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.

Tourist spots in kochi(cochin)

Chinese Fishing Nets, Fort Kochi The chinese fishing nets (Cheenavala) are distinctly unique to Cochin. It is believed that traders from the court of the Chinese ruler Kublai Khan introduced these nets here. Oddly, these nets are found only in Kochi, outside China! Many fishermen earn their livelihood by fishing using these massive nets. A whole stretch of the coast along Fort Kochi and Vypeen are dotted with these nets.
Fort Kochi beach A stroll along the beach, particularly at sunset with the chinese fishing nets and sailing ships in the background, is a memorable experience. Many European style bungalows can be seen along the shoreline. The coastal stretch has loads of small stalls, which make on demand mouth-watering traditional cuisines using freshly caught fish.
St. Francis Church, Fort Kochi It is the oldest church built by Europeans in India. On his 3rd visit to Kerala, Vasco da Gama, the Portuguese trader who reached India from Europe by sea, fell ill and died in Kochi. He was buried in the St. Francis Church. Later his remains were taken back to Portugal. In spite of that, his burial spot inside the church has been clearly marked out.» Vasco House, Fort Kochi Vasco house, located on Rose Street, is believed to be one of the oldest Portuguese houses in India. Vasco da Gama is believed to have lived here. This house features European glass paned windows and verandahs.
Santa Cruz Basilica, Fort Kochi The original church, situated in Fort Kochi, was built by the Portuguese in 1505 and named as a cathedral in 1558. The British colonists destroyed the cathedral in 1795. The current structure was built in 1905 and raised to the status of a basilica by Pope John Paul II in 1984
Jewish Synagogue and Jew Town, Mattancherry The synagogue, built in 1568, is magnificently decorated by Chinese tiles and Belgian chandeliers. Giant scrolls of the Old Testament can be found here. It is located near the Dutch Palace in Mattancherry.
Dutch Palace (Mattancherry Palace), Mattancherry The Dutch Palace was originally built by the Portuguese. Later, in 17th century, the Dutch modified it and presented it to the Raja of Kochi. Coronation of many Rajas of Kochi were held here. The palace has a fine collection of mural paintings depicting scenes from the Hindu epics Mahabharatha and Ramayana. The palace is located in Mattancherry.
Bolghatty Palace, Bolghatty Island This Dutch palace is situated on Bolghatty island which is just a short boat ride away from the mainland. The palace has been converted to a hotel run by the Kerala Tourism Development Corporation (KTDC). The island has a tiny golf course and the panoramic views of the port and the harbour, makes it an attractive picnic spot. Frequent boat service is available from the mainland
Hill Palace, Tripunithura Built in the 19th century by the Raja of Kochi, this palace served as the seat of the Raja of the Kochi province. The palace has been converted into a museum displaying a fine collection of articles showing the wealth and splendour of the Rajas of Kochi, including the thone and the crown. The musuem also houses a large collection of archaeological findings. Hill Palace is located 16km east of Cochin in Tripunithura, a satellite town of Cochin.
Palliport (Pallipuram) FortIt is the oldest surviving European fort in India, built by the Portuguese in 1503. Its situated in Pallipuram on Vypeen island.
Mangalavanam Bird Sanctuary Mangalavanam is a protected bird sanctuary situated right in the heart of Kochi city. It is the home of many exotic and rare varieties of migratory and resident birds. Mangalavanam is located right next to the High Court of Kerala.
Museum of Kerala History, Kalamassery The museum has on display spectacular audio-visual exhibits depicting the history and culture of Kerala along with many life size statues of many famous personalities and several paintings depicting Kerala history.
Parikshith Thampuran Museum This Rajas of Cochin used to conduct their durbars in this impressive building located within the Durbar Hall grounds. It was later converted to a museum which has a treasure trove of archaeological findings and relics including old coins, sculptures, oil paintings and murals. The building has been taken over by the Kerala Lalitha Kala Academy and now houses the Gallery of Contemporary Art. All the exhibits of the museum have been moved to the Hill Palace museum.
Cherai Beach This lovely beach ideal for swimming is located on the north end of Vypeen island, one of the many small islands just off the mainland. The beach is lined by gorgeous coconut groves and paddy fields. Vypeen can be reached by land or by boat.
Veega Land Veega Land is South India's largest amusement park situated 14kms from Cochin. The park includes a range of attractions including mini castles, water theme park, ferris wheel, rides, slides, shows and fountains. Kids and adults alike can enjoy the fun and activities.
Marine Drive A stroll along the long tree-lined coastal pathway that lines the backwater is well worth the time spent, especially late afternoon or dusk. The bustling backwaters, dotted with fishing boats, speedboats, ships, tankers and passenger boats, can be observed from this walkway that lines the coast.
Willingdon Island This man-made island was created in 1933 by sand dredged while deepening the backwaters for the Cochin Port, under the direction of Sir Robert Bristow. A while back the Airport, Sea port and the railway terminus (Cochin Harbour Terminus) were situated on this island. Today, it is the home of the Cochin Port and the headquarters of the Sourthern Naval Command. The airport continues to be the naval air station, while the main airport has been moved to Nedumbassery, 30kms north-east of Cochin. Most of the trains now terminate at Ernakulam Junction instead of Cochin Harbour Terminus.
Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium, Kaloor The Nehru stadium in Kaloor, has a seating capacity of 60,000 in multiple tiers. It is the fourth largest stadium in India and the largest in Kerala. The ground is lit by a set of unique convex pylon floodlights that arch over the ground. The stadium is home to both the Kerala Ranji cricket team as well as FC Kochi football team.

AS the rains engulf Kerala with the annual dose of wetness and luxuriance, the weathermen may be tearing their hair out, wondering if this year's monsoon rainfall will match their predictions, but one class of people will be celebrating the drops of seasonal precipitation - tour and travel operators and, of course, their clients, the tourists from within and beyond the country, who come to savour the delights of God's Own Country.
They are coming at a time, as Kerala Tourism is now energetically pointing out, "when the heavens touch the earth." Yes, it is that magical time of year when the southwest monsoon casts its spell over the land of coconuts for three months. And, increasingly, visitors from outside the State are learning to enjoy the special treats that accompany the monsoon.
And these range from the mundane, like shopping for a range of umbrellas to simply sipping tea and watching the boatmen ferry across the backwaters to the adventurous, like trekking in the western Ghats for some diehard nature-watching. But these days, what is really bringing the smiles to the faces of Kerala's tourism professionals are the beelines for Kerala's ayurvedic health centres.
Traditionally, according to ayurvedic physicians, rejuvenation therapies have their best effect during the wet monsoon months, when the winds and the cold temperature render the body especially amenable to the therapeutic and restorative powers of the herbs and concoctions used in ayurveda. That is why upcountry visitors throng Kerala's ayurveda spas during the rainy months.
Yes, the natural synergy between the monsoon and ayurveda is finally stretching the traditional tourism season in Kerala, so much so that today the State's hoteliers can boast that there is no off-season in Kerala, just a peak season and the green season. Kerala, it appears, is well on the way to perfecting "monsoon tourism."

houseboats of kerala

In Kerala house-boat cruises, you'll set sail in a traditional Kettuvallam. Your house boat will be equipped with every luxury and safety measures. Not to mention an English speaking crew, including a personal chef, at your service round-the-clock. All materials on board are eco-friendly. From the solar powered energy system .

Houseboat Cruises on Kerala Backwaters take you along tranquil waterways, lakes and canals in the comfort of Kerala House Boats. With luxurious bedrooms, dining areas and observation decks, Kerala House Boats take you closer to nature, while you travel in modern comfort. See the beauty of the Kerala countryside on Houseboat cruises on Kerala Backwaters., to the décor.

KERALA-GOD'S OWN COUNTRY

Kerala is a beautiful stretch of land between the Arabian Sea and a mountain range. Irrigated by over 40 rivers and two pouring monsoons, this small stretch is a green and clean place. It is a land of green hills, forested countryside, coastal backwaters, beaches, monsoon rains, quaint little towns, country boat races, grand elephant festivals and other fascinating experiences
The backwaters of Kerala are unique attraction to tourists. The biggest among these backwaters is the Vembanad lake, with an area of 200 sq km, which opens out into the Arabian Sea at Cochin port. Backwaters, historical structures, culture, wildlife, and natural beauty, the state has all these and more.
The major tourist destinations in the State include Thiruvananthapuram, Kochi, Kovalam, Thrissur, Kozhikode, Munnar, Palakkad, Alappuzha, Kollam, Kannur, Periyar Wildlife Sanctuary, and Sabrimalai
Out of the five states lying south of Maharashtra, Kerala has the charm and grandeur which equals natural beauties distributed over the globe. Kerala boasts of the beaches of Hawaii, the vales of Switzerland, the wildlife of Africa, the festivals of Spain, the boat races of Singapore, the waterfalls of North America, the health resorts of Phuket and the backwaters of Venice. Out of all these heavenly places, the interconnected backwaters mesmerise you the most and take you closest to the lives of Keralites.
Kerala's backwaters are a semi flooded area of land behind the coast that stretch south from Cochin to Trivandrum.
The backwaters of Kerala are unique to Kerala and are found nowhere else in the world (The nearest equivalent might be the flooded polders of Holland in Europe). The Kerala Backwaters are a network of lakes, canals and estuaries and the deltas of 44 rivers that all drain into the Arabian sea. Most of these rivers rise in the Western Ghats which have high rainfall all year.
The backwaters of Kerala are a self supporting eco-system teeming with often unique aquatic and riverine life. The man made canals connect the villages together and are still used for local transport. Some 900 km of this riverine water world is navigable to boats.
The largest backwater stretch in Kerala is the Vembanad Lake which flows through three regions and opens out into the sea at the port at cochin.
The Ashtamudi Lake, literally having eight arms, which covers a major portion of Kollam district in the south, is the second largest and is also considered a gateway to the backwaters.
The most exciting experience on the backwaters of Kerala for visitors is the Kettuvallam (or traditional rice boat ). In a land as water bound as Kerala it wouldn't be an unusual sight, but for a visitor to God's Own Country a houseboat gliding along the vast green expanse of the backwaters is a unique, tranquil spectacle in the world.

POORAM FESTIVAL

The major attractions of Pooram are the grand procession of devotees along with caparisoned elephants and the wonderful fireworks displaying spectacular light and color patterns in the night sky.

Kerala's equable climate, natural abundance of forests (with a wealth of herbs and medicinal plants), and the cool monsoon season (June - November) are best suited for Ayurveda's curative and restorative packages.In fact, today, Kerala Ayurveda packages are based on the ancient Indian system of medicine, Ayurveda. Ayurveda is one of the major highlights for spending holidays in Kerala. Ayurveda medical system, which was evolved in Kerala, is around the 5,000 year old. Kerala is the only state in India which practises this system of medicine with absolute dedication

tourism-kerala

A perfect honeymoon location
Kerala, with its geographical diversity and natural richness, is undoubtedly one of the most visited destination in India. This God's ''Own Country'' own everything what an avid tourist is looking for. Many of Wildlife Sanctuaries, Tranquil Backwater, Hill Stations, abundant Sea beaches with unique stillness, the divine Ayurvedic and Rejuvenation Treatment - All make it a place to satiate the longing for enjoying holidays and honeymoon.

see this picture and rate it -kerala has many more to offer other than this