05/18/10 ~ Tour Services India

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Kerala Tourism Guide

Kerala Tourism - Kerala travel agents offering kerala tourism, Kerala Tourism Guide, tourism in kerala, kerala tourism travel, kerala travel tourism, kerala tours, tours to kerala, kerala backwater holiday, kerala beaches, kerala hill stations.

The travelers can plan the Kerala tours with their family or friends at any time of the season. Dotted with natural faculties the vacationers could grasp an opportunity to explore the placid regions of the state by availing the Kerala tour packages. There are many Kerala tour operators located in different parts of the region. These tour operators arrange special Kerala Pilgrimage tours .

There are infinite number of age old temples which could be visited by aspiring vacationers while on a Kerala India tours. The Kerala tours have something unique for every aspiring travel savvy person.

Kovalam Beach, Kumarakom, Munnar, Varkala Papanasam Beach, are some of the locations which could be visited by vacationers while on a Kerala tours.

The kerala backwaters tours are famous amongst honeymoon couples looking for complete seclusion. Dotted with crystal clear lakes, verdant mountains, swaying palm trees, Kerala beach tours have created special space in the heart of vacationers. The travelers who are really interested in wild life photography must prefer to avail the Kerala wildlife tours. Blessed with marvelous beaches, the aspiring travelers could discover the biological diversity of the region.

Sandwiched between the Lakshwadeep Sea and the Western Ghats, Kerala is a bustling little green-and-silver, coconuts-and-water state on the west coast of India. It is bounded by Karnataka to the north, Tamil Nadu to the east, and the Arabian Sea to the west.

Built on seven hills, Thiruvananthapuram - Capital of Kerala, is known for it's beach- Kovalam, the Sri Padmanabhaswamy Temple and various museums and palaces, Alappuzha for it's backwaters, Thrissur, the cultural capital, Kottayam for it's ancient churches, Kozhikode for its old world charm and the entrancing Ponmudi or Golden valley. Kerala tour offers this and much more.

The People: Kerala also has considerable ethnic diversity. The Malayali majority belong to the Dravidian group (local race) of early Indian people.

There is a small population of descendants of Indo-European migrants from the north. Certain hill tribes exhibit affinities with the Negrito peoples of Southeast Asia.

Most Keralites are Hindus, but there are also large Christian and Islamic, and lesser Jain and Jewish, minorities.

The official language is Malayalam. A long contact with the outside world has led to an intriguing blend of cultures and given Keralites a cosmopolitan outlook.

Culture of Kerala: One aspect of the state's rich cultural heritage is manifest in its varieties of religious architecture like ancient Hindu temples with copper-clad roofs, later Islamic mosques with "Malabar gables," and colonial Portuguese Baroque churches.

The land is a flourishing center of the Kathakali dance form.

The state has also a rich theatre tradition: the only surviving Sanskrit drama, Koottiyattam, is still performed by the Chakkiars of Kerala. Some principles of the Natya-Shastra are evident in their presentations.

Climate in Kerala

The climate is equable and varies little from season to season. The temperature normally ranges between 27ï¿½C and 32ï¿½ C in the plains but drops to about 21ï¿½ C in the highlands.

Winter - 32 to 20ï¿½C. Kerala is strongly buffeted by both the southwest and northeast monsoons. Rainfall in many parts of the state exceeds 118 inches. Best season: October to March.

Festivals of Kerala

10-days annual festival in January at Sreekandeswaram Temple, Thiruvananthapuram. In February, is the week-long Nishagandhi dance festival; Pooram festival in Thrissur around April-May, flavored food festival, at the Kanakakunnu Palace grounds, Thiruvananthapuram in May.

Onam Week celebrations, the annual harvest festival of Kerala begins in August and lasts for 10 days. Another important festival is the annual Pongala Utsavam, to which only women are allowed at the Attukal Bhagavathy Temple, Thiruvananthapuram. Therayattam festival is held to propitiate the gods and demons recognized by the pantheon of the Malayalis.

General Information:

Area : 38,863 sq. km.

Capital : Thiruvananthapuram (Trivandrum).

Language : Malayalam. English is widely spoken.

Religion : Hinduism, Christianity, Islam

Time : GMT + 5:30.

Currency : Indian Rupees.

Climate : Tropical.

Summer : Feb - May (24 - 33ï¿½C).

Monsoon : Jun - Sep (22 - 28ï¿½C).

Winter : Oct-Jan (22-32ï¿½C).

Kerala Beaches:

Most of India's finest beaches are in Kerala. For virtually its entire 900km in length, the Kerala coast is lined with sandy beaches, rocky promontories and coconut palms. Each year greater numbers of visitors arrive here in search of the tranquil, palm fringed beaches. Kovalam Varkala Kappad and Bekal are some of the most popular beaches of Kerala.

Wildlife:

Periyar Wildlife Sanctuary, Thekkady Rolling hills, tea and cardamom plantations welcome you to Thekkady. One of the largest wildlife reserves in India, the Periyar Wildlife Sanctuary is more popluar as a tiger reserve.

A boat ride on the splendid Periyar lake is the best way to experience the sanctuary. The greatest attraction here is the herds of wild elephants that come down to the lake to frolic in the waters.

Tiger, Sambhar, Bison, Spotted Deer, Leopard, Malabar Flying Squirrel, Stripe-necked Mangoose and so on can also be spotted inthe forest. Kumily, an important spice trade center, lies in the peiphery of the sanctuary. The Eravikulam National Park, Munnar 17kms. from Munnar, this is home to an assortment of wildlife such as the Nilgiri Tahr, Nilgiri Langur, Sambhar, Gaur and the Lion-tailed Macaque.

Waterfalls : Athirapally Waterfall: At the entrance to the Sholayar ranges, this 80 foot waterfall is a popular picnic spot. Vazhachal Waterfall: Just a short drive from Athirapally, this picturesque spot is adjacent to dense green forest land, and is a part of the Chalakudy river.

Pilgrimage Centres:

Guruvayoor Sree Krishna Swamy Temple (32km from Thrissur)

Sabarimala Sree Ayappa Swamy Temple (134km from Kottayam)

Malayatoor St. Thomas Church (47km from Kochi)

Beemapally (5km from Thiruvananthapuram)

Hill Stations:

Much of Kerala's exotic appeal is centred in the highland area of the Western Ghats. Not to speak of expansive, loamy plantations of tea, coffee, rubber and fragrant cardamom.

Munnar: 1600m above sea level, Munnar is a nature lover's paradise and was the summer resort of the British Government in the South India. Sprawling tea plantation, picture-book towns, winding lanes and holiday facilities make this a popular hill station.

Peermade: Situated 915 m above sea level, Peermade is on the way to the Periyar Wildlife Sanctuary. Here you will find sprawling tea, coffee, cardamom, rubber and eucalyptus plantations side by side with natural grasslands and pine forests.

Vythiri: Tucked away at the north eastern tip of Kerala, this quaint little hill station about 1300m above sea level is renowned for its coffee, tea, cardamom, pepper and rubber plantations.

Ponmudi: An idyllic hill resort with narrow, winding pathways and cool, green, wooden environs, Ponmudi is located 915 metres above sea level. Well known for its beautiful mountain flowers, exotic butterflies, small rivulets and springs, this hill station also has excellent trekking trails.

Accommodation In Kerala :-