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Kerala is a hotspot of tourism in India. The authentic beauty of Kerala captivates anyone who visits this lovely state lying on India’s tropical Malabar Coast. Kerala is a gateway to a different facet of India. Everything about Kerala is exclusive only to this location, the food, the lifestyle of the people, and even the arts and culture. Kerala is worth visiting at least once in a lifetime to get immersed in a rustic ambiance.
Kerala is globally renowned for its tea gardens, backwaters, and cultivation of spices. In addition to those Kerala is also famous for many other things including dense forests, mountains, and sea coast.
Kerala is blessed with unique beauty and bountiful natural resources and therefore this state is called, “God’s Own Country”. Not only that, but many other nicknames also have been given to this state such as “Spice Garden of India”, “Land of Coconuts”, “Land of Trees”, and “The Jewel of South India”.
Kerala is a very important state in India. In ancient times, it was a part of the former Madras state located in the south of India. Those days, Kerala was called “Cheralam”. The capital of the state of Kerala is Thiruvananthapuram. The main language spoken in the state of Kerala is Malayalam, the local language here. Apart from Hindus and Muslims, Christian communities live in large numbers in Kerala. This state is bordered by the Arabian sea and the Sahyadri Mountains.
You may come to Kerala with a group of friends or with your family. However, you will have many things to do and many places to visit in this state.
Houseboat Cruise
The iconic attraction of Kerala is its houseboat cruise. This is more popular among the couples who arrive in Kerala because of the romantic vibe that the houseboat cruise is bringing out. Because of this, a houseboat tour in the calm and crystal-clear backwaters is almost definite among the newly married couples who choose Kerala as their honeymoon destination. Nevertheless, any visitor who comes to Kerala can hardly leave without having the rewarding experience of a houseboat cruise tour.
Living in the Traditional Village Life
Kerala is the best place with its charming pastoral setting, to experience the rural life of India. When you sail on a Houseboat cruise, you can see that the village is full of people engaged in different activities and traditions. Kerala has a culture of its own. If you come here, you will be impressed by the authentic behavior and the intimacy of the villagers. You can even enjoy lunch with the local families and you will realize the hospitality embedded in the Kerala culture.
Visit the Tea Gardens – Walking Tour in Munnar
While in Kerala, you must visit the tea gardens in Munnar. Situated at an altitude of about 1700 meters, Munnar is like a painting on a canvas. The climate with the ideal warmth and humidity has been a blessing for the tea cultivation in the area.
The natural colors of the green valleys are made more attractive by the rays of the sun coming through the high mountains and clouds. Munnur is one of the best places in Kerala where you can relax your mind with the idyllic scenery around you.
During your visit to Munnar, you can treat yourself with the best quality fragrant tea processed in the same location. Apart from that, you can also visit the Kannan Devan Plantation Museum where you will see how the tea is processed once the tea leaves are brought from the tea estates. From the museum, you can also buy great flavored tea to take home.
See Neelakurinji Bloom
Tourism at The Eravikulam National Park is thriving because of Neelakurinji, a flower that blooms once in 12 years. So, Tourists have to wait for 12 years to see the beauty of these flowers.
Kerala is one of the places in India where you can see these rare flowers. Idukki district of Kerala is buzzing with Neelakurinji flowers. It is seen as if a purple color sheet is laid on Shalom hills under the Santhanpara Panchayat of Idukki district during the blooming season. That’s why tourists from all over the world arrive in Kerala at that time to enjoy the breathtaking sight that it creates in the mountains of Kerala.
Neelakurunji cannot be found anywhere in the world except Kerala and Tamil Nadu.
Experience Ayurvedic Healing
There are many Ayurveda resorts and spas in Kerala where you can experience Ayurveda treatment. Here all the treatments are given using natural plants and herbs. These Ayurvedic treatments are most popular to cure ailments such as insomnia, neurological disorders, tinnitus, and psoriasis.
Several Ayurvedic centers are located in Kerala. They are functioning in the form of hospitals, resorts, and spas. Hindustan Ayurvedic is a leading Ayurvedic hospital in Kerala and is particularly famous for providing Panchakarma treatment.
Ayur Bethaniya Ayurveda Hospital in Kerala is another renowned place in this state for providing herbal treatments. The hospital is equipped with qualified practitioners in Ayurveda. They also conduct daily yoga and stress release programs. The consultation and treatments are offered for skin care too. This hospital is providing traditional and authentic treatments to maintain the natural balance of the mind, body, and spirit.
Somatheeram Ayurveda Resort in Kerala is located on a hill towards the South of the world famous Kovalam beach in Kerala. The ambiance of this resort is set aiming at Ayurveda holidays, meditation tours, and medical tourism.
The resort is surrounded by a serene environment and a panel of medical practitioners is there to treat paralysis, arthritis, high cholesterol, fluctuating blood pressure levels, and breathing problems. If you go there, you can relax your mind and body with a yoga session conducted by a Yoga expert.
Enjoy Kathakali Performance
Many forms of Art have evolved from the rich culture of Kerala. A prominent one of them is Kathakali, a traditional and classical form of dance. This exclusive form of dance requires traditional attire and unique makeup on the face. The characters do not speak dialogue and the story is narrated by the songs called Aattakatha. The ancient martial arts of Kerala also influence this dance form. Kathakali can be seen in temple sculptures in Kerala and frescoes in the Mattancherry temple dating back to the 16th century.
If you come to Kerala, you can have a wonderful evening at the Cochin Cultural Centre where Kathakali dance is performed.
Snake Boat Race in Kerala
Kerala comes into the fullest life in monsoon and tourists are drawn to its attractions. Most of the traditional events related to water are held in the monsoon. During this time, groups of tourists are a common sight in Kerala and many of them are coming just for this festival.
The performance of Vallam Kali (Vallam means boat and Kali means game) has been held in the backwaters and rivers of Kerala since ancient times. Its attraction reaches its climax during the days of Onam, the harvest festival in Kerala. Both men and women participate in Vallamkali. There are different types of boats participating in the race – Chundan Vallam (Snake Boat or Snake Boat), Iruttu Kutti, Churulan Vallam, Cheru Vallam, etc. Vanchipattu is a type of poetry that is sung during Vallam Kali.
The origins of these songs are found in Natonnata Vritam which is an ascension song that you can compare to the waves of water. The wavy rhythm created during the rudders of the paddlers in boats corresponds to the singing of vanchi pattu (boat song).
Because of this charming beauty and the distinctive character of the state, Kerala has become a world-famous travel destination worth visiting at least once.
