Kerala Tourist Attractions

Beautifully placed on the luxurious tropical Malabar Coast, Kerala is one of the most sought-after tourist destinations in India. Popular for its eco-tourism initiatives, the state has been included in the list of 'thirteen paradises of the world' and '50 places of a lifetime' by the National Geographic Traveler magazine.

Ancient art forms, lively festivals, mouth-watering cuisine are the few of cultural marvels that allures travelers from all over the world. Ayurveda-the ancient Indian system of medicine and Panchakarma-the rejuvenation therapy in Ayurveda, have immensely helped Kerala to acquire worldwide reputation as a top of the line destination. Cities such as Thiruvananthapuram and Kochi are famous shopping locations and known for their traditional theatrical performances.

A cauldron of mystifying forests, spice gardens, tea plantations and even wild elephants and monkeys, Kerala is a picture perfect depiction of the India you dream of. Without the dirt or the eye-soaring poverty, Kerala is all about exhilarating natural beauty, in its truest sense- "God’s own country".

Dreamy Backwaters

The world famous backwaters of Kerala comprise rambling inland lakes networked by canals, stretching to over 900 km. The extensive network of interlocking lakes, canals and rivers centers on Kollam, Alleppey, Kumarakom, and Punnamada, where the annual Nehru Trophy Boat Race is held in the month of August.

Cruises across these harmonious stretches are an experience unique to Kerala. Large Kettuvalloms, which are traditional country crafts over 60 feet in length, have been transformed into luxury houseboats for such wonderful excursions. Travelers simply love the soothing atmosphere that surrounds the rapturous backwaters of Kerala.

Welcoming Hill Stations

Kerala lies on the windward side of the Western Ghats, and owing to its location, the state boasts of a long chain of green, mist-clad hill stations that are abode to rich wildlife. The popular hill stations in Kerala are Munnar, Nelliampathi, Wayanad, Neelimala, Vagamon, Peermede, Rajamala and Ponmudi. Each of Kerala's hill resorts provides the most magical experience of nature in all its pristine beauty.

Rejuvenating Beaches & Spas

Some of India’s finest beaches are in Kerala, for virtually its 600 km long coastline is dotted with blissful beaches, coconut palms and rocky promontories. Kovalam, Varkala, Cherai, Kappad, Muzhappilangad, Bekal and Payyambalam are the major beaches of Kerala.

The spas located along the beaches are famous for Ayurvedic massage that are based on the fundamentals of ancient system of medicine called Ayurveda. The massage is delivered by professionals who use combination of oils such as coconut, sesame and mustard. The regulatory principle Doshas (Vata, Pitta and Kapha) form the basis for the massage. Moreover, Yoga and meditation are also conducted at many spa centers spread across the state.

Kovalam beach in Kerala

Monuments & Pilgrim Spots

On the southern end of Kerala, nearby state of Tamil Nadu, stands the marvelous Padmanabhapuram Palace, a large wooden palace, it was once the headquarters of a princely state of ancient Kerala. To the north, lies Bekal, an enchanted laterite fort overlooking the clean blue of the majestic Arabian Sea. In between the two heritage sites, lie a large number of monuments, forts and palaces, scattered on the ancient land as silent reminders of its magnificent past. Kerala also has many mesmerizing pilgrim tourist spots such as Guruvayoor Temple, Sabarimala Temple, Chettikulangara Temple, Malayattor Church, Vadakumnathan Temple and Parumala Church.

Untamed Wildlife

Endangered squirrel

Lying in the lush forests of the Western Ghats, Kerala has fourteen wildlife sanctuaries and national parks. Circling these green lands are some of the most amazing trekking trails in India. All covered by the spice-scented air originating from wide expanse of plantations ranging from vanilla, cardamom, pepper to tea and coffee. The wildlife sanctuary at Periyar and Eravikulam National Park are the two most famous wildlife destinations of Kerala. Some other names on the list are Chinnar Wildlife Sanctuary, Wayanad Wildlife Sanctuary, Silent Valley National Park, Neyyar Wildlife Sanctuary, Peppara Wildlife Sanctuary, Shenduruny Wildlife Sanctuary, etc.

Further Read

Kerala at a glance

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Dharmkot – A Nice Retreat In The Midst Of Nature

Women in hills are beautiful. They work hard all day without much ado. The tiredness is not reflected on their faces but hardworking lifestyle permeates their whole being. Small dark eyes, wearing salwar and scarf on their heads, they are indeed poor. Not essentially in terms of money but they are poor because their world is small. The village, field, small business, cows, horses and even roadside dogs are their nearest expression of freedom.

Somebody asked me last day where else I wanted to travel other than India. I said it would take a whole lifetime to understand India alone, probably the mountains only. Yes, I want to travel to different parts of the world but India really startles me, it brings tears because sometimes those experiences are immensely painful; sometimes intensely calm that too scares me.

I’m here in Dharamkot, a small but happening village of Gaddi tribes. It’s happening because of too many foreign tourists, especially Israelis. The place is occupied by 90% of Israelis, and various other ethnic groups from different parts of the world. Well, I’m in a complete laid-back attitude and trying to purify my mind in midst of nature. Yes, it’s nature all around with dense woods, distant Dhauladhar Himalayan peaks, raining and of course villagers. I love mountain people in India; they understand tourists so well, they are honest and quite intelligent.

Dharamkot village

Again I meet people; couple of them are such wonderful men. One is from Austria, Phillip who takes his Iyenger Yoga lesson and another one is from Britain who I call “tree man”. He finds his way of living through studying trees. He wandered around different parts of the world from about 10 years and disillusioned by “what I am doing” syndrome, and then at 30s he took some course in studying trees and eventually associated with some government organization to research on trees.  Wow!

We generally talk for hours on various subjects from music to yoga and sometimes politics as well. I enjoy these small meetings because there is no commitment in it, we are friends for a brief period and get parted soon, but still there is so much fun in it.

The view of Dhauladhar from here (Radha Krishna restaurant)

There are two types of people come here: one who are here to do meditation and yoga. Most of them are fashionable yogis who just keep ticking their checklists. Others are fun-loving, party hookers, dope smokers who also draw pleasure from their way of living. Nobody is wasting time here because if one thinks he/she is wasting, I think that’s a very dangerous thought.

There is nothing much to do in Dharmkot but it is far better place than Mcleodganj if you want to stay in solitude. The price of food is tremendously high, electricity is okay, internet connection is fine and there are small walks you can do from here. It is a good place for contemplation and prayer and you can draw your inner joy from nature.

Raining on hills

From the hotel windows

Yoga is Dharmkot is quite popular concept and pretty much easy thing to do I guess. I was talking about Vipasana meditation with my friend Iain; well he is a funny guy and never thinks 8 hours of forceful meditation will ever work for him. It is a great to see after 10 days of “retreat” with 8 hours of meditation and cut off entirely from the outside world, people coming out and hugging each other. It is pretty much clear on their faces they are relieved. I personally don’t bother about those people; obviously it is their way of interpreting life. In the end it’s all good after all.

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Kerala At A Glance

Think of Kerala and the first thing that comes to mind is a serene picture of waving palms and never ending row of beaches. A tropical paradise, Kerala is a narrow strip of coastal territory that slants down the Western Ghats descending over lush green vegetation, and meeting the Arabian Sea. Located on the Southwestern tip of India, Kerala is a land of unique geographical features that make it one of the most sought-after tourist destinations in the Asian sub-continent. Adoringly referred to as ‘God’s Own Country’, Kerala was selected as one of the thirteen paradises on the earth and as one of the fifty destinations of a lifetime by the National Geographic Traveler Magazine.

Kerala is world renowned for its backwaters, spices, mountains, lush green vegetation and art forms such as Kathakali and Mohini Attam. A successful socialist state, Kerala's most admirable aspect is its outstanding liberal hospitality. Kerala offers world class tourist sporting options, eco-tourism initiatives, ayurvedic spas and treatments, a melange of tourist destinations ranging from beautiful high altitude blue mountains to immaculate rain forests to sun-kissed beaches.

History of Kerala

Kerala has always been an alluring destination for traders, who get fascinated by the whiff of its aromatic spices and impeccable shine of its ivory. The coast was a transit point for spices from Moluccas, a place in eastern Indonesia. Known to the Romans, the Phoenicians, the Arabs and the Chinese, the region was a very popular and busy port. Probably it was through Kerala that Chinese products found their way to the Western countries.

The empire of Cheras, established by the Dravidian tribe Villavar, ruled Kerala until the early middle ages, clashing with other kingdoms and feudal lords for trade and territory. With the arrival of Vasco da Gama's in the year 1498, the chains of colonialism started snarling at the region. Dutch, English and Portuguese interests fought Arab traders, and then amongst themselves to have an upper hand at the lucrative spice trade.

Today's Kerala was formed in 1956 from the former regions of Cochin, Travancore and Malabar. Age old traditions, value for arts and education resulted in a liberal state that is one of the most advanced in the country.

Geography & Climate

Kerala is flanked by the great Arabian Sea on the west, bordered by the state of Tamil Nadu on the east and Karnataka on the north. Being very close to the equator, Kerala enjoys a tropical climate. Heavy downpour is a prominent aspect of Kerala's climate, which makes it one of the wettest regions in the world. Kerala has three different seasons-summer, the monsoon period and winter. Summer reigns from mid-February to mid-May and the weather is really hot with temperature soaring upto 35°C during the noon. The monsoon arrives by mid-May and lasts upto early September. Winter in Kerala is mild, marked by the retreating south-east monsoon.

Demographics

A population of 31.8 millions lives in Kerala, predominantly of Malayali ethnicity. The rest comprises Arab and Jewish elements in both ancestry and culture. About 1.10% of Kerala's population is composed of its 321,000 indigenous tribal Adivasis, who are primarily concentrated in the east.

Kerala's official language is Malayalam. Tamil, Kannada, Tulu and various tribal languages are also spoken by ethnic minorities specifically in the south-western region. Kerala has the highest literacy rate in the country, and is a land of great religious diversity, where you will find temples, churches, mosques and even synagogues.

Heritage & Culture of Kerala

Kerala's rich culture finds its roots in Tamil-heritage region called as Tamilakam and southern coastal Karnataka. The native performing art "Koodiyattom" that is a 2000 years old Sanskrit theatre tradition, has been officially approved by UNESCO as a Masterpiece of the Oral and Intangible Heritage of Humanity. The very famous dance form-Kathakali is a highly stylized classical Indian dance-drama, which belongs to Kerala. Kathakali has many offshoots namely Kerala Natanam, Mohiniaattam, Kaliyattam, Koothu, Theyyam, Thullal NS Padayani. Kerala's music too has ancient roots and Carnatic music overrides Keralite traditional music.

Further Read

Kerala Pulikali Dance Festival

Kerala Tourist Attractions

Coconut Bay Beach Resort In Kerala

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Finding My Moments At Tibetan Institute Of Performing Arts In Mcleodganj

Undoubtedly it’s a queer state of mind; when at home my spirit pulls me outside of security, conformity and family, and when wandering outside, my heart aches to find the same personal touches. So, I’ve again started my journey from the secured shell of home, fish and rice and come to my first love: mountains. Well, it was quite a tiring journey from Delhi to Mcleodganj took around 15 hours in buses. This is the second time I am here, Mcleodganj always excites me because of its Tibetan culture, colourful people, cleanliness, plenty of place where you can sit in solitude and of course cheap hotels. Everything has some significance in life so does travel. My traveling experiences in a sense illuminating, purifying my mind and communicates with right knowledge.

While strolling around TIPA (Tibetan Institute of Performing Art) I was thinking the reason behind involving in something, especially creative pursuits. I met a girl there who asked me whether I was interested in learning Tibetan music. I was just enjoying the musical performance by students; I didn’t want to learn anything new because enjoying something is learning itself.

The Chinese occupation in Tibet in 1959 forced Dalai Lama and some 1 lakh Tibetan to flee from their homeland. The communist government of China then transmuted a cultural integration program to dilute the existence Tibetan culture.

Indian government gave shelters to thousands of Tibetan in Dharamshala and various others parts of India. Dalai Lama took immediate steps to preserve the traditional performing arts, and thus TIPA was formed in 1959 just 4 months after 14th Dalai Lama came to India.

The institute is located at Mcleodganj and hosts students, artists, instructors, craftsmen and many other people. There are separate hostels for boys and girls, and open auditorium and a small but beautiful museum that showcases ancient Tibetan clothes, weaponry, artefacts and many other things.

Role of Lhamo in Tibetan Performing Art

Tibetan mask dance is popular and probably the most highlighted cultural art of Tibet. It was originated in the Tibetan Royal Dynastic period during 6th-9th century. The development of Lhamo is owed to 14th century Yogi Thangtong Gyalpo. The yogi realized that through the power of performing art one could transfer energy to another medium. So, in Buddhist tradition, especially in Tibet performing art is a medium for telling moral tales.

Lhamo is a daylong affair played outdoors, traditionally under a large circular canvas tent, through a unique style of song, dialogue, dance and pantomime. Cymbals and drums are the main musical instruments in Lhamo.

TIPA main responsibility is to preserve the ancient Lhamo tradition from the barefaced pro-Chinese propaganda. And till date it is working well.

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Adventure In Jungle Is Okay, But Beware Of Bite And Stings

Snake bite is the most deadly thing happens in jungle. Although serious snake bite is rare among travelers. Comparatively a few snakes are poisonous, and more often than not only manage to inject a small amount of venom. Even if venom has been injected, serious symptoms usually take hours, not minutes, to develop. A poisonous bite will usually show two fang marks, quite separated from a row of small tooth marks, which are not dangerous.

•    When walking outside, especially in long grass or thick undergrowth, carry a stick to beat the path in front of you. Wear boots, or strong shoes and trousers.

•    Keep the grass and other vegetation short around your house.

•    Never put your hand into holes, onto or under rock ledges or anywhere you cannot easily see if a snake is lurking.

•    Avoid climbing trees or rock covered in dense foliage.

•    Take care walking under overhanging tress or bushes.

•    If camping in an area where snakes are common, try to sleep on a bed or raised platform, at least one foot off the ground.

•    Avoid swimming in river matted with vegetation, in mangroves or muddy estuaries.

•    If you come across a snake, stay absolutely still until it slinks off.

•    If a snake bites you, don’t get panicked. Tension cause high-blood pressure consequently increases the poison to flow more speedily in the blood.

How to avoid leeches in jungle?

These are common in jungle areas and monsoon forests, usually lying in wait by the path. Leeches are dangerous only when attacked in numbers over a period of hours, when they can cause marked loss of blood.

Prevent leeches from biting you by wearing stout footwear and trouser tucked in at the ankles to boots or thick socks. Apply a DEET containing insecticide to your skin and soak trousers and socks in a leech to detach itself in anguish, but the wound bleeds and itches for some time afterwards and occasionally get infected if the biting part of the leech remains in the skin. Avoid swimming in forest lakes or rivers where water leeches are known to occur.

Beware of scorpions and spiders

These unusually bite only if annoyed. Avoid reaching into unlit corners, and shake any shoes before putting them on. Don’t walk barefoot in the jungle or anywhere else if scorpions are known to be present.
In scorpion-infested areas, camp sites should be checked and cleared of scorpion tunnels before pitching tents.

Most scorpion bites are very painful; only a few are dangerous, Central and South American, North African and some Indian species being the most notorious.

Spiders, with a few exceptions such as the Black Widow or Australian Redback, are rarely dangerous. Prevent and treat in the same way as for scorpions.

Potential threat from bees and wasps

There are two potential dangers for travelers. One is the rare attack by swarms of bees, usually in thundery weather (run fast or dive into water). The other danger, more common and easier to deal with, is the single sting if you are hypersensitive to bees, wasps or hornets.

If in the past you have had a severe reaction to a sting or have developed progressively worse reactions, take and keep with you at least two self-injectable ampoules of adrenaline such as Epipen, or Epipen Junior for children.

Nettle rash accompanied by swelling of the lips or tongue or wheezing are signs that you should use adrenalin straight away. In addition take a double dose of an antihistamine.

Other Biting Insects

Here are a few more that can cause grief to travelers:

•    Assassin bags also called kissing bugs, cone-nosed bugs, vinchucas. These cause Chagas disease in South America.

•    Chiggers are small red mites that cause skin irritation. They are common in East Asia, the Pacific Islands and South America. They can cause Scrub Typhus. Use DEET insect repellent and tuck trousers into socks where chiggers are known to occur.

•    Nairoby fly is common in East Africa in the rainy season. It is about half a centimeter long and is red, black and dark green. You should flick it off the skin and not crush it because it can cause intense skin irritation when squashed on the skin, especially near the eye. Apply calamine lotion or mild hydrocortisone to the skin and take histamines, seek medical advice if the eye is severely inflamed.

•    Sandflies causes intensely itchy bites in hot climates. They spread leishmaniasis and the less serious sandfly fever.

•    Tsetse flies spread sleeping sickness.

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How To Deal With Reverse Culture Shock?

Even if you are one of the lucky ones who can quickly adapt from one culture to another and feel as comfortable after ten days back in Taunton as during your ten years in Timbuktu, it may still be worth reading this.

The problem you face

The effect of coming back home after a long vacation from a place, which has so many contradictory elements, it is quite natural that you get thrown by the after effects. Reverse cultural shock is more than cultural shock because you may have assumed that usual comfort of your home, luxuries that you enjoy and your friends, all are waiting to hear your life-changing experiences in the remote corners of the world.

The problem starts a bit later. You arrive home, see the familiar road, much loved hygiene, and recount your fabulous experiences. All of these plus the respect you earn from your peers put you in high pedestal. But after a while this gradually seems to change. For no apparent reason you start to feel sick, restless, anxious or depressed; you start losing motivation and even your self-confidence. You feel bad about your surroundings, the stark materialism, run away from the machine life and confused about yourself. What can possibly the matter?

Medically you don’t have anything to worry. You are probably suffering from reverse cultural shock. You have a country that you fall in love; you enjoy, appreciate, the experiences you shared are the precious gifts for you. Now, you have lost a role and a clear place in the scheme of things. Apart from sadness, you may be shocked by what you find at home. You may feel like a messiah from a different world with insights and depth that nobody going to understand.

Further you are in deep dilemma; in one hand you want to reintegrate into the society that you are a part. On the other, you do not want to negotiate on the ideals you have learnt. Even in smaller aspects of life, you see a bigger picture. Is it morally justified for supermarkets to sell 52 different types of breakfast cereal? 

What are the solutions?

Don’t get panicked if you identify yourself with some of these symptoms. If you can’t relax, don’t worry either. Here are some suggestions that may help:

•    Recognize your feelings, write it down, and choose one or two friends with whom you can share your emotional problems. Try to get in touch with people who like you travel for long days. 

•    Keep in touch with overseas friends and projects. Don’t run away from the problem rather embrace it. There are always things you can do it for the country you fall in loved without really going there. Find a purpose for your work. 

•    Patience is the key. Reintegration will take its own due course of time. Let’s leave it for a while and engage yourself in regular work. You will learn the knack of accepting the good, avoiding the bad and recognizing what you can usefully do to help bring change within the limits of your gifts and energies.

•    If you are still restless and anxious, join a social group where you have a shared interest. It may be a church, evening class, a club, NGO, or anything. 

•    Take a holiday. Don’t take on too many assignments and speaking engagements until you have had a proper break, your slides have been developed and you’ve spent time with your family and friends.

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