tourists who are
largely drawn by the festival's elephants and celebrants.
Most popular place to visit in Kerala.
Backwaters : Backwaters of
Kerala are a maze of lagoons criss-crossed with rivers, shallow pools
and canals, all separated from the sea by a narrow strip of sand banks.
Backwaters are present throughout the state but Alappuzha and Kottayam
are most notable in this regard.
The annual Vallam Kali boat races take place in the backwaters. The
boats are large wooden canoes that can accommodate 60 to 100 rowers. The
most famous race is for the Nehru Trophy Vallam Kalli, held on the
second Saturday of August as a tribute to the former Indian Prime
Minister Jawaharlal Nehru who had a keen interest in this sport.
Mountains : The Blue
Mountains of the Western Ghats, popularly known as Nilgiris, are close
to Trivandrum and there are numerous hill stations in thise area. The
most popular is Munnar, the honeymoon capital of the state. The highest
peak of the Western Ghats is located at Anamudi (2,695 metres) and is
good for trekking. The area is also home to several sanctuaries and
forest reserve areas.
There are more than two dozen waterfalls, both large and small, with
numerous rapids and springs. The largest fallwaters are at Athirampally,
where three milky waterfalls fall at great speed.
Beaches : The world
famous Kovalam beach, well known for fun and frolicKerala has 650 km of
coastline and numerous beaches. Some of the more notable are:
1. Kovalam Beach near Trivandrum has a good bathing area, clean
environment and plenty of accomodation. This was a centre of Hippy
counter-culture in sixties, and is today well known for hedonistic beach
parties.
2. Varkala Beach in Thiruvananthapuram district - A long cliff makes the
beach more natural (no restaurant behind you). It is long beach with
natural springs from the cliff.
3. Alapuzha Beach and Kollam Beach are both well known for beach sports
and tournaments.
Cherai Beach near Kochi city has a large sand beach.
4. Kozhikode Beach is where Vasco da Gama first landed in India, marking
the start of European colonisation and the Age of Discovery.
5. Muzhappilangadu near Kannur A long drive in beach in Kannur district
with lush greenery around. This beach has a naturally clean and closely
packed sand which makes it drivable. Beach is very long 4-5 km and is a
pleasant place to spend time. Lots of adventure activities like para
gliding/ para sailing etc. are arranged in this beach regularly.
Historical monuments :
The Palaces at Sree Padmanabhapuram located 30 km from Trivandrum are
the largest Palaces ever constructed from wood and granite in India.
This was the Royal Headquarters of Travancore until early 20th century.
1. The Hill Palace in Kochi, houses
more than 200 artifacts including the hugely valuable Cochin Crown as
well as other rare Crown Jewels.
2. The forts at Bekal, Palakkad and Thalassery date from the pre-British
Raj era.
The Cherman Perumal Mosque at Kodungallor is the world's second oldest
intact mosque and houses many rare artifacts.
3. Kerala Niyama Sabha- the legislature body located in Trivandrum[edit]
Eco-tourism villages
Kerala was the first state to formally embrace the eco-tourism concept
in South Asia, and has made considerable strides in this respect.
4. Akkalum Tourist Village in Trivandrum is set in a very clean and
green environment. There is a floating bridge and beautiful landscaped
gardens. Many famous statues and sculptures dot the area.
5. Thenmala Eco-Tourist Village in Kollam is the first such place in
India, with an intense focus on the natural environment. Exhibits
include 27 rare trees, a butterfly garden, nature trail, a deer park,
lotus garden, jasmine garden, many sculptures and a large musical
fountain. Adventure sports, trekking, boating and fishing are soem of
activities offered.
6. Kumbalangi Model Village for Sustainable Tourism near Kochi was once
a sleepy fishing village. Today it is a popular visitor atraction with a
planned focus on sustainability. There are many small homestays where
visitors can interact with locals, understand their lifestyle, go
fishing, learn recipes |
