Places

Alleppey

Referred to as the ‘Venice of the East’ by travellers from across the world, Alappuzha is a district of immense natural beauty. Caressed by the Arabian Sea in the west and a vast network of lakes, lagoons and freshwater rivers criss-crossing it, this backwater country shelters some unique animal and bird life. By virtue of its proximity to the sea, the town has always enjoyed an exclusive place in the maritime history of Kerala. Famous for its boat races, beaches, marine products and coir industry, the singularity of this land is the region called Kuttanad - a land of lush paddy fields referred to as the ‘Rice Bowl of Kerala’ and one of the few places in the world where farming is done below sea level. This one-time prosperous trading and fishing centre is today a world renowned backwater tourist destination. Alleppey is also famous for its Nehru Trophy Boat Race, a thrilling event held annually on the Punnamada Lake. This grand spectacle features elaborately decorated snake boats rowed by skilled oarsmen, creating a vibrant atmosphere and showcasing the region`s rich cultural heritage. The town is dotted with beautiful beaches, including Alappuzha Beach and Marari ... Read More...

Athirappilly

The 145 kilometres (90 mi) long Chalakudy River, originates in the Anamudi mountains of the Western Ghats and flows through the Vazhachal Forest toward the Arabian Sea. The river initially runs smoothly but becomes more turbulent as it nears Athirappilly.  Athirappilly captivates visitors with its cascading waters that plunge down from a height of approximately 80 feet. Surrounded by lush greenery and dense forests, the falls create a picturesque setting that is both serene and awe-inspiring. The thunderous sound of the water and the misty atmosphere add to the enchanting ambiance. Athirappilly Falls is not only a visual spectacle but also an important ecological hotspot, as it supports a diverse range of flora and fauna. It is a popular tourist attraction, offering opportunities for photography, nature walks, and relaxation in the lap of nature. A visit to Athirappilly Falls promises a memorable experience and a chance to connect with the raw power and beauty of nature. ... Read More...

Kochi (formerly Cochin)

In 1102 CE, Kochi became the seat of the Kingdom of Cochin and has been in prominence since then. With the advent of the Portuguese in 1503, it became the first European Colonial settlement in India and remained the capital of the Portuguese till 1530. It was then invaded by the Dutch and the British and became the first Princely state to join the Indian union post Independence in 1947. The Jews (700 BC onwards), Portuguese (1503-1660), The Dutch (1660-1814) and The British (1814-1947) have left behind their beautiful mark on this characteristic port-city. In 1920 Robert Bristow the harbor Engineer under the direction of Lord Willington spent a good 21 years and transformed this Historic Spice Port into the safest harbor in the Peninsula. ... Read More...

Kollam

This old sea-port town midway between Cochin and Kovalam lies by the Coast with the Ashtamudia Lake on the other side. The expansive Backwaters of this area offer relaxing cruise on Riceboats and some high-end Resorts by the Lake. ... Read More...

Kovalam & Trivandrum

Within 30 mins drive from the capital city of Trivandrum, Kovalam is an internationally renowned beach with three adjacent crescent beaches. It has been a favourite haunt of tourists, especially Europeans, since the 1930s. A massive rocky promontory on the beach has created a beautiful bay of calm waters ideal for sea bathing. The leisure options at this beach are plenty and diverse of which Sunbathing & swimming, top the list. The beaches are quite crowded with shacks and shops, if you are looking for a quite beach then you could move to south Kovalam that is comparatively less crowded. ... Read More...

Kozhikode (Calicut)

Kozhikode ( formerly Calicut ) is a city with a lot of history. What is now one of the largest cities in Kerala and the main city of Malabar used to an important port trading in spices. Kozhikode was once the capital of the Zamorins and later of the erstwhile Malabar District. Arab merchants traded with Kozhikode as early as 7th century, and Portuguese explorer Vasco da Gama landed at Kozhikode on May 20, 1498. The English landed in 1615 (constructed a trading post in 1665), followed by the French (1698) and the Dutch (1752). In 1765, Hyder Ali of Mysore captured Kozhikode and destroyed the city as part of his invasion. Kozhikode, once famous cotton-weaving center, is known as the place which gave name to the Calico cloth. It has traded in spices like black pepper and cardamom with the Jews, Arabs, Phoenicians, and the Chinese since more than 500 years. As Kozhikode offered full freedom and security, the Arab and the Chinese merchants preferred it to all other ports. ... Read More...

Kumarakom

Kumarakom is a cluster of little islands on the Vembanad lake, the largest backwater in Kerala, and is habitat for many marine and freshwater fish species. The backwaters are a chain of brackish lagoons and lakes lying parallel to the Arabian sea coast (known as the Malabar Coast) of Kerala. Kumarakom is home to a wide variety of flora and fauna. Kumarakom bird sanctuary is a noted one where many species of migratory birds visit. The bird sanctuary extends over 14 acres and came into existence following preservation efforts from the government. It is a major tourist attraction. While the canals are not as narrow as those in Alleppey, the Kumarakom area also has some interesting waterways. ... Read More...

Mararikulam

This is a small, sleepy fisherman`s village in Alleppey, where life still goes on much as it did a hundred years ago, with the men going out to sea each day to earn a living bringing in the daily catch. Mararikulam has one of the cleanest sandy beach in the whole of Kerala, Marari beach is the place for an inspirational beach holiday. The shoreline is clean,dotted with quaint thatched huts and small winding village roads..... ... Read More...

Munnar

The genesis of the High Range (as Munnar’s tea estates are referred to) dates back to the 1870’s when British civil servants visited there hills-then teeming with wildlife-on annual shikar expeditions. Forseeing the agricultural potential of the region, these pioneers experimented with many crops such as coffee, cinchona, sisal and cardamom before discovering that tea was best suited to the area. The first tea was planted by A.H.Sharp in 1877 in what is now Sevenmallay Estate. In 1895 the Glasgow-based James Finlay Group acquired the tea estates which later entered a joint venture with the Tata group. In April 2005 Tata tea transferred the ownership of their Tea Plantations in Munnar to a new company, Kannan Devan Hills Plantations Company Private Limited formed by its employees. The new company has 16 tea estates spread over nearly 8600 hectares of tea and an employee strength of around 13,000. ... Read More...

Nileshwar

Dance of the Gods...it is indeed a spell binding experience as the dancers start to perform the ritual dance to the tune of the rhythmic beat of the drums. You could witness this magical experience during your stay in the Malabar region particularly Kannur and Nileshwar. This is not a performance put on for tourists but an ancient tradition that is still being followed by the traditional Hindu communities of Malabar. It is possible to witness at least one performance during your stay in this region. Theyyams can happen anytime during the day or night depending on the location and the event. Some of the larger festivals can have more than one theyyam. ... Read More...

Tellicherry

Once the British Naval barrack and Spice trade export hub of the British East India Company, Tellicherry has a rich history being the French Military settlement followed by the Dutch and Portugues. Currently it is a prominent commercial centre in the Malabar region of Kerala. The Tellicherry Fort, Theyyam-colorful trance dance in the local temples and Moplah cuisine;fusion of Arabic and North Kerala are the major attractions of this place. ... Read More...

Thattekad

The Thattekad Bird Sanctuary is one of the important bird sanctuaries of India. Salim Ali, a well known ornithologist, has described this sanctuary as “the richest bird habitat on peninsular India”. The region is an evergreen low-land forest and is located between branches of the Periyar River, the longest river in Kerala. A trip through this sanctuary would certainly be a bonanza for any birder, with over 270 species in the relatively small area of 25 sq kms. You may see the rare Mottled Wood Owl, the Spot-bellied Eagle Owl, the Malayan Night Heron, the Sri Lanka Frogmouth, the Rusty-tailed Flycatcher, the Grey-headed Bulbul and the Nilgiri Wood Pigeon. ... Read More...

Thekkady (Periyar National Park)

Periyar Tiger Reserve, Thekkady, has a rich bio diversity and is spread over an area of 777 Sq .km., Periyar is one of the 27 tiger reserves in India. The park is a repository of rare, endemic and endangered flora and fauna and forms the major watershed of two important rivers of Kerala, the Periyar and Pamba. The Eco-Tourism projects in Periyar has been a great success story. These programs are conducted by local people responsible for the surveillance of the vulnerable parts of the reserve. By taking tourists along, they are involved in the conservation of the forests of Periyar and some valuable revenue is generated for community welfare. People who once made a living by illegal operations in the forests have since become forest protectors and earn their livelihood through these programs. Hence, as a visitor, when you join them in any of these programs, you are directly contributing towards forest conservation and community welfare. ... Read More...

Thrissur & Cheruthuruthy

Though synonymous with the colorful Pooram festival, this place has much more to offer. Housing the prestigious Kerala Sangeeta-Natak, Sahitya and LalitKala academies and the neighboring Kalamandalam, Trissur is a hub for performing arts and hosts arts and Literary festivals throughout the year. The Trissur Pooram festival is a week-long celebration that takes place every year around April or May. It involves lots of fanfares that has hour-long fireworks and parade of 30 caparisoned Elephants. Cheruturuthy is a small town and more rustic as compared to the modern day Thrissur (within an hour’s drive).This is the seat of Kerala Kalamandalam, renowned the world over for its Kathakali training centre. Over the years this unique institution has imparted training in Kathakali, Mohiniyattam, Kootiyattam, Panchavadyam, Thullal etc. ... Read More...

Vagamon

This hill station at a height of 1100 metres was discovered by the British as an ideal place to grow Tea. It still is a sleepy town with green meadows and waterfalls. The place is still quite non-touristy and can be visited en-route to Thekkady. Some home-stays and heritage bungalows offer very good accommodation including the adjoining areas of Kootickal and Teekoy. ... Read More...

Varkala

The Varkala beach is unique in Kerala as it has some mineral springs that sprout out of the sandstone cliffs. Papanasam beach ( which is what Varkala beach is known as) is one of the popular beach destination in Kerala. The beach is also a popular Hindu religious spot as the belief is that a dip in the sea here washes all your sins away! The view of the sunset from the cliff is spectacular! For those who are interested a bit of culture it is also possible to visit the nearby Janardhana Temple, a temple that is believed to be over 2000 years old. This stretch of the Arabian coastline also offers some great spots for surfing. ... Read More...

Wayanad

Wayanad lies at an altitude varying from 700 to 2100 meters above sea level. The distinct ecological and geographical features provide a unique charm and an enchanting challenge for nature lovers. It is also known for its Tribal population, exotic plantations of rubber, coffee, tea, cardamom and pepper that stretch over the hills of Wayanad. It is a great place for walks and wildlife. Wayanad is a part of Kerala that has just recently opened up to Western tourists. ... Read More...