kerela: GOD’S LAND ON EARTH

Kerala, known as the land of god is among the most popular tourist spots in India. It is located on India’s tropical Malabar Coast near the Arabian Sea and its prime attractions include serene beaches, compose climate, beautiful stretches of black water and exotic wildlife. These assets
are enough for Kerala to attract a huge amount of tourists from around the country and all over the world every year. In the first quarter in 2019, the total number of tourist arrivals was around 45 million. The total number of arrivals from abroad was more than 1.6 million in 2018.
Kerala is home to some of the most wonderful and serene waterbeds, estuaries, lakes, canals, rivers etc. This huge interlock network of waterways can be travelled and enjoyed on a houseboat, without compromising on a comfortable stay as these houseboats hold all modern facilities including furnished bedrooms, modern toilets, a kitchen and a balcony for angling.
Some of the famous backwaters that can be enjoyed on a houseboat are Kollam, Alleppey, Kozhikode, Cochin and Kazaragod. Alleppey is known as ‘The Backwater Captial of India’ and ‘Venice of the East’ and is located two hours south of Kochi, the prime city of Kerala. From Alleppey the houseboat starts its journey, taking the tourists on an adventure through places like Kumarakom, Kottayam, and Alumkadavu. The houseboats usually travel 40 to 45 km each day, letting the tourists have a wholesome experience of the bests that Kerala has to offer. The
best time to visit is from September to March. Kerala houses a number of beautiful hill stations which has a lot to offer, including their dense
green attractive locations, acres of tea, coffee and spice farms, profuse and thick forests, an unusual or weird type of flora and fauna, intersecting mountain small rivers, amazing waterfalls.
Some of the famous hill stations include Thekkady, Munnar, Ponmudi, Lakkidi, Vagamon and many more. Of these, Wayanad and Munnar seem to be the favourites among the tourists as
they receive the maximum viewers each year. These hill stations with their pure beauty and perfect weather are going to make the tourist’s journey extraordinary and memorable. These are the all-year-round destination and can be visited at any time of the year.
That is not all for the tourists because Kerala has a number of beaches at Cherai, Bekal, Kovalam, Dharmadan, Fort Kochi, Beyporeand Allapuza. Kovalam beach is a popular surfing destination in Kerala. Kerala wildlife sanctuaries house a huge variety of animals, marine life
and birds of all species. Around fourteen wildlife sanctuaries and two tiger reserves are destined in the elaborate forest of the majestic Western Ghats. The wildlife sanctuaries worth visiting are
Chinnar Wildlife Sanctuary, Eravikulam National Park, Periyar Tiger Reserve, Thattekkad BirdSanctuary, Idukki Wildlife Sanctuary, Wayanad Wildlife Sanctuary and Kumarakom Bird Sanctuary. Kerala also has endangered species like the Lion-Tailed Macaque, Bengal Tiger,
Nilgiri Tahr, Indian Sloth-Bear, Indian Bison etc. These wildlife sanctuaries and national parks not only just let the tourist enjoy a view of some of the rarest and exotic species, but they also offer other enthralling activities like elephant riding in jungle, lion and tiger safaris, trekking, boating and much more.
Kerala’s equable climate, natural abundance of the forest with the wealth of herbs and medicinal plants and a cool monsoon season which starts in June and ends in November are best suited for Ayurveda’s curative and restorative packages. In fact, today Kerala is the only state in India which practises this system of medicine with absolute dedication. This is the reason why Ayurveda is such an integral part of Kerala’s tourism. A number of notable Ayurveda Medical Colleges and Hospitals are spread all across the State. Panchakarma is a term given to the five prolonged treatment that Ayurveda has to offer. This includes medicated oil, herbs, milk and a special diet which could be beneficial in curing all kinds of ailments. The tourists can get famous rejuvenating therapies, Ayurvedic spa, Ayurveda Yoga to relax their mind and soul.
Another major part of Kerala tourism is its cuisine. The cuisine here could be described to have drawn inspiration from the fusion of French, Malabari, and Arabian influences and enhanced with a touch of Kerala’s unique culture. This is why tourists love to indulge themselves in the spicy flavours of Kerala. Some of the staple ingredients of Kerala’s food include rice, coconut and fish. The flavours are enhanced with chillies, ginger, cardamom, mustard seeds, turmeric tamarind, black pepper, clove, cinnamon curry leaves, and asafoetida. The plate their food on banana leaves which is a part of the South Indian culture. Some dishes that the tourists cannot miss on include Idiyappam, Puttu and Kadal curry, Parippu Curry, Erissery, Dosa with Kerala style Sambar, Nadan Kozhi Varuthathu, Ela Sadya etc. Bekal Fort is the largest fort in Kerala and one of the oldest and most beautiful forts in India. India
has developed the Bekal Tourism Development Corporation to promote this tourist location. Kerala also holds the fourth largest Hindu temple in India, called Guruvayur Sri Krishna Temple. This temple is well known among the tourists for its magnificent charm and appeal. Munroe Island is formed by a cluster of eight islands and is interconnected by a turquoise network of canals. Other important tourist attractions include Fort Kochi, Athirapilly Water Falls, Vembanad Lake, Mattancherry Palace, Edakkal Caves, Napier Museum, Wonderla, Shree Padmanabhaswamy Temple, Santa Cruz Cathedral Basilica, Kowdiar Palace etc.
October to March is the best time to visit Kerala. All kinds of hotels and resorts, equipped with the latest amenities are available in Kerala. Kerala is well connected by roads, railway and air. One can reach Kerala from almost every part of the country because it has good rail connection and
almost two hundred railway stations. It has three international airports at Trivandrum, Kochi and Kozhikode. All the major tourist attractions in the state can be easily reached by buses, trains and autorickshaw. Kerala is an ideal option if the tourists are looking for a place to visit this
holiday season. Tourists have to visit Kerala to realize why it is known as ‘God’s own Land’.