Kumarakom - Most popular tourist destination in Kerala

Kumarakom

Kumarakom is an attractive tourist destination in Kerala located on the banks of the Vembanad Lake in Kottayam district. Kumarakom is surrounded by backwaters and is one of the most important tourist destinations for backwater cruises in Kerala. Kumarakom is famous for its lagoons, houseboats, backwaters and canals. Being located in the midst of backwaters, Kumarakom is home to one of the most important bird sanctuaries in Kerala and several species of migratory birds can be spotted here.

Tourist attractions

1.Kumarakom Bird Sanctuary

A shot from the motor boat

The Kumarakom bird sanctuary is located on the banks of the Vembanad Lake and is one of the most important bird sanctuaries in Kerala. It is spread across 14 acres. It is home to rare species of migratory birds that include Siberian stork, egret, fly catchers, wood beetles, darter, heron, king fishers and teal among others. Migratory birds even from the Himalayan region in North India also flock to the Kumarakom bird sanctuary in Kerala.  It is one of the “must see” tourist destinations in Kerala. Large numbers of national and international tourists visit Kumarakom to stay in these beach side hotels and resorts and undertake boat cruises along the backwaters in Kumarakom. 

2.Pathiramanal

Pathiramanal is a 10 acre island set in the midst of the Vembanad Lake. Pathiramanal is also known as the sands of midnight and can be accessed only by boat. There is a mythology associated with the island and it is believed that a Hindu priest wanting to perform his evening ablutions dived in to the lake and the water made way for the island to rise up from below. Pathiramanal is a forest with several rare species of migratory birds flocking to the island. It is one of the most important tourist attractions in kerala and is accessible from Alleppey also. Boating facilities are available to visit this famous tourist spot in Kerala.

3.Aruvikkuzhi Waterfalls

The Aruvikkuzhi waterfalls are one of the important picnic spots in Kerala and are 2 km from Kumarakom bird sanctuary. The waters here cascade down from a height of over 100 feet and tourists arriving in Kumarakom also visit these waterfalls that are a magnificent sight to watch.

4.Houseboat Cruises

On over last visit to Kumarakom

Kerala Houseboats also called Kettuvalloms in Kerala are an important feature of Kerala tourism. These houseboats are on average over eighty feet in length and feature all the comforts of a modern day star hotel. A luxury house boat comes with clean and hygienic toilets, swimming pool on upper deck, a balcony for angling, open lounge, kitchenette, well furnished bedrooms, air conditioners, and a crew comprising of two oarsmen and a cook. The houseboats are made of Anjily, a hardwood available in Kerala.

 These house boats are luxuriously furnished and a houseboat cruise along the Kerala backwaters in one of these luxuriously furnished house boats is an experience of a life time. Some of these modern day houseboats, however, are powered by outboard engines. These house boats offer the best Kerala fish delicacies and fresh fish are caught straight from the backwaters. The pearl spot fish, also called Karimeen is one of the most important fish delicacies in Kerala and this forms a part of the menu in the houseboat apart from lobsters, crabs etc. A house boat cruise along the Kerala backwaters in Kumarakom is a must for all tourists visiting Kerala and is an experience of a life time.

Must Things to do

•   Backwater Cruise

•   Rowing Country Boat

•   Herbal body toning massages

•   Water skiing

•   Night fishing

•   Taste Sea food

Location/Best time to go

Location:

Kumarakom is located 16 km away from Kottayam town, Central Kerala. Nearest railway station is Kottayam about 16 km and the nearest airport is Cochin International Airport, about 75 km to the North.

Best time to go

January - March and September - December.

Kovalam - A Beach Town

At Kovalam Beach

Kovalam is a beach town on the Arabian Sea, 16 km outside Thiruvananthapuram (Trivandrum) city in Kerala. Kovalam means a grove of coconut trees.

Kovalam was brought to the public eye by the Maharaja of Travancore. The European guests of the then Travancore kingdom discovered the potential of Kovalam beach as a tourist destination in the 1930s. However, Kovalam shot into limelight in the early seventies with arrival of the  of hippies. This started the transformation of a casual fishing village of Kerala into one of the most important tourist destinations in  India- the Kovalam beach.

Tourist attractions

1. Light House Beach

This beach has been the favorite haunt of most Europeans since the 1930s. The Kovalam beach has wonderful Sapphire blue waters and palm trees swaying to the salty breeze.  It is known as the paradise of the South. Innumerable numbers of tourists both national and international flock to this sun filled sandy beach at all times of the year. The beach is rather shallow and offers tourists an opportunity to wade further in to the water. There are a significant number of star hotels, resorts and ayurveda treatments offering the tourists several accommodation options.

2.Hawah Beach 

The second largest one is Hawah Beach named thus for the topless European women who used to throng there. Hawah Beach is actually an extension of Lighthouse Beach .It was the first topless beach in India. Top free bathing and parading is banned now except in private coves owned by resorts.

3.Vizhinjam Village 

Vizhinjam Village

The coastal village life of Kovalam is vibrant and rich with a variety of activities like coir manufacturing, coconut leaf weaving, fish markets and the like. There is a marine aquarium with a variety of fishes such as clownfish, squirrelfish, moon wrasse, sharks, lionfish, butterfly fish, giant turtles, triggerfish, surgeonfish, piranhas, etc.  There are rock cut sculptures of the 18th century in the cave temple at Vizhinjam. The granite cave here encloses a one-celled shrine with a loose sculpture of Vinandhara Dakshinamurthi. The outer wall of the cave depicts half complete reliefs of the Hindu God Shiva with Goddess Parvathi.

4.Vizhinjam Fishing Harbour

A small fishing village just 2 km from Kovalam is known for the Vizhinjam Fishing Harbour which is the busiest fishing harbor in Thiruvananthapuram. The innumerable fishing boats coming and going to the harbor with the setting sun are a delightful sight.

5.Jama Masjid 

A small mosque by the name of Kovalam Jama Masjid stands on the Ashok beach and right across, on the other side of the road, is a Ganapati Temple. It is a very famous mosque and lot of people visits every day.

At Travancore Heritage

 Must Things to do

•   Sunbathing

•   Swimming

•   Herbal body toning massages

•   Catamaran cruising

•   Taste Sea food

Location/Best time to go

Location:

Kovalam is located around 16 km from Trivandrum city, south of Kerala. Nearest railway station is Thiruvananthapuram central about 16 km and the nearest airport is Trivandrum International Airport, about 10 km to the North.

Best time to go

January - March and September - December.

Munnar - The most sought after tourist destination in South India

We are at Munnar

Munnar is one of the most popular hill stations in India. Situated at the confluence of three mountain streams - Mudrapuzha, Nallathanni and Kundala,at 1600 meters above sea level, this was once the summer resort of the erstwhile British Government in South India. Sprawling tea plantations, picture book towns, winding lanes, trekking and holiday facilities make Munnar a unique experience. 

Besides enjoying the rolling mists and endless greenery, you can arrange a tea factory visit and a stopover at the Tea Museum. To get  close to some of the worlds last Nilgiri tahr (a variety of mountain goat or ibex), visit nearby Eravikulam National Park. Existing only in the mountain grasslands of the Western ghats at altitudes above 2,000m (6,561 ft.), the tahr is as endangered as the tiger.

Tourist Attractions

1.Eravikulam (Rajamalai) National Park:

Nilgiri Thar

45 mins from Munnar. Nilgiri Thar (Hemitragas hylocres) - an endangered species of mountain goats, rolling grasslands and sholas, spread over 97 sq km in the Rajamalai hills, rare flora and fauna, Atlas moth (largest in the world), lion-tailed macaque, leopards, tigers, The Kurichi or Neelakurinji Flowers turn the hills of Rajamalai blue every 12 years. The next bloom will be in 2018. One can actually debate if going to the high peak just to see some goats is worth all the effort or not. However, the walk along the park is very romantic and has some breath taking view. 

2.Mattupetti Dam:

10km from Munnar, this popular picnic spot activities like boating and horse riding and is a great place to spend the day especially if visiting with children.

3.Echo Point:

Just near to to an Elephants

15km from Munnar, on the way to top station from Munnar is a small lake set amidst rolling hills. Every loud call made from a spot on the lake embankment is returned manifold by the echo from the surrounding hills. Young tourists throng to this place to listen to the echoes of their friendship calls. 

4.Top Station:

37km from Munnar on the Kerala and Tamil Nadu border, has great views of the Western Ghats. Top station is the "top"-tourist attraction. This place gives a real above the clouds experience. Regular buses go to Top Station (1 hr) from Munnar. A jeep costs Rs 400. The area is known for the Neelakurunji plant, which flowers only once every twelve years. The flower is violet. 

5.Kundala Lake:

This lake is very beautiful amidst lush jungles. Hiring a pedal boat and exploring the lake and its surroundings is an awesome experience. Except at the place you hired the boat, dont expect to find humans around the lake as it is surrounded by scenic jungles and hills.

6.Devikulam:

This idyllic hill station with its velvet lawns, exotic flora and fauna and the cool mountain air is a rare experience. The Sita Devi Lake with its mineral waters and picturesque surroundings is a good picnic spot. The lake is also ideal for trout fishing. It is 7 km away from Munnar.

Must Things to do

•   Explore Tea Gardens

•   Trekking

•   Wildlife Safari

•   Go fishing

•   Absorb nature

Location/Best time to go

Location

Nearest railway stations: Theni (Tamil Nadu), about 60 km away towards the North and Ernakulam about 130 km away towards the west.

Nearest airports: Madurai (Tamil Nadu), about 140 km away towards the North and Nedumbassery International Airport, about 125 km away towards the west.

Best time to go

August - May.

Alleppy- The Venice of the East

Alleppey

Alleppey, also known as Alappuzha is a beach city located on the shores of the Arabian Sea in Kerala. Alleppey is famous for its beaches, canals, streams, backwaters and lagoons and is affectionately called the Venice of the East. Alleppey is one of the most important tourist destinations in Kerala as it is famous for its boat cruises, boat races, beach resorts, backwater resorts and lake resorts. Alleppey is also the center of coir industry in Kerala and boasts of having the largest number of coir factories in Kerala. Alleppey, due to the presence of canals and backwaters it has become the center of houseboat cruises and backwater tourism in Kerala.

Tourist attractions

1.Houseboat Cruises

Myself & Husband at the Houseboat

Kerala Houseboats also called Kettuvalloms in Kerala are an important feature of Kerala tourism. These houseboats are on average over eighty feet in length and feature all the comforts of a modern day star hotel. A luxury house boat comes with clean and hygienic toilets, swimming pool on upper deck, a balcony for angling, open lounge, kitchenette, well furnished bedrooms, air conditioners, and a crew comprising of two oarsmen and a cook. The houseboats are made of Anjily, a hardwood available in Kerala.

These house boats are luxuriously furnished and a houseboat cruise along the Kerala backwaters in one of these luxuriously furnished house boats is an experience of a life time. Some of these modern day houseboats, however, are powered by outboard engines. These house boats offers the best Kerala fish delicacies and fresh fish are caught straight from the backwaters. The pearl spot fish, also called Karimeen is one of the most important fish delicacies in Kerala and this forms a part of the menu in the houseboat apart from lobsters, crabs etc. A house boat cruise along the Kerala backwaters in Alleppey is a must for all tourists visiting Kerala and is an experience of a life time.

2.Kuttanad

Kuttanad is famous for its inland waterways and is full of canals, streams and backwaters. Kuttanad is a favored tourist destination for tourists in Kerala as the place boasts of having several fully furnished houseboats and tourists are seen cruising along the backwaters in these house boats. Kuttanad is also called the rice bowel of Kerala and is one of the few places in the world where cultivation is done below sea level. A visit to Kuttanad offers the tourists a chance to mingle with the local population and learn their customs and traditions. Kuttanad is home to some of the best fish delicacies in Kerala, especially the Karimeen (pearl spot fish) that are available in abundance.  Fishing facilities along the Kerala backwaters are also available to the tourists during their houseboat cruises in the Kerala backwaters.

3.Vijaya Beach Park

Vijaya Beach Park is another well known tourist attraction in Alleppey situated on the Alleppey beach. Vijaya Park is also a favorite picnic spot in Alleppey and families can be seen taking their children along and spending leisure moments in this park. Vijaya park also offers boating facilities and the park is open from 1500 hours to 2000 hours. There is an entrance fee of Rupees. 2 per person and children below the age of 5 are given free admission to the park.  Charges for boating facilities in the park are Rs. 10 for 10 minutes.

4.Sea View Park

Sea View Park is also another important tourist place in Alleppey to visit. The park offers boating facilities and a swimming pool and is also a one of the major picnic spots in Alleppey as it is located on the beach. 

5.Ambalappuzha Sree Krishna temple

The Ambalappuzha Sree Krishna temple is one of the most important Hindu temples in Kerala and is built in the typical Kerala temple architectural style. The temple is located at a distance of 15 km from Alleppey and this Hindu temple in Alleppey is famous for the paintings that are on display in the inner walls of the temple. Ambalappuzha Sree Krishna Temple is also famous for its Palpayasam, a deliciously sweet milk porridge.

6.Coir Factories in Alleppey

Alleppey is famous for its coir industry and there are several coir factories in Alleppey that manufacture coir for the domestic and international market. Many tourists arriving in Alleppey visit coir factories to learn about coir manufacturing process. Most coir factories allow free entrance to tourists. Coir factories are an important tourist attraction in Alleppey and a “must see” destination for all tourists visiting Alleppey.

 Must Things to do

•     House Boat Cruises

•     Boat races in Alleppy

•     Enjoy beauty of backwaters

•     Visit to Coir factory

•     Enjoy ayurveda

Location/Best time to go

Location:

The nearest airport is Cochin, about 65 km to the north and Trivandrum airport is approx 225 km to the south. Nearest Railway Station is Alleppy.

Best time to go

January - March and September - December.