God's Own Country: KERALA

“God own’s country.

Or a heaven on earth.

Place full of mountains, greenery and streams,

Oh Kerala! God created you with uttermost care.”

It is a land that is filled with the God’s grace, situated at the southernmost part of India. It is God’s own country. It is Kerala.

Kerala is the heart of Indian tourism and also considered as the most romantic and diverse state of India. This very place is jam packed with exotic travel destinations like Munnar, Thekkady, Kumarakom, Alleppey, Cochin and Trivandrum.

Why you should visit God’s Own Country

God’s Own Country seems overstatement. Isn’t it! But it is not.

It is a place where almost every types of people belonging to different religions live peacefully. Kerala is considered as most peaceful state of India. Kerala is so beautiful; it lies in almost every traveller’s bucket list and seldom does anyone who visits Kerala go back dissatisfied.

According to Hindu mythology, Kerala was created by Lord Parasurama, an incarnation of Lord Vishnu by throwing axe across the sea to create a new land for devotees to live peacefully.

So, Kerala is God’s own creation and hence it is called God’s Own Country.

                   Every travellers has his own niche. If you are of a kind who loves exploring the beauty of nature with diversities, heritage and history. Kerala is the best place for you in the entire world.

Tradition is an integral part of Kerala. Most of what existed hundred years ago also exists now.

People of Kerala are so overwhelming, you will start feeling Kerala as your second home. It’s a heaven for someone who likes spices. Or, I say Kerala is marvellous place in all means.

You all might have witnessed Chinese   people performing Kung Fu trick. Have you ever wondered where it was invented? Was it China, who invented Kung Fu?  My friend it was land of Kerala, who gifted the art of Kung Fu to the entire world. It’s a land full of herbs and natural prosperity.

Food is something that is inseparable with Kerala. The meals and snacks features extremely delicious veg and non-veg. dishes. The variety is too huge that suits everyone’s taste.

You will find many historical temples and churches.

Places to visit in Kerala

It is without any doubt that Kerala is one of the most beautiful places on the earth; that’s why it is called God’s Own Country. From the stunning beaches along the Malabar Coast to the maze of backwater canals cutting through huge rice fields to glorious rolling hillside tea plantations in the western ghat, Kerala landscape is as diverse as its people and the culture and the history of the people of Kerala.

Major places of attraction for tourists in Kerala are

1.Athirappilly Waterfalls

  The splendorous, 80-feet high and 330-feet wide, Athirapally Waterfalls is the biggest waterfall in Kerala. The waterfall is in the border of Ernakulam District and Thrissur District in Kerala and is in a protected area. The parallel streams resemble Niagara Falls in the Monsoon season and so-called ‘The Niagara falls of India’.

The area nearby the falls offers spectacular views of the Sholayar hills and the Western Ghats making Athirapally a beautiful tourist destination. You can choose a drive from Athirappilly to the Vazhachal falls through the dense forest watching the wide variety of endangered Flora and fauna. There are also options for Daily Jungle Safari trips in Athirapally. The safari is organized by Thrissur District Tourism Promotion Council with Athirappilly Destination Management Council and is very safe.

The nearby spots to the waterfalls are best for short and safe trekking. The stream is good for swimming and one can enjoy the soft touch of the spray of water while in the stream. Rainbows are almost always visible in the waterfalls adding hues to the views.

2.Kovalam

Kovalam, one of the most popular beach destinations in Kerala located in Thiruvananthapuram is also called ‘the beach town’. The land is surrounded with three curve shaped beaches, the Lighthouse beach, Hawah Beach and Samudra Beach. The three beaches are separated naturally with heavy stone outcroppings adding more attraction to the view of Kovalam.

If anyone wants to visit beaches in Southern Kerala , the usual choices are between Kovalm or Varkala Beach Beach . The coastal beach town of Kovalam interests all types of visitors to its natural charm enriched with partially black soil, light house , and the attractive beaches. The westerners are more attracted to the land due to its shallow waters and low tidal waves.
You can experience Motorboat ride, Surfing and Wooden boat ride safely at the Kovalam’s main beach, Hawah. All the beach sides are lined up with shops to serve you with handicraft products, souvenirs, money exchange, beachwear, variety foods etc. The shops and shacks complement more colors and life to the destination.

3.Munnar

Munnar is the most popular hill station in South India and the best tourist place in Kerala to visit for 2 days. It has a unique views of verdant mountain slopes which are covered with about 80,000 miles of green tea farms like organic bedding over mountains which offer views of low-flying clouds and misty valleys. Munnar is usually cold and relaxed and gives you a incredible sensation, with the dense spray around you in the center of the organic tea farms. Munnar was once the summer season of the erstwhile English and English settlers found that the elevation, slope and alignment of the hills were particularly designed for the farming of tea. The modern end result is the lavish organic mountains decorated by tea gardens which is the sight to look out for in modern Munnar. There are also lot of waterfalls and hiking routes in Munnar for the adventure seeking guests. With its drowsy little bungalows, bungalows, old play areas and tea factories, Munnar is one of those unique hill stations in India with an old world colonial feel to the area.

4.Alleppey

Alleppey is well known for the backwater trips on houseboats and always comes on top among the best destinations to visit in Kerala with friends and check out in Kerala, simply because it is a exclusive encounter that you cannot get anywhere else on the globe. Alleppey was described as the one of the locations known as ‘Venice of the East’ by Lord Curzon. A houseboat vacation along the natural backwaters in Alleppey provides a chance to observe landscapes attractions like lavish paddy areas below the water levels, small chapels, fishing with netting, ducks in water, water lilies etc, sure to remain etched in your mind forever and this is among the best places to visit in Kerala in October to December.

A vacation along the pathways with conventional Kerala food provided in a bananas leaves is fascinating with a meditative spell that is weaving a feeling of calmness and beauty around you . All months from Sept to May are fun to check out and go to Alleppey which has few of the best backwater trips in Kerala. Some other tourist destinations in Alleppey are Chettikulangara Bhagawathy Temple , Arthunkal Church , Krishnapuram Palace, Pathiramanal, Marari Beach, Sri Krishna Temple in Ambalappuzha etc other than the beach in Alleppey which may be among the closest encounters to Arabian Sea

5.Thekkady

Periyar Wildlife sanctuary in Thekkady is a popular wild life sanctuary preserving various species of animals including elephants, tigers, sambars, gaurs and the very rare lion tailed macaques. The forest is situated on the banks of the lake, Periyar. Of the 777 sq kms of area, 360 sq km has been taken up bythe thick evergreen forest. Thekkady’s scenic beauty along with its wildlife has been attracting tourists and visitors from all over the world for years.

Thhe best tourist place in Kerala to see wildlife while doing a boat trip is Thekkady lake. From the mighty Indian elephant to the Great Indian tiger to leopards, boars, bisons, deers etc Thekkady has it all that a wild life sanctuary has. The tourism department provides going up the right into the middle of the jungles either on feet or on top of elephants. If you want some more awesome adventure,you can take the path from Moozhiyar to Thekkadi via Gavi spinning through the thickest wooded miles of Kerala. Elephants are a common sight in Thekkady and boating is the favortie past time for most tourist who visits Thekkady.

6.Kochi

Cochin is in central kerala and it is easy to get to most of the tourist places in Kerala from Kochi , the primary reason because of which Kochi is the starting point for most of the Kerala tour packages. Though the tourist destination is known as Kochi, it is a part of Ernakulam which is a beautiful district located on the coast of the Arabian Sea and must see place to go in Kerala.

Ernakulam city is a modern city and the old part of the city is the Fort Kochi with a mix of British, Portuguese and Dutch cultures spread all across. Though Ernakulam is also known as Cochin, the latter is an interesting city in the district often known as the commercial capital of Kerala. Ernakulam is also titled as the ‘Queen of Arabian Sea’ as it is one of the finest natural harbors in the world. In the past, Dutch, Portuguese, Arabs, Chinese and the British have visited here and left their impressions in the town. Today, Ernakulam is as a booming metropolis city in Kerala with many industrial buildings and IT hubs taking shape in and around it.

Just 8 kilometers away from the Ernakulam town is a historic place of Fort Cochin which has some beautiful impressions of the foreign heritage. The place used to be a Municipal town for more than a century and is now one of the major urban elements of the present day Cochin; Ernakulam is another and Mattancherry forms the third element. One can find old English, Dutch and Portuguese houses and buildings in both Fort Cochin and Mattancherry that take us back to those colonial periods. Besides those beautifully laden busy streets and shops, there are a few places in Fort Cochin as well as Mattancherry that attract tourists, mostly foreigners like Chinese Fishing Nets, Jewish Synagogue, Dutch Cemetery, Mattancherry Palace and so on.

7.Thiruvananthapuram

      

                Thiruvananthapuram which is the capital city of Kerala is a blend of serenity and city life.Thiruvananthapuram means The City of Lord Anantha is of historical importance and has many stories to unfold. Thiruvananthapuram owes a lot to Padmanabha Swamy Temple – for the charm, fame and the name. This huge temple dedicated to Lord Vishnu situates in the heart of the city, East Fort. A mix of Dravidian and Kerala architectural style, the Padmanabha Swamy Temple is the right place for art lovers as it holds many ancient stone carvings and mural paintings. The divine idol of Lord Vishnu reclining on the Serpent Anantha is yet another treat to the eyes.

Being the largest and the most populous city in Kerala, Thiruvananthapuram has people from various parts of the state living here in social, religious and cultural harmony. The city also holds India’s first IT Park and Asia’s third largest, Technopark, making it a land of technology as well. As large as it is, Thiruvananthapuram has many breathtaking locations, of which some must-visits are Kuthiramalika Palace Museum , Napier Museum , Ponmudi, Kovalam, Veli Tourist Village and Thenmala Sri Padmanabhaswamy Temple which is the riches temple in the world is also in trivandrum.

8.Kumarakom

If you have craved to stay in a small village in Kerala for enjoying the backwaters, sipping on tender coconut water, tasting some authentic Kerala food and experiencing the warmth of fresh air, Kumarakom is the place you should be in when you travel to Kerala. Situated near the Vembanad Lake, Kumarakom is a sleepy little hamlet with exotic scenery and rare flora and fauna which is one of the best tourist spots in Kerala to visit during monsoon as well. The place offers boating, house boat cruising, fishing and sightseeing. Canals, waterways and lakes decorated with lilies and lined with coconut groves, green paddy fields and mangrove forests will be quite tempting for any visitor to have a stress relieving vacation. Kumarakom is situated near to Ayemenem town where the popular book The God of Small Things was set is the most awesome position in Kerala (arguably) providing you the most delightful Kerala food. Sailing through the relaxed wealthy waters of Kumarakom in an experience in Kerala in itself. Spread across 14 acres, the sanctuary accommodates varieties of birds including teal, wild duck, egrets, herons, cuckoo, waterfowl, darters and also migratory birds. The place offers boat trip around the islands giving you a breathtaking experience of watching the birds and the nature’s beauty. The sanctuary is open for public daily from 6AM to 6PM.Checkout our post on Kumarakom Village and the houseboat experience in Kumarakom.