Kerala, the chilly-shaped green state situated at the south west coast of India, is called God's own country by its admirers. It is a picturesque place, excellent for a holiday tour where the sea, paddy fields, palms, coconut trees and clear blue sky pose for a perfect scenery. Located at the southern tip of the Indian peninsula, Kerala is an amalgamation of beauty, stimulating customs, intensely cultural life and a 100% educated people often dressed in white. From top to bottom, the state is a chock-full of places that attract tourists from all over the world.

This tranquil land of Kerala characterized by coconut trees and wide backwater stretches ensures you a perfect relaxation while touring. It is a place to simply lie down on the golden sandy beaches of boundless azure Arabian Sea while the waves caressing your feet. The serenity in the atmosphere will ease out the stress of your strict routined life.

Best Time to Visit Kerala

The climate of the state, as in the most of the other part of India, is tropical. The summer comes to the state in April and continues for the next four months. The maximum temperature during this season is around 33°C. Monsoon touches the state in June and remains there till September though not much difference in temperature can be felt. Winter is from October to January and temperature drops a bit. The weather is never too chilly in Kerala.

Tourist Attractions of Kerala

Thiruvananthapuram: The capital of Kerala, earlier known as Trivandrum, it is known for its mild climate and pacing speed like any other developing city. The famous tourist sites that you must not miss are Sri Ananthapadmanabhaswamy temple, the Sri Chitra Art gallery, palaces of the family of the Maharajas of Travancore, museums, while the beautiful Kovalam beach is also not far away, just 18 km from here. All these make Thiruvananthapuram a pleasant Indian holiday destination in Kerala. Hot tourist spot Kovalam Beach is rated among the best beaches in the world.

Kochi: This city, often referred as "Queen of the Arabian Sea", is a busy port city, known for the Chinese fishing nets in its harbor, the Jewish synagogue, St Francis Church, the Dutch Palace at Matancherry, Fort Cochin and the Santa Cruz Basilica. Cochin harbor is also an attractive tourist sight with ships, people and tourists come to enjoy the mystic moments of the sea.

Alappuzha: It is one of the most scenic backwaters of Kerala, near this town of the coast of Kerala. The annual snake boat races that are held during the Onam festival, where teams compete for the Nehru Gold Cup is a popular tourist attraction where crowds gather to cheer their favorite teams.

Kumarakom: This group of islands, in Vembanad Lake is an out of this world destination. The beauty of the swaying palm trees, green paddy fields, waterways and the sound of birdsong from the nearby bird sanctuary makes your tour to Kumarakom, truly unforgettable.

Munnar: This hill station in Kerala is famous for its lush green slopes covered with tea and spice plantations. Munnar's greenery and quiet ambience provides a relaxing getaway as you can enjoy nature walks and treks along the hill slopes, as well as adventure activities such as hang gliding and paragliding. If you're a wildlife enthusiast, the sight of the rare Nilgiri Tahr, is sure to excite you. The spice plantations and spice markets- where pepper, vanilla and cashew are sold is an additional tourist attraction in Munnar.

Periyar: A well-known wildlife sanctuary in Kerala, Periyar is situated around Periyar Lake. This wildlife reserve is a Project Tiger sanctuary, where you can see the Royal Bengal Tiger, Elephants, particularly along the banks of the lake when they arrive in herds to drink and bathe. Many species of birds, deer and monkeys can also be seen. A boat cruise on Lake Periyar is the best way to observe the animals for the visitors, without disturbing them.

The Beaches and Waterfalls in Kerala

The beaches of Kerala lure tourists from worldwide. Kovalam Beach in Kerala, is very popular with both international and domestic tourists. You can enjoy sunbathing on the sandy beach, or swimming in the Arabian Sea. There are also facilities for tourists who want to enjoy water sports such as surfing, jet skiing, water skiing and catamaran rides. Another famous beach in Kerala is Kappad Beach near Kozhikode, where Vasco da Gama, the Portuguese voyager is said to have landed in Kerala in 1498. Other beautiful beaches you will enjoy visiting when you travel to Kerala are Varkala Beach, Marari Beach and Bekal Beach in Kerala, India. While trotting through Kerala nature lovers would love to halt at any of the enchanting waterfalls like Athriapilly, Thommankuthu, Chethalayam and Soochipara. The scenic beauty of these beaches and waterfalls waterfalls in Kerala infuses freshness in the onlookers.

The Exotic Kerala Backwaters

The Kerala backwaters are the tranquil palm-fringed waterways that connect villages along the coast, particularly around Allapuzha. They are the intricate association of lagoons, lakes, rivers and canals fringing the coast of Kerala. The most popular backwater trip is the eight-hour voyage between Kollam and Alappuzha. You can also follow a shorter trip, from Alappuzha to Kottayam and Changanassery for a typical Malayali (local) experience. The backwaters bring to you an opportunity to travel by boat or a small dongi along these backwaters is one of the highlights of a tourist visit to the state. The dongi boats cross dark, shallow, palm-fringed waters studded with Chinese fishing nets, and present you a heavenly spirited sailing experience. Stops are made at small settlements where people live on carefully cultivated narrow lands amidst scenic beauty.

The Calming Ayurveda

Ayurveda of Kerala is one of the most attractive features of Kerala. This traditional system of healing and rejuvenation is a secret now revealed worldwide. Kerala is the only state in India, which practices this system of medicine with absolute dedication. This system of medicine, which attracts chiefly the western tourists, lays stress on the prevention of body ailments in addition to curing them. Kerala's calm climate and natural abundance of medicinal resources, with an added advantage of cool monsoon are best suited for curative and restorative Ayurveda packages. Once you experience the Kalari Marma Chikitsa, Kalari therapy and Marma therapy while your tour to Kerala, it is bound to be your memorable experience for whole life, leaving you asking for more and more.