Kerala : A Tourist Paradise In India and the southernmost state of the Indian Subcontinent has been of special interest to foreign and Indian explorers alike. From centuries the prospect of spice trade has drawn voyagers to the western shore of Kerala and even today allures special interests from across the world.
But this tiny state named as ‘the land of coconuts’ is a tropical paradise and I am not exaggerating if I say every district here offers a different kind of beauty. Rightly then, National Geographic had listed Kerala among the ‘10 Paradises of the World’ in 1999.
Another attraction along the backwaters is the view of the enormous Vembanad lake (longest lake in India). The famous long boat race of Kerala takes place in a part of this lake.
Offbeat Alternatives -Backwaters at Poovar Island or Varkala. Homestays or resorts are an authentic way to experience life in the Kerala.
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However, the hills of the Western Ghats are a rescue from the heat. Most of these hill stations are known for its tea estate. The cooler atmosphere, dense vegetation, national parks, wildlife, flocking of beautiful birds, lakes and waterfalls make them the best escapes in the otherwise tropical Kerala.
Offbeat Alternatives – Some other lesser known destinations like Wayanad, Vagamon, Idukki, Lakkidi, Vythiri are very scenic and hidden from the average tourists.
To list a few are the Athirapilly waterfalls in Thrissur also referred as the ‘Niagara Falls of India’ where the roaring water gushes down the Anamudi mountain in multiple cascades falling from a height of 80ft and width of 330ft.
The Idduki Dam and the surrounding wildlife sanctuary is another ecotourism destination where you can opt for forest accommodations, sailing in the dam, jeep tours, beautiful trekking trails in the forest. I had been to one such trekking trail where we trekked through the green meadows to reach a height where we got a distant view of the Idduki dam and grazing elephants Such treks are tranquility when you disconnect with modern life and experience life in the wild!
Kochi was the gateway to the Europeans sailing across the Indian ocean. There are still evidences of the Portuguese, Jews, Dutch and British who had lived in this town. A day navigating around this town, we visited the St. Francis Church which also has the gravestone of Vasco De Gama, Santa Cruz Cathedral Basilica dating back to 15 Century, Paradesi Synagogue which is still functional in the Jew town, the Mattancherry Palace Museum which was the royal home of the King of Kochi. The sunset along the Chinese Fishing nets is also a beautiful sight at the Vasco De Gama Square.
The Indian Maritime Museum built in two bunkers preserves the history of Indian Navy and is open to the general public. This place will surely make you proud of India’s naval forces.
When in Kerala, do try to include an evening show of Kathakali (Indian Classical Dance form) and Kalaripayattu (a form of martial art) among the places to visit in Kerala. I thoroughly enjoyed the Kathakali show I witnessed in Kochi. The artists who perform here undergo a training of six years. They explained every detail about the unique face painting, postures and palm gestures. The facial expressions are the highlight of this dance. The artists paint their faces in front of the audience an hour before the actual performance thus giving a closer look into the process.
Kerala is also connected by Railways from major Indian cities.
People staying in Southern India can reach Kerala by overnight road journey as a weekend escape destination.
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