Kerala Cochin Kochi General Tourist,Tourism,Tour,State,Information,Hotspots,Tourist Spots-Places,Places of Interest of coastal kerala,south india,land,people,arts,crafts,ayurveda,beaches,wildlife,backwaters,backwater cruise,houseboats

General Information

| General Information | Tours |

Kerala is a popular and ideal place for a holiday, it has been rated by National Geographic as one of the best 50 destinations in the world.

It is a small, densely populated state, occupying a long strip of land along the south west coast. The state is relatively poor in natural resources, but is blessed with a rare natural beauty and a variety of terrain. Sandy beaches, mountain streams, and valleys, rain forest, blue lagoons, lush vegetation, wildlife, birds, and a lot more. The people are intelligent, talented, cultured, and friendly. Literacy is 100 percent, and almost every one can communicate in English.

The Land & Its People

The Highlands of Kerala rising to 1600 m, slope down from the hill range called the  Western Ghats. Tea, coffee, rubber, cardamom and other spices, are grown here. The midlands lying between the Western Ghats and the lowland coastal areas  are made up of undulating hills and valleys. This is an area of intensive cultivation. Cashew, coconut, areca nut, cassava (tapioca), banana, rice, ginger, pepper, sugar cane and vegetables of different varieties are grown in this area. The Lowlands or the coastal area, which is made up of the river deltas, backwaters and the shower of the Arabian sea, is essentially a land of coconuts and rice. Fisheries and coir industry constitute the major industries of this area.

Ruled by the Chera dynasty untill AD 400, Kerala attaracted spice traders from as far away as Rome. During this period, Hinduism, Buddhism, and Jainism were introduced to this region by monks and migrants. Saint Thomas, the Christian apostle, founded the "Syrian" Church before A.D. 100. Jewish migrants established a settlement in Cochin in the 900's. Arab merchants, whose descendants are locally known as Moplahs, introduced Islam into Kerala. . In 1498, the Portuguese explorer Vasco da Gama landed at Calicut, He was followed by the Portuguese navigator Pedro Alvares Cabral in 1500. Now began the Portuguese dominance of trade on the Malabar coast. The Dutch pushed out the Portuguese in the 1600's but King Martanda Varma of Travancore decisively crushed them in 1741. Martanda Varma unified Travancore under his control. In 1792, the East India Company of Britain annexed Malabar.

Today Hindus form the largest religious group in Kerala. There are also large Christian and Muslim minorities. A tiny number of people are Buddhists, Jains, or Jews. Most of Kerala's inhabitants speak Malayalam, a Dravidian language. Some of India's least modernized, tribal peoples live in the hill regions of Kerala.

Arts & Crafts

Spectacular visual effects and stunning music are hallmarks of Kerala's performing arts. In a land, which cannot boast of monumental architectural feats, unlike many other parts of India, the performing arts, both individually and collectively, make up for the lost magnificence.

Most Kerala dramas are a mixture of poetry, music, and dance, featuring stories from the Indian folk epics. Kerala's best known dance forms is Kathakali Its movements and gestures depicts a range of emotions- Joy. Sorrow. Love. Loathing. Peace. Anger. Wonder. Horror. Kindness. Passion. Fear. Valour. For the lover of dance, drama and music, Kerala is heaven.

Vibrant and packed with centuries of unbroken tradition, the festivals of Kerala seldom stray far from the realms of magic, A thousand colours, Mesmerizing music Fireworks, Processions of gold bedecked elephants are all there to experience.

Traditional crafts include processing cashews and coconuts, and weaving. Coconuts have long been used to produce fibers, soaps, and cosmetics. Traditional manufacturing crafts still surviving in Kerala include making furniture, mats, and pottery; rattan work; and making brass and leather goods.

Ayurveda – the ancient science of wellnes

Ayurvedic treatments are aimed at keeping an individual in fine fettle. It gives special emphasis on the prevention of disease. Ayurveda, lays down norms that help an individual maintain spiritual health. ‘Rasayana, a branch of Ayurvedic treatment, enables the diseased to regain lost vitality.  Different Ayurvedic treatments are ‘Panchakarmas’ Therapeutic vomiting, Purgation, Cleansing enemas , Nasal application of herbs and Rejuvenation (Ramayana).

Holiday destinations

Kerala offers diverse destinations comprising beaches, backwaters, hill resorts, tea coffee and spice plantations, wildlife viewing, rain forest explorations and bird watching. There is also the fascinating city of Cochin ( now called Kochi) to explore.

Cochin (Kochi)

Built on a series of islands and peninsulas, it is the heart of Kerala and reflects the history and diverse cultures. Here you can see the oldest church in India, winding streets, mosques, and 500 years old Portuguese houses, cantilevered Chinese fishing nets, a Jewish community, 16th Century synagogue, and a Portuguese palace; latter renovated by the Dutch containing beautiful murals. The older parts of Fort Cochin and Matancherry are a unique blend of medieval Portugal, Holland and English country village put together on the tropical Malabar Coast. 

It is also a good place to witness a performance of Kathakali dance drama, and “Kalaripattu” martial arts.

Backwater Escapades

The essence of Kerala is its swaying palms and glistening waterways; which come together to create the magical web of the backwaters. They offer you both a large expanse of water and an intricate network of canals to explore by boat. Here time flows at a measured pace merging yesterday and tomorrow into an enchanting timeliness

The backwaters are connected to Cochin by boat, rail and car. You can spend 02 nights to a week enjoying the ambiance of the backwaters by taking a relaxed holiday at one of the backwaters resorts, or at a unique backwaters farm.

Beaches

Kerala has many beaches.  A beautiful, curving, palm fringed-beach of golden sands has made Kovalam a very popular destination in Kerala. It is located 15 km from Trivandrum and offers a variety of hotels & resorts. There is a vast variety of beach holidays to choose from – from plush resorts, to home-stays and private cottages.

Wildlife & Nature at Periyar

The Periyar National Park at Thekkady in Kerala, is one of the Project Tiger Reserves in India. The Periyar River was dammed in 1895, by a British engineer, working for the Maharajah of Travancore. The Maharajah granted protection to the adjoining forests and the 55 sq kms reservoir. Set high in the ranges of the Western ghats, the artificial picturesque lake is at the heart of the sanctuary. It meanders around the contours of the wooded hills, providing a perennial source of water for the local wild life.

The Park is 4 km from the nearest town, Kumily. It is approached only by road. The nearest railhead is 114 km, at Kottayam on the Ernakulam-Thiruvananthapuram line. The nearest airport in Kerala is Kochi, 190 km from the Park.The terrain is basically hilly, and the only flat areas of the sanctuary are the grasslands, at the edges of the lakes. Impregnable forests and open grasslands make for a sustaining environment, for both the carnivore and herbivore population of the reserve.

Periyar is famous for its Wild Elephants; which is around 800 in number. Herds of elephant and Sambar, gaur and wild pigs wander down to the lake-side and can be observed from the launches that cruise the lake. Other animals include the gaur, wild pigs, Sambar, barking deer, mouse deer, dhole (Indian wild dog) , the rare lion-tailed macaque, the Nilgiri Langur, bonnet macaque. And the Nilgiri Tahr. There are also over forty  tigers. A variety of birds can also bee seen in numbers.

There are several ways of exploring the Periyar Sanctuary. Most people do it by boat. A two hours boat safari at dawn and dusk, is the best time to sight animals as they come out to drink water. Trekking can also be arranged to venture deep into the forest. Accompanied by a tribal guide you will be dropped off by boat at the far end of the lake, for a rare adventure – not for the faint hearted.

There are a few fascinating tribal villages around the Periyar, primarily the Manan and Oorali tribes. The Manans are ace fishermen, and a few of them still indulge in the traditional, if dangerous, practice of collecting the honey of large and deadly hill bees. The Ooralis build tree dwellings, though not as residences, but as watchtowers to keep wild pigs, and elephants from ruining their crops

The best time to visit Periyar is between October and April.

There is a choice of resorts around Thekkady , set in the heart of the Cardamom Hills, from where you can explore the sanctuary whilst staying in comfort surrounded by nature.

Back waters cruise by House boat

A backwaters cruise is a chance to glide through the backwaters in your own houseboat, and see the real Kerala  pass by. Your single bedroom, 02 bedroom or even 03 bedroom boat with tiled shower and toilet will have a sun deck, with dining arrangements. Your own cook will accompany, and take you on shopping trips to village markets for fresh vegetables and fish. Taste authentic Kerala cusine and seafood. Stop as you like at un spoilt beaches, quaint villages and bazaars and even explore the countryside on bicycles or bullock carts.

 When you step abroad a “Kettuvallum” you step back into history for these boats have been plying the inland waterways for untold centuries. In fact when Vasco da Gama dropped anchor off the Malabar coast in 1498, they were already a common sight, carrying their cargo of rice and spices. It is likely that they were there in 52 AD when St Thomas the Apostle first set foot in this region, bringing Christianity. The Kettuvallam is made out of seasoned Jackfruit planks, virtually stitched together with coir rope, with traditional vertical and diagonal stitches, using a large needle carved out of a palm frond. All holes are plugged using hand-rolled coir plugs, which are waterproofed by soaking in sardine and cashew oil. A similar process is followed for the lateral seams, using a combination of raw and ripe coir

Although your private houseboat is equipped with a quite outboard motor, the working Kettavellum is assailed or punted through these backwater by-ways under the control of two boatmen, one fore and one aft. Finding bottom with their long bamboo poles and leaning into the task, they propel the craft forward by walking precariously along the side of the boat, some ten steps towards the stern, as the boat glides gracefully beneath them.

Only natural materials have been used in furnishing. The idea is to use only local products. The decks are carpeted in coir matting. Local textile and simplicity of décor create a light, airy atmosphere. The furniture made from local timber and cane, with colorful cushions completes the interiors.

The arched canopy consists of, split bamboo lashed together with coir binding and covered with palm fronds. The sides of the canopy can be lifted to form winged awnings, thus ensuring both shade and cool breeze, whilst creating a wide opening to view life as it passes by on the waterway.

"Thank you very much for a wonderful experience. I have never has such a welcoming & excellent service. The food was exquisite - traditional Kerela cooking, lobsters, musells and fish cooked in such wonderful ways.

A very big thank you to the captain and his crew for making our cruise so memorable"

Nicolette
England

The climate is tropical. The season is from October to March. Gateway airports are at Cochin and Trivandrum 

Train connections are available from all parts of India. 

We have pleasure in offering our selection of holiday destinations and Tours of discovery.