KERALA BEACHES

Blessed with a long coastline that measures almost 580 kilometers, Kerala has some of the most exotic and mesmerizing beaches in India. The beaches of Kerala, India provide the best getaway and give ample opportunities to relax and unwind. The coconut lined golden sands and turquoise blue sea, makes the beaches a picture perfect destination to spend to your vacation. So read on further about the renowned beaches in Kerala and come here to feel rejuvenated again. Alleppey BeachAlleppey beach is a popular tourist place and a picnic spot for tourists and locals alike. This beach is also known as Alappuzha beach and one gets to see beautiful, vast expanse of sands and turquoise blue water of the Arabian Sea. Bekal Fort BeachOne of the best-maintained beaches in Kasargod, Bekal Fort Beach is a vast expanse of white sands spread over an area of 35 acres. The beach is dotted with palm trees thus giving it an exotic feel. Beypore BeachThe Beypore Beach in Calicut is a beautiful expanse of vast land and turquoise blue sea. Nature will embrace you in its arms on the calm shore shores of this beach. The endless Arabian Sea laps at your feet as you stand on the soft sands watching the sunset. Chithari BeachThe Chithari Beach is a beautiful beach with vast sandy shores, dotted by green trees. It looks absolutely untouched by time and you will feel like you have reached a magical land. Kovalam BeachOne of the most popular beaches in Trivandrum, Kovalam beach is situated at a distance of 16 kilometers to the south of Trivandrum city. The natural beauty of this beautiful beach is what attracts people from far and wide to come here.Thirumullavaram BeachThe Thirumullavaram Beach in Kerala is situated at a distance of around 6 kilometers to north of Kollam. Unexplored and untouched by time, the beach offers unadulterated tranquility and peace of mind.Varkala BeachThe Varkala Beach of Trivandrum is considered to be one of the most secluded beaches of Kerala. It is located at the north of Trivandrum city at a distance of around 54 kilometers. To enjoy the serene and tranquil surroundings, away from the bustling city, Varkala beach of Thiruvananthapuram is the ideal choice in Kerala.

KERALA HILL RESORTS

Kerala, popularly regarded as 'God's own country', is probably the most beautiful, exotic and picturesque state of India. Flanked by the blue waters of the Arabian Sea in the west and the Western Ghats (mountain ranges) in the east, Kerala abounds in exotic and beautiful Hill stations, lovely beaches and serene and calm backwaters. The unparallel Natural beauty of Kerala attracts thousands of tourists from all over the world round the year. And rightly so, the National Geographic Traveler ranked it as One of the 50 'Paradise Found' on the earth.
The hill stations of Kerala are known for their exotic charm and beauty that can't be defined in words. Located amidst the lush green vegetation with numerous milky waterfalls, ravishing rivulets, splendid springs, lakes and hill-plantations, they provide an enthralling experience to tourists. Sprawling spice and tea plantations on the hill slopes provide you an enchanting sight. The fresh and pristine air filled with the fragrance of cardamom and pepper makes a spellbound effect on your body soul. Amidst such surroundings you feel like as if you are in a paradise. One of the major advantages of holidaying in Kerala hill station is that they are relatively less crowded in comparison to hill stations of north India.
The verdant vegetation around the hills supports a variety of wildlife too. There are numerous wildlife sanctuaries located in the region, which house some of the endangered species of wild animals and birds.
Some of the most scenic and beautiful hill stations in Kerala, which offer a lifetime experience to its visitors, are Munnar, Vythiri, Idukki, Vagamon and Wayanad. We welcome you to Kerala to explore and enjoy the beautiful moments of your life in a natural paradise which you would relish and remember all your life.
Fascinating Holiday welcomes you to Kerala to explore its secluded and virgin Hill Resorts. Enjoy your holiday amidst the shimmering silver sands and swaying coconut palm trees with refreshing breeze laden with the fragrance of nature. The best point about the Kerala Hill Resorts is that they are less crowded than Hill Resorts in adjoining regions, such as the Hill Resorts of Goa. As the weather here remains pleasant all round the year, you can visit Kerala in all seasons. Laze and relax on the cool golden Hill Resorts, indulge in beach activities, enjoy water sports and try the rejuvenating Ayurvedic massages to rejuvenate your body and mind.

BOAT RACES OF KERALA

Nehru Cup Snake Boat Race (Alappuzha Nehru Trophy Boat Race at Punnamada) This Boat Race held at the Vembanad lake, east of Alappuzha town. It is the most famous boat race held on the second Saturday of August every year. Boats of all sizes compete in different events. Most prestigious and interesting event is the competition of the "Chundan Vallam". This boat (Chundan Vallam) containes 100 rowers, 4 helmsmen and 25 cheer leaders. The boat is well decorated with colorful umbrellas. Champakulam, Kavalam, Karichal, Jawahar Thayangari, Kallooparamban, Pacha, Pulincunnu, Nedubhagam, Cheruthana, Kandangari and Paippad are the chief competitors for the trophies. Tickets are available at various stalls on the way. Carrying Packed food and an umbrella to the venue will make you very comfortable.

Rajiv Gandhi Trophy Boat Race (Pulinkunnu Rajiv Gandhi Boat Race) This boat race is held on two weeks after the Nehru Trophy Boat Race. It is held at Pulinkunnu, 10 km away from the Alleppey town. The boat race is conducted in memory of Late Mr.Rajiv Gandhi, the former Indian Prime Minister.

Payippadu Boat Race : (Payippad Jalotsavam - August/September) Held in memory of the Prathista ceremony of Haripad Subramanya Temple and therefore has a religious significance. Payipad Boat Race is celebrated for three days, commencing from the Onam festival day. Snake boat Processions are taken out on the first two days. The competitive boat-race takes place on the third day.

Champakkulam "Moolam Vallamkali" (July) The traditional annual boat race of Kerala begin in July at Champakulam. This festival is known as ' Moolam Vallamkali' . Moolam signifies a Malayalam asterism (star or Nakshathram), Moolam of the month Mithunam.

KOVALAM BEACH

Once a hippie paradise, Kovalam’s increasing popularity has been a major dissuasion of late. No longer an undiscovered rural idyll, Kovalam has made rapid strides towards `resort-isation’ and is now one of the biggest draws to `God’s own Country’-Kerala.

Highly commercialised and very crowded through most of the year, Kovalam manages, against all odds, to retain much of the charm which made it a popular beach in the first place.It still has a lovely shoreline and beautiful beaches lined with coconut trees, and local fishermen from the villages still go out at night for the daily catch. A towering promontory of rock dominates Kovalam, looking out over a bay of clear blue water. Golden sand slopes down into the sea for as far as 100 mt, and dotted along the coast are a few interesting coral reefs, which make for good snorkelling. Surfing and swimming are among the other water sports possible off Kovalam beach

Beachwear, light cottons, sandals and sun protection are, obviously, essential luggage to this beach town, although surfboards are available on loan for water buffs.

And that’s not all. Kovalam has also acquired a reputation as being one of the best places in Kerala-or India, for that matter- for an invigorating ayurvedic course of treatment or rejuvenation. Ayurvedic massage parlours, spas and yoga centres are a dime a dozen in Kovalam, and there’s really nothing that can buck you up as much as a course of therapy- with herbal oils and soothing massages- at one of these! Many hotels and independent set-ups also offer yoga classes.

Best time to visit
Being near the sea makes Kovalam really a year-round destination weather-wise. The actual season is from September to March. The prices shoot up during the Christmas-New Year week as do the number of tourists, so it might be wise to avoid this period.

Access
Kovalam’s just 16 km south from Kerala’s capital, Thiruvananthapuram, so the nearest airport is obviously the international one there (10 km). Thiruvananthapuram’s railway station is well connected to the rest of south India, with a number of trains coming in from other parts of the country too. The capital also has extensive road connections to other cities and towns in Kerala and its neighbouring states.

Inexpensive buses run every half-hour from Thiruvananthapuram to Kovalam. There are also direct services from Kollam, Kanyakumari (Tamil Nadu), Ernakulam and Thekkady. Taxis and auto-rickshaws will also make the trip but at comparatively greater expense.

Kovalam is small enough to cover on foot without much effort. There are local buses for trips out and one can hire two wheelers by paying a security deposit and producing a valid driver’s license.

Accommodation
The Indian Tourist Development Corporation has tried to develop an `integrated’ tourist area at Kovalam with a range of hotels, beachside cottages, ayurvedic hothouses, pools and shopping complexes at the Ashoka Radisson Beach Resort.

Properties further away from the beach are invariably lower-priced. There is a range for every pocket from very basic accommodation which comes for less than Rs 400 a night, to more fancy rooms with air conditioning and meals, right up to luxury hotels with 5 star facilities and prices. Expect to pay anywhere between a couple of hundred rupees to a couple of thousand- depending upon the facilities offered.

The beach is lined with restaurant shacks that serve varied fare: anything from eggs and muesli to idli- sambhar for breakfast and a range of seafood thereafter. Prices (which are negotiable) and quality vary from joint to joint.

Further information may be obtained from the offices of the Kerala Tourism Development Corporation. There’s an office in Kovalam (near the ITDC hotel) and the contact no. is: 471-2480085. There are more KTDC offices in cities both within Kerala and other parts of India.

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Alappuzha or Alleppey is famous for its boat races, houseboats, coir products, fish and lakes. Alappuzha remains prominent on the tourist trial of Kerela as one of the major centers for backwater boat trips.

A host of boat races are held here during the harvest season ( between July and September ).

Alleppey or Alappuzha is also known as the "Venice of the East" its was here that traders from across the seven seas came in search of black gold and souvenirs.

Alappuzha or Alleppey is also home to Kuttanad, The rice bowl of kerala, one of the very few places in the world where farming is done below sea level.

Kuttanad is a land of lush paddy fields and stretches for 75 Km sandwiched between the sea and the hills.Kuttanad boasts some exceptional natural features. It is the lowest region of India, with 500 sq km lying below sea level, and an elevation ranging from 0.6 m above sea level to 2.2 m below sea level. Most of Kuttanad is inundated throughout the year, and it is one of the few places in the world where farming (main crops grown: rice, bananas, tapioca and yams) is carried out below sea level.
Kuttanad is fed by four of Kerala's major rivers - the Pampa, Meenachil, Achankovil and Manimala. Ironically enough, despite being surrounded by water, Kuttanad suffers from an acute shortage of potable water.
These special biophysical traits also determine the nature and pace of life in Kuttanad.

HILL STATIONS AND FORESTS OF KERALA

Silent Valley: Silent Valley, which is about 50 kms northwest of Mannarkad is described as the sole surviving bit of evergreen forest in the Sahya ranges. These forests devoid of the chirping of Cicadas have aptly got that name.
Wagamon: The trekker’s paradise is situated 60 km. from Kottayam. The mist covered places like Kuttikkanam and Wagamon are known as Kerala’s Kodaikanal.
MarayurThe only place in Kerala having natural growth of sandal wood trees is situated in the outskirts of Munnar at Idukki. This may be called as a historian’s treasure house. It is believed that Pandhavas stayed at Maravoor during their exile.
AttappadyAttappady, mainly a tribal area, is about 38 kms north east of Mannarkad. This is a nature-blessed area with forests, rivers and mountains. Mainly Irulas and Mudugas inhabit it. These tribals worship the mountain peak ‘Malleswaran’ as a gigantic Siva ling (Idol).
Edakkal CavesThese are two caves in the Ambukuthy mountains located 3 kms away from Ambalavayal and 25 kms. from Kalpetta. These caves contain several paintings and pictorial writings of the new Stone Age civilization.