Kerala Kerala

Kerala, one of the smallest states in the Republic of India, was formed in 1956. It has an area of 15,005 sq. miles. [38,863 sq. km. ] about one percent of the total land area of India.

Kerala Culture

Isolated from the deccan plateau by the mountanious belt of the Western Ghats, but with a long coastline open to foreign influences, Kerala has evolved a unique culture. It is a highly politicized region, but has a long tradition of religious amity. It is an educationally advanced state with its own language, Malayalam, and has the highest rate of literacy (100%) among Indian states. Women in Kerala enjoy a high social status, thanks perhaps to its historic matrilineal system. Art forms of Kerala range from Kalaripayattu, the martial art believed to be the origin of various other oriental ones, to Kathakali, one of the dance forms of Kerala considered to be amongst the oldest indian dance styles. The elegant snake boat races have always been the favorite of tourists visiting Kerala.

Kerala Nature

Kerala is a land of great natural beauty. From the majestic heights of the Western Ghats the country undulates westward presenting a vista of silent valleys clothed in the richest green. Among the many rivers that glide across the plains to merge their waters with the Arabian sea, the more important are the Periyar, the Pamba and the Bharatha puzha. The elegant waterfalls at Athirampally near Trichur is a popular tourist spot. Along the coast, sand dunes shelter a linked chain of lagoons and backwaters the still waters of which are studded with sea-gulls and country canoes plying at a snails pace. The silence of the clear skies is broken only by the coos of koels, a type of cuckoo, and the frequent flutter of cranes perched on the embankments. The highest peak of peninsular India Annai Mudi is located in this state. The scenic Thekkady Wild Life Sanctuary is a popular vacation destination for nature lovers.

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The climate is equable and varies little from season to season. The temperature normally ranges from 80 to 90 F in the plains but drops to about 70 F in the highlands. The state gets its due share of both the southwest as well as the northeast monsoons, and the rainfull is heavy, averaging around 118 inches annually.

Kerala Tourist Info

Thiruvananthapuram (Trivandrum), the state capital, an international airport, has an exceptionally fine museum set in an amusement park. 16 km away is Kovalam, one of the most popular beaches in the country. Many visitors stay at Kovalam, driving into Thiruvananthapuram for sightseeing trips, rather than the other way round. Sri Padmanabhaswamy temple in Thiruvananthapuram, and Padmanabhapuram Palace, a short drive away, are important monuments.

Trivandrum: A beautiful seaside city
Trivandrum, the capital of Kerala, is built on a series of hills that gradually descends to the sea. Trivandrum as a city has much to offer. The Padmanabhaswamy temple; the Napier mueseum with a fine collection of bronzes; the Oriental manuscript Library which preserves ancient palm leaf manuscripts; the Chitralayam Art Mueseum with its Indian and South East Asian collection.

Cochin: The finest natural harbour
This palm-green commercial city of Kerala is one of the finest natural harbours in the world from where ships set sail for foreign ports with different products of Kerala, like pepper, seafood, rubber and coir. Across the bridge into the old city, there are bastions and streets built by the Portuguese over 500 years ago. It was here in St Francis Church that the body of Vasco da Gama was originally buried. The enormous fishing nets on the sea front of Cochin provide a charming view.

Calicut: The historic city
Calicut, the third largest city in Kerala after Trivandrum and Cochin, is a popular destination of historians. The home of the Zamorins, Calicut was a famous port years ago. In 1498 Vasco de Gama landed at Kappad which is around 20 kilometers from the city. Last year Mananchira ,the heart of the city was revamped into a beautiful park.

Alleppey: The coir town of Kerala
Pick up doormats bright enough to be framed. Capture the untouched magic of the narrow, shaded streets. See the wharf markets where boats off load rice, green coconuts, red chillies, and fat rough skinned jack fruit. Cruise on the myriad waterways or on the shallow lake, scene of the great annual boat race. Drive along the canal backwaters across the Vembanad Lake, 777 sq km inextent, after the monsoons.

Alwaye: Lush backwaters
Take a backwater ferry from Cochin. Stay at the high ceilinged tourist bungalow, former palace of a king. Watch the sunset over shallow Periyar river, scene of the great Shivarathri festival in spring.

Cranganore: An ancient port
The ancient Alexandrian port of Muziris, now Cranganore, is where the Romans built a temple to Augustus in the first century. Cruise along the backwaters from Cochin for a pleasant three hours, passing through green and rural Kerala. See the ancient Tiruvanchikulam and Bhagawati temples, the Portugese Fort, and tiled mosque believed to be the first in India and shaped like a Hindu temple. Also domed white, modern Syrian Catholic Church surmounted by a double armed patriarchal cross.

Peermade: Serene hill resort
Hill resort with tea gradens on way to Thekkady. Peaceful, cool and away-from-it-all place. Have a round of golf at Peermade Club, a few kilometers off the main road.

Quilon: Where the backwaters begin
Relax in the tourist bungalow, former palace of the British Resident on the shore of the great Ashtamudi Lake. Extensive grounds, age-darkened regal furniture, an atmosphere of old times. Pick up chinese pottery shards from the beach. Visit a cashew factory. Stand on Neendakara bridge, about 16 km from Quilon with backwaters streching before you. Take a boat trip around the lake or have a picnic to the huge light house at Thanasseri, 3 km away. Step into a scheduled boat and make the 9-hour trip through the most picturesque backwaters in the world to Alleppey.