Better known as ‘God’s Own Country,’ Kerala typifies the natural beauty of Southern parts of India. The name means ‘land of coconuts’ in the native language spoken there, which is Malayalam. Some parts of Kerala, such as the backwaters, are really quiet and beautiful with lush green trees and water all around.
The most enchantingly beautiful beaches at Kerala could are located at places such as Kovalam, Varkala, and Kappad and so on. Kerala also has breathtakingly beautiful hill stations and forest sanctuaries. The beaches and hill stations are definitely worth a visit, as they typify the true natural beauty of India.
The people of Kerala celebrate Onam, which is the primary festival. The other festivals celebrated are boat race festivals, Attukal Pongala, Thrissur Pooram, Navrathri, Deepavali and Christmas. Many other festivals are celebrated in temples, churches and other religious places, which are worth a visit.
The Kerala region enjoys four types of climates - Winter, Summer, South West Monsoon and North East Monsoon. The state has the highest level of annual rainfall and the climate during the Monsoons is usually humid. During summer, the climate is very hot as compared to that of the other states in India.
There are many spots of pilgrimage in Kerala, some of which are the famous Sabarimala and Malayatoor. Sabarimala is the abode of the famous Lord Ayappa, who is known for his victory over the evil. Malayatoor Church has a pilgrimage center, which is located a little away from a place called Kochi.
All forests in Kerala except the Silent Valley have cicadas that make noises and hence, the name Silent Valley. The Silent Valley, Wagamon, Attapady among others are names of some of Kerala’s forests, which are home to thousands of wild animals, birds and insects such as elephants, leeches, peacocks, tigers and so on.
Not only are the waterfalls in Kerala breathtaking, but they also remind us of nature’s grace and power. Palaruvi, Athirapally and Thommankuth are some of the famous waterfalls in Kerala. By night, the Athirapally Falls shine and the moon’s reflection can be seen in its lake. Wild animals come here early in the morning to drink water from the falls.
The Hill Palace Museum, The Museum of Kerala’s History, The Archaeological Museum in Trissur, and The Pazhassi Raja Museum are some of the most famous museums in Kerala, which hold in them the most expensive pieces of art that were created during the rule of Kerala’s king.
One could take local tour services, a bus or a train to look around Kerala.
Tourist Information Offices have information for travelers.
Some forts in Kerala were built between the 15th and the 17th Centuries by Portugese and Mughal kings or were modified by them and taken over; viz., Dutch Palace, Bakel Fort, St. Angelo’s Fort and Palakkad Fort to name a few. These forts have the best mural art and these art works, which have been preserved in museums in India.
Some of Kerala’s palaces have splendid art work of the artisans who used to work and live in the palace alone. These palaces are now being protected by the government of India in order to preserve them. They are the Alwaye Palace, and Padmanabhapuram Palace.
There are around 34 lakes in the state of Kerala. Some of them include Sasthamkotta Lake, Vembanadu Lakes, and Lakes of Alappuzha Lakes. These lakes provide facilities for fishing, canoeing, boating, and sight seeing. A journey by boat is a memorable experience for everyone.
The Arallam Wildlife Sanctuary, Periyar Wildlife Sanctuary and the Silent Valley National Park of Kerala are homes to wild animals such as jungle cats, wild boars, elephants, leopards, bison, sloth bear, and otters are some of the common animals that can be found in these sanctuaries. These sanctuaries also protect endangered species.
Kerala has a rich tradition of folk dances and they reflect moods and emotions of the dancer. Both men as well as women learn these dances and some of them even take them up as a career. Some of the popular dance forms are Kathakali, Mudiyettu, Kaliyattam, Kalaripayatu, and so on. These are colorful art forms and some are part of martial arts.
Kerala has a rich tradition of many gods and goddesses throughout the state. The Guruvayoor and Padmanabhaswamy Temple are the temples devoted to the Lord Vishnu. The people rejoice the victory of good over evil during certain festivals, which are celebrated with fireworks and great pomp every year.
There are 3 major airports in Kerala; namely Thiruvanathapuram, Kochi and Kozhikode; of which the first 2 are major international airports. Boats and auto rickshaws are the cheapest modes of internal transportation.
The people of Kerala practice a form of martial arts called Kalaripayatu, which involves fighting with swords, aerial fighting and so on. It is like Karate or any other form of martial arts and is quite an ancient martial arts form. It could be used for self-defense or to protect oneself against the enemy.
While visiting Kerala, one must not forget to try the famous cuisine there. The cuisine comprises both vegetarian as well as non-vegetarian delights, which are not only mouth-watering, but also sumptuous. Some of the most popular items are the roast duck, chicken curry, fish curry, mixed vegetable curry, mutton stew and the various banana delights.
Kerala is known for its Ayurvedic therapy programs. There are several massage centers and masseurs in the state of Kerala. Ayurveda is a very ancient science and it is used for curing muscle pains, joint aches, and for body pain. Facial therapies and beauty programs are also conducted as part of the Ayurvedic cure programs.
In my opinion, Kerala has been rightly named as ‘God’s Own Country,’ as it not only has natural beauty, but also holds several secrets of nature. The state is full of temples, monuments and other sights that are worth seeing and photographing.
The state of Kerala is indeed worth a visit. Its endless strip of palm-fringed trees is indeed an enchanting sight to see. The beauty of this place would have you wondering as to whether god himself has come down to earth and made it. It offers a variety of sights to see for the traveler, who has never been to India before and are assured of a great holiday.
