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Edged by a thread of unbroken beach line,
the Kerala’s heart is composed of intensely
green paddy fields and a unique network of
rivers and lagoons. Upland Kerala,
relatively little visited, is composed of
hills thickly wooded with teak and rubber.
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Trivandrum which is also the state capital
has an exceptionally fine museum set in an
amusement park. Kovalam, one of the most
popular beaches in the country. Sri
Padmanabhaswamy temple in Trivandrum, and
Padmanabhapuram Palace are important
monuments. Cochin has been Kerala’s center
of
maritime trade for innumerable centuries.
Jew town, complete with an immaculately
preserved synagogue, has a flavor all its
own, while Tripunathura, at the other end of
the city, has many traditional houses with
central courtyards. Kerala’s multitude of
faiths – Islam, Judaism, and a host of sects
of Christianity and Hinduism – all coexist
harmoniously. Kerala’s traditions of dance
forms, which originated from temple worship,
can be witnessed at regularly held
performances. A five hour drive from Cochin
leads into thickly forested hills, past
rubber and spice plantations, and into
southern India’s tea growing district
headquartered at the charmingly old world
Munnar. From Kottayam to Alleppey is a world
of palm fringed waterways, a route which is
covered by motor launch. Elderly sailboats,
long barges transporting tons of coconuts
and tiny skiffs used to transport children
to school are common sights on these
backwaters. |
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Trivandrum |
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Trivandrum, the capital of the state of
Kerala, is a beautiful seaside city built on
seven hills. The city gets its name from the
word, Thiru Ananthapuram meaning the city of
Ananth or the abode of the sacred serpent
Anantha, on which Lord Vishnu, the preserver
of the Hindu trinity, reclines. |
Altitude: Sea level, Temperature:
(deg C)-Summer - Max.36.2, Min.20.6. Winter
- Max.35, Min.18., Rainfall: 170 cms
(May to November),
Best Season:
October to March. |
Places Of Interest:
Padmanabhaswamy Temple, Zoological Park,
Napier Museum, Sri Chitra Art Gallery,
Science & Technology Museum, Veli Lagoon,
Shanmugham Beach, Aruvikkara Dam and Neyyar
Dam, SMSM Institute. |
Excursions:
Kovalam- 16 kms, Kanniyakumari- 87 kms,
Padmanabhapuram Palace- 54 kms, Ponmudi- 61
kms Quilon- 72 kms, Suchindram Temple- 99
kms, Thekkady (Periyar Wildlife Sanctuary)-
272 kms, Varkala- 55 kms. |
Reach -
By Air: Connected to Bombay, Madras,
Cochin, Delhi & Colombo.
By Rail: Connected to Calcutta and
other important cities.
By Road: Calicut- 448 kms, Cochin-
223 kms, Kanyakumari- 87 kms, Madurai- 417
kms, Periyar- 272 kms, Ponmudi- 61 kms,
Quilon- 73 kms, Varkala- 55 kms. |
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Kovalam |
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On the Malabar Coast along the Kerala shore
line is a small village, called Kovolam is
16 kms away from Trivandrum, a sheltered bay
endowed with unusual beauty. This natural
bay is a safe sea-pool free from high waves
and surge. |
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The beach resort here is of international
standard.
Today Kovolam has become one of the most
popular beach hangouts in India. Kovolam
means a grove of coconut trees and truly the
coconut trees along the beaches gives it a
paradise of nature. |
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Alleppey |
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Alleppey situated in south of Cochin, is the
center for backwater cruises in Kerala. It
has a large network of canals which passes
through the town, provides its lifeline &
has a long sandy beach. It is also the
center of the famous coir products of
Kerala. Nehru Trophy Boat Race - the most
colourful snake-boat race in Kerala - is
held here on the second Saturday of August
every year. |
| Altitude: Sea level, Temperature:
(deg C)-Summer- Max 35, Min 22.5. Winter-
Max 32, Min 22., Rainfall: 254 cms,
Best Season: October to May. |
| Places of Interest: Backwater Cruise |
| Excursions: Ambalapuzha- 14 kms, Haripad- 33 kms. |
Reach -
By Air: Nearest Airport Cochin- 64
kms is connected to the major cities.
By Rail: Nearest railhead, Cochin- 64
kms is connected to major cities in India.
By Road: Cochin- 64 kms,
Calicut- 289 kms, Trivandrum- 159 kms,
Quilon- 85 kms, Haripad- 33 kms, Thekkady-
253 kms, Kottayam- 130 kms. |
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Quilon
(Kollam) |
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The present day Quilon is famous for its
varied modern industries, Cashewnut
Processing & Research, fisheries etc. for
the tourists coming from Trivandrum, Quilon
is the beginning of the magnificent
backwaters of Kerala. |
| Quilon like Alleppey
is also surrounded by beautiful coconut
palms presenting a panoramic view cruising
on this lake is very interesting. |
| Altitude: Sea level, Temperature:
(deg C) Summer- Max 35, Min 25, Winter-
Max 33.5, Min 24., Rainfall: 279
cms., Best Season: October to March. |
Places Of Interest:
Thangassery Light House and Backwaters. |
Excursions:
Chavara- 16 kms, Kundara- 13 kms, Courtallam
(Health Resort)- 104 kms, Alleppey- 85 kms. |
Reach -
By Air: The nearest Airport
Trivandrum- 71 kms is connected to Bombay,
Bangalore, Cochin, Delhi, Madras, Male &
Colombo.
By Rail: Connected to major cities in
India.
By Road: Chavara- 16 kms, Trivandrum-
71 kms, Varkala- 37 kms, Alleppey- 85 kms,
Kottayam- 110 kms, Thekkady- 198 kms,
Ernakulam- 152 kms, Kundara-13 kms, Trichur-
229 kms, Palghat- 308 kms, Calicut- 374 kms,
Cannanore- 461 kms, Kasaragod- 575 kms. |
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Kottayam |
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Kottayam situated in South of Cochin is a
cultural Center with beautiful Old churches.
Though a busy commercial city, on its west,
it has beautiful backwaters & on its eastern
parts it is full of greenery. At Vembanad
Lake in Kumarakam tourists can enjoy the
beautiful backwater trips. |
| Area: 15.54 sq. km., Altitude:
Sea level, Temperature: (deg C) Max
Min Summer- 35 Deg 22.5 Deg. Winter- 32 Deg
22 Deg, Rainfall:176 cms., Best
Season: October to March. |
| Places of Interest: Valiya Pally,
Thazhathangadi Mosque and Kumarakam. |
| Excursions: Periyar Wildlife
Sanctuary (Thekkady)- 114 kms, Ettumanoor-
13 kms, Vaikkom- 48 kms. |
Reach -
By Air: Nearest Airport is Cochin- 76
kms.
By Rail: Well connected with major
cities.
By Rail: Cochin-76 kms, Madurai- 248
kms, Kanyakumari- 267 kms, Thekkady- 114
kms, Trivandrum- 180 kms. |
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Periyar
Wildlife Sanctuary |
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The Periyar wildlife Sanctuary at Thekkady
is an important tourist attraction. It is
situated on the Periyar lake in the hills of
Western Ghats and is the finest sanctuary
for viewing & photographing Indian wild
elephants. |
| Altitude: 900 m to 2000
meters, Temperature: (deg C) Summer-
Max 29, Min 18. Winter- Max 21, Min 15.5.,
Rainfall: 203 cms (June to October),
Best Season: September to May. |
| Places of Interest: Indian Wild
Elephants, Sambar, Barking Deer, Wild Boar,
Tigers, Panthers, Wild Dogs, Bison, Spotted
deer, Leopard, Musk deer. Wildlife can be
seen in its natural habitat by cruising on
the lake in motorboats. |
| Excursions: Forest Arubi creek- 16
kms, Crusoe Island- 19 kms, Manakkavala- 10
kms, Mullakudy- 29 km Pavarasu 19- kms,
Periyar Dam- 12 kms, Thannikudy- 38 kms,
Peermade- 40 kms. |
Reach -
By Air: Nearest airport is Madurai-
140 kms connected with Madras, Trichy &
Bangalore.
By Rail: Bodinayakanur- 67 kms,
Kottayam- 114 kms.
By Rail: Cochin- 190 kms, Idikki- 66
kms, Kodaikanal- 160 kms, Madurai- 145 kms,
Munnar- 113 kms, Trivandrum- 272 kms,
Kottayam- 114 kms. |
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Cochin
(Kochi) |
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Cochin, the commercial hub of Kerala, is a
town of great historical importance. It has
a fine natural harbour around which the city
has grown. The Fort Cochin area, where the
Portuguese settled in the 16th century, has
been declared as Heritage Zone. |
| Climate: (deg C) Summer Max 35 deg
Min 22 deg. Winter Max 32 deg Min 20 deg.,
Rainfall: 254 cm (June to October),
Best Season: October to March. |
Places Of Interest:
Dutch Palace, Jewish Synagogue, St.Francis
Church, Bolghatty, Gunda and Willingdon
Islands, Kerala History Museum, Hill Palace
Museum, Parishath Taamburan Museum, Chinese
Fishing Nets, Santacruz Cathedral
(Basilica). |
Excursions:
Alwaye- 21 kms, Kalady- 45 kms, Alleppey- 64
kms, Trichur- 80 kms, Kottayam- 76 kms,
Guruvayur- 109 kms, Munnar- 136 kms, Idikki-
138 kms, Palghat- 163 kms, Periyar Wildlife
Sanctuary (Thekkady)- 190 kms, Sabarimala
209- kms, Calicut (Kozhikode)- 218 kms. |
Reach -
By Air: Connected with Delhi, Bombay,
Madras, Goa, Bangalore and Trivandrum.
By Rail: Connected with all the major
cities.
By Road: Alleppey- 64 kms, Bangalore-
565 kms, Kanniyakumari- 309 kms, Kodaikanal-
444 kms, Madras- 694 kms, Madurai- 324 kms,
Thekkady- 190 kms and Trivandrum- 223 kms |
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Trichur
(Trissur) |
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Trichur, 78 kms north of Cochin on National
Highway 47 lies at the base of a hillock,
crowned by the famous Vadkkumnathan (Shiva)
temple. This former capital of Cochin state
was captured by Zamorin and later by Tipu
Sultan in the second half of the 18th
Century. The famous pooram festival is
celebrated at the Vadakkumnathan Temple
every year during April-May. The Kerala
Sahitya Academy and Kerala Sangeetha Nataka
Academy are located in Trichur. The
Vadakkumnathan Temple is a classic example
of the Kerala Style of architecture. The
temple contains the sacred shrines of
Paramashiva, Parvathy, Sankaranayana,
Ganapathi, Sri Rama and Sri Krishna. |
| Altitude: Sea level, Temperature:
(deg C)-Summer- Max 35, Min 22.5, Winter-
Max 32.3, Min 20., Rainfall: 254
cms., Best Season: October to March. |
Places Of Interest:
Vadakkumnathan Temple, Town Hall, Zoo,
Aquarium, State Museum, Art Museum. |
Excursions:
Guruvayoor- 32 kms, Cheruthuruthy- 29 kms,
Peechi Dam- 23 kms, Tiruvilwamala Temple- 29
kms, Cranganore (Kodungallor)- 36 kms,
Triprayar- 25 kms, Irinjalakuda- 21 kms,
Kalady- 55 kms. |
Reach -
By Air: The nearest airport is
Cochin- 78 kms connected with Bangalore,
Bombay, Delhi, Goa, Madras, Trivandrum.
By Rail: Directly connected with
Bombay.
By Road: Cochin- 78 kms, Coimbatore-
114 kms, Kalady- 55 kms, Kanyakumari- 376
kms, Madras- 720 kms, Palghat- 67 kms,
Palani- 229 kms, Rameswaram- 222 kms,
Udhagamandalam (Ooty)- 202 kms. |
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Guruvayur |
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Guruvayur is one of the most sacred and
important pilgrim centers of Kerala,
attracting thousands of pilgrims from all
parts of the Country. Its chief attraction
is a temple dedicated to Lord Krishna known
as 'Guruvayurappan'. Guruvayur, with its
temple dedicated to Shri Krishna, is one of
the most popular pilgrim centres of India.
It is at this temple that Melpattur Narayana
Bhattathiri composed his renowned Sanskrit
devotional poem Narayaneeyam. |
| Altitude: Sea level,
Temperature: (deg C)-Summer- Max 35, Min
22.5. Winter- Max 32.3, Min 20.,
Rainfall: 254 cms., Best Season:
October to March. |
Places Of Interest:
Guruvayur Shree Krishna Temple and Punnathur
Kotta. |
Reach -
By Air: The nearest airport Cochin-
100 kms, is connected with Bangalore,
Bombay, Delhi, Goa, Madras, Trivandrum.
By Rail: Nearest rail head is Trichur-
29 kms.
By Road: Cochin-100 kms,
Coimbatore-142 kms, Trichur- 29 kms, Kalady-
65 kms, Palghat- 95 kms, Malampuzha- 109 kms,
Palani- 247 kms, Trivandrum- 294 kms,
Ootacamund- 230 kms. |
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