Kerala is one of the most beautiful places to visit, tagged as “God’s Own Country”. It is home to elephants and coconuts, long, sweeping beaches, and backwater canals that take you through rice fields up to the tea plantations. Diverse landscapes, diverse people and a diverse history and culture make Kerala one of the top tourist destinations in India. Make sure you take in these places on your next visit to Kerala.
- Alleppey
The City of Alleppey is well-known for its backwaters, beaches, boat races and temples. It is also home to some famous Ayurvedic spas. Along the Arabian Sea Coast, Alleppey is the oldest of the planned backwater towns of Kerala, a place where you can see rivers that crisscross the sea. There are plenty of lagoons, canals, beaches, and backwaters so it is little wonder that it has earned the nickname of “Venice of India”. Take in the life in the tropical villages and the houseboats on the backwaters on your visit to Alleppey.
- Kumarakom
Kumarakom is located on the banks of the largest lake in Kerala, the Vembanad Lake and is a collection of tiny, reclaimed man-made islands. Along with Alleppey, Kumarakom is full of backwater areas that form some of the most important of the Kerala tourist centers, The Taj Garden Retreat, an old sprawling bungalow turned into a resort, offers fishing and boating opportunities while the backwater resort of Waterscapes, home to the Kerala Tourism Development Corporation, offers stilted buildings among the coconut groves, offering wonderful views of the backwaters, Here, you will also find a 14-acre bird sanctuary, a favorite place for waterfowl, wild duck, darters, egrets, cuckoo and the Siberian stork.
- Munnar
Munnar is a hill station, well-known for its peaks, lush exotic greenery, and tea plantations. Found in the Western Ghats, it is a commercial center for some of the largest tea estates in the world. There are vast swathes of protected lands, home to endangered and endemic species like the Neelakurinji and the Nilgiri Thar. Munnar is found on the banks of no less than three rivers – the Periavaru, Nallathani and Madupetti rivers. It has natural viewing points and is divided into two -Munnar, where you will find the guest houses and the bus station, and Old Munnar, home of the tourist information office. Three of the biggest attractions to see here are the tea plantations, the Salim Ali Bird Sanctuary, and the Eravikulam National Park.
- Kochi
Kochi, otherwise called Cochin, is located on the south-west coast. It is a busy commercial port that has a trading history dating back more than 600 years. It is often called the “Queen of the Arabian Sea” and is the industrial, financial and commercial center of Kerala. Throughout the city, you will see examples of the influence of the Phoenicians, Dutch, Portuguese, Arabs, Chinese and British, together with the Chera Dynasty and the Feudal Lords rule. Kochi is a collection of islands, connected by ferry and is home to art galleries, high-end stores, and heritage accommodations. It is a true mixture of vintage and future, with modern restaurants, shopping centers and stores intermingled with beaches, palaces, heritage sites, and temples.