Kerala owns the title of God’s Own Country which is very much apt. Kerala is blessed with abundance of lush green land, rivers, and backwaters, mountains with rain forests and a long coastal line. The climate of this place also plays an important role in bringing more tourists on Kerala tour packages from Delhi and other cities. Tourism in Kerala is a developing sector. There are several factors in Kerala which attracts the tourists like good places, nice climate, great food and friendly people. Kerala is also known as the land of spices. The vegetation here includes spices like black pepper, cardamom, cloves, ginger etc which are very famous in international markets. Kerala also exports tea. Another important crop is Coconut. Kerala derives its name from the coconut tree. Kerala means the land of coconut trees. Kerala is situated between the Arabian Sea on one side and the Western Ghats on the other side. The landscape of Kerala includes a variety of beaches, hill stations, forests, mountains, backwaters, rivers, lagoons, fertile plains etc.
The Coastal Line
The long coastal line of Kerala which runs like a backbone along the length of the state has many beautiful beaches like Kovalam beach, Varkala beach, Alappuzha beach, Cherai beach,Chavakkad beach, Ponnani beach, Kozhikode beach, Muzhapilangad beach, Payyambalam beach, Kasargod beach etc. Kovalam is a beach town in Thiruvananthapuram with several serene beaches which attract many tourists. There are many good resorts on the beaches at Kovalam where you can stay and enjoy the beauty of Kerala coast during your Kerala packages from Delhi. You can also get your adrenaline pumped up by activities like surfing and gliding with the waves or simply take a dip in the blue waters of the calm sea. Varkala beach is a cliff-side beach with good scenic beauty. The cliffs found in Varkala, adjacent to the Arabian Sea are a unique geological feature on the otherwise plain Kerala coast. It is declared as a geo-heritage site and a geological monument by Geological Survey of India (GSI). The Papanasam beach is considered to have holy waters which wash away all sins. Alappuzha beach is a tourist attraction where there is a 150 years old pier which extends to the sea. Cherai beach, Chavakkad beach, Ponnani beach, Kozhikode beach, Payyambalam beach and Kasargod beach are some of the major beaches which line the coastal strip of Kerala. Muzhapilangad beach is the only drive-in beach among these. There you can enjoy a ride in your car seeing the waves and feeling the salt tasted wind on your face.
Hill stations of Kerala
Some of the famous hill stations of Kerala are Munnar, Thekkady, Vagamon, Ponmudi, Lakkidi, Vythiri, Idukki, Peerrmedu, Malampuzha and Mattupetty. Munnar is an ideal place to relax and unwind yourself. Take a break from your busy life to enjoy its unparalleled shades of green and nice climate. Munnar is situated at the confluence of three rivers, located at an elevation of about 1600m above sea level. The rolling tea-planted hills and the mist above them together make a lifetime memory indeed! Thekkady is yet another excellent destination for Kerala honeymoon packages. It is blessed with lush flora and diverse fauna. Periyar wildlife sanctuary is home to many elephants. You can enjoy elephant safari and boat ride in Periyar lake. You can go for trekking also there. Ayyampuzha, Gavi, Athirapally, Charalkunnu, Malayattur, Kalpetta, Thiruvambadi, Malakkappara, Vithura, and Ranipuram are some among the lesser known hill stations of Kerala. Though these places are less explored by tourists, they are like pristine beauties of nature, waiting to be discovered!
The Greener side – Rain Forests
Kerala is blessed with lush greenery and a varied wildlife. There is many reserved forest areas and protected biospheres in Kerala. There are more than twenty- five popular wildlife sanctuaries in Kerala. Periyar Wildlife Sanctuary, Parambikulam Wildlife Sanctuary, Idukki Wildlife Sanctuary, Chinnar Wildlife Sanctuary, Wayanad Wildlife Sanctuary, Neyyar Wildlife Sanctuary, Peppara Wildlife Sanctuary, Aralam Wildlife Sanctuary, Mangalavanam Wildlife Sanctuary, Thattekkad Wildlife Sanctuary, Chimmony Wildlife Sanctuary, Muthanga Wildlife Sanctuary, Tholpetty Wildlife Sanctuary etc are some of the wildlife sanctuaries of Kerala you can visit during your Kerala travel packages. Each one has its own specialties and set of flora and fauna. Kumarakom Bird Sanctuary and Kadalundi Bird Sanctuary are famous for the variety of migrating birds visiting them every year from distant lands. Eravikulam National Park, Silent valley National Park, Anamudi Shola National Park, Mathikettan Shola National Park and Pampadum Shola National Park are also situated in the protected forest areas of Kerala and are home to many species of birds and animals.
Mountains and Peaks
The Western Ghats stand taller as the eastern border of Kerala. They play an important role in bringing the monsoons in abundance to Kerala. Aanamudi is the highest peak in the Western Ghats and South India. The peak of Aanamudi is at an elevation of 2,695 meters, and a topographic prominence of 2,479 meters. Palakkad Gap is a low mountain pass in the Western Ghats with an average elevation of 140 meters and a width of 30 kilometers. The districts of Idukki, Wayanad, Malappuram, Kottayam and Pathanamthitta also have many big and small mountains. Some of them can offer you a good trek.
Rivers of Kerala
There is a network of 44 rivers across the land of Kerala. Among these, 41 flow to the West to join the Arabian Sea and the other 3 rivers flow in the eastern direction. These rivers are the blood line of Kerala which provides water for drinking, irrigation, power generation and agricultural needs. Bharathapuzha (Nila), Periyar, Pamba, Kabini are some of the major rivers of Kerala. There are many dams constructed in the rivers for irrigation purposes. There are many hydroelectric power stations as well.
Backwaters and Lagoons
Alappuzha is the land of backwaters. It is known as the Venice of the East for its beauty. Houseboats and smaller boats are available in Alappuzha. You can choose any kind of boat and enjoy a ride through the back waters. Snake boat race is conducted in the name Nehru Trophy Vallam Kali every year where snake boats compete against each other for the title of the fastest boat. Kuttanad, Kumarakom, and Pathiramanal are among the favorite destinations in Alappuzha. Canoeing or Kayaking or a simple boat ride, whichever you prefer you can experience in Alappuzha. There are many salt watered lakes and fresh water lakes in Kerala. Vembanad lake, Sasthamkotta lake, Ashtamudi lake, Pookkode lake, Vellayani lakes are among the freshwater lakes of Kerala.
The fertile Plain lands of Kerala
The fertile plain lands of Kerala are ideal for cultivation with the right amount of rainfall and other favoring factors. The main crops cultivated in Kerala are spices like black pepper, cardamom, cloves, nutmeg, ginger, turmeric etc. The staple of Keralites is rice. You can find acres of paddy fields in areas like Palakkad and Kuttanad. Other agricultural lands are used for food crops like tapioca, coconut, vegetables, regional fruits like jackfruit, plantain, mango etc. There are many estates or plantations with money crops like rubber, areca nut, coffee, tea beetle leaves etc.
The Rich Culture
The rich culture and the varied heritage of Kerala are worth exploring on your Kerala honeymoon packages from Delhi. There are many religions in Kerala like Hinduism, Christianity, Islam and they all thrive in mutual respect without any conflicts. The main festivals in Kerala are celebrated by all Keralites irrespective of caste and creed. Onam, the harvest festival, is the national festival of Kerala. Other major festivals are Vishu, Eid-ul-fithr, Christmas, Thiruvathira, Bakrid etc. In addition to these, there are many regional festivals like Thrissur Pooram, Aatukal Ponkala, Nenmara Vela and other festivals related to temples, mosques, and churches across the state.
The art forms of Kerala include Kathakali, Mohiniyattam, Ottan Thullal, Koodiyattam, Chakyarkoothu, Thiruvathirakkali, Kerala Nadanam, Margam Kali, Chavittu Nadakam, Oppana, Duff Muttu, Kolkkali etc. Kerala has also contributed well in the fields of literature and film industry with many gifted authors, artists, musicians and actors.
Kerala Cuisine
Kerala cuisine is famous for its flavors. Keralites love vegetarian and non-vegetarian varieties. Kerala Sadya, which is served on a plantain leaf, is famous for its number and variety of dishes. Non-vegetarian delicacies like beef roast, mutton chops, chicken varieties and seafood varieties are also very well known among tourists.
Districts in Kerala
There is a total of fourteen districts in Kerala. Thiruvananthapuram, Kollam, Pathanamthitta, Alappuzha, Kottayam, Idukki, Ernakulam, Thrissur, Palakkad, Malappuram, Kozhikode, Wayanad, Kannur and Kasargod are the fourteen districts of Kerala. Each district has its own unique specialties. Kerala is celebrating its 60 years on November 1st, 2016. Kerala was formed as a state on November 1st, 1956. The official language of Kerala is Malayalam. Thiruvananthapuram is the capital city of Kerala.
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