Kerala-
Land of Back Waters
Kerala is a land of backwaters. It is located on the
southwest coast of India, bordered by the Western Ghats. These
high mountains have protected Kerala from invaders from the rest
of India. According to one of the popular legends, the warrior
sage Parashurama reclaimed the land of Kerala from sea with the
power of his characteristic battle-axe. A land of canals and
lagoons, lakes and rivers, which Kerala backwaters have
now become a part of the lives of its people and a kaleidoscope
for the visitors to see the rural and real life in the heart of
Kerala. The tough and labor-intensive jobs of boat building,
prawn agriculture and coir manufacture are a part of the daily
livelihood of Keralites. Alapuzha is often the starting-point of
the boat cruise through these backwaters as one reaches the land
of Kuttanad, also known as the rice bowl of Kerala
because of its paddy fields. Kumarakom has a spectacular lagoon
to behold and coconut trees have become icons of Kerala tourism
industry.
Trivandrum
Thiruvananthapuram (knew as Trivandrum)
the capital of Kerala. Situated at the South Western tip of
India, is bounded by the Arabian Sea on the West and Tamil
Nadu on the East. The wooded highlands on the Western Ghats in
the Eastern and North Eastern borders give some of the most
enchanting picnic spots, a long shoreline, with
internationally renowned beaches, historic monuments,
backwater stretches and a rich cultural heritage make this
district a much sought after tourist destination.
A former fishing village, Kovalam is just 16 km away
from Thiruvanantapuram (Trivandrum), Kerala's capital city.
Kovalam is an evergreen and pleasant climatic beach resort. It
is a dreamy place for tourists all over the world. Today
Kovalam beach is known as the "Paradise of the South”. With
high rock promontory and a calm bay of blue waters, this beach
paradise creates a unique aquarelle on moonlit nights. Over
the past three decades, the place has been well developed, and
now figures prominently on the world tourism map.
Places of Interest
Padmanabhaswamy Temple, Zoological Park, Napier Museum, Sri
Chitra Art Gallery, Science & Technology Museum, Veli Lagoon,
Shanmugham Beach, Aruvikkara Dam and Neyyar Dam, SMSM
Institute.
Kottayam
Kottayam is situated at a distance
of 76 kilometers from Kochi in Kerala, South India and is one
of the most riveting Kerala backwater destinations.
Like the rest of places in Kerala, Kottayam is also a riches
house of natural beauty and cultural heritage. People visiting
the place have been overwhelmed with its pristine beauty that
invariably inspires them to pen a few words of praise even
though they are otherwise loathe to writing. The nearby
Vembanad Lake which is the most exciting backwater destination
in Kerala draws its name from the early name of Kottayam,
Vempolinad.
Places of Interest
Churches- Valiya Palli and Chellia Palli, Thazhathangadi
Mosque and Backwaters.
Periyar Wildlife Sanctuary
Periyar National Park is located in the hills of the
Western Ghats in the state of Kerala in South West India. The
centre piece of Periyar National park is the 5,500-hectare
Periyar Lake formed by the construction of a dam on the Periyar
River in 1895.The dam submerged low-lying forest whose dead tree
trunks still jut out of the waters. Along the fringes of the
lake are marshy areas with tall grasslands. This is one of the
richest habitats of large mammals, as it provides both excellent
cover and nourishment in the form of succulent shoots and
grasses. Here it is possible to see large herds of Indian
Elephant with relative ease as well as Nilgiri Langur near
Aranya Niwas and the Liontail Macaque in higher areas.
Cochin ( Kochi )
Cochin is situated in the west coast of India in Kerala. The
city is regarded as the commercial and industrial capital of
Kerala. The city is also popularly called Queen of the Arabian
Sea. Cochin is an important business center as well as a
famous port on the Malabar Coast. There are many tourist
attractions in Cochin, making it an important destination for
tourism in Kerala. The many forts, churches and other buildings
are reminders of the British and Portuguese presence in this
city.
Places of Interest
Dutch Palace, Jewish Synagogue, St.Francis Church, Willingdon
Islands, Chinese Fishing Nets, Santacruz Cathedral (Basilica)
and Beach.
Calicut (Kozhikode)
Calicut or Kozhikode is located in
the south Indian state of Kerala on the southwest coast of the
Arabian Sea. Calicut, The city is of much historical meaning
as this was the first place that Vasco da Gama landed upon,
thus discovering the route to India via the southern cape of
Africa. Traveling to Kozhikode from anywhere is Kerala is not
difficult as the place is well connected by air, railways and
roads. The place has been the center of attraction for many
countries as trade is easily carried out from the regions.
Thus, Calicut was long dominated by various foreign powers and
thus has acquire a unique cultural amalgamation. Check out and
know more about Calicut tourism in our related sections.
Tour Operator of India offers more
information on Kerala in India and online Booking
facility of Kerala in India. |
