Top 5 Must See Tourist Places in Kerala, India

A salubrious climate, sun-kissed beaches, placid stretches of backwaters, lush hill stations, exotic wildlife, meandering inland lakes, fascinating waterfalls, Ayurvedic spas, alluring art forms, wildlife sanctuaries, landmark cities and temples – all these and more have justifiably earned Kerala the appellation ‘God’s own country’. Kerala with Karnataka and Tamil Nadu as neighbors, is arguably the greenest state in India with countless palm trees, coconut groves and numerous plantations of cardamom, vanilla and pepper, tea and coffee. Wherever one goes in Kerala, he/she can enjoy nature in all its virgin beauty.

Trivandrum aka Thiruvananthapuram, is the political capital and one of the prime gateways to Kerala. Running alongside the southern coast of country with the backwaters of Arabian Sea, a sojourn in Trivandrum can be a fascinating experience. Trivandrum, a seaside city with many modern buildings parallel to the local traditional wooden houses, is a study in contrast. The chief attractions range from the Napier museums, Sree Chitra art gallery, Padmanabhapuram Palace, the famous botanical gardens and zoological parks. With an imposing seven tiered tower, the Padmanabhaswamy Temple draws huge crowd of devotees throughout the year.

The Kovalam beach situated 16 km, from Trivandrum City, is one of the much sought-after beaches of India. Because of its natural location, visitors flock here for a safe sea bath and it is a swimmer’s paradise. Kovalam consists of three successive small crescent beaches with low cost lodging houses and hence ideal for prolonged stay. On the way you can halt at Thiruvallam for some pleasant canoe rides in the serene backwaters.

Cochin or Kochi is the commercial and industrial hub of Kerala and it has one of the finest natural harbors in the world. Cochin can be best describes as a fragmented conglomeration of town connected by waterways. The waterways and backwaters lend Cochin a picturesque appearance. The buildings in Cochin reflect the Indian, Portuguese, Dutch, and English architecture. As a matter of fact, the backwaters extend east and south of the harbor and comprise of many tiny islands naturally evolved over a long time due to the alluvial deposits from the rivers that empty into them. The chief attractions of Cochin include Bolghatty, the scenic island home to the Bolghatty Palace built by the Dutch in 1744 AD and the historic Dutch Palace in Mattancherry that was presented to the Cochin Maharaja in 1555 AD and later taken over by the Dutch.

Miss not to see the Indira Gandhi Boat Race that is an annual grand gala conducted in the last week of December on the rolling backwaters of Cochin. The scintillating Cheeyappara and Valara waterfalls are located between Neriamangalam and Adimali on the Cochin - Madurai highway. That the Cheeyappara Falls cascades down in seven steps is a sight worth traveling miles to watch.

Alleppey, or Alappuzha as the locals would love to call it, is a place of immense natural beauty unmatched by any other in Kerala. Today, Alappuzha is acclaimed as a Backwater Tourist Center, attracting several thousands of foreign tourists each year. Alleppey is also famous for boat races, houseboat holidays, beaches, marine products and coir products. To call Alleppey as the Venice of The East would not be an over-statement. To get a total feel of Alleppey, you have to ride through the canals on small boats or anchor in the middle of the backwater lakes on a Kettuvallam (a type of cozy house boat) - spend the night under the star lit sky, listening to the resonant splash of water on to the boat. Pathiramanal is an enchanting island on the backwaters that is a favorite haunt of hundreds of rare migratory birds from different parts of the world.

A trip to Alleppey is incomplete without a visit to the Alappuzha beach one of the most delightful spots in the entire district of Alappuzha. The pier, which extends into the sea here, is reportedly over 137 years old. Alappuzha Backwater is renowned for its Snake Boat Race that takes place during the time of Onam, Kerala’s major festival.

Kottayam is a unique destination full of majestic hills, quiet lakes, tranquil valleys, lush green groves, plenty of back waters, temples and churches, aqua tourism, rubber plantations and shopping centers. Kottayam is known as the land of lakes and lagoons. If you are adventuresome, you can go on boat cruises. When at Kottayam, the one place you should not miss is the famed Vembanad Lake, which is a luxury picnic spot. Vagamon is another enchanting hill station noted for its scenic beauty, heritage and historical buildings, located amidst plantations of coffee rubber and cardamom.

Nestled in the rich terrains of the Western Ghats, Kerala has many exotic and memorable destinations to capture the attention of all types of tourists. Classical art forms, colorful festivals, cultural marvels, and ubiquitous greenery await travelers to this destination. Thekkady in Kerala is famous for its Periyar wildlife sanctuary and Tiger Reserve. Panchakarma, the powerful and proven rejuvenation therapy of Ayurveda has put Kerala in the global map of tourism.