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 Welcome to a land of cultural delight where royal palaces stand tall and proud, age-old traditions and dances lend colour to everyday life and friendly smiles greet you wherever you go. Welcome to Kerala . Discover a land of immense natural beauty where pristine beaches nestle on the shores of Arabian Gulf, tranquil waterways lead you from one wondrous sight to the next and Wildlifes roam freely among the rain forests and mountains. Explore Kerala. Prepare to be amazed, astounded and enthralled. Prepare for the holiday of a lifetime, in Kerala
KOCHI - COCHIN
Often called the 'Queen of the Arabian Sea', Cochin is built around a picturesque natural harbour. Cochin is the oldest European settlement in India and many of the city's landmarks date back to these bygone days. In the Fort Cochin district the streets are infused with a quaint European charm and it is here that you will find the oldest European Church in India - St. Francis Church. Originally built out of wood by Portuguese Franciscan friars in 1503, the church was later re-built in stone by the Protestant Dutch. In the Mattancherry district, tiled pastel houses line the shore and spice vendors roam the streets vying for trade. The Mattancherry Dutch Palace, which was built by the Portuguese in 1557 and later renovated by the Dutch, is a veritable treasure trove of visual delights, with dazzling displays of royal costumes, weapons and furnishings, dramatic murals on the walls and woodcarvings on
the ceilings. The Great Scrolls of the Old Testament are on display at the nearby Jewish Synagogue. Lavishly decorated with handmade Chinese willow pattern tiles and intricate Belgian chandeliers, this synagogue is the oldest in the commonwealth.
THEKKADY
No visit to Kerala would be complete without a visit to at least one of the fourteen wildlife sanctuaries where gnificent beasts roam freely and rare birds settle amidst the treetops. Periyar Wildlife Sanctuary is one of the largest in India, occupying 777 square kilometres of land in the Cardamom Hills at the heart of the thekkady district. The resident herd of wild elephants is the park's star attraction, and every day visitors flock to the lakeside to watch them gambol in the shallow waters. The park is also home to spotted deer, tigers, sambar, bison, Malabar flying squirrels and stripe-necked mongooses and over 260 bird species, including the white-bellied tree pie, the Nilgiri wood pigeon and the blue-winged parakeet.
MUNNAR
The scenic hill station of Munnar is also known as Tea City. Sightseeing tour around Munnar takes one to tea gardens where picturesque colonial towns and meandering mountain streams present photo opportunities galore. You will be taken for a visit to Munnar’s tea plantations and a scenic tour to Top Station or Rajamalai where you can watch Nilgiri Tahr (rare mountain goats on the verge of extinction)in their natural habitat.
KUMARAKOM
Kumarakom is a renowned bird sanctuary on the banks of the Vembanad Lake, along the backwaters of Kerala. Backwaters are a unique web of lakes, lagoons, canals and rivers, which form an integral part of Kerala's Tourism Scenario. Kumarakom is well known for its varied avian population. Migratory birds such as Siberian cranes can be seen during November to February. Local varieties such as waterfowls, cuckoos and owls are also found here. The Vembanad Lake with its majestic canals, streams and distributaries along its banks weave an intricate and enchantingly beautiful web.
VARKALA
The Varkala beach, also known as Papanasam beach. This beach is 42 km from Thiruvananthapuram. The beach is considered holy, and it is believed that a dip in this water washes away your sins. Since the dip in the holy waters of this beach is believed to purify the body and the soul of all the sins hence the name ‘Papanashini or the destroyer of sin for this shore. Janardhana temple. - a 800 year old temple.
THIRUVANANTHAPURAM - KOVALAM
Built over seven forested hills, Kerala's capital Thiruvananthapuram, is a place of exceptional natural beauty. Traditional pagoda-style homes nestling in the shade of coconut palms and lavish palaces from times gone by distinguish Thiruvananthapuram as a royal city, steeped in history. If your time here is limited, visit the Public Gardens where the Trivandrum zoo, the aquarium, the Shri Art Gallery and the Napier Museum of Arts and Crafts are all conveniently situated. Built in the Indo Saracenic style in 1880, the museum currently houses one of the finest collections of 12th and 14th Century Vijayanagar bronzes, 15th Century wood carvings, ivory work and gold jewellery, whilst the nearby Shri Art Gallery displays paintings from the Rajput, Mughal and Tanjore schools, along with work from China, Tibet, Java and Bali. The popular beach of Kovalam lies just 15 kilometres south of the city
where you can enjoy a sun bath or a safe swim in the crystal clear sea water.
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