Kerala

Due to its unique geography, Kerala gets rain for at least 7-8 months of the year and the forests are classified as rainforests. There are many opportunities to trek, camp and see wildlife.

itineraries

See also Three weeks in Kerala.

mountains

The Blue Mountains of the Western Ghats, popularly known as Nilgiris, are close to Trivandrum and there are numerous hill stations in thise area. The most popular is Munnar, the honeymoon capital of the state. The highest peak of the Western Ghats is located at Anamudi 2,695 metres and is good for trekking. The area is also home to several sanctuaries and forest reserve areas.

There are more than two dozen waterfalls, both large and small, with numerous rapids and springs. The largest fallwaters are at Athirampally, where three milky waterfalls fall at great speed.

beaches

Kerala has 650 km of coastline and numerous beaches. Some of the more notable are:

Kovalam Beach

near Trivandrum has a good bathing area, clean environment and plenty of accommodation. This was a centre of Hippy counter-culture in sixties, and is today well known for hedonistic beach parties.

Varkala Beach

in Thiruvananthapuram district - A long cliff makes the beach more natural no restaurant behind you. It is long beach with natural springs from the cliff.

Alapuzha Beach

and Kollam Beach are both well known for beach sports and tournaments.

Cherai Beach

near Kochi city has a large sand beach.

Kozhikode Beach

is where Vasco da Gama first landed in India, marking the start of European colonisation and the Age of Discovery.

Muzhappilangadu

near Kannur A long drive in beach in Kannur district with lush greenery around. This beach has a naturally clean and closely packed sand which makes it drivable. Beach is very long 4-5 km and is a pleasant place to spend time. Lots of adventure activities like para gliding/ para sailing etc. are arranged in this beach regularly.

historical monuments

The Palaces at Sree Padmanabhapuram located 30 km from Trivandrum are the largest Palaces ever constructed from wood and granite in India. This was the Royal Headquarters of Travancore until early 20th century.

The Hill Palace in Kochi, houses more than 200 artifacts including the hugely valuable Cochin Crown as well as other rare Crown Jewels.

The forts at Bekal, Palakkad and Thalassery date from the pre-British Raj era.

The Cherman Perumal Mosque at Kodungallor is the world's second oldest intact mosque and houses many rare artifacts.

backwaters

Backwaters of Kerala

are a maze of lagoons criss-crossed with rivers, shallow pools and canals, all separated from the sea by a narrow strip of sand banks. Backwaters are present throughout the state but Alappuzha and Kottayam are most notable in this regard.

The annual Vallam Kali boat races take place in the backwaters. The boats are large wooden canoes that can accommodate 60 to 100 rowers. The most famous race is for the Nehru Trophy Vallam Kalli, held on the second Saturday of August as a tribute to the former Indian Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru who had a keen interest in this sport.

eco-tourism villages

Kerala was the first state to formally embrace the eco-tourism concept in South Asia, and has made considerable strides in this respect.

Akkalum Tourist Village

in Trivandrum is set in a very clean and green environment. There is a floating bridge and beautiful landscaped gardens. Many famous statues and sculptures dot the area.

Thenmala Eco-Tourist Village

in Kollam is the first such place in India, with an intense focus on the natural environment. Exhibits include 27 rare trees, a butterfly garden, nature trail, a deer park, lotus garden, jasmine garden, many sculptures and a large musical fountain. Adventure sports, trekking, boating and fishing are soem of activities offered.

Kumbalangi Model Village for Sustainable Tourism

near Kochi was once a sleepy fishing village. Today it is a popular visitor atraction with a planned focus on sustainability. There are many small homestays where visitors can interact with locals, understand their lifestyle, go fishing, learn recipes etc.