Tuesday, July 28, 2009

Kerala Tour Operators: 5 questions you must ask

It has been quite some time now that the virgin beaches and lush mountains and backwaters of Kerala in India have caught tourist attention. Kerala is now a hot potato in the tourism map of India and the international tourists- backpackers, honeymooners, as well as those traveling with families are increasingly opting for tours to Kerala with Kerala tour operators.

Now this is one more very important aspect of tours to Kerala - the tour operators. To begin with, it is always advisable to visit Kerala under some tour operator since much of the major beaches or sanctuaries in Kerala are located in regions with very less habitation and for a person without any knowledge of the local norms or language the situation might get slippery on occasions. Tour operators in Kerala are available in plenty, including the government owned machinery of Kerala Tourism. You can contact these travel agents over the internet which provides all details like telephone numbers and address.

However, whenever you are getting in touch with Kerala tour operators you should and must ask him a few questions. To begin with, the best time to travel to Kerala. The best time to travel to Kerala might vary according to your specific interests. If you are interested in the country boat race, you must visit the place in July-August. It is the time when the Nehru Trophy takes place in the Punnamada Lake in Alappuzha. On the other hand, if you are interested in the Nilgiri Tahr that can be seen in the forests of the Nilgiri Mountains, you must not visit in February. February is the breeding season for this goat and the Eravikulam National Park which is a shelter for the tahr, remains closed for 45 days beginning from the 1st of February.

The backwater cruises in Kerala are most popular with the tourists. Now backwater cruises come in different types of packages. Some offer daylong trips, some offer night stays while others offer several days long trips. You must ask your agent what kind of a trip he has in mind for you and also remember to ask your agent before jumping into the water whether that is a swimming zone or not.

To come to clothing; Kerala is located in the southern parts of India and remains quite hot in summer (April to September). Winter brings mild climate and the hill stations like Munnar demand light woolens during winter. The beaches and backwaters can be best enjoyed in soft cotton clothing.

Temple entry norms in Kerala are also very strict in Kerala and if you are not of Hindu origin, you would not be allowed to enter most of the Kerala temples. Adhere very closely to your travel agent´s advice regarding temples, else you might face trouble.

Since you would be traveling with your agent, you would not have to bother about the booking formalities to the hotels in Kerala, but you must not forget to make yourself clear on the kind of accommodation you want in terms of budget, hotel type, and more. There are various types of hotels in Kerala like beach resorts, eco tourism resorts, treetop cottages and much more.

Last but not the least, while you are free to sport bikinis on the beaches, avoid getting too cozy with your partner. Kissing and necking in public is considered bad behavior in India and Kerala is no exception.


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