Gods Own Country

Kerala is one of the ten 'Paradises Found' by the National Geographic Traveler, for its diverse geography and overwhelming greenery. It is a land much acclaimed for the contemporary nature of its cultural ethos, and much appreciated for the soothing, rejuvenating paradise that it is.

The land of green magic, is a narrow, fertile strip on the south-west coast of india, sandwiched between the Lakshadweep Sea and the Western Ghats. The landscape is dominated by rice fields, mango and cashewnut trees and, above all, coconut palms. The Western Ghats, with their dense tropical forests, misty peaks, extensive ridges and ravines, have sheltered kerala from mainland invaders and encouraged maritime contact with the ourside world. People have been sailing to kerala in search of spices, sandalwood and ivory for at least 2000 years.

Kerala is a land of rivers and backwaters.

Forty-four rivers (41 west-flowing and 3 east-flowing) criss-crossing kerala along with their countless tributaries, but these rivers are comparatively small and being entirely monsoon-fed, and will turn into rivulets in summer especially in the upper parts of kerala.

Geography

Kerala may be divided into three geographical regions: high lands, midlands and lowlands.
The Highlands slope down from the Western ghats which rise to an average height of 900 m, with a number of peaks well over 1,800 m in height. This is the area of major plantations like tea, coffee, rubber, cardamom and other spices.
The Midlands, lying between the mountains and the lowlands, is made up of undulating hills and valleys. This is an area of intensive cultivation. Cashew, coconut, areca nut, cassava (tapioca), banana, rice, gin get, pepper, sugarcane and vegetables of different varieties are grown in this area.
The Lowlands or the coastal area, which is made up of the river deltas, backwaters and the shore of the arabian sea, is essentially a land of coconuts and rice. Fisheries and coir industry constitute the major industries of this area.

Backwaters of Kerala

The backwaters are an attractive and economically valuable feature of Kerala. These include lakes and ocean in lets which stretch irregularly along the lengthy coastline of Kerala. 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. The Periyar, Pamba, Manimala, Achenkovil, Meenachil and Moovattupuzha rivers drain into this lake. The other important backwaters are Veli, Kadhinamkulam, Anjengo (anju thengu), Edava, Nadayara, Paravoor. Ashtamudi (Quilon)

Cuisine of Kerala

Sadya, the typical kerala feast served on a banana leaf, is a sumptous spread of rice and more than fourteen vegetable dishes - sambar, rasam, olan, kaalan, pachadi, kichadi, aviyal, thoran etc. The culinary skills of the various communities of kerala has given us a cuisine of great variety. Most every dish prepared in kerala has coconut and spices added to it. Tender coconut water, 'the world's safest natural soft drink', is a refreshing nutritious thirst quencher.

Kerala the land of ayurveda

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 is the only state in india which practises this system of medicine with absolute dedication

Kerala Beaches

Most of india's finest beaches are in kerala. For virtually its entire 900 km length, the kerala coast is lined with sandy beaches, rocky promontories and coconut palms. The palm-lined beaches of kerala are renowned for the gentle surf and azure blue waters. To this add a delectable seafood cuisine, a smiling sun and frendly people to make an unforgetable holiday. Each year greater numbers of visitors arrive here in search of the tranquil, palm fringed beaches.

Kovalam

This internationally renowned beach resort is a favourite haunt of tourists since the 1930's kovalam consists of three adjacent cresent beaches. The southern most, known as the lighthouse beach, is the most popular of the three. About 14 kms from thiruvananthapuram this is a beautiful beach to relax.

The Shanghumukham Beach

08 kms from Thiruvanathapuram, this is a favourite haunt of sunset watchers. The beach is adjacent to the thiruvananthapuram airport and veli tourist village. An indoor recreation club, the matsya kanyaka and a restaurant shaped like a starfish are the major attractions here.

Varkala

41 kms from Thiruvananthapuram city, Varkala is a seaside resort and spa, as well as an important Hindu centre of pilgrimage. A quiet, secluded stretch of sand, the Papanasam Beach in Varkala is known for its mineral springs and rocky cliffs. The 2000 year old Sree Janardhana Swamy Temple and the nature care centre are the two main attractions here.

Somatheeram

15 acres of green garden terraced heights sloping down to the sandy beach stretching to the tranquil, turquoise sea changing colour and mood momentarily as the white clouds sail past over it. This is the perfect beach with a ayurvedic resort for all kind of ayurvedic treatments.

The Marari Beach (Mararikulam)

Right in the heart of the "spice coast" just an hour from Cochin and even less to Alleppey(also Known as Alpuzzha) is the most fabulous stretch of soft sandy beach fringed with palm, an idyllic retreat for those who want to "get away from it all". Marari originates from "mararikulam", one of the local fishing villages, where life still goes on much as it did a hundred years ago, with the men going out to sea each day to earn a living bringing in the daily catch. Completely new to the holiday maker. Marari offers endless miles of superb sand beaches backed by swaying palms, virgin territory where you can experience to local charm and traditional keralan hospitality at its best.

Kappad

16 kms from Kozhikode (Calicut) (Calicut), this is the historic beach where Vasco-da-Gama landed on the 27th of May 1498, with 170 men in three vessels. A monument on the beach commemorates this historic event. The rock studded beach is locally known as Kappakadavu. An interesting feature of the landscape is the sprawling rock that protrudes into the sea. The temple on the rock is believed to be 800 years old.

Hills

Much of kerala's exotic appeal is centred in the highland area of the western ghats. Rising to an average height of 1520 m, the tropical forests of the ghats house rich flora and fauna. Not to speak of expansive, loamy plantations of tea, coffee, rubber and fragrant cardamom.

Ponmudi

A mere one and a half hour's road journey separates the beaches of Thiruvananthapuram (Trivandrum) from the invigorating climate of Ponmudi Hills. The name Ponmudi, a hill station so close to the sea, in Malayalam means golden crown. On the way to Ponmudi, the thick tropical forest greets one at the foot of the Ponmudi hill range. The road passes under a canopy of thickly matted foliage. The forest recedes gradually giving way to neatly clipped tea bushes.

Idukki

A landlocked district, idukki is one of the most nature rich areas of kerala . The high ranges and wooded valleys are girded by three main rivers- periyar, thalayar and thodupuzhayar- and their tributaries. The river pamba also has its origin here. As a tourist destination, idukki offers diverse attractions like wildlife sanctuaries, hill stations, spice plantation tours, mountain treks, elephant rides etc. Idukki has a large population of tribals who have unique customs and beliefs and maintain an ethos which is distinctly different from that of the mainstream culture.

Munnar

55 km from idukki town, munnar is situated at the confluence of three mountain streams. 1600 m above sea level, this hill station was the summer resort of the british government in south india. Sprawling tea plantations, picture - book towns, winding lanes and holiday facilities make this a popular hill station neelakurinji is the flower which bathes the hills in blue once every twelve years, will bloom next in 2006 a.d. munnar also has the highest peak in south india, anamudi - which towers over 2695 mts. Anamudi is a ideal spot for trekking.

Mattupetty

Situated at a height of 1700 m. Mattupetty is famous for its highly specialised dairy farm - the indo swiss live stock project. Over a 100 varieties of high yielding cattles are reared here. The mattupetty lake and dam, just a short distance from the farm, is a very beautiful picnic spot.

Temples

Mannarasala Sree Nagaraja Temple

(32 km south of Alappuzha)Situated near Harippad, this is a serpent shrine under the patronage of a brahmin family, headed by a priestess.

Chavara Bhavan

(6 km from Alappuzha. Accessible only by boat): Chavara Bhavan is the ancestral home of the blessed Kuriakose Elias Chavara.

Ambalappuzha Sree Krishna Temple

(15 km south of Alappuzha)Built in the typical Kerala architectural style, this temple is famous all over India for the Palpayasam, the daily offering of deliciously sweet milk porridge