Arabian Holidays in Kerala – Explore The Kerala Tourist Places

Kerala, with its backwaters, coconut trees lining the water bodies, beaches, typical houseboats, historic temple towns, beautiful hill stations, and wildlife sanctuaries, has lots to offer to a tourist. Visit the lush green, mesmerizing Kerala and get your senses and vision touched by an exotic feel that refreshes you thoroughly. The tourist places of Kerala will appeal to any vacationer. Read on to learn more.

Kerala is one of the most unique destinations in India and is known as “God’s Own Country.” The climate of the place is suitable for holidays all year round. It has a shoreline that stretches over a long distance with beautiful beaches. There are lush hill stations and an exotic lifestyle in Kerala that makes it even more enchanting. The cuisine is unique, with charming destinations all over the state. Kerala is known for its 100% literacy rate. It has the best healthcare facilities and is considered India’s Cleanest State. The state has 14 districts, and tourism is the main attraction here.

The normal range of temperature is about 28-32°C, while winters are slightly cold. It is one of the most developed states with a high quality of life. The literacy rate of women is the highest in Asia. The Arabian Sea lies to the west, and Kerala has a network of forty-four rivers. The nearest airports are Thiruvananthapuram International Airport, Cochin International Airport, and Calicut International Airport.

The destinations are categorized as follows: Backwaters, Hills, Beaches, Monuments, Forts and Palaces, Museums, Picnic Spots, Pilgrimages, Wildlife, Waterfalls, Places of Interest, and Others.

Backwater

• Alappuzha is known for its canal cruises, where you can spend time in a country boat. The daily lifestyle of the area is maintained along this canal. Different kinds of houseboats are available here. The canal is linked with Vembanad Lake. During the boat ride, one can enjoy the sight of paddy fields and birds catching fish from the canal. There are also several islands where fishing takes place. Villages along the banks offer a chance to taste the local cuisine. The Alappuzha-Kochi cruise is an exotic journey aboard a royal houseboat in the backwaters of Vembanad Lake. The cool breeze and serene sunlight will relax you to the core.
• Alumkadavu, Kollam is the place where houseboats are built. The boats are beautifully crafted by the villagers using natural products like coconut fiber, bamboo poles, and wood. The place is also famous for manufacturing coir products.
• Ashtamudi is another backwater with eight channels, which is how it got its name. The lake is the second-largest in Kerala, and it takes about eight hours to enjoy the entire journey on the lake.
• Chandragiri Fort and River are situated between the Arabian Sea and the Payaswini River. The fort was built by Shivappa Nayaka of Bednore. The location is a great place to see the sunset, and the Pattu Utsavam festival is celebrated here.
• Chitrahaar is a beautiful island that can be reached only by boat. Kavvayi is a backwater famous for its flora and fauna. There are also some islands, and it has the largest wetland in northern Kerala.
• Kumarakom, a village in the Kuttanad region, is home to a bird sanctuary where migratory birds like Siberian storks, along with wild ducks, cuckoos, waterfowls, teals, herons, darters, and egrets, are found. The Taj Garden Retreat, a bungalow resort, offers fishing and boating facilities.

Other notable backwater lakes include Kumbalangi, Kuttanad (the rice bowl of Kerala), Mannanam, and Marine Drive, which is a famous hangout spot.

Beaches

• Kolavipalam Beach at Payyoli has golden stretches of sand, and the water is shallow, making it suitable for swimming. Turtles can be found on the beach. The Theeram Nature Conservation Centre is dedicated to protecting these turtles.
• Kizhunna Beach, 11 km from Kannur, is one of the most peaceful and less crowded beaches.
• Cherai Beach in Kochi is located to the north of Vypeen Island. Swimming is popular here, and occasionally, dolphins can be spotted. The beach is surrounded by thick coconut trees.
• Chowara Beach is famous for fishing. The ancient Analothbhava Matha Church is located here.
• Kasaragod, in the northern district of Kerala, has the Fort Beach, which is the most exotic beach in Kerala.

Other beaches worth visiting include Alappuzha Beach, Beypore in Kozhikode, Chavakkad Beach in Thrissur, Kanwatheertha Beach in Kasaragod, Kappil Beach, and Backwaters in Kasaragod.

Forts and Palaces

• Padmanabhapuram Palace in Kanyakumari is a wooden palace that showcases the rich art and architecture of Travancore. It has teak and rosewood ceilings with carved floral designs, royal chairs with Chinese carvings, mica windows, and mahogany musical bows. The 17th and 18th-century works of art are stunning. The Durbar Hall is constructed using a mixture of river sand, charcoal, burnt coconut, jaggery lime, and egg white, which gives it a shiny black color. The palace’s enormous teak beams, paintings, and Belgian glass add to its royal appeal.
• Nilambur Kovilakam, Malappuram, is the residence of the rulers and is famous for its beautiful frescoes. The artwork is also noteworthy. Nearby is the Vettakkorumakan Temple, located on the grounds of the Nilambur Royal Family.
• Bekal Fort in Kasaragod is one of the best-preserved forts in Kerala. From the top of the fort, one can enjoy a view of the Arabian Sea. The fort has canons from different centuries and holds international significance as a filming location for several movies.
• Anjengo Fort in Varkala, located on the Anjengo seacoast, was an old British fort now under National Heritage Movements.

Other forts and palaces to visit include Bastion Bungalow in Fort Kochi, Kilimanoor Palace, Koyikkal Palace in Thiruvananthapuram, Krishnapuram Dutch Palace, Mattancherry Dutch Palace, Poonjar Palace in Kottayam, and Pierce Leslie Bungalow in Fort Kochi.

Hills Stations

• Ilaveezhapoonchira is a popular trekking destination with clear water lakes. What makes it unique is that the valley has no trees.
• Devikulam Hills in Munnar has velvety lawns, a variety of flora and fauna, and Sita Devi Lake, which is rich in minerals and used for fishing.
• Chembra Peak, located in the southern part of Wayanad, is famous for trekking. It is the tallest peak in the region and has a heart-shaped lake that never dries up.
• Grampi, located near Peerumedu, is known as Eagle Rock and is surrounded by cardamom, tea, and coffee plantations.

Other notable hill stations include Echo Point in Munnar, Edakkal Caves, Charalkunnu, Agasthyakoodam, Amrithamedu, Dhoni in Palakkad, Gavi, Iringal in Kozhikode, Jatayupara in Chadayamangalam, Kundala, Kuttikkanam, Madayipara in Kannur, Mattupetty in Munnar, Nadukani, Neelimala View Point, Neelakurinji bloom, Pattumala in Udupi, and Nelliyampathy Hills in Palakkad.

Monuments

Monuments like Bizhinjan rock-cut cave at Thiruvananthapuram, the Dutch Cemetery, Bekal Fort, and the Secretariat at Thiruvananthapuram are the famous monuments in Kerala.

Museums

The Ambalavayal Heritage Museum at Wayanad stores a collection from the second century A.D. The museum consists of clay sculptures, curios, stone weapons, bows, and arrows.

The Tea Museum at Munnar is a place that preserves exquisite varieties of tea. Tata Tea started the museum at Nallathanni Estate. Visitors can learn about the various stages of tea processing in the museum.

Other museums in Kerala include the Water Museum and Bio Park, Vaidyaratnam Ayurveda Museum, Thunchan Memorial at Tirur, Thakazhi Museum, Peak Museum at Nilambur, Sree Chitra Enclave, Revi Karuna Karan Memorial Museum, Police Museum at Kollam, Pazhassi Raja Museum and Art Gallery, Arakkal Kettu Museum at Kannur, Archaeological Museum at Thrissur, Hill Palace Museum, Indo-Portuguese Museum, Keralam, Koyikkal Palace, Krishnapuram Palace, Kuthiramalika Palace Museum, Maritime Museum at Kochi, Museum of Kerala History, and the Napier Museum.

Wildlife

Kerala is the home of several wild animals and birds. Several sanctuaries like Aralam Wildlife Sanctuary, Begur Wildlife Sanctuary, Chimmini Dam and Sanctuary, Kinnar Wildlife Sanctuary, Eravikulam National Park, Idukki Wildlife Sanctuary, Kadalundi Bird Sanctuary, Kumarakom Bird Sanctuary, Muthanga Wildlife Sanctuary, and many others play a pivotal role in conserving the flora and fauna of Kerala.

Water Falls

Kerala is beautified by various waterfalls like Adyanpara Waterfalls, Cheeyappara and Valara Waterfalls, Dhoni, Kanthanpara Waterfalls, Palaruvi Waterfalls, and many more.

Pilgrim Centre

Kerala has different cultures and religious beliefs. There are temples as well as churches. Temples like Achankovil Temple in Kollam, Alapra, Ambalappuzha Sree Krishna Temple, Ananthapura Lake Temple in Kasaragod, Aranmula Parthasarathy Temple, Arattupuzha Temple, Aryankavu in Kollam, Arthunkal Church, Bathery Jain Temple, Chakkulathukavu Sree Bhagavathy Temple, Champakulam Church, Chavara Bhavan, Chengannur Mahadeva Temple, Chendamangalam Synagogue, Cheraman Juma Masjid in Kodungalloor, and many more.

• Suggested Tour: Kerala Temple Tour Package

Culture

Kerala is famous for its festivals, magnificent destinations for travelers, and rich Ayurveda tradition and herbal medicine. The food habits of Kerala and the treatments have become a significant part of Kerala’s lifestyle. The rejuvenation therapy is famous in Kerala as it flushes out the toxic elements from the body. Kerala has grown immensely due to tourism and has achieved global importance. Tourism has helped Kerala in generating employment and earning revenue in foreign exchange. This has facilitated the overall development of Kerala.

As National Geographic Travel states, Kerala stands among the ten paradises of the world. Kerala offers different types of tourist packages, including honeymoon packages, Kerala destinations, and many more. Munnar is world-famous for honeymoon trips. Houseboats are an unforgettable and integral part of Kerala. The accommodation facilities are of various types to suit the tastes of the guests. There are jungle resorts, farmhouses, houseboats, and hotels. There is also the facility of enjoying the lifestyle of the village and Kerala culture in homestays.

Kerala is highly attractive for its ritual arts like Arjuna Nritham, Kalamezhuthu, Kavadiyattam, Margomkali, Mudiyettu, Paana, Padayani, Poothanum Thirayum, Theeyattu, Theyyam, Tholppavakkoothu, etc. Onam is their main harvest festival. During Onam, Kerala’s biggest celebration, the people create Pookkalam, a kind of floral carpet, which is designed in front of their houses. Besides the religious customs, the people of Kerala have five classical dance forms: Kathakali, Mohiniyattam, Krishnanattam, Koodiyattom, and Thullal. With the temple culture of the region, there are other dance forms like Padayani, Kaliyattam, Theyyam, and many more. Kerala tourism has introduced various packages for travelers from all over the world.

The tour package of Kerala comprises 4 nights and 5 days. The standard package for a family comes around ₹12,000. The excellent honeymoon package starts from ₹18,000 per couple. Kerala tourism received the Best National Tourism Award by the Government of India in 2009-10. Undoubtedly, Kerala is the most extraordinary place for travelers. The green beauty and the transparent water life are really appealing to everyone.

• Suggested Tour: Kerala Cultural Heritage Tour Package

Cuisine

Rice is the staple food of Kerala, and the diet is different from the rest of India. As it is a seaside state, non-veg food like fish and prawns are famous. Kerala does not have prejudices related to food. That is due to the education level prevailing in Kerala. The ample use of coconut is found in food. All forms of coconut, such as coconut powder, paste, coconut milk, and oil, are found in the cuisine. There are lavish spices like chilies, ginger, cloves, cardamom, and pepper in the food, which makes the food spicy hot.

Vegetarian foods are also famous on festival days, especially during Onam. Vegetables like onions, garlic, ginger, and beetroot are found in different food items. The cuisine is divided into four basic styles depending on the ingredients: Central Kerala, Southern Travancore, Central Travancore, and Malabar.

One of the most famous foods of Kerala is the Sadhya, which consists of several items such as Olan (a dish made of pumpkin), Koottukari, Isteew, Mezhukkupuratti, Erissery, Pachadi, Kichadi, Thoran, Kaalan, Injipuli, and Avial. All the items make up the grand Sadhya. Sambar and Parippu along with Achar are also served with food. Sweets like Adas, Kozhikode Halwa, Kozhukkatta, Pazham-pori, and Unniyappam are famous in Kerala.

• Must Read: Best Restaurants in Kerala That Must Try

With all the cultures, scenic beauty, and grandeur of Kerala, it becomes one of the most attractive locations. It attracts tourists not only from India but also from abroad throughout the year.

• Check out: Kerala Tour Packages