KERALA TOURIST ATTRACTIONS
Places to see in Kerala
Thiruvananthapuram :
ThiruvananthapuramThe capital city of Kerala is among those few destinations that offers palaces like Padmanabhapuram Palace and Kanakakunnu Palace, beaches like Kovalam, Varkala, Shankumukham and Azhimala, hill stations like Ponmudi and other attractions like Poovar inside a short distance. Kovalam, one of the finest beaches in the whole of India, is only a half an hour ride from the city. Another wonderful beach and pilgrimage centre, Varkala is also easily accessible by road from Trivandrum. Kanyakumari is the only place in India where you can see both sunrise and sunset and it is only a two hour ride away from Trivandrum. The hill station Ponmudi, 61 Km from the city, offers you a day full of beautiful sights. Sri Padmanabhaswamy temple, the richest temple in the world is also in Trivandrum.
Alleppey Backwaters :
Alleppey BackwatersBackwaters are a network of lakes, canals and estuaries and deltas of forty-four rivers that drain into the Arabian Sea. Whenever you choose to explore the backwaters of Kerala, the Kerala backwater cruise and the scenes from the cruise will surely be among the memorable moments. Alleppey is a town with picturesque canals, backwaters, beaches, and lagoons, it was described as the one of the places known as 'Venice of the East' by Lord Curzon. A houseboat cruise in these backwaters is a delightful experience. Apart from Backwaters some other attractions in Alleppey are Alappuzha Beach offering one of the most beautiful views of the Arabian Sea, Ambalappuzha Sri Krishna Temple, Edathua Church, Champakulam Valia Palli, Krishnapuram Palace also attracts lot of tourists.
Munnar :
MunnarMunnar, the queen of hill stations is located at the confluence of three mountain streams namely, Mudrapuzha, Nallathanni and Kundala. Sprawling tea plantations, picturesque towns, winding lanes and holiday facilities make this a popular resort town. The Kundale Tea Plantations, which surrounds a picturesque lake, offers the best opportunity to see the tea being picked and processed, and to try fresh tea straight from the gardens. The area is blessed with the natural beauty of winding lanes, misty hills, and forests full of exotic plants and wildlife. Adventure enthusiasts can trek to Anamudi, the highest peak in south India, explore Eravikulam National Park, or go rock climbing and paragliding.
Kumarakom :
KumarakomKumarakom is situated in Kottayam district of Kerala. Nearest Airport Nedumbassery is 80km away from kumarakom. You can also use rail or boat to reach there. Kumarakom is a famous backwater tourist destination in Kerala. This rich green, sleepy little village of Kumarkom is located on the Vembanad Lake amidst mangrove forests and coconut groves. Kumarakom is an enchanting picnic spot and provides boating, fishing and sightseeing experiences that are truly exhilarating. Other attractions are Pathiramanal, Bird sanctuary and Aruvikuzhi waterfalls. Best time to visit Kumarakom will be between September and March. Houseboats cruises can be enjoyable during this time because of winter season.
Wayanad :
WayanadWayanad is explicitly beautiful with mist clad mountains, intense forests and fertile green plantations. The forests of Wayanad are cosmic landmasses for animals to enjoy their natural dwelling. The district's hilly terrain with numerous trails and trekking routes makes it an ideal destination for adventure lovers. With twenty six percent forest cover, much of the district still remains unexplored, and constitutes the last surviving tracts of a unique ecosystem. Wayanad has two major wildlife reserves Muthanga and Tholpetty which are home to an incredible range of flora and fauna, including several endangered species.
Cochin :
CochinKochi (Cochin) is a beautiful city bordered by the Western Ghats on the east and the Arabian Sea on the west. It is an ideal gateway for an extraordinary vacation. It is affectionately dubbed as the 'Queen of the Arabian Sea'. It is all about traditions, history, tea coffee and spice gardens, sea food and backwaters. Some of the must-see attractions of Cochin are spice market, Kathakali dance, St. Francis church, Dutch palace, Jewish Synagogue and Hill palace museum. Each of these attractions has their own fascinating charm. Also visit its aromatic tea and coffee gardens. It is truly a rejuvenating experience to stroll through the gardens. The tourist season is normally from August to February
Kovalam Beach :
Kovalam BeachKovalam beach is one of the most famous beaches located in the state of Kerala known as the "Paradise of the South". Kovalam, meaning a groove of coconut trees, is true to its name as this village has an endless number of coconut trees. Kovalam has three famous beaches, the most preferred of the three beaches is the Lighthouse Beach offering an amazing view of the moon-shaped beach and the Vizhinjam mosque. The northern Samudra beach has a couple of primitive wooden vessels for fishing and where time seems to have frozen. Hawah beach is located in between the other two beaches and is the center is the hub of activities with the fishermen setting out to the sea.
Thekkady :
ThekkadyThekkady is one of the finest wildlife reserves in India and spread across the entire district are picturesque plantations and hill towns that hold great opportunities for treks and mountain walks. It is probably the best place in Kerala to observe wildlife while doing a boat trip. From the mighty Indian elephant to the Great Indian tiger, this place has it all. Elephants, deers, boars, bisons and lion tailed macaques are a common sight in the reservoir area. With some luck, other animals like tiger and leopard can be observed. The tourism department offers trekking right into the heart of the forest either on foot or atop elephants.
Palakkad :
PalakkadPalakkad, a picturesque district located at the foot of the Western Ghats makes a thoroughbred tourist destination. Often known as the granary of Kerala, Palakkad has vast tracts of paddy fields. People are friendly and the city still clings on to its bucolic charm of the yesteryears. The Silent Valley National Park that abruptly rises to the Nilgiris is an everlasting marvel to the tourists. Palakkad Fort, which dates back to 1766 and constructed by Hyder Ali, is one of the best preserved forts in India. The abundant forest wealth, dams, wild life sanctuaries, rivers, rare birds and animals, historical monuments; traditional ayurvedic treatment centres have given Palakkad an exquisite and outstanding touch.
