Kerala
known as Gods Own Country,
is the land of backwaters, lagoons and palms, the land of elephants and tigers,
and the land of rich cultures and traditions, and has been one of the most
sought after places by travellers from all around the world. It is without
doubt one of the most beautiful places on the planet and that’s why they call
it ‘Gods Own Country’. The cultural life of the people of Kerala is equally
beautiful and is a major factor in attracting the tourists. So here we have
selected for you the top ten destinations in Kerala.
1. Alleppey Backwaters always comes on top as the best place
to visit in Kerala, simply because you can’t get the same experience anywhere
else in the world. Whenever you choose to explore the backwaters of Kerala, the
Kerala backwater cruise and the scenes from the cruise will surely be among the
memorable moments. Alleppey is a town with picturesque canals, backwaters,
beaches, and lagoons, it was described as the one of the places known as
‘Venice of the East’ by Lord Curzon. Backwaters of Alleppey are world famous
and are the most popular tourist attraction in Kerala. A houseboat cruise in
these backwaters is a delightful experience. Apart from Backwaters some other
attractions in Alleppey are Alappuzha Beach offering one of the most beautiful
views of the Arabian Sea, Ambalappuzha Sri Krishna Temple, Edathua Church,
Champakulam Valia Palli, Krishnapuram Palace also attracts lot of tourists. Check
out the best time to visit Kerala
Backwaters along with a Kerala Backwaters Map and Best
Backwater tours in Kerala
2. Munnar is without doubt the most beautiful
hill station in South India. Located at 1600 m above sea level, this was once
the summer resort of the erstwhile British Government in South India and the Britishers
gave the lush green mountains adorned by tea and coffee plantations which are a
sight to watch in modern Munnar. Munnar gives you a heavenly feeling, with the
thick mist surrounding you in the middle of the plantations. The nearby
mountains present a spectacular view. There are also some waterfalls and
trekking paths for the adventurous traveller. The Indo Swiss dairy farm project,
the lake and the dam are other sights to watch. With its sleepy little
cottages, bungalows, old playgrounds and courts, Chithirapuram, 10km from
Munnar, still exudes an old world charm. Check out the details of the Best Time to Visit Munnar and thenearest railway station to
Munnar along with some Munnar Photos for some inspiration to visit Munnar.
3.Kumarakom which is located close to
Ayemenem village where god of small things is set is the most beautiful place
in Kerala (arguably) with its mangrove covered lagoons and houseboats made on
bamboo, serving you the most delicious Kerala food , this place just amazes any
visitor. Sailing through the calm waters of Kumarakom or enjoying an ayurvedic
massage, life just slows down for you. Kumarakon is also bird watchers’
paradise.Many different species visit this place all round the year.Checkout
our post on Kumarakom Village and the houseboat
experience in Kumarakom.
4. Wayanad shows you how beautiful nature can be
without human interference if the beauty of the Munnar is partly man made
through tea gardens. Wayanad is a derivative of the term Vayal Nadu, where
Vayal means Paddy fields and Nadu the land, comprising it to indicate a land of
paddy fields. Wayanad is explicitly beautiful with mist clad mountains, intense
forests and fertile green plantations. The forests of Wayanad are cosmic
landmasses for animals to enjoy their natural dwelling. The hills, rocks and
valleys which contribute to the very unique terrain of Wayanad provide for
exceptional adventure experiences. Mountains and forests intersperse to create
numerous outback trails, trekking routes and opportunities for other adventure
sports. With vast areas still unexplored, Wayanad is truly an adventure scape
waiting to be discovered. The mountains, the winding lanes and the thick
forests on either side give you an ethereal experience. Checkout an article on Wayanad Tourism and an experience in the
hills of Northern Wayanad.
5. Thekkady is probably the best place in
Kerala to observe wildlife while doing a boat trip. From the mighty Indian
elephant to the Great Indian tiger, this place has it all. Elephants, deer’s,
boars, bisons and lion tailed macaques are a common sight in the reservoir
area. With some luck, other animals like tiger and leopard can be observed. The
tourism department offers trekking right into the heart of the forest either on
foot or atop elephants. The resort located in an island in the centre of the
lake is the ideal place to observe animals. If you are more adventurous, you
can take the road from Moozhiyar to Thekkadi via Gavi winding through the
thickest forests of Kerala. Elephants are a common sight on this path. Boating
through the lake is a very pleasant experience and you can observe many water birds
at close range. Check out Thekkady Boatimings and Things to do in
Thekkady Tourism.
6. Cochin offers many attractions for guests who
are interested in culture and history and is the starting point for most of the
tour packages in Kerala. Fort Kochi and Mattancherry are the places worth
exploring in Kochi. A guest can also Visit the Jewish Synagogue built over 400
years ago, containing beautiful Belgian glass chandeliers and paved with hand
pained tiles from China; the Dutch palace with its wonderful murals depicting
the entire story of the Ramayana; St:Francis Church which was the original
burial site of Vasco De Gama and which is the first European church that was
built in India and try out the fishing in the Forth Kochi beach using the
Chinese fishing nets. Cherai Beach and the St. Thomas Church at Malayattoor are
also attractions around Kochi that may be of interest. The Thripunithura Palace
is one of the biggest of its kind in the whole of Kerala. The Chinese fishing
nets in the lagoons are an enchanting sight. Being the only metro in central
Kerala, it also gives you great opportunities for shopping. Checkout our
article on Shopping in Kochiand more details on Chinese fishing nets along with Tourist Attraction in Cochin.
7. Thiruvananthapuram the capital of Kerala is among those
few destinations that offers palaces like Padmanabhapuram Palace and
Kanakakunnu Palace, beaches like Kovalam, Varkala, Shankumukham and Azhimala,
hill stations like Ponmudi and other attractions like Poovar inside a short
distance. Kovalam, one of the finest beaches in the whole of India,is only a
half an hour ride from the city. Another wonderful beach and pilgrimage centre,
Varkala is also easily accessible by road from trivandrum. Kanyakumari is the
only place in India where you can see both sunrise and sunset and it is only a
two hour ride away from Trivandrum. The hillstation Ponmudi, 61 Km from the city,
offers you a day full of beautiful sights. Sri Padmanabhaswamy
Temple which
is the riches temple in the world is also in trivandrum. Checkout the Kanyakumari Package which
will take you through tourist places in
Thiruvananthapuram.
7. Varkala in Kerala is a beautiful destination
with a small beach and a cliff side which is full of activity. Varkala is
famous for its beauty of the beaches and the ayurvedic resorts the main
attraction in Varkala is the PAPANASHAM, this is the perfect place to watch the
sunset. Varkala is also famous for Medical Tourism. The long sandy beaches,
beautiful resorts, fresh air etc attracts the tourists to Varkala, who wish to
make the holidays enjoyable and a memorable one. The unique and beautiful sights
of Varkala are one of the best examples for the beauty of God’s Own Country.
Varkala beach is about one kilometer long and divided into two. The northern
end is for sun worshippers & the southern end is for Hindu devotees. Check out Tourist Places in
varkala and
a sightseeing
experience in Varkala.
9.
Kovalam Beach is known as the Paradise
of the South and is 16 kms away from Trivandrum. The name Kovalam derives from
coconut trees. The lighthouse offers an amazing view of the moon-shaped beach
and the Vizhinjam mosque. To the north of Kovalam lies the Samudra where time
seems to have frozen. Hawah in the center is the hub of activities with the
fishermen setting out to the sea. The rocky foreland blends with the calm blue
bay to convert the bay into a unique aquarelle on moonlit nights. There are
three beaches at Kovalam, separated by outcrops jutting out to the sea. The
larger one is called Light House Beach for its 30 meter high light house. The
second largest beach is Hawah Beach.Check
out Tourist Places near
Kovalam Beach and a weekend holiday
experience in Kovalam.
10.
Poovar made it to the list over
Marari, Cherai and other places because it is the only estuary in Kerala which
connects with the sea, river and lake during high tides. Poovaris an explorer’s
haven where an island of almost indescribable beauty awaits you. A lingering
boat cruise along the palm-fringed shores of emerald green backwaters and you
have arrived at the Resort, a place where nature is at its pristine best with
swaying coconut palms, endless golden sands, the deep blue sea and breathtaking
sunsets. Its natural beauty enables it to be a quiet tourist spot for any
discerning traveler who is planning for a honeymoon package in
Poovar.
The
beauty of the best places in Kerala cannot be just written or explained, it has
to be experienced and there are lot of other tourist places in
Kerala.
Fringed with coconut palms that carpet the land from hills to shores, Emerald
green backwaters drench every pockets of this leaf-shaped country called
Kerala. Sun-kissed golden sands sprawled on the pristine Kerala beaches snatch
every emotion of a solitary traveller. Dark, deep forest reserves carrying
spicy aroma houses many exotic species in their sleeves. And above all, it is
the magic of Ayurveda, that refreshes you again and again for a more
exhilarating journey and you continue to do so in this God’s Own Country.
