From Hong Kong, let’s move on to another pristine and fresh location mostly referred to as God’s own country. It’s the palm fringed land of Kerala in India. The lush greenery and lazy drift of the water across the paddy fields make the land an ideal place to enjoy your tranquility and free yourself from the mundane of city life. The fabulous expanse of backwaters and lakes makes it a center for tourists. The verdant land owes its beauty to hill stations, coffee and tea plantations, coconut trees that grow in abundance and the immaculate beaches. Some of the best wild life sanctuaries are also found here. The landmark monuments, palaces, forts, memorials, and places of worship speak volumes of it’s rich cultural heritage. So working out a junket to this limpid atmosphere that’s sure to give you an experience of a life time could be a fabulous idea. Kerala has been named by National Geographic as one of the 50 places that are a must visit in a life time.
Some attractions in Kerala
Thiruvanathapuram: Also called Trivandrum, this is a gateway to Kerala and also its political capital. Stretching along the Arabian sea, the places meant to be visited are Kovalam Beach, Padmanabha Swamy Temple, Kuthiramalika Palace Museum, The Napier Museum, Sree Chitbra Art Gallery. An exclusive charm of Thiruvanathapuram is the Padmanabha Swamy Temple in the heart of the city which has a splendid seven story architecture combining both Kerala and the Dravidian styles of art.
If you are keen on antiques, then visiting the Napier Museum can make you ravished with delight. It has for the asking some historic artifacts, plastic casts, bronze idols, ancient ornaments, a temple chariot and ivory carvings. And in the evening be sure to be at the Shanghumugham Beach to get a good view of the sun set and the stars appearing magically at night.
Being at Thiruvanathapuram, you must experience the healing provided by a herbal massage for your body: that’s the magic of Ayurveda. And finally, don’t miss the traditional art of Kerala, Kalari which helped the origin of today’s Kung Fu.
Munnar: When you trundle to Munnar, you will be taken aback by the eucalyptus plantations that support the adjoining tea estates. The Eravikulam National Park is bound to give you an enchanting experience with its vast arena of tropical evergreen forest. From there, you can move along to Director’s Leap viewpoint for a complete view of the landscape. 8 kms from Munnar you have the Mattupetty Dam or Sethuparvathipuram Dam which is well known for its Indo-Swiss dairy stock project undertaking rearing of over 100 varieties of cattle. Before you leave Munnar, meander through Kollukkumallay, the highest tea garden in the country.
In Munnar, the places for sight seeing include Church of South India, Eravikulam National Park, Tea Museum and Tea Processing, Athukad and other Falls, Madupatty Dam, Sethuparvathipuram Dam, Lockhart Gap, Pothanmedu, Nyamakad Gap, Trout-fishing.
Thekkady: When you think of Thekkady, elephants flash across your mind. Nature’s wonders are found in this breath taking land which intoxicates you with its aroma of cardamom. Periyar Wildlife Sanctuary is the main attraction here where you can dig the pug marks of the Great Indian tigers, catch a glimpse of cormorants, freshwater tortoises and elephants playing by the lake side. Besides, Tribal Heritage Museum and Mangaladevi Temple are also places of interest in the hill station.
Kochi: The Queen of the Arabian sea with some of the finest natural harbors in the world catches your breath. In this cosmopolitan city, you should visit the 500 year old synagogue adorned with mid 18th century Cantonese tiles. Inscriptions in Hebrew, scrolls of the Old Testament, scripts in copper plates are among the artifacts found here. Also, do not miss strolling through the Princess Street where you can see the colossal mansions built in colonial style. As you move along, there is the bakery down the street from where the fresh scent of loaves prepared pervades the entire street. When you cast a glance at the beautiful sunset, take notice of the fishermen who tug at their fishing nets. These nets have been brought to this land by traders from the court of Kublai Khan, king of Mongolia. Fort Kochi and Mattancherry, Santa Cruz Basilica, Princess Street, St. Francis Church, Vasco da Gama Square, Dutch Cemetery, Cochin Carnival are places that you’ll have to visit during your sojourn in Kochi.
Alleppey: This Green carpet of Kerala draws to its backwaters large amount of tourists and migratory birds. Watch for the captivating snake boat races which is the center of attraction here and to add to the gaiety, try out toddy. Cruising is a must in Alappuzhabackwaters that is looked upon as the Venice of the East and while you stand on the deck of the house boat, taste the refreshing herbal tea. Besides exploring Kuttanad, the rice bowl of Kerala would be a great idea; this is the only place in the world where farming is done1.5 or 2 m below sea level. Lastly, you can treat your palates with Kappa And Meen Curry, the kerala specialities. When you get there, make sure you see Backwaters, Alleppey Houseboats, Sree Krishna Temple, Ambalapuzha.
You can also spend time at other cities in Kerala like Thrissur, Kasargod, Kollam, Palakkad, Malappuram, Kozhikode, Wayanad, Kottayam and Kannur and take home some cherishable moments. To offset the drudgery of every day life, the awakening city has plenty to offer. Don’t miss the fascinating wildlife at Periyar Tiger Reserve, Kumarakom Bird Sanctuary, Idukki National Park, Wayanad Wildlife Reserve, Silent Valley National Park and the sensational beaches of Alappuzha, Fort Kochi, Kovalam, Varkala, Kappad and Beypore. Finally as you leave the city experience the touch of the Ayurvedic therapy.
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Hi! I'm Dylan, the posts that you read here will tell of my avidity in traveling. Yep, I love to explore some getaways and renowned tourists destinations. Not that I have traveled extensively but keen to know more about hot spots and let others know too.
