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| With the Arabian Sea on the west, the Western Ghats towering 500-2700 m on the east and networked by forty four rivers, Kerala enjoys unique geographic features that have made it one of the most sought after tourism destinations in Asia. |
| An equable climate, a long shoreline with serene beaches, tranquil stretches of emerald backwaters, lush hill stations and exotic wildlife, waterfalls, sprawling plantations and paddy fields, spice villages, ayurvedic health holidays, enchanting art forms, magical festivals, historic and cultural monuments, an exotic cuisine... All of which offer you a unique experience. |
| And above all, all these charming destinations are only a couple of relaxing hours drive from the other. An advantage no other destination offers. |
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| India is known as the home of spices... Kerala being one of the foremost contributors to the share of Indian exports in the world trade of spices, which is about 25%. Out of the seventy spices listed by the International Organization for Standards, almost all of them are grown in the state. |
| Spice is defined as "a strongly flavoured or aromatic substance of vegetable origin, obtained from tropical plants, commonly used as a condiment". |
| In ancient times, they were as precious as gold; and as significant as medicines, preservatives and perfumes. No country in the world produces as many kinds of spices as India with quality spices come from Kerala. |
| Spices from Kerala |
| Cardamom (Elettaria Cardamomum Maton), Black Pepper (Piper migrum), Ginger (Zinngiber Officianale), Chilly (Capsicum Annum), Turmeric (Curcuma Longa), Clove (Syzygium Aromaticum), Nutmeg (Myristica Frangrans), Cinnamon (Cinnamomum Verum), Cumin (Cuminum Cyminum), Corriander (Coriandrum Sativum), Fennel (Foeniculum Vulgare), Tamarind (Tamarindus Indica), Garlic (Allium Sativum) |
| Thiruvananthapuram |
| Located at the southern-west tip of India, with
an area of 2192 sq kms, Thiruvananthapuram District is bounded by the Arabian
Sea on the west and Tamil Nadu on the east. The wooded highlands on the
western ghats in the eastern and morth-eastern borders give her some of
the most enchanting picnic spots. |
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A long shoreline with internationally renowned
beaches, historic monuments, backwater stretches and a rich cultural heritage
make this district a much sought after tourist destination. This is Thiruvananthapuram,
the capital of Kerala. |
| Attractions |
| Padmanabha Swamy Temple, Shanmugham Beach, Veli Tourist Village, Kuthiramalika (Puthenmalika) Palace Museum, Napier Museum, Shree Chirtra Art Gallery, Zoological Park, Kanakakunnu Palace, Priyadarshini Planetarium, Biotechnology Museum, Chacha Nehru Children's Museum, Akkulam Tourist Village, Ponmudi. |
| Kovalam |
| Kovalam, one of India's internationally renowned
beaches, in the God's own country, Kerala. A favorite haunt of Europeans
since the 1930s, Kovalam consists of three successive crescent beaches.
Kovalam, a sheltered natural bay, the gorgeous blue waters and the sumptuous
spread of green palm groves make it a tropical paradise of sorts. |
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| Attractions |
| Sun bathing, Swimming, Ayurvedic Rejuvenation, Yoga and meditation, Herbal body toning massages, Special Cultural Programmes, Catamaran cruising; the possibilities are many. The Kovalam lighthouse beach is where most visitors spend their time. |
| Varkala |
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Varkala is a seaside tourist resort 55km north of Thiruvananthapuram, it is also an important religious place for the Hindus. A long sandy beach, towering red laterite cliffs and soothing mineral springs put Varkala in the not-to-miss category. The Papanasam Beach at Varkala is a quiet, secluded beach known for its white, silvery stretch of sand, mineral springs and rocky cliffs. |
| Attractions |
| The raw and unused stretch of beach is a loner’s delight where one could swim, play cricket or volley ball and even manage to practice yoga. The final resting place of Sree Narayana Guru, the great social reformer of Kerala, is near Varkala atop a hill named Sivagiri. |
| Kollam |
| Located 71 kilometres to the north of Thiruvananthapuram,
with an area of 2579 sq kms, Kollam is the centre of the country's cashew
trading and processing industry. One of the oldest ports on the Malabar
Coast, Kollam was once the port of international spice trade. Thirty per
cent of this historic town is covered by the renowned Ashtamudi Lake. |
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This making Kollam the Gateway to the magnificent backwaters of Kerala. The eight hour boat trip between Kollam and Allapuzha is the longest and the most enchanting experience on the backwaters of Kerala. The district also has some interesting historic remnants and a number of temples built in the traditional ornate architectural style. |
| Attractions |
| Kottukal Rock Cut Cave Temple, Thirumullavaram Beach, Sasthamkotta, Ochira, Thenmala, Palaruvi Waterfalls |
| Kumarakom |
| Kumarakom situated in Kottayam district is bordered
by the lofty Western Ghats on the east and the Vembanad Lake and paddy fields
of Kuttanad on the west. Kottayam, also known as the land of letters, latex
and lakes, the Panoramic backwater stretches is the cherry on cream for
the tourists. |
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The astounding backwater cruises, Sensational in its own silent way, the cruise takes you along snake boat docks, friendly cheering villagers, coir (Jute) making communities, toddy (local spirit) shops, fishing nets pitched for the day's catch, bunded paddy fields and manual canoes of different sizes criss-crossing each other. The experience enables you to reach beautiful untouched areas. |
| Attractions |
| Vembanad Lake, Kumarakom Bird Sanctuary, Pathiramanal, Wagamon, Ettumanur |
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