Entitled as God’s Own Country or Spice Garden of India, Kerala is the Land of Coconuts or Land of Trees on the Malabar Coast in the South of India. Famous for backwaters, hills stations & palm trees, Kerala is a tourist spot to enjoy soothing ayurvedic massages and tree-lined beaches while insufflating the fragrance of rich culture and tea gardens. 

 

History

 

The state of Kerala was formed on 1 November 1956, through the States Reorganisation Act that unified the Malabar district, Travancore-Cochin, and the taluk of Kasargod, South Kanara.

 

Places to visit

Alleppey

Alappuzha or Alleppey is a city on the edges of the Laccadive Sea having wide interconnection to different places. Famous for backwaters, snake boat races, houseboat cruises, beautiful canals & aerials, Ayurvedic resorts, and famous palm wine breathe new life into the globetrotters here. 

 

Tourist attractions: Alappuzha Beach, Pallipuram, Backwaters in Alleppey, Krishnapuram Palace, Kumarakom Bird Sanctuary, Bay Island Drift Museum, Vembanad Lake, Marari Beach, Nehru Trophy Boat Race.

Best time to visit: June-March

 

Munnar

‘Kashmir of South India’- Munnar is a gorgeous hill station at a height of 1600 meters in the Western Ghats. Bestowed with beautiful and abundant tea gardens, Munnar is a business hub for some of the biggest tea production houses across the world. Apart from natural greens, tea estates & misty mountains, you can catch glimpses of highly imperiled breeds such as Nilgiri Tahr, Neelakurinji, etc, here.

Tourist attractions: Echo Point, Photo Point, Marayoor, Atukkad Waterfalls, Top Station, Kundala Dam & Lake, Tata Tea or KDHP Museum, Pothamedu View Point.

Best time to visit: Sept.-May

 

Wayanad

Famous for spice plantation and wildlife reserves, Wayanad is a perfect destination to discover a wide & unique array of flora & fauna while wayfaring via spice gardens and ancient caves to photo op the beautiful & serene waterfalls.

Tourist attractions: Wayanad Wildlife Sanctuary, Banasura Sagar Dam, Chembra Peak, Kuruva Dweep, Stay in a Treehouse, Edakkal Caves, Soochipara Falls, Pookode Lake.

Best time to visit: Throughout the year

 

Thekkady

Thekkady is an ideal tourist destination for jungle vacation and adventure enthusiasts as it has India’s largest Tiger Reserve i.e. Periyar and bamboo rafting point in the watershed of Mullaperiyar Dam. Apart from morning boating, adventure sports, tea-coffee plantation, and rich flora & fauna; Mangala Devi Temple at a distance of approx 15km is something which should not be missed, however, it opens only on the occasion of the Chitra Pournami.

 

Tourist attractions: Thekkady Lake, Periyar National Park, Periyar Tiger Trail, Border Hiking, Bamboo Rafting, Chellarkovil Viewpoint, Green Park Ayurvedic & Spices Plantation, Mudra Cultural Centre.

Best time to visit: Throughout the year

 

Kochi

“Queen of the Arabian Sea” – Kochi/Cochin is the financial, industrial & commercial capital of Kerala. From art galleries, temples & cultural sites for the heritage travelers to pubs, fashionable & futuristic shopping hubs for the funky folks, the cosmopolitan town has everything for vacationists in addition to Islands, Palaces and Beaches.

Tourist attractions: Fort Kochi, Mattancherry Palace, Jewish Synagogue, Willingdon Island, Bolgatty Palace, Veeran Puzhal Lake & Backwaters, Marine drive, Chinese Fishing Nets.

Best time to visit: July-April

 

Kozhikode

Kozhikode or Calicut is a primeval abode on the southwest coast of the Arabian Sea. Blessed with rich seedlings, serene beaches, and ancient forts, Kozhikode is also a major production & trading hub of commodities such as coffee, coconut, rubber, lemongrass oil, etc. in Malabar and that’s why laurelled as “the noble emporium of India’. 

 

Tourist attractions: Sweet Street, Backwaters, Kozhippara Falls, Mananchira, Thusharagiri Waterfall, Beypore Beach, Thikkoti Light House, Beypore, Kakkayam.

Best time to visit: Oct.-March

Trivandrum 

The capital of Kerala, Trivandrum or Thiruvananthapuram established upon seven hills, is present-day metropolis today with artfully designed & preposterous palaces, temples, museums, beaches and the most amazing 18-feet idol of Lord Vishnu in the city’s heart. 

 

Tourist attractions: Kanakakunnu Palace, Neyyar Dam & Wildlife Sanctuary, Poovar Island, Chalai Bazaar, Padmanabhaswamy Temple, Happy Land Water Theme Park, Observatory, Agasthyakoodam

Best time to visit: Oct.-Feb

 

Delectable Dishes of Kerala

• Idli Sambar
• Idiyappam With Curry
• Dosa Ghee Roast With Kerala Style Sambar
• Appam With Ishtu (Stew) 
• Ela Sadya
• Erissery (Pumpkin And Lentil Stew) 
• Parippu Curry (Dal Curry) 
• Puttu And Kadala Curry

 

Must-try restaurants

• The Rice Boat
• Villa Maya
• Fort House Hotel
• Ginger House Restaurant
• Mezban Restaurant
• Ali baba and 41 dishes

 

Hotels

Cheap 

• Rajavalsam
• Riva Residency
• Shree Krishna Residency
• Dream and Hill Residency
• Kairali Tourist Home

 

Budget

• Srivar Hotels
• Grace Residency
• Govind Regency
• KTDC Pepper Grove
• Hotel Hazmi Inn

 

Luxury

• Grand Hyatt
• Kochi Marriott Hotel
• The Raviz Calicut
• Fragrant Nature Munnar
• Taj Bekal Resort and Spa