Kerala: A Paradise of Rich Culture, Breathtaking Landscapes, and Unique Experiences

Welcome to Kerala, a magical land tucked away in the southwestern corner of India. Known as "God's Own Country," Kerala is a mesmerizing destination that captivates travelers with its diverse culture, lush landscapes, and unforgettable experiences. From serene backwaters and pristine beaches to lush hill stations and vibrant festivals, this state offers a harmonious blend of natural beauty and traditional charm.

A Tapestry of Culture and Traditions:

Kerala is a melting pot of cultures and traditions, where ancient rituals and customs coexist with modernity. The state's rich history is evident in its impressive architecture, religious festivals, and art forms like Kathakali and Mohiniyattam. Visitors can delve into the local way of life by exploring the bustling markets, savoring traditional cuisine, and experiencing the warmth of Keralites' hospitality.

Backwaters: Nature's Serenade

No trip to Kerala is complete without a serene cruise along its famous backwaters. The intricate network of canals, lagoons, and rivers offers a unique and tranquil experience. A houseboat ride through the backwaters presents a chance to witness the rural charm, picturesque landscapes, and observe traditional fishing and farming practices.

Breathtaking Hill Stations:

Escape the heat and venture into Kerala's cool hill stations, nestled amid lush greenery and misty clouds. Places like Munnar, Wayanad, and Thekkady provide an idyllic setting for trekking, wildlife spotting, and rejuvenating amidst nature's bounty. The aroma of tea and spice plantations further enhances the charm of these hill retreats.

Pristine Beaches:

Kerala boasts a coastline that stretches for miles, offering some of the most pristine and scenic beaches in India. Whether it's the bustling Kovalam Beach or the tranquil Varkala Beach with its cliffside views, each beach offers a unique experience. From sunbathing and water sports to mesmerizing sunsets, the beaches of Kerala cater to every traveler's taste.

Ayurveda: Healing for the Mind and Body:

Kerala is renowned for its traditional Ayurvedic practices, which offer a holistic approach to health and wellness. Many visitors come here seeking rejuvenation through Ayurvedic massages, therapies, and yoga sessions. The state's abundance of Ayurvedic centers and resorts ensures that travelers can find solace and relaxation during their stay.

Kerala is a treasure trove of experiences that leave an indelible mark on every traveler's heart. From its vibrant festivals and cultural heritage to its scenic landscapes and serene backwaters, Kerala promises a truly unique and unforgettable journey. Whether you're a nature lover, an adventure seeker, or a culture enthusiast, this remarkable destination has something special to offer to all who set foot on its enchanting soil. So, pack your bags and embark on an incredible journey to Kerala, where the colors of tradition, nature, and warmth blend to create an unforgettable travel experience.

Planning to holiday in Kerala? It's almost houseful

Tourists hoping to usher in the New Year amid Kerala's laidback charms would do well to have a plan B ready - if they haven't booked already. Most hotels, resorts and even houseboats are sold out for Christmas, and only divine intervention can get you a place in 'god's own country'.

As a result of the holiday rush, tariffs have touched stratospheric levels. Plush resorts in the backwater havens of Alappuzha and Kumarakom are charging upwards of Rs.75,000 a night for the New Year eve.

Likewise, travel agents too are running from pillar to post to get reservations for their clients at premier destinations like Kovalam, Kumarakom, Alappuzha, Thekkady and Munnar.

Tomy Pulikattil, who owns a dozen houseboats in Alappuzha, said anyone who manages to book a houseboat now should consider himself extremely lucky.

"We are finding it hard to accommodate people who have not made a booking. The peak season would begin from Dec 20 and continue till the first week of January. We are fully booked and now people are calling us daily to see if there have been any cancellations," Pulikattil told IANS.

Alappuzha, popularly known as the Venice of the East, has the largest concentration of houseboats, numbering more than 400.

Tariff for the peak season has gone up by 25 percent. A two bedroom houseboat would cost you about Rs.20,000 a day.

Tourism has become one of the biggest money spinners in industry-starved Kerala. The tourism department says both foreign and domestic tourist arrivals for the first half of this year have shown a rise.

Around 335,000 overseas tourists arrived here till June 2010, a rise of 13.9 percent over the corresponding period last year. Domestic tourist arrivals too grew by 5.59 percent to reach 4.1 million.

No wonder hotel and resort owners are in a festive mood.

"All our rooms have been fully booked for the second half of this month and so is the case with resorts in and around Kovalam. Unlike in the previous season, this time we feel that there are more domestic tourists," said K. Sudish Kumar, who owns a premier resort at Kovalam beach.

"Moreover, we hope the rains lashing the state halt briefly so that tourists can enjoy the beaches."

However, tour guide Koshy John sounded a word of caution, saying the lingering effects of economic slowdown were still visible.

"The free flow of foreign tourists that was visible from the end of November last year has not happened this time. But I am told that foreign tourists' January bookings look healthy," he said.

"On its part, the state government also should promote newer destinations because the premier destinations are choked during the holiday season."

Top 5 Bird Watching Places in India

As many as 1,200 species of birds make their home in India. This vast number is surely enough to make India one of the best bird watching destinations in the world.

The best bird watching destinations are:

Bird Watching in Keoladeo Ghana National Park

Located 175 km away from Delhi on Agra- Jaipur road, this park is declared as World Heritage Site. Stretched on 28.7 sq km, this park is home to 330 species of birds out of which several are migratory. Prominent bird species here are migratory birds like Siberian Crane, Geese, Ducks, Raptors, Warblers and Waders. Other frequently seen birds are pelicans, storks, herons, egrets and kingfishers. Best time to visit this park in the month of November to March.

Bird Watching in Sariska Wildlife Sanctuary

Spread across vast 800 sq km, this park boasts of 200 species of birds. Situated in the hills of Aravalli, birds species mainly found here are Wryneck Woodpecker Babbler, White Breasted Kingfisher, Little Brown Dove, Small Minivet, Gray Hornbill, Crested Serpent Eagle, Black/Red Headed Bunting, Golden Oriole, Little Brown Dove, Small Minivet, Great Gray Shrike, Pale Harrier and Tailor Bird and many more.

Bird Watching in Corbett National Park

There is a mind boggling 600 species of birds in this sanctuary. Bird watchers from all over the world come here to see these varieties. The park located in the western Himalayas in Uttaranchal is spread in an area of 600 sq km. The most prominent bird species are bareheaded goose, snipe, gull, duck, grepe, graylag, wagtail and sandpiper, raptors, darters, egrets, black-necked stork and cormorants are commonly seen here.

Bird Watching in Sunderbans National Park

Just 72 km away from kolkata, this park is spread across 2,585 sq km. Labeled as a World Heritage Site, this place is known for its mangrove forest. Bird sanctuary at Sajnekhali offers home to quite a lot of variety of birds like White ibis, Heron, Egret, Cotton Teal, Brahmini kite, Tern, Curlew.

Bird Watching in Kaziranga National Park

Spread across 430 sq km and situated on the bank of River Brahmaputra in Assam this park is made up of thick forest and lakes, the perfect conditions for the birds to thrive. Most prominent bird species are Pallas's fish eagle, black necked stork, lesser adjutant stork, grey pelican, Bengal floricans, grey peacock-pheasant, green imperial pigeon.

Bird Watching in Periyar Wildlife Sanctuary

Spread in a total area of 777 sq km, 350 sq km area was made into the Periyar National Park and Tiger Reserve, better known as the Periyar Wildlife Sanctuary. Situated in Kerala, this sanctuary houses 330 species of birds out of which like Darters, the Malabar Hornbill, Kingfishers, Cormorants and racket-tailed Drongoes are well known.

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India is one of the most intoxicating tourism destinations in the world with various fascinating attraction that delivers every need of the visitors. There are several fascinating destinations that captivates visitor and leave them spell bound. Kashmir, Goa, Kerala, Rajasthan, Srinagar, Kullu, Manali, Shimla, Darjeeling, Sikkim, Uttarakhand, Uttaranchal are some of the most visited tourist destination in India. Travel to any direction south, north, west and east it delivers a great feast to you’re your tour and also the tourist eyes. From the breathtaking snowy peaks to the steaming desert, from the emerald forest to the world renowned sanctuaries, visitors from every nook and corner of the world break through to enjoy the beauty of India. Infect it is only one destination in the world that offers with various captivating destinations.

Tourists from all over visit this truly blessed destination to catch the charming beauty of the India. It is the place where the magical power of the nature works to change the life of the visitors. Pristine beaches of Goa, sweltering golden sands of Rajasthan, fabled backwater destination of Kerala and the charming natural beauty of the hills leaves offers visitor to spend magical moment being in this magical land.

Visitors of every choice and preferences are welcomed in this land to grasp the exhilarating beauty of this magical land. Agra, Delhi, Bangalore, Mumbai, Chennai has there own fascinating charm. Serenity of Ganga, Yamuna, Brahmaputra, Varanasi, Uttarakhand, Ajmer, Gaya, Ladakh, Yamunotri, Kailashnath, Rishikesh are some of the famous shrine in India. Visitors from all over on there India travel visit these places to offer prayers at the shrine and get blessed for better life.

Rajasthan welcome visitors with vibrant colourful festivals than Goa shares the charm of its beaches. Kerala also follow the path of unique hospitality and offer backwater destination that is unseen to this world. Agra is world renowned for the symbol of undying love Taj Mahal. They beauty of Taj is the crown of India and is the heritage of India. It is must to be visited on your India tours and worth your visit to India. Every time you visit to this magical land you will find it interesting and extra ordinary than any other tourist destination in the world.

India is a place with various different religions coming up together in one beautiful garden. It is what makes this place so special and unique than rest of the world. So spend you holidays in India and you will come to know the secret and answer of your puzzling question.

Kerala - Paradise found

Kerala, God’s Own Country, has been voted by National Geographic as one of its top ten ‘paradise found’ places on the planet. Situated in the south western corner of India, it is a green and fertile state thanks to the annual south west monsoon. Traders have been sailing to Kerala for 3,000 years, riding the directional monsoon and trade winds. The Arabs, British, Chinese, Dutch and Portuguese have all traded here and the coastal city of Kochi (formerly Cochin) reflects the diversity of these influences: Chinese fishing nets, St Francis Church, the Jewish Synagogue and the Dutch Palace.



From Kochi/Cochin you can explore the fertile hinterland:

Travel inland through palm, rubber, tea and spice plantations before arriving at Lake Periyar National Park, a tiger reserve surrounding an artificial lake constructed by the British in the 19th century. This reserve is also home to bison and elephant.

Sail along the Backwaters, an extensive fresh-waterway of rivers, lakes, lagoons and canals with small settlements, palm groves and fishing nets adorning the banks.

Allow yourself to be transported along these waterways on a Kettuvallam, a houseboat in the style of the traditional rice boats. Enjoy the views in style while your meals are being prepared!

And for the ultimate paradise experience, why not sleep 40 metres up in the canopy in a Tree House?

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.