Kerala Tourism

¤ Kerala At Glance

It so happened that Parshurama annihilated 21 Kshatriyas (warriors) and wanted a secluded place to perform his penance. The gods offered to give him a land of his choice. Parashurama hurled his axe over the sea and ordered the sea to retreat from over the area covered by his axe. The land that emerged from those receding waters is the present day Kerala.

Keralites are a peaceful lot. They can best be described as religious, intelligent, warm and progressive. Hospitality runs in their blood. Over the years, people from far off places (the Phoenicians, the Romans, the Chinese, the Arabs, the Europeans) have come here, only to find themselves trapped forever in the irresistible charm of the state. Kerala has taken them all in its fold and the result is reflected in the religious and cultural mix, as well as the cosmopolitan outlook of the masses here.

The state's rich handicrafts is a part of Kerala Tourism. Shining brassware, wood and horn carvings, bell metal castings, gold and silver ornaments are only some of them. Kerala is also affluent in art and culture. One the one hand is Kathakali, a classical dance-drama that has survived the test of time, and on the other is Mohiniyattom, filled with grace and passion – two classical dance forms with distinct styles that hold the spectator spellbound.

Numerous festivals add colour to the lives of people. The most popular festival is the harvest festival of Onam, celebrated on the Malayalam New Year Day, Chingam. The famous snake boat race is held every year around the time of Onam. The very sight of so many long, narrow boats racing past each other, the splash of water, amidst the delightful cheer of spectators and drum beats, adds a touch of thrill and freshness to the air. There are other fairs and festivals, each of which reveals a unique flavour of the culture that thrives here.

Kerala is indispensable for Ayurveda,an ancient Indian healing system that uses naturalised methods to cure the affected part of the body and to restore the balance of the individual. Many Ayurvedic resorts offer 'health holiday packages' where you can go, get pampered by experts and come back feeling rejuvenated.

¤ Tourist Delight

To the uninitiated, Kerala Tourism comes as an extremely pleasant surprise. It unveils an endless list of destinations, each one of which has a hidden treasure of its own.
The bewitching beaches at Kovalam, Varkala, Kappad, Bekal; the inviting backwaters of Kochi, Kumarakom, Kolam, Veli, Kuttanad, Karunanagapally; the wild waterfalls at Munnar, Devikulam, Peermade, Wynad, Ponmudi, Nelliyampathy seem to amply prove that God was more than partial while designing this land. Man took over after God, further beautifying this land with temples, palaces, forts, synagogues and many more structures.


Kerala Backwaters
Backwaters in Kerala are inter connected freshwater rivers and canals that feed towards the sea. It is a network of esquisite channels, lakes, lagoons and deltas of approximately 44 rivers emptying in the Arab sea, that makes the body of water , backwater. The principal mode of transport on these backwaters is by houseboats bus. You get of Backwaters in Alappuzha, Vembanad lake is the largest of the lakes, covering an area of 200 sq km, and bordered by Alappuzha (Alleppey), Kottayam, and Ernakulam districts which makes Kerala Venice of East.

¤ Wildlife in Kerala

Explore the greenery of Kerala. The state bestowed with tremendous beauty and enchanting springs. The rich flora and fuana of Kerala is a surprise package for many travellers. You could explore the enticing beauty of Kerala through its dramatic contours. As you move away from the daily routine of Kerala, and enter its wildlife, you would be able to explore some fascinating aspects of the state. The State is a most sought destination for nature lovers. Some of the fascinating wildlife sanctuaries in Kerala are : Periyar National Park.

Beaches
Kerala owns finest beaches in India. The tranquil , palm fringed beaches are spread on the coast of Arabian sea with gentle surf fampus beaches in Kearala are Alappuzha beach , Kovalam beach, Varkala Beach , Marai Beach and so many other beaches , quite popular among tourists. The unforgettable image of the coconut-palms-lined high rock promontory that cuddles the calm and wide expanse of the blue waters.

¤ Getting There:

Air
Trivandrum is the state capital of Kerala. It is connected to the major airport in India. Major airports in India includes Delhi, Mumbai, Chennai and Bangalore. Trivandrum is an international airport and there is considerate to Gulf countries. Kochi and Calicut are the other two airports which connects the capital city with other cities.