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| Kerala |
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 Kerala,
heralded as God's own country, lies on the south-west coast of India with
the vast Arabian Sea on its West and the Western Ghats in the East. It is
a virtual treat for the nature loving tourist, being blessed with a rich
landscape carpeted with green rice fields and dense tropical forests. While
the sea lovers can have unlimited fun on its picturesque beaches and in
its lagoons, for the explorers of tradition and culture Kerala proves to
be an amazing treasure trove. Equally enchanting are its emerald backwaters,
exotic wild life, beautiful waterfalls, historic monuments and misty hill
stations. It has over the years also emerged as an important destination
for health package tourism. The amazing nature cures and herbal massages
not just tone up the body, but also prove to be really soothing for the
mind and the soul. It would not be an exaggeration to state that Kerala
is an exotic mixture of nature's very best. For the devout pilgrim too Kerala
has much to offer in the form of ancient temples and beautiful churches. |
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| GETTING HERE |
Thiruvananthapuram, the capital of Kerala, is well connected by air, rail
and road to the rest of the country.
There are three international airports in Kerala at Thiruvananthapuram,
Kozhikode and Kochi. Kerala is well connected by rail and road to the rest
of the country.
Kozhikode: It has an airport at Karipur. It is also
linked to other parts of the country by rail and road.
Kochi: Its international airport has regular flights
to major cities in India and to Singapore, Colombo, Abu Dhabi, Dubai,
Kuwait, Jeddah, Muscat and Riyadh. Kochi and Ernakulam are also connected
to the rest of India by rail and road.
Alleppey: The airport nearest to Alleppey is Kochi (64
kms). Alleppey is connected by rail and road with Kochi and Thiruvananthapuram.
Kollam: The nearest airport is Thiruvananthapuram (71
kms), from where one can travel to Kollam by road or rail. Kottayam: The
nearest airport is at Kochi (76 kms). Kottayam is well connected with
the major towns in and outside Kerala by rail and road.
Munnar: The nearest airport and railhead are at Kochi
(130 kms). Munnar is well connected by road to Kochi and Kottayam (147
kms).
Periyar: It is connected by bus service to Thiruvananthapuram
(271 kms), Kochi (200 kms) and Kottayam (114 kms). |
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| WHAT TO SEE |
Thiruvananthapuram
Sree Padmanabha Swami Temple, Kanakakkunnu Palace, Observatory, Science
and Technology Museum, Government Secretariat, Kowdiar Palace, St. Joseph's
Cathedral, Tagore Centenary theatre and the museum and zoo, Napier Museum,
Natural History Museum, Reptile House and Shri Chitra Art Gallery, S.M.S.M.
Institute, Botanical Gardens at Palode and Chitranjali studio are some of
the tourist attractions in the city. The neat and clean Shanghumughom beach,
the Veli lake and Akkulam lake should not be missed.
Interesting places worth visiting in the neighbourhood of Thiruvananthapuram
city are Aruvikkara Water Works, Kovalam Beach Resort (12 kms), Ponmudi
Hills resort (61 kms), Neyyar Dam (29 kms, with two beautiful waterfalls,
a Lion Safari Park and a Crocodile Rearing Centre), Padmanabhapuram (about
40 kms - site of an ancient palace with antique murals) and Agastyakoodam,
second highest peak in Western Ghats.
Kozhikode
The important tourist spots in and around the city are Kozhikode beach,
Kappad beach, Beypore, Dolphin's Point (Lions Club park, Aquarium, Light
House and two piers), Sweet Meat Street, Pazhasirajah Museum, Art Gallery,
Krishna Menon Museum, Manachira (palace tank of King Mana Vikrama), Science
Planetarium, Regional Science Centre and Kalipoika (a wonderful recreational
boating centre).
A few places some distance from Kozhikode that are worth visiting are
Badagara, the commercial centre of the martial art form called Kalaripayattu
(48 kms); Thusharagiri with its three water falls; Kakkayam the dam site
with abundant wild life (45 kms); Peruvannamoozhy dam site with Crocodile
farm (60 kms); Velleri Mala, a beautiful location for trekking; Kadalundi
Bird Sanctuary (25 kms); the massive rock ‘Velliyamkallu’
situated 13 kms off Payyoli Beach; Edakkal Caves on Ambukuthi Hills; and
Pookot Lake half an hour ahead of Kalpetta.
Kochi
Besides taking a boat ride through the backwaters, which is a thrilling
experience, a tourist visiting Kochi and its precincts has numerous sightseeing
options like Chinese Fishing Nets, Fort Kochi beach, Mangalavanam Bird
Sanctuary, Museum of Kerala History, Marine Drive, St. Francis Church,
Vasco House, Santa Cruz Basilica, Jewish Synagogue and Jew Town, Bolghatty
Palace on Bolghatty island, Dutch Palace (Mattancherry Palace, known for
collection of mural paintings).
Tourist spots near Kochi are Hill Palace (16 kms) having a museum displaying
a fine collection of articles of royal splendour of the
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Rajas of Kochi,
Palliport Fort and Cherai Beach on Vypeen island, Veega Land (14 kms)
India's largest amusement park, Willingdon Island, Cheruthuruthy (110 kms) famous for its art and
dance academy, Kalady (48 kms) birthplace of Sri Adi Shankaracharya, Kodanad
wildlife reserve (30 kms), Periyar Wildlife Sanctuary (190 kms) and Thattekad
Bird Sanctuary (60 kms)
Alleppey
It is called the Venice of the East, for its backwaters and network of
canals. The attractions this place offers are Alleppey Beach, Alleppey
Backwaters, Pathiramanal island (haunt of rare migratory birds), Ambalapuzha
Temple, St. Andrew's Church, Marari Beach (Mararikulam) Mannarasala Sree
Nagaraja Temple and Chettikulangara Bhagavathy Temple. About 48 kms from
Allepey is Krishnapuram Palace known for its antique sculptures, paintings
and bronze artefacts.
Kollam
Tourist attractions in and around Kollam are Thevalli Palace (26 kms),
Ochira Temple, Palaruvi Waterfalls, Kollam Backwaters, Amrithapuri (32
kms), Shendurni Wildlife Sanctuary (70 kms), Thirumullavaram Beach (6
kms), Twin Temples at Cheriazheeakal, Ochira Temple (17 kms), Dharmasastha
Temple at Sasthamkotta and Thangasseri Beach (5 kms).
Kottayam
It is a small but panoramic backwater destination with many attractions
like St Mary's Knanaya Church, Thirunakkara Mahadev Temple, Mannanam (beautiful
church), Thazathangadi Juma Masjid, Panchikkad Temple, Ettumanur Shiva
Temple (12 kms), Chanaganassery, Kanjirappally (39 kms), Kumarakom (15
kms - wonderful backwater destination with a bird sanctuary and a driftwood
museum), Maramala Waterfalls, Pala (27 kms known for a number of churches,
temples and mosques as well as the Ayyampara and Poonjar Palace Complex)
and Kesari Waterfalls.
Munnar
Munnar hills (altitude 6000 ft) are breathtakingly beautiful with numerous
tea plantations, rich fauna and flora and natural wonders. Places worth
visiting include Devikulam Hill Station (7 kms from Munnar), Kundala (20
kms), Rajamala Wildlife Sanctuary (15 kms), Echo Point (15 kms), Attukal
Waterfalls (9 kms), Lock Heart Gap (13 kms), Chithirapuram Hill Station
(10 kms), Power House or Chinnakanal Waterfalls (18 kms), Mattupetti Hill
Station (13 kms) and Eravikulam Wildlife Sanctuary.
Periyar
Periyar is most famous for its Periyar Wildlife Sanctuary. Other attractions
around Periyar are Kumily, Chellarkovil, Pandikuzhi (picnic spot and trekking)
and Mangla Devi Temple. |
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