Kerala is a narrow green strip of land located in the South West corner of Indian Peninsula which is also known as “God’s Own Country”. It is sandwiched between the Western Ghats mountain range on the East and the Arabian Sea on the West. Kerala is an enchantingly beautiful place with rivers, backwaters, beaches, coconut palms, paddy fields, mountains etc. The National Geographic Magazine refers to it as one of the fifty must see destinations of the world…
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There is a legend about Kerala which says that Parasuraman, the sixth incarnation of Lord Vishnu threw his axe into the sea from Gokarnam and it is believed the sea retreated from where his axe fell to give birth to Kerala, the land of plenty and prosperity.
Kerala is one of the smallest states in India which has an area of 38,863 sq km. Capital of Kerala is Thiruvananthapuram (Trivandrum). Mother tongue of kerala is Malayalam. Languages spoken are Malayalam, Hindi and English.
The State Kerala has 14 Districts: Trivandrum, Quilon, Alappuzha, Pathanamthitta, Kottayam, Idukki, Ernakulam, Trichur, Palghat , Malappuram , Kozhikode, Wayanad , Kannoor and Kasargod.
Each district is unique in it’s own way.
Tourist spots in Trivandrum:
Sri Padmanabha swami temple:
Thiruvananthapuram literally means the City of Anantha. In Hindu Mythology, Anantha is a thousand headed snake on which Lord Vishnu reclines. Hindus believe in trinity of Gods-Brahma, Vishnu and Siva. The city got its name from Sri Padmanabha Swami Temple in which the deity is Lord Vishnu reclining on Anantha.
Photo courtesy of Balagopal A www.studio-visualfx.com
Varkala- Varkala is situated in Trivandrum district and 40 kms from the capital city.It is becoming a favorite destination of tourists from various parts of India and abroad.The beach offers a magnificent view of the sun rise and sun set that few destinations in kerala boast of. This secluded beach known as the Papanasham beach is a beautiful picnic center. The best time to visit this beach is the months of December/ January/February.
Varkala is also an important Hindu pilgrimage center being the eternal resting place of the eminent social reformer Sri Narayana Guru who preached brotherhood for all and fought against the ill effects of the caste system which prevailed in the society those days and he gave the watchwords : “One Caste, One Religion, One God for all men.”
Kovalam Beach - Kovalam beach also known as the “Paradise of the South” has the golden sands laced with the rich greenery of coconut palms. Kovalam is just 16 km away from Thiruvanantapuram (Trivandrum), Kerala’s capital city. This place attracts lot of tourists from all over the world, which has a pleasant climatic beach resort.
Veli Tourist Village - Veli Tourist Village is an exciting place for picnics which is built near the Veli lagoon bordered with greenery. Veli is located 8 kms from Thiruvananthapuram city. The village provides an excellent atmosphere for relaxing. Veli Tourist Village has beautiful landscaped garden and facilities for swimming, boating etc. Veli lagoon, which is at the border of the village, is separated from the Arabian Sea by a narrow sand bar. There is a floating bridge connects the village to the Shankhumukham beach. This beach is adjacent to Veli Tourist village It is a good place for sunset watchers. An indoor recreation club, the matsya kanyaka (a gigantic, 35 m long sculpture of a mermaid) and a restaurant shaped like a starfish are some of the attractions here.
Other attractions of Trivandrum are Sri Chithira Art Gallery, Shangumugam beach, kavadiar palace, Kanakakunnu palace, The Museum etc.
Kanyakumari - Kanyakumari is located at the confluence of Arabian Sea and Indian Ocean in the west and south. Kanyakumari is at Cape Comorin. Kanyakumari is the district headquarters of the district of the same name.
Kanyakumari has been named after the Goddess Kanyakumari Amman who is the popular deity of the area. There is a legend about Kanyakumari - the Goddess Parvati in one of her incarnations as Devi Kanniya did penance on one of the rocks of this land’s end to obtain the hand of Lord Shiva.
Other attractions to Kanyakumari are Temple Of Goddess Bhagavathi, Swami Vivekananda Rock Memorial, Temple At Suchindram, Gandhi Mandapam etc.
Tourist spots in Kollam :
Kollam beach:
The Thanagasseri Beach is 5 km from Kollam town. This seaside village of historic importance has the ruins of an old Portuguese fort and churches built in the 18th century. The Thangasseri Lighthouse is open to visitors.
The Tirumullavaram Beach is a beautiful picnic center, which is 6km from Kollam town.
Tourist spots in Alappuzha :
Alappuzha which is also known as “The Venice Of The East” is famous for its Backwaters and beaches. Alappuzha is famous for its boat races, houseboat holidays, marine products and coir industry. Alappuzha Beach is one of the most popular picnic spots in Alappuzha. The pier, which extends into the sea here, is about 140 years old.
A singular characteristic of this land is the region called Kuttanad is known as the rice bowl of Kerala because of her wealth of paddy crops, is the very heart of the backwater. This is one of the places in the world where farming is done below sea level. Inland waterways, which flow above land level, are an amazing feature of this unique land.
Krishnapuram Palace:
Located at a distance of 47 km from Alappuzha on the way to Kollam, this palace was built in the 18th century during the reign of Marthanda Varma. This palace is noted for its typical Kerala architecture, with gabled roof, dormer windows and narrow corridors. Here you will find the famous mural kept in the western end of the ground floor, called ‘Gajendra Moksham’ which is the largest mural in Kerala. There is also a museum of antique sculptures, paintings and bronze articles in the palace.
Pathiramanal:
This is a small captivating island in the Vembanad Lake. Situated between Thaneermukkom and Kumarakom, this island is the favorite spot for hundreds of rare migratory birds from different parts of the world.
Arthunkal Church:
This Christian Pilgrim center near Sherthalai is 22 km. north of alappuzha. Portuguese missionaries built the St. Andrews Church here. The annual feast of St. Sebastian is held here in the month of January.
Champakulam Church:
The St. Mary’s Church is one of the oldest churches in Kerala. It is said to be one of the seven churches established by St.Thomas. The annual feast is held on the 3rd Sunday of October. The feast of St. Joseph is celebrated on March 19th.
Edathua Church:
This church, dedicated to St. George is of special significance, as it is believed that prayers and offerings here help in healing all kinds of mental disorders and other ailments. The annual feast is held from 5th - 7th May and attracts devotees from all parts of south India. The Church is just 24 kms from Alappuzha
Mannarsala:
It is 32 kms from Alappuzha near Haripad and is famous for the ancient temple of Sree Nagaraja, the King of Serpents. Pilgrims from all over the country assemble here during the two-day annual festival called “Aayilliam”.
Other attractions are Mullakkal Rajeswari Temple, Ambalapuzha Temple, Punnapra, Mararikulam, Karumadikuttan, Chavara Bhavan,Chettikulangara Bhagavathy Temple(Mavelikkara) etc.
Tourist spots in Pathanamthitta:
Pathanamthitta is a combination of two words Pathanam and Thitta, which means an array of houses on the riverside.
Parumala Palli,Thiruvalla
Parumala Palli is located on the shores of river Pampa. It is at this church that Mar Gregorios Metropolitan, the declared saint of the Malankara Orthodox Church in Kerala takes his eternal rest. The annual commemorative feast (Orma) of the saint is celebrated with much pomp. There is a ceremonial procession on the day of the feast. Devotees from across the state attend the special rites and prayers offered here on this day.
Sabarimala
Sree Dharmasastha Temple at Sabarimala is situated within the Reserve Forest area
in Perinad village at Ranni Taluk in Pathanamthitta District. This temple is the most famous and prominent among all the Sastha temples. It is believed that Lord Parasurama consecrated the deity of the temple at the foot of Sabari hills to which reference has been made in Ramayana. The temple attracts pilgrims not only from the southern states of Kerala, Tamilnadu, Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh but also from the other part of the country and abroad. The unique feature of the temple is that it is open for people of all faiths and many Non-Hindus conduct pilgrimage to this temple.
Tourist spots in Kottayam:
Kumarakom House boat:
For the most romantic experience of Kerala, cruise down the backwaters in a Kettuvallam (house boat). The Kettuvallams used to be the goods carrier of the backwater in Kerala. If you want to be with yourself in tranquility and peace this is a good place to visit. Houseboats are provided with all modern conveniences and comforts to make your stay a pleasant experience. Kumarakom is a place 10Kms from Kottayam and 78Kms from Cochin.
Tourist spots in Idukki:
Munnar:
Munnar is a paradise for nature’s lover and is situated at the confluence of three mountain streams - Mudrapuzha, Nallathani & Kundala. It is located at 1600 meter above sea level. The highest peak in South India - Anamudi that towers over 2695 m is in Munnar. Anamudi is a good spot for trekking. The rare Neelakurinji, a blue flower that blooms only every twelve years, is a native to this region. It is due to bloom next in 2006.It is a spectacular sight. Munnar is in Idukki District, Kerala.
Thekkady:
The Periyar Wildlife Sanctuary is situated on the banks of the Periyar lake - an artificial lake, at Thekkady is a pride of Kerala .The Periyar Wildlife consists herds of elephants, sambars, tigers, gaurs, lion tailed macaques and Nilgiri langurs.
Tourist spots in Cochin(Ernakulam):
Bolghatty palace - The famous Bolghatty palace is in an island near the city of Ernakulam(Cochin).The Bolghatty Palace was built by the Dutch in 1744 AD. This palace was once the residence of the British resident of Kochi (Cochin).
Chinese fishing nets - The fixed and cantilevered Chinese Fishing Nets are the icon of Cochin sea trade which is strung out along the tip of Fort Cochin,. The fishing nets like these are not found anywhere else in India.
Dutch palace -Dutch palace is also known as the Mattancherry palace is situated at Palace Road, Mattancherry,Kochi, Kerala. The Portuguese in the middle of the 16th century built it. The Dutch who took over in 1663 added some improvements and presented to the Raja of Kochi Veera Kerala Varma. The rajas also made some more improvements. Today, it is a portrait gallery of the Cochin Rajas and notable for some of the best mythological murals in India, which are in the best traditions of Hindu Temple Art.
Jewish Synagogue - The famous Jewish Synagogue was built in 1568 is located in Mattancherry,Kochi. The Jewish Synagogue is the oldest synagogue in India. The interior offers beautiful things like: a Belgian chandelier, the great scrolls of the Old Testament, and the copper plates on which were recorded the grants of privilege made by the Cochin rulers to the Jewish community in the 4th century. There are also five finely wrought gold and silver crowns gifted to the synagogue by various patrons.
St. Francis Church - St. Francis Church which is known to be the oldest European church in India was built in 1503 by Portuguese Francisan Friars. It was restored in 1779 by the protestant Dutch, converted to an Anglican Church by the British in 1795. It is presently under the church of South India. Vasco da Gama’s remains were buried here in 1524 and later moved to Lisbon, Portugal but his tombstone is still here.
Hill Palace Museum - Hill Palace Museum was built in 1865 which is the official residence of the Kochi royal family. The palace complex consists of 49 buildings built in the traditional architectural style of Kerala and is surrounded by 52 acres of terraced land with ponds, fountains and lawns. Displayed inside the thirteen galleries are oil paintings, 19th century paintings, Murals, sculpture in stone and Plaster of Paris, manuscripts, inscriptions and coins belonging to the Kochi royal family. Hill Palace Museum is located 10 kms away from Kochi, Kerala.
Cherai Beach - Cherai Beach is the cleanest golden beach in Kerala and is called “The Princess of the Arabian sea”. This place is ideal for swimming and sunbathing. The main beach has walkway that adds charm and the high mask lamps make the beach enjoyable even at night. Dolphins are occasionally seen here. Cherai is well known for the mouth watering fresh seafood and the country wine called Toddy.
Cherai beach is 35 Kms from Cochin City and borders Vypeen Island.
Kumbalangi- Kumbalangi is a village in central Kerala close to the port town of Cochin. She has a vast stretch of backwaters connected by interlocking waterways to the whole of Kerala. It is an ideal getaway location for tourists from all over the world. Kumbalangi is a calm, quite and tranquil landscape with warm inhabitants who depend on nature for their survival.
The famous Hotels in Cochin are Taj Malabar and Hotel Le Meridien.You can find Handicraft and Handloom shops.
Tourist spots in Trichur:
Guruvayoor: Guruvayoor is one of the most sacred and important pilgrim centers of Kerala. Its main attraction is the Sree Krishna temple. According to belief, the temple is the creation of Guru, the preceptor of the Gods, and Vayu, the God of winds. The eastern nada is the main entrance to the shrine. The gold plated Dwajasthambam, (flag-post) is located in the Chuttambalam (outer enclosure), the height is 33.5 m. There is also a 7 m high Dipastambham (pillar of lamps), whose thirteen circular receptacles provide a truly gorgeous spectacle when lit. The square Sreekovil is the sacred sanctum sanctorum of the temple, housing the main deity. Within the temple there are also the images of Ganapathy, Lord Ayyappa and Edathedattu Kavil Bhagavathy. Only Hindus are allowed inside the temple.
Vadakkumnathan Temple: One of the oldest temples in the State, the Vadakkumnathan temple is a classical example of the Kerala style of architecture and has many decorative murals and pieces of art. This is the venue of the world famous Pooram festival celebrated annually in April-May. The fireworks at the Pooram are a spectacular sight which is known as Trissur Pooram. Non-Hindus are not allowed entry into the temple.
Tourist spots in Palghat:
Malampuzha
Malampuzha is a little township on the foothills of the Western Ghats. It is located 10 km from Palakkad town. The name Malampuzha originates from the river Malampuzha that flows through here. Major attractions are Dam, amusement park, boating facilities, rock garden and ropeway. Malampuzha has been a major tourist attraction for its trekking trails and the large irrigation dam.
Around the reservoir of the dam are beautiful gardens and amusement parks. Boating facilities are available on the lake. Malampuzha garden is one of the first tourism destinations in Kerala which attracts more than 15 lakh visitors a year. The main attractions in Malampuzha garden are the beautiful rock garden, the fish-shaped aquarium, the snake park, the ropeway and the gigantic Yakshi (an enchantress) sculptured by Kanai Kunhiraman, the leading sculptor of Kerala.
The most interesting feature of the rock garden is that the whole place is made of unwanted and broken pieces of bangles, tiles, used plastic cans, tins and other waste materials. The garden is a masterwork of sculptor Padmasree Neck Chand Saini. His rock garden in Chandigarh is world famous and attracts thousands of tourists every year.
Tourist spots in Malappuram:
Malappuram is situated 50 km southeast of Kozhikode. Malappuram is bounded by the Nilgiri hills on the east, the Arabian Sea on the west and Thrissur and Palakkad districts on the south. Malappuram is enriched by three great rivers flowing through it - the Chaliyar, the Kadalundi and the Bharathapuzha.This district was the venue for many of the Mappila revolts(uprisings against the British East India Company in Kerala) between 1792 and 1921.
Kottakkal Aryavaidyasala
Malappuram district is a renowned center for Ayurvedic medical treatment.Kottakkal Aryavaidyasala founded in 1902 by Vaidyaratnam P. S. Warrier is one of the best known Ayurvedic centres in Kerala popularising the traditional Ayurvedic medical treatment. The medicinal herb garden nurtured by the Arya Vaidya Sala forms the focus of attraction of hundreds of people.
Thunjath Ramanujan Ezhuthachan:
Trikkandiyur in Malappuram district is the birthplace of Thunjath Ramanujan Ezhuthachan; the father of Modern Malayalam literature. There is a beautiful memoriam for the great poet there with a meeting hall and library. People in thousands come with their kids to commence their education in Thunjan Maddom on Vijayadasami day in October. The Thunjan Utsava conducted during the last week of December is a great literary event. Young poets come there to offer their first poem to Thunjan on the occasion.
Tourist spots in Kozhikode (Calicut):
Kozhikkode is the cultural capital of Kerala!
Kappad :
Kapad is the historic beach where Vasco da Gama landed on the 27th of May 1498,
with 170 men in three vessels. A monument on the beach commemorates this historic event. The rock-studded beach is locally known as Kappakadavu. An interesting feature of the landscape is the sprawling rock that protrudes into the sea. The temple on the rock is believed to be 800 years old.
Beypore
Beypore is located at the mouth of the Chaliyar River .It is one of the prominent
points and fishing harbors of ancient Kerala and was an important trade and maritime center. Ancient Beypore was much sought after by merchants from Western Asia, for its shipbuilding industry. The boat-building yard here, famous for the construction of the Uru (the Arabian trading vessel), boasts a tradition of almost 1500 years.
Other attractions of Kozhikode are Pazhassiraja Museum and Art Gallery, Kalipoika, Kozhikode Beach, Velliyamkallu, Kadalundi Bird Sanctuary, Pishakarikavu, kurishupalli, Mishkal Masjid, Lokanarkavu Temple, Tali temple, Mannur Temple, Ponmeri, Varakkal Devi Temple.
SM Street is the busiest street in Kozhikode which is a good place for shopping. Kozhikode is famous for the sweet called Halwa and delicious chicken Biriyani.
Tourist spots in Wayanad:
Wayanad district is located above the sea level at north Kerala near the Sahya Mountains. Wayanad is very rich in waterfalls, lakes, ancient caves, green lush vegetation and varieties of wildlife. The air is very clean and pure and it gives a relaxing effect to your mind and soul. Wyanad is also popular for its Ayurvedic Resorts for rejuvenation and meditation and you can enjoy these facilities. The climate of Wayanad is uniformly pleasant throughout the year. The temperature here ranges from 13 degrees to 32 degrees.
Attractions of Wayanad are Banasura Dam (regarded as the largest earth dam of India.) Wayanad Wildlife Sanctuary, Chembra Peak, Edakkal Cave, Kuruva Island, Muthanga Wild Life Sanctuary, Sentinel Rock Waterfalls and Thirunelli Temple.
Tourist spots in Kannoor:
St. Angelo Fort : This seafront Laterite Fort was constructed in 1505 AD by the first Portuguese Viceroy, Don Francisco De Almeda with the consent of the ruling Kolathiri Raja. The fort is now under the Archaeological Survey of India. It offers fascinating views of the Mappila bay fishing harbour.
Arakkal Kettu: This was the residence of the former Arakkal Ali Rajas, the only Muslim Royal Family of Kerala.
Parassinikadavu Sri Muthappan Temple: The temple stands on the banks
of the Valapattanam river. This pilgrim center is famous for the Muthappan Theyyam performed every morning and evening. The DTPC provides pleasure boating on the river near the temple. Accommodation is available nearby.
Gundert BungalowThis Bungalow is near Thalasseri town. Dr. Herman Gundert, the revered German missionary, scholar and lexicographer lived in this bungalow for 20 years from 1839. It was here that one of the first Malayalam dictionaries and the first Malayalam Newspaper - Paschimodayam - took shape.
The Snake Park:It is the only one of its kind in the State and perhaps the whole of India. There are three snake pits, fifteen glass cases for snakes and two large glass houses for King Cobras in the park. Snake demonstrations are conducted here, which draw large crowds of visitors. It is Open 0900 - 1730 hrs everyday.
Other attractions are Dharmadam Island, Kizhunna Ezhara Beach, Meenkunnu Beach and Muzhapilangad Beach.
Tourist spots in Kasargod:
Bekal Fort
Bekal Fort is an important place of tourist interest in the district, which is situated on the seashore of Pallikara village. It lies 16 kms south of Kasargod town. Bekal fort is the largest and the best-preserved fort in Kerala. The fort, a circular imposing structure of laterite rising 130 ft. above sea level, stands on a 35-acre headland that runs into the Arabian Sea.
This fort is more than 300 years old. It is believed that Sivappa Naik of the Ikkeri dynasty built it in the 1650’s. There is also another belief that it was originally built by Kolathiri Rajas and later captured by Sivappa Naik. The fort was occupied by Hyder Ali of Mysore in 1763 A.D and then the Huzur of Canara during Tipu Sultan’s reign and later the British.
The Anjaneya temple dedicated to Sree Hanuman is at the entrance of Bekal Fort. Nearby there is an old mosque, which was built by the valiant Tipu Sultan of Mysore. The Bekal fort is now under the Archaeological Department of the Government of India. The Pallikere beach with its shallow waters is just a km. away from the fort.
Other attractions of Kasargod are Bela church,Bellikoth,Chandragiri fort,
Kammatam Kavu, Kanwatheertha beach resort, Kariangode River, Kottancheri hills, Kottappuram.
The Best Time To Visit Kerala is from September to May.
1 comment:
Nice clicks of kerala. Kerala is a very beautiful place in South India and increases the beauty of this place and Himachal Pradesh in North India increases the beauty of north. Himachal Tourism
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