Kerala Destination

Everybody likes to travel we all enjoy looking at beautiful scenery and visiting interesting places. Perhaps you would like to tell you friendly about some interesting places in Kerala.

Thiruvananthapuram

It is also referred as the “ Evergreen City of India ” by Mahatma Gandhi, by its undulating low coastal hills and busy commercial alleys. Apart from being the political nerve centre of Kerala , it is also a major academic hub and is home to several educational institutions. Thiruvananthapuram literally means "City of Lord Anantha " in Malayalam. It is sandwiched between theWestern Ghats and theArabian sea. There are highlands, which form the eastern suburbs of the city. The highest point in the district is the Agasthyarkoodam which rises 1890 m above sea level.Ponmudi and Mukkunimala are hill-resorts near the city. Thiruvananthapuram has a rich cultural background, with the rulers of erstwhile Travancore taking an active interest in development of arts and culture.

The interesting places

Kovalam Beach
Padmanabha Swamy Temple
Sree Chithra Art Gallery
Kuthiramalika Palace Museum,
Ponmudi
Varkala

The beach offers a magnificent view of the sun rise and sun set that few destinations in kerala boast of. Varkala is also an important Hindu pilgrimage center. The long sandy beach, the quiet and the clean secluded beach, the red laetrile cliffs, the soothing mineral springs attracts the tourist.The Papanasam Beach at Varkala is a quiet, secluded beach known for its white, silvery stretch of sand, mineral springs and rocky cliffs.

Kollam

It is known as the southern gateway to the backwaters of Kerala. The start of Malayalam is associated with Kollam. It is one of the old sea port towns on the Arabian Coast and which stands on the Ashtamudi Lake . It is gifted with unique representative features - sea, lakes, plains, mountains, rivers, streams, backwaters, forest, vast green fields and tropical crop of every variety both food crop and cash crop and so on.

This district is famous for Cashew nuts and coir production and hence is called as the Land of Cashew . Kollam, the capital of the erstwhile Venad, was a great centre of learning and culture. It attracted distinguished scholars from all parts of South India . Merchant Sulaiman of Siraf in Persia (9th Century) found Kollam to be the only port in India , touched by the huge Chinese junks.

Alleppuzha

Alleppey or Alappuzha is also known as the Venice of the East. It is the backwater hub of Kerala and also home to Kuttanad. Alappuzha, the water locked district, to become one of the best Backwater tourism destinations in God's Own Country. In Alappuza, the life revolves around water. Children learn to swim before they walk. They learn to row boats before they bicycle. They learn their first lesson, of how to fishing . A backwater cruise on the Punnamada Kayal takes you along canals, past scenic islands offering sublime views of coconut and paddy fields, Chinese fishing nets and toddy tapers at work. Alappuzha's beauty is not merely in its backwaters, but in the man-made islands that you will find amidst the waters. Water carnivals using the gigantic snake boats and the country canoes of varying sizes have an important role in the community life of the people of the district.


Krishnapuram Palace museum

This palace was built during the reign of Maharaja Marthanda Varma. It is a miniature model of the Padmanabhapuram Palace, near Thiruvananthapuram. The spectacular 16-block building sprawls over an area of 1.87 acres. Now an archaeological museum, the restored two-storey palace houses paintings, antique furniture and sculpture. Burial urns, bronze artefacts, swords, ancient vessels, weights, cannon balls, models of umbrellas, and even a Sanskrit Bible, are some of the exhibits.

Pathiramanal

The Raja of Travancore offered this palm-covered island in the Vembanad Lake on lease to the family of a man named Andrew Pereira, a Portuguese national and a novel officer, who married a local Catholic woman and settled here. When the lease expired in 1979, Pathiramanal was taken over by the government. Subsequently, families residing there were rehabilitated and the island was handed over to the Tourism Department. It is a one-hour boat ride away from Alappuzha.

St george Orthodox Syrian Church

This Syrian church has been constructed partially with portions of an old 13th century church located at Haripad, 44 km north of Kollam. Its porches and porticos follow typical temple architecture. Biblical frescoes showing the art forms of the early medieval period adorn its walls.

St Mary's Church Champakulam

Located on the site at which St Thomas is believed to have built one of his seven churches, the shrine draws hundreds of devotees, especially during the annual feast in October. The feast of St Joseph in March is also an important event. Wooden statues of Christ, made nearby, are exported to various countries.

Pathanamthiita

Situated near the western ghats and bordered by the hills, Pathanamthitta district is a treat to the eyes with its vast unending stretches of forests, rivers and rural landscapes. Blessed by nature, the district is famous for its scenic beauty, fairs and festivals. Pathanamthiita, a true tropical diversity adorned with fertile agricultural land where plantations, Paddy, tapioca, varieties of vegetables and spices like cardamom, pepper etc. are extensively cultivated. The district known for it's extensive forest cover also abounds in rubber plantations.

It is presumed that the regions presently under the district were formerly under the reign of the Pandalam king which had connections with the Pandya kingdom.

Aranmula

Aranmula possesses all the attributes of rural Kerala. The local craftsmen engage in traditional crafts such as Arunmula metal mirror Kannadi, the mural paintings and construction of boats for water fiestas. The local dance centre exhibits old Kathakali dance dramas performed in traditional costumes. Click for more

Charalkunnu

Charalkunnu is a picturesque hill station from where one can have a panoramic view of the low lying areas including river Pamba.

Kakki

Kakki reservoir, set in sylvan background, is a 'tourists' delight. The splendid artificial lake offers exhilarating boating experience The surrounding forest abounds in tigers, elephants, deers and monkey.

Konni

Konni is an important junction on the Kottayam-Punalur route. and is also known for its elephant rides and the Anakoodu where elephants are tamed and trained for work. Click to view more pictures and details

Mannady

Veluthampi Dalawa, the great patriot, fought against British imperialism and became a martyr on march 29, 1809 at mannadi. The monument of his martyrdom at mannadi in Adoor taluk is of great historical importance.

Perunthenaruvi

The water falls at perunthenaruvi near Pampa attracts thousands of people from inside and outside the district .This beautiful natural water fall is an ideal place of tourist attraction for both domestic and foreign tourists. It is only 10 kms from Erumely .

Idukki

This place is known for its mountainous hills and dense forest. It is one of the famous hill stations in Kerala which is located in the mid part of Kerala. Idukki is the largest District of Kerala and about 97 percent of the total area of the District is covered by rugged mountains and forests. There are nearly 14 peaks in this district and the most famous are Anamudi, Sabarimala, Karimala, Devikulam, Devimala, Perumdu and so on.
The most interesting places are Idukki Arch Dam – the second and Asia’s first arch dam, Thekkady – one of the finest wildlife reserve in India , Kumily, Murikkady, Kuthumkal Waterfalls etc.

Thekkady
Ramakkalmedu
Munnar Hills
Peerumedu
Devikulam
Chellarkovil
Gevi
Anamudi
Vagamon

Activities

Boating in the Periyar Lake
Trekking
Night Jungle Patrol and Border Hiking
Tiger Trail and stay in the forest
Visiting the Periyar wild-life Sanctuary
Elephant Ride
Bullock Cart Ride
Bamboo Rafting and trek.
Tribal Habitats
Border Hiking

Ernakulam

Over the years, Cochin has emerged as the commercial and industrial capital of Kerala and is perhaps the second most important city on the west coast of India . Cochin is the second largest city in Kerala after its capital Thiruvanathapuram. Kochi was an important Spice trading centre on the Arabian Sea coast.

This city is situated amidst the Western Ghats on the east and Arabian Sea on the West. It’s the starting point of exploring the diversity and beauty of Kerala.The cosmopolitan character of the city is reflected in the buildings and structures representing different regions of the world. Being situated very close to the sea, Kochi has a moderate climate. It faces quite heavy rains during June-August, due to the southwest monsoon. Winter starts from December and continues till February. In summer, the temperature here rises to a maximum of 35°C and 25°C in the winters.

The interesting tourist destinations here are Kochin Castle, Harimanyabashi, Godaisan, Dutch Palace, Jewish Synagogue, St.Francis Church, Bolghatty, Gunda and Willingdon Islands, Kerala History Museum, Hill Palace Museum, Parishath Taamburan Museum, Santacruz Cathedral (Basilica) and the Chinese fishing net suspended over the sea.

Thrissur

The town is built around a hillock top and the most prominent feature here is the Vadakkumnathan Kshetram or temple which has Shiva as it presiding deity. It is famous for the Thrissur Pooram festival, the most colorful and spectacular temple festival of Kerala. The town is built on a rising ground on the apex of which is the oldest and largest temple complex in the state, the Vadakunnathan temple complex, famous since the 8th century AD. Its boundaries are defined by a thick and lofty masonry wall with massive pagoda shaped gateways on all the four sides that provide a marvelous backdrop of the pageantry of the famous Trichur puram festival.

The places of interest here are Vadakumnathan Temple , Guruvayoor, Punnathur Kotta Elephant Sanctuary, Athirapilly Water Falls , Archeological Museum , and Kerala Sangeetha Nataka Academy.

Palakkad

It is a land of Palmyra and Paddy fields, also known as Palaghat. It is called as the Gateway of Kerala. It lies on the foot of the gigantic Western Ghats on the border of Kerala. The mountains, forests and fertile valleys, rivers and mountains streams are rich in flora and fauna attracts a number of tourists from all over the world.It is known for its historical background and the remnants of Tippu Sultan’s Fort are still maintained.

Palakkad has probably the biggest mountain pass in the world (30-40 Kms) separating the two folds of the Western Ghats on the border of Kerala with Tamil Nadu. This place is a melting pot of different cultures and ethnic denominations, enriching its life, arts & culture. This district is desicribed as the granary of the state of Kerala.
There are a number of interesting places to be visited here, like Palakkad Fort , Ottappalam, Fantasy Park, Thrithala known for the historical ruins and monuments. Pothundy, Thiruvalathoor – known for the ancient temple here which has some fine wood carving, Dhoni – known for trekking, Malampuzha Garden , Lakkidi and so on

Malappuram

It has the ruins of the ancient fort built by Tippu Sultan. With Nilgiris in the east and the Arabian Sea in the west, Malappuram district attracts the tourist. The rich and evergreen forests, ravines, hills and dales, rivers and brooks, sandy surfs and palm fringed coasts, festive mood of the joyful Onapatt is found here.

Four important rivers of Kerala flow through Malappuram district they are, Chaliyar ( Beypore River ) Kadalundipuzha, Bharathapuzha and Tirurpuzha. Malappuram district has a good tradition in the field of art and culture. Many of the renowned writers and poets hail from this part of the land.

This district with its natural beauty has a number of tourist attraction like Nilambur (Forest area) – known for the teak plantation, Teak Museum,manjeri ,kottakkal (Centre of Ayurveda) – a famous Ayurvedic centre,Tirur and so on.

Kozhikode

It is also called as Kozhikode and is the third largest city in Kerala which is described as the great province of Malabar . Interestingly, the name Calicut is derived from ‘calico,’ and the fine variety of hand-woven cotton cloth said to have originated from this place. It continues to be a centre of flourishing domestic and international trade.

This city is the marketing centre for commodities like pepper coconut, coffee, rubber, lemon grass oil etc., The serene beaches, lush green countryside, historic sites, all combine to make Kozhikode a popular tourist destination.

There are a number of places worth visiting in Calicut . Kappad is the place where Vasco da Gama set foot for the first time when he came to India, an art gallery displaying paintings of Raja Ravi Varma situated next to the Pazhassirajah Museum, Dolphin's Point, Calicut Beach, The Science Planetarium at Jaffarkhan Colony, Mananchira, which was the palace tank of King Mana Vikrama.
 

Wayanad

There is a land not far from Calicut, the city of Zamorins, yet a world apart from Kerala's agricultural and industrial epicentres. It is a quiet place where scenic beauty wild life and traditional matter, simplicity is a virtue and beauty still blossoms from the mountainous horizon and from the green glaze of alluring vegetation. This is Wayanad - the green paradise - the border world of greener part of Kerala. Clean and pristine, enchanting and hypnotising this land has a history and mystery, culture and social epistemology yet to be discovered. Located at a distance about 76 km. from the sea shores of Calicut in the Western Ghats, this station is full of plantations, forests and wildlife. Wayanad hills are contiguous to Mudumala in Tamil Nadu and Bandhipur in Karnataka, thus forming a vast land mass for the wild life to move about in its most natural abode. The name Wayanad has been derived from the expression 'Vayal nadu' - the village of paddy fields.

Chembra peak

Trekking to the Chembra peak is one of the risky tourist endeavours. Chembra peak is the highest peak in Wayanad at 2100m. above mean sea level. It is14 kms. west of Kalpetta. Trekking to the top of this peak takes almost a day. Tourists can also stay one or two days at the top of the peak in temporary camps. District Tourism Promotion Council provides guides, sleeping bags, canvass huts trekking implements on hire charges to the tourists. The scenic beauty of Wayanad which is visible from the top of Chembra is very challenging and thrilling. The blue eyed water in the lake at the top of the hill never dries up even in the peak of summer. All along the steep and slippery way to the top of the hill, the whispering of the flowing spring which sprouts from the top of the hill accompanies the tourist. If he is fortunate enough, on his way he may come across a passing wild beast, may be a leopard who may instantly hide behind the bushes. Camping in the night with camp fire and sleeping bags at the top of the peak in shivering cold is everlasting experience.

Pakshipathalam

Pakshipathalam in Bramha Giri hills at Thirunelly is a challenging tourist spot. It is 7 kms. north-east of Thirunelly temple and is situated 1740m. above mean sea level. To reach 'Pakshipathalam', 17 kms. have to be covered through wild forest. The deep rock caves formed among the thick blocks of rocks at the northern top end of the Brahmagiri is the abode of various birds and wild beasts. To go to 'Pakshipathalam' special permission has to be obtained from forest department. DTPC (District Tourism Promotion Council) arranges vehicle, guides, camping apparatus etc. to the tourists on hire charges.

Meenmutty Water Fall

12 kms. east of Meppadi. Water falls to a depth of more than 500m. in 3 steps.Trekking equipments are available at Tourist Information Centre, Kalpetta.Rivers: Kabani river, one of the three east flowing rivers of Kerala, is an important tributary of the river Cauvery. Kabani and its tributaries constitute a powerful river system in the land scape of Wayanad. Panamaram rivulet takes its origin from the perennial lake called, 'Pookode lake'. It flows swiftly through mountain gorges and joined by other streams, tumbles down into Panamaram valley. Six kilometres further from Panamaram, this river joins with the Mananthavady rivulet, originating from the lower regions of the peak 'Thondarmudi'. From this confluence onwards, the river is known as Kabani, a mighty, perennial river which after entering Karnadaka State, joins with the river Cauvery. Almost entire Wayanad is drained by the Kabani river and its tributaries, namely, Panamaram river, Mananthavady river and Thirunelli river.

Kannur

The district is a major centre ofTheyyam, a ritual dance of northern Kerala, and small shrines known as Kavus.Kannur is famous for its beautiful beaches. From the famous beach -Payyambalam Beach at Kannur has an unbroken coastline of a few kms. From the beach, one can see Ships in transit along the Malabar coast. The wells know Sree Krishna Temple at Kadalayi is situated at a distance of 5 km from Kannur Town. The other well known place in Kannur is Parassinikadavu temple. One can also get the view of the famous St.Angelo's fort. The famous tourist attractions here are Aaralam Wildlife Sanctuary, Dharmadam Island – a Buddhist dominated region,

Madayi Mosque, Moppila Bay – the famous fishing harbour, St. Angelo's Fort – one of the major attractions of Kannur, Arakkal Palace , Pythal Mala and so on.

Kasargode

It is a district with rare beauty and different culture. The Bekal fort, which is of great historical and archaeological interest, is the largest and best preserved of its kind in the district. Kasargod is a land of Temples , mosques and churches and has a rich cultural heritage. It is famous for the art forms of Yakshagana, Bombe-yattu and Theyyam - the dominant folk art form .

Traditional art forms of pulikkali, oppana etc adds colour to festivals and celebrations. The old temples and mosques are rich in unique architecture and culture of this region. Many Arab travellers, who came to Kerala between 9th and 14th centuries AD, visited Kasaragod as it was then an important trade centre. They called this area Harkwillia.

The places of interest here are the Mallikkarjuna Temple dedicated to lord siva and lord Ganapathi Ajanur – dedicated to Goddess Bhadrakalli,Anandashram, Ananthapura Lake Temple – the only lake temple in Kerala, Adoor Temple, Badiadka , Bekal Fort – the largest and the best preserved fort in Kerala, Observation Tower., Pallikere Beach – one can get a spectacular view of the fort, Kodi Cliffs, Kappil Beach and so on.