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Travel to Kerala

Travellers have come to the seaside paradise of Kerala, a beautiful state in Southwestern India, for centuries. Aptly called "God's Own Country," visitors have travelled to this beautiful land drawn by its famed spices, natural beauty, tropical climate, friendly people and rich cultural heritage. St Thomas, one of the disciples of Jesus, travelled to the Malabar Coast as early as 52 A.D., to spread his religious message.

Whether it's a spiritual connection, ayurvedic therapy or simple relaxation you're looking for, when you travel to Kerala you'll find it has it all, and so much more… The Arabian Sea gently splashes alongside a beautiful coastline of sunlit beaches, lined with coconut palms swaying in the sea breeze. The placid backwaters come alive with snake boat races and the silence of the green countryside is broken by the trumpeting of grandly-decorated elephants at Temple festivals.

You can relax on a pristine beach, rejuvenate yourself with treatments at an exotic spa, travel through lagoons and backwaters in a houseboat, watch herds of elephants in the wild, visit some of the highest tea estates in the world, taste the delicious local cuisine, be enchanted by a traditional Kathakali dance performance, celebrate the colourful festivals, interact with the friendly people of one of India's most literate states, enjoy the tropical weather and realize why this beautiful corner of India is truly God's own country, while you're in the Incredible India travel destination of Kerala.

Some of the tourist attractions of Kerala are:

Thiruvananthapuram:

Previously called Trivandrum, the capital of Kerala is located near the sea and has a pleasant tropical climate. This city is home to the famous Shree Anantha Padmanabhaswamy temple. There are several grand palaces of the maharajas of Travancore state, an observatory and a museum with fine works of art and a collection of antique jewellery, the Shree Chitra Art Gallery with works of art by Kerala's renowned painter Raja Ravi Verma and a collection of Tanjore Paintings.

Kovalam Beach:

Located 18 km from Thiruvananthapuram, this beach is considered to be one of the best in the world. Apart from swimming and relaxing on the white sands, you can enjoy surfing, water skiing and a catamaran ride.

Varkala:

The striking geography of this beautiful beach has made it very popular. Behind the beach are towering cliffs that contrast with the white sands and the blue sky and clear water.

Backwaters:

Travelling through the backwaters of Kerala on a traditional kettuvallom or houseboat is a tour like no other. The tranquil water, the green palm-fringed coast, the sounds of sea birds calling, tropical vegetation and friendly people. It is an experience to cherish forever.

Kumarakom:

A cluster of islands located on the Vembanad Lake, with mangrove forests, a bird sanctuary, paddy fields, palm trees, and waterways, this getaway feels like a corner of paradise.

Periyar National Park and Tiger Reserve:

Also known as Thekkady, this wildlife reserve located in the Western Ghats, is home to a large population of elephants and a number of tigers. The rare Nilgiri Tahr can also be seen here. A large lake within the park on which you can travel in a boat and observe the animals at leisure is an added attraction.

Silent Valley National Park:

Situated in Palghat district, this tropical biosphere reserve, is home to many rare plants and animals, including tigers, lion tailed macaques and elephants. This forest is considered the last representative virgin tract of tropical evergreen forest in India.