Kerala

About Kerala
Located in the extreme south of India, the state of Kerala attracts tourists in large numbers from every part of India and abroad. On the map of India, Kerala resembles a banana leaf clinging between the Western Ghats and beaches of Arabian sea. Packed with a highly literate population of 26 million people, Kerala covers an area of 38,900 sq km.
Kerala occupies a unique place in India's tourism due to certain attractions exclusive only to this state. The green valleys, thick forests, beautiful lakes and rivers gives the Kerala landscape a great charm. But Kerala is better known for her backwater delights and Ayurvedic centres. Backwaters are inter connected inland lakes snaking through the picturesque landscape of the state. Coupled with them are Kerala's splendid festivals laced with some mysterious rituals. Kerala also preserves historical heritage in the form of many ancient and medieval period temples. The beautiful hill station of Munnar and popular wildlife sanctuary of Periyar are also located in the state.

Kerala has been an important centre for trade since the medieval period. The British also contributed to the development of her infrastructure. After independence, Kerala has earned reputation of being one of the few Indian states to progress rapidly in various spheres.

Kerala Tourism
Close to the end of this century, the much famous National Geographic Traveller covered 50 tourist destinations for once in a life time visit and Kerala was the only one to score, besides Taj Mahal which was included as a single most tourist place, from the sub continent. Kerala's beauty lies in its placid nature encompassing serene backwaters, beaches, hill stations, flora and fauna, forts, Ayurveda, boat races, natural harbors and more. The entire state with an approximate area of 39,000 (38,863) sq kms is a complete package including numerous tourist destinations. Nine out of 14 districts exist as major tourist destinations. Pleasant climate, popular and traditional modes of transportation and a distinct culture add a fourth dimension to the picture. Provided with modern facilities of a comfortable and luxurious stay, the place is all set for international rankings.

Tourist Destinations
Kerala exists as a major tourist hub in the Indian sub continent. Stretched out as a narrow land strip on the Western Coasts of India, the place has been acclaimed as one of the best tourist places in India. This enchanting state features beautiful backwater lakes, low lying hills, beaches and the famous spice gardens of India. There are numerous places one can visit, each exhibiting a speciality of its own. The physical proximity of these places makes them available as major destinations which in simpler terms represents a town or city with most of the tourist places located in its premises. The major tourist destinations of Kerala include Alappuzha, Kochi, Kollam, Kovalam, Kozhikode, Kumarakom, Munnar, Thekkady and Thiruvananthapuram.

Backwaters of Kerala
The inland lakes, lagoons and canals are spread throughout Kerala and are navigable. A journey through such backwaters in traditional boats makes up a unique experience. Major backwater destinations of Kerala include Alappuzha Backwaters, Kochi Backwaters, Kollam Backwaters, Kozhikode Backwaters, Kumarakom Backwaters.

Kerala Beaches
Kerala beaches that stand on the shoreline of Arabian feature are exquisite and ideal for summer vacations. Golden beaches dotted with coconut and palm groves, ayurveda and spa resorts, etc., are the prized attractions of Kerala. Sun bathing, swimming, ayurvedic treatment are some popular beach activities at Kerala. These laid down beaches include Kovalam Beach, Alappuzha Beach, Bekal Beach, Varkala Beach.

Hill Stations in Kerala
Far from the coasts and towards the eastern periphery of Kerala are located some beautiful hill stations. The landscape is fascinating, with velvety green low lying hills, adventurous treks, tea plantations and a cool thin mist that refreshes mind and soul. Bestowed with rich flora and fauna, there are more than tourists there. The known hill stations of Kerala are Munnar Hill Station and Devikulam Hill Station.

Wildlife
Elephant is a symbol of wildlife when talking about Kerala. There are many sanctuaries and parks established throughout the state featuring the rich biological diversity. Forest lands and backwaters are the happy grounds for numerous species of birds and animals, found at large in Kerala. Periyar Wildlife Sanctuary, Wayanad Wildlife Sanctuary and Kumarakom Bird Sanctuary are three important sanctuaries of Kerala.

Kerala - Resorts
Kerala, the God’s Own Land offers plethora of man-made and natural wonders for tourists. Beaches, Backwaters, House Boats, Lofty Hills, Waterfalls etc. are some of the major attractions of Kerala, which draw tourists from all over the world. All the tourist destinations of Kerala have a number of resorts which provide comfortable stay and the ayurvedic treatment as well. Some of the famous resorts of Kerala are Kumarakom Lake Resort, Keraleeyam Resort, Shalimar Spice Garden, Marari Beach Resort, Kairali Resort, Surya Samudra Beach Resort, Somatheeram Resort, Spice Village and Taj Garden Retreat.

Ayurveda
It may also be mentioned that there are many centres of Ayurveda spread over the whole of Kerala and attracting tourists from various corners of the world. In fact, Kerala can be regarded as the only state in India which practises this system full fledgedly and with great dedication. What makes Kerala a hub of Ayurveda is the abundance of herbs and medicinal plants found in the region. The system of treatment can be divided into two broad categories-rejuvenating and therapeutic.

Historic Places in Kerala
Kerala features some of the best preserved forts in India. These forts reveal times and life of some legendary rulers that stood in power in the bygone era. The forts are key witnesses to historical events that took place here. These forts provide for good tourist attractions. Famous forts located at Kerala are East Fort, Bekal Fort and Palakkad Fort.

Festivals of Kerala
The diverse culture of Kerala is richly reflected by a number of festivals celebrated in the state. The festivals celebrated are mostly regional and are accompanied by unique traditions, which bear threads to the cultural diversity. The festive days are marked by great fervour and celebrations. There are processions, dance performances, preparation of popular dishes, rituals and more.

Climate
Kerala has a tropical climate. Summers are hot but not unbearable. Temperature may rise to a high of around 35 degrees in most places. The south west monsoon brings a lot of rainfall to the state between June-September period. Winters are never chilly as temperatures seldom drop below 20 degrees during the November-January period.

Best Time to Visit
Anytime during the year

How to Reach
Air : There are three major airports in Kerala-Trivandrum, Cochin and Calicut. The airports of Trivandrum and Cochin also handle international flights while Calicut Airport operates nationally. Flights operated by Indian Airlines and private carriers are regularly available from many national destinations to Kerala.

Rail : All the major towns and cities of Kerala are connected by a well laid broad gauge network. Express train services operate from many destinations of India to Trivandrum and Cochin-the two big stations of Kerala.

Road : The entire state of Kerala has an excellent road network. Both the national highways and state highways of the state are in very good condition. Inter-state deluxe bus services originating from neighbouring states operate to all major destinations of Kerala.

Where to Stay
A wide range of accommodation options are available in all of Kerala's places of tourism interest. Although luxury accommodation may not be available in the smaller towns, all the big cities and towns have well developed accommodation infrastructure. Kerala also offers some rare and unique accommodation choices to tourists in the form of backwater house boats and Ayurvedic health resorts.

Shopping in Kerala
On their way back home after a refreshing tour of Kerala, tourists must not forget to pick some of the best products of the state. The best buys of the state include traditional handicraft items like carved wooden elephant souvenirs, other wood carvings, brass ware, copper ware, bell metal products, cane and bamboo furniture, coir products, sandalwood, conch shells and different varieties of paintings and masks.

Tour Packages for Kerala
A number of services and facilities are provided to meet the requirements of a successful tour in the beautiful state of Kerala. These services and facilities are provided as regular tour packages where-in all requisite arrangements are made by the operator on behalf of the tourists on visit. The packages are customized for the preferred places and the time available to the tourist. The operators provide guided tours and services like transportation, accommodation, catering, pre booking arrangement in case of parks, sanctuaries, hotels, resorts, medical assistance, etc. Tourists, who visit as large groups often receive a reduction in the rates charged, due to sharing of some of the facilities. The tour packages provide one sure means to check out the popular attractions in the state. Some preferred packages by tourists have been enlisted below :