Kerala

Kerala is breathtakingly green land, covered by coconut palms, lagoons, kettu vallams, sunny beaches and waterfalls, offers a soothing and festive mood.

Lush plantations rise from the sea, and sweep the entire state in verdant glory, swathing the countryside, the only interruptions in this expanse of green are the azure backwaters, along which coconut palms soar to the skies; the culmination is in the upward fling of the hills, where tea and coffee plantations nurture the greens to a denser, monsoon - washed, forest palette.

In this entrancing state, a mere strip of south-western India, hugged by the coast on one side, by hills on another, a fascinating voyage of discovery awaits travellers. Splendid festivals with intriguing rituals ; herds of elephants, leading giant processions; exotic handicrafts and seafood preparations, fresh from the Arabian Sea; cosmopolitan cities where the past is always within reach, and small towns where time has stood still; all this and more, makes Kerala the ideal holiday destination, far removed from the cares of everyday world.

Geographically, Kerala is a heady amalgam of Nature's very best. The divine high ranges of the Western Ghats on the east. The Arabian Sea on the west. Emerald paddy fields. Virgin forests. Limpid backwaters. And beaches by the dozen, which in the days of yore, lured adventurous hearts from all over the globe. Kerala is God's own land, untouched and unparalleled.

What To See/Package Tours/Tourist Offices

What To See

Thiruvananthapuram/Kovalam/Periyar/Vembanad/Cheruthuruthy/Cochin/Guruvayur/Thrissur/Waterfalls/Beaches/Other Places/ Wildlife/Hill Stations

Package Tours

From Thiruvananthapuram; From Cochin; Highly Recommended Tour

From Thiruvananthapuram

1. City Tour - 0800 hrs to 1900 hrs - Rs 60 per head – daily

2. Kanyakumari Tour - 0730 hrs to 2100 hrs - Rs 120 per head – daily

3. Ponmudi Tour - 0745 hrs to 1900 hrs - Rs 100 per head – daily

4. Thekkady Tour - (2 days ) Departure on Saturday at 0630 hrs and return on Sunday at 2100 hrs - Rs 275 per head

For booking contact : Tourist Reception Centre, KTDC, Railway Station Road, Thiruvananthapuram; Tel : 330031

From Cochin

1. Boat cruise - cum - sightseeing tour - 0900 hrs to 1300 hrs and 1400 hrs to 1800 hrs - Rs 40 per head – daily

2. Thekkady Tour - ( 2 days) 0730 hrs on Saturday to 2000 hrs on Sunday - Rs 200 per head

3. Athirampally - Vazhachal Tour - 0800 hrs to 1800 hrs - Rs 100 per head - every Sunday

For booking contact: Tourist Reception Centre, KTDC, Shanmugham Road, Cochin; Tel : 253234

Highly Recommended Tour

10 day tour to Cochin - Allapuzha - Changanassery - Thekkady - Thiruvananthapuram – Kovalam - Ponmudi - Kanyakumari

Day 1: Arrival at Cochin, half day boat cruise - cum - sightseeing

Day 2: Excursion to Kaladi, Athirampally waterfalls and back to

Cochin

Day 3: Cochin to Allapuzha by road. Boat ride to Changanassery.

Proceed by road to Thekkady. Stay at Thekkady (Periyar Wildlife Sanctuary)

Day 4: Thekkady - boating and elephant ride

Day 5: Thekkady to Thiruvananthapuram by road

Day 6: Sightseeing in Thiruvananthapuram . Proceed to Kovalam.

Day 7: Full day at Kovalam beach

Day 8: Excursion to Padmanabhapuram palace, Suchindram

temple, Kanyakumari. Return to Kovalam.

Day 9 : Excursion to Neyyar dam, Ponmudi. Return to Kovalam.

Day 10 : Departure from Thiruvananthapuram

Tourist Offices

Thiruvananthapuram

Kerala Tourism Development Corp.,

Mascot Square, Thiruvananthapuram

Tel : 438976

Thiruvananthapuram

(At National Airport) - Tel No. : 451058

(At International Airport) - Tel : 452298

(At Central Bus Station) - Tel : 67224

Cochin

Tourist Information Counter,

Tourist Deck, Boat Jetty,

Cochin

Tel : 371761

Kozhikode

Tourist Information Counter,

Railway Station,

Kozhikode

 New Delhi

Tourist Information Counter,

219, Kanishka Shopping Complex,

19, Ashoka Road, New Delhi-110001

Tel : 3316541

Mumbai

Tourist Information Counter,

Mumbai

Tel : (p.p) 2026817

Chennai

Tourist Information Counter,

Chennai

Tel : 8279862

Thiruvananthapuram

The capital of the state of Kerala, Thiruvananthapuram or the City of the Sacred Snake, is built over seven hills. Named after Anantha, the thousand-headed serpent of Hindu mythology, the city once formed a part of the Travancore kingdom, its capital at Padmanabhapuram, now apart of Tamil Nadu.

Thiruvananthapuram is, decidedly, one of the cleaner and well-planned cities of the country. The city's scenic appeal, its enchanting beaches, and overwhelming greenery only add tits uniqueness. It embodies the magical feel of Kerala, as a whole, and lends terrific insight into the culture of the state. The red-tiled roofs, the never-ending stretches of palm trees, the maze of narrow, winding streets and above all, the sea, make for a fascinating mixture. There is an element of understated and effortless elegance about the city, which leaves a lasting impression on the visitor.

What to See/Around Thiruvananthapuram/Festivals/How to Get There/Where to Stay/Contact

What to See

The area of historical interest in the city is the Fort, at the southern end of M.G. Road, which encloses the famous Shri Padmanabhaswamy Vishnu Temple. The fort gateway leads to the temple, which is surprisingly enough, in the Dravidian style of architecture, typical of Tamil Nadu. The temple enshrines, and is dedicated, to the presiding deity of Thiruvananthapuram, Lord Vishnu. It was constructed by a Maharaja of Travancore, in 1733. The temple is open only to Hindus. The city derives its name from this temple, as the deity i.e. Lord Vishnu, is shown as reclining on his serpent, Anantha.

The Museum, Zoo, and the park they are located are in, are quite popular with the local people and tourists. The Napier Museum is housed in a striking building, and has a good collection of bronzes, ivory carvings, ancient musical instruments and life-size figures of Kathakali dancers. The art collection at the Sri Chitra Art Gallery, contains paintings of the Mughal, Tanjore and Rajput schools and a special section, devoted exclusively to the paintings of Raja Ravi Varma. There are, also, works of art from China, Bali, Tibet and Japan. The Zoological Gardens are, said to be, among the most well-planned zoos in Asia. The Botanical Garden within the zoo, houses specimens of almost every tropical tree existing. The Observatory, located on the highest point of the city, is one of the impressive architectural landmarks of Thiruvananthapuram.

Around Thiruvananthapuram

A short distance away from the city's airport is the Veli Lagoon, a serene tourist village by the side of a beautiful lagoon. It, also, has a exciting range of aqua sports facilities to offer.

15 km away from the city is the famous Kovalam beach. It ranks amongst one of the loveliest beaches in the world. This sheltered bay is ideal for surfing, swimming and sun-bathing. Other facilities include Yoga, Ayurvedic massage and water-sports. Overnight accommodation is available.

 29 km from the city is Neyyar Dam, that houses a mini wildlife sanctuary, and a crocodile farm. Additional attractions, in the form of boating facilities and trekking opportunities, make this spot a favourite with tourists.

61 km from Thiruvananthapuram, and 3000 feet above sea-level, is the idyllic hamlet of Ponmudi. A popular weekend getaway with the local people, it boasts of a complex of attractive cottages, and unlimited trekking routes across the sylvan hills, that embrace it. Overnight accommodation is available.

Kollam, 66 km from the city, was the ancient port of the State that received ships from all over the world. The region also houses the Astamudi Lake, ancient churches, the Thirumullavaram beach and some Hindu shrines. Backwater cruises to Allapuzha can be organized from here, and modest accommodation for an overnight stay is available.

Festivals

The festival that the entire city, anticipates with great enthusiasm is Onam, which marks Kerala's new year and harvest season, and comes around in August-September. The other spectacular event that transfigures the entire city is Thrissur Pooram, the annual temple festival.

How to Get There

Thiruvananthapuram is well connected with the other major cities of the country b, and railways. By road, the city is connected via the National Highway 47 to Kanyakumari, Coimbatore, Madras, and Bangalore.

Where to Stay

Hotel Mascot, Hotel Chaithram, Jas Hotel, Hotel Pankaj are some of the hotels available for accommodation.

Contact

Tourist Information Centre, Park View

Tel: 61132

Kerala Tourist Development Corporation(KTDC)

Reception Centre, Thampanoor

Tel: 75031

Tourist Information Centre (Airport), Government of India Tourism; Tel: 451498

Beaches in Kerala

By the virtue of having most of India’s finest beaches, Kerala offers surf and sand like no other place. The beaches have a character unique to them due to the wide acres of sumptuous palm groves bordering them. Facilities at the beach include boating, sunbath, swimming, water sports and Yoga.

Kovalam

Papanasam Beach (Varkala)

This is a holy beach, known as ‘Papanashini’ meaning, that which destroys sins. A narrow winding road leads away from Varkala town, flanked by thousands of palm trees and fertile paddy fields. High cliffs border the excellent beach. Mineral water springs gushing out from these cliffs are well known for their medicinal property. There is a nature cure centre adjacent to the beach. Ancient Janardhana Swamy (Vishnu) temple is near. Visitors can pay homage to Kerala’s saint and social reformer, Sree Narayana Guru.

Alleppey Beach

This is a long sandy spectacular beach with dense palm groves, that are so characteristic of Kerala’s landscape, at one end. One can cut across the sea waves lashing the shore in passionate fury, or indulge in the luxury of sitting on a sand dune and paddling your feet in the waters. A towering lighthouse overlooks the beach as a symbol of the past.

Kappad Beach

This is the historic beach where Vasco da Gama landed on 27 May, 1498 with 170 men in three vessels - a site which witnessed an event that changed the course of Indian history. 16 km away from Kozhikode (Calicut), the pleasant, calm beach, locally known as Kappakadavu, is studded with rocks and caressed by friendly waves.

Bekal Beach

Bekal The old-fashioned little town of Kasargode, 153km north of Kozhikode, near the Karnataka border, is principally a fishing community.

Flanked on two sides by long, ravishingly beautiful palm fringed beaches, the Bekal Fort stands proud on a promontory. This is one of the largest forts in Kerala and has been under the control of various powers including Vijayanagar, Tipu Sultan and the British. The fort’s commanding position, with views across the bays to the north and the south are breath-taking.

Shanghumugham Beach

This is a popular city beach lying near to the airport. An indoor recreation club, children's traffic training park and a star shaped restaurant are some of the facilities at the beach.

Wildlife in Kerala

Aralam Wildlife Sanctuary

Elephants, sloth bear, sambar, mouse-deer etc. are found in this sanctuary. It is also rich in avifauna and reptiles. This sanctuary is easily accessible from Kannur.

Chinnar Wildlife Sanctuary

Proximity to Eravikulam National Park and Anamalai Wildlife Sanctuary in Tamil Nadu makes Chinnar rich in wildlife. This sanctuary is easily accessible from Udumalpet in Tamil Nadu and Munnar in Kerala.

Eravikulam National Park

This sanctuary was established specially for the preservation of Nilgiri Tahr, one of the most endangered animals on the planet. Now the number of tahrs has increased and they constitute the largest known population of tahrs existing in the world. In addition to tahr, the park houses elephants, sambars, gaurs, lion-tailed macaque, Nilgiri langur, tigers and leopards. Accommodation and board facilities are available at Munnar, the nearest town, which is connected to Kottayam (148 km.) and Ernakulam (130 km.) by road. There is a motorable road up to Rajamally. Further, travel is on foot which makes for some great trekking.

Idukki Wildlife Sanctuary

A 70 sq. km. area of forest land in between the Periyar and Cheruthoni rivers form an excellent habitat for wildlife. Elephants, bisons, bear, wild boars, sambar etc are found in this area. The lake on the three sides of the sanctuary offers a panoramic view to the tourists.

Neyyar Wildlife Sanctuary

The Neyyar reservoir is easily navigable andextends 9.06 sq. km. The vegetation varies from tropical wet evergreen to grasslands. The Agasthyakoodam hill, 1890 metres high, lies in the premises of the sanctuary. Elephants, gaur, sloth bear, Nilgiri tahr, jungle cat, wild boar, Nilgiri langur e. are seen. A crocodile rearing centre, deer farm and lion safari park are the main attractions.

Parambikulam Wildlife Sanctuary

Parambikulam has one of the largest population of gaur (bison). Sambar, spotted deer, jungle cat, lion-tailed macaque, common otter, sloth bear etc. are the other inhabitants. There are also a few tigers and leopards. Facilities for boarding and lodging are available at the sanctuary. There are forest rest houses at Thunacadavu, Thellikkal and Elathode. Motor transport and boat cruise can be arranged on request. The Indira Gandhi Wildlife Sanctuary of Tamil Nadu lies adjacent.

Peechi – Vazhani Wildlife Sanctuary

It lies in the catchment areas of Peechi and Vazhani dams in Trichur District. Peechi, the headquarters of the sanctuary is 15 km by road from Trichur.

Peppara Wildlife Sanctuary

Peppara is accessible from Vithurai on Thiruvananthapuram – Ponmudi road. This sanctuary with its rich fauna and birds is emerging as a big attraction to wildlife enthusiasts. It is spread over an area of 53 Sq. km. on the Western Ghats. Elephant, sambar, leopard and lion-tailed macaque are some of the commonly seen animals.

Periyar Wildlife Sanctuary, Thekkady

The most renowned destination is the Periyar Wildlife Sanctuary at Thekkady, one of India's major sanctuary areas. The drive to Thekkady itself is enchanting as the road winds through tranquil countryside, rich plantations and thick jungles.

The sanctuary offers a lovely and comfortable way to see the animals via boat rides on the man-made lake, which the wildlife areas encircle. In addition to the wild life, there are water and land birds galore here, and one can sometimes find dedicated bird watchers setting in for one or two weeks of serious observations.

Silent Valley National Park

The Silent Valley contains India’s last substantial stretch of tropical evergreen rain forests and it is perhaps the only vestige of a near virgin forest in the whole of the Western Ghats. Elephants, tigers, wild dog, flying squirrel and lion-tailed macaque are found here. Vehicular traffic is allowed up to Mukkali from Mannarghat. From Mukkali one has to cover at least 24 km on foot to reach the source of river Kuntipuzha, which flows through the valley.

Nearest railhead is Palghat, 75 km away. Admission to the park is restricted. Prior permission is required to visit the park. For further detail contact: The Divisional Forest Officer, Palghat.

Thattekad Bird Sanctuary

This bird sanctuary is a peninsular land of 25 sq. km, formed between the branches of the river Periyar. The avifauna includes both resting indigenous birds and water birds. The most notable of the indigenous birds are Malabar grey hornbill, grey jungle fowl, heron, egret, jungle myna, wood pecker, rose winged and blue winged parakeet. Rare birds like Ceylon frog-mouth, rose billed roller etc. can also be sighted.

Hill Stations of Kerala

Munnar

Lying at an altitude of 1524 m in the green and serene Kannan Devan Hills, this quiet and restful resort with mist-filled valleys and low-flying clouds is a paradise for nature lovers. Anaimudi, South India's highest peak is little beyond Munnar.

Eravikulam National Park, the home of Nilgiri tahr, is in the vicinity. Tourists can have a glimpse of gaur, langur, lion-tailed macaque, and elephants roaming in herds.

The Kundale Tea Plantation, an area surrounding a lovely lake, offers an opportunity to see the tea plantations, to watch tea being picked, to learn how tea is processed, to smell the sweet scent of tea wafting through the air and to buy the tea directly from the gardens. Munnar is 136 km off Cochin.

Ponmudi

Tucked away in the Western Ghats, this quaint little hill station lies ataof 1100 ft. above the sea level.

Lush green woods, lazily meandering streams and countless varieties of butterflies lend a strange magic to Ponmudi.

Idukki

Idukki literally means a narrow gorge. It is a small hill town surrounded by a spread of beautiful, wooden valleys and meandering streams. Idukki is 121 km. away from Kottayam, along the way to Munnar.

Nelliyampathy

Nelliyampathy is a range of hills cut off from one another by valleys of dense evergreen forests and orange plantations. The height of the hills range from 467 metres to the tallest peak Padagiri looming at 1572 metres. It is two and a half hours drive from Palghat. The journey is a sensation of its own with a dozen hairpin curves on the ghat road passing through the fascinating jungles of the Sahya Ranges. On the way is the Pothundi reservoir, an ideal stop over.

Wagamon

Surrounded by the greenery of tea gardens, beautiful meadows, valleys and dales lies Wagamon at an altitude of 1100 metres. This, trekker's paradise, is only 64 km. from Kottayam. Thangal para, Indo-Swiss project and Kurisumala Ashram are other attractions.

Lakkadi

Lakkadi, one of the highest locations in Wayanad, with picturesque hills, streams and luxuriant vegetation, registers the second highest degree of rainfall in the world. It is surrounded by meadows and hills on all sides. The natural fresh water lake, Pookode Lake, is only 3 km. from here.

Wayanad

The hills of Wayanad are blessed with luxuriant plantations of coffee, tea, cardamom, pepper and rubber. This north eastern tip of Kerala has the fast flowing rivers Panamaram, Mananthavady and Kabini giving the whole region a picture-postcard look.

Mattupetty

Thirteen km. away from Munnar lies Mattupetty, at an altitude of 1700 m. above the sea level. The Indo-Swiss Dairy Project with the green meadows and the exotic cattle and the rose garden also attracts tourists.

Devikulam

With its irresistibly green slopes touching the sky at a thousand metres and the silent clusters of slender red and blue gum trees, Devikulam creates its own space in the tourist map of Kerala. It is 16 km. southwest of Munnar.

Devikulam, meaning the lake of the goddess, has a lovely little lake hidden within the rolling hills. According to legend, Sita Devi, the holy consort of Lord Rama, came down to frolic in the lake and the place came to be known as the present name ever since.

Peerumade

On the way to Thekkady lies this small hill station at an altitude of 914 metres. Peerumade was one the summer palaces of Tranvancore Rajas. This fertile land is full of rubber, tea, coffee, pepper and cardamom plantation, interspersed with waterfalls and open grasslands.

Malampuzha

Malampuzha is in the site of a large irrigation dam built across the longest river in Kerala, the Bharathapuzha. It is set at the base of the hills of the Western Ghats.

Beautiful gardens, amusement parks and facilities for boat cruises make this an ideal picnic spot.

Yakshi in Malampuzha

Other attractions are the rock garden, the fish-shaped aquarium, the snake park, the ropeway which takes the tourist on an aerial tour of the park, and the famous work Yakshi (an enchantress) sculpted by Kanai Kunjiraman.

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 master work of sculptor Padmasree Nek Chand Saini. His rock garden in Chandigarh is world famous and attracts thousands of tourists every year.