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Clichés and ratings run wild in aggrandizing
Kerala – the Gods Own Country, Land of Coconuts, State of Enlightenment
(National Geographic), one of the 6 destinations of the millennium (Khaleej
Times), one of the 50 must-see destinations of a lifetime (National Geographic
Travel), but for once it is also a place that justifies the hype. The glossy
photos in travel magazines and online travel guides don’t lie – Kerala, the
surreal tropical paradise, is truly enigmatic and beautiful.
The state of Kerala sits in sharp contrast to the rest of India with its highest
literacy rate, women outnumbering the number of men, newspaper readership among
the highest in the world, world-class health care systems and being the most
developed society in India. This petite state synonymous with wellness is
popularly referred to as the ‘Land of Ayurveda’.
With the Arabian Sea in the west, Western Ghats towering 500-2700 meters in the
east and a network of 44 rivers cutting across the state, it is Kerala’s unique
geographical features that make it one of the most sought after tourist
destinations in Asia. The state is divided into 14 districts, all of which offer
unique combinations of - shimmering backwaters, bio-diversity hotspots, tropical
forests, golden sand beaches, historic monuments, Wildlife Reserves et cetera.
Cosmopolitan Magazine, in apt recognition of the state’s romantic charms, rates
Kerala as one of the top 10 love nests in India.
Kerala Backwaters : Backwaters are an
amazing phenomenon of Kerala - a necklace of lagoons lakes, canals and rivers
that run through the length of this beautiful land. In fact much of Kerala's
uniqueness lies in its backwaters - found nowhere else in the world.
Visit to the backwater destinations of Kumarakom, Kollam and Kozhikode can be a
most rewarding experience. The lagoons at these destinations with their
spectacular view and fringed by coconut trees have been featured in travel books
all over the world. No journey to the backwaters is complete without a stay on
board a "Kettuvallam" or a houseboat which takes you on a journey through the
length and breadth of the lagoons and waterways !
Kerala Hill Station Tour : The Western Ghats
mountain ranges make up an impressive fortress all along Kerala. These mountains
ranging from the southern tip of Kerala all the way to Mumbai, on the western
coast of India have been a natural barrier in the eastern border of Kerala and a
helping hand to reap the bounties of both the Southwest and the Northeast
monsoons.
The hill stations of Kerala have drawn the attention of tourists for their
agreeable climate and proximity to the wildlife sanctuaries. These hill station
ranges are also home to most of world's spices and have over the centuries
attained a certain mystique. The principal hill stations are at Wayanad in North
Kerala, Munnar and Thekkady in Central Kerala and Ponmudi in South Kerala !
Kerala Wild Life
Tour : The elephant is the symbol of Kerala, signifying the deep
links that the forests have on the lives of the people of Kerala. These forests
have been closely associated with the customs, traditions, and social life of
Kerala for centuries. The forests here are indeed some of the most magnificent
and varied found anywhere in the world.
A number of excellent Wildlife Sanctuaries and National Parks have been created
to protect the forests and the multitudes of animals therein. Periyar Tiger
Reserve, Silent Valley National Park, Eravikulam National Park … are some among
the best managed sanctuaries in India !
Kerala Culture :
Isolated from the rest of India by the mountainous belt of the Western
Ghats but with a long coastline open to foreign influences, Kerala has evolved
as a unique culture. Western and Eastern influences have helped shape it's
uniqueness in culture, art forms, music, dance and the very ethos of the people
of Kerala. Art forms of Kerala range from Kathakali, one of the dance forms of
Kerala considered to be amongst the oldest Indian Dance styles to the graceful
Mohiniyattam. The vibrant and distinct music of Kerala so closely related to
temple festivals and the elegant snake boat races have always been the favorite
of tourists visiting Kerala.
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