Kerala, which enjoys a tropical climate, literally means ‘land of coconuts’. Although palms shade almost the entirestate, most of the land is paddy-covered plains. Notably, Kerala also boasts the best beaches in India, including

Kovalam. It is a state that is endowed with many kinds of natural beauty, including no less than 44 rivers, awestern seaboard, sandy beaches, palm trees, mountains, waterfalls and a variety of wildlife.

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A Land of Beautyand Tranquillity

KeralaCity Tourism

Kerala is also home to countless temples of great importance, inaddition to churches and mosques. Indeed, it is a country renownedfor its religious tolerance. At dawn, one can hear the sound of templedrums along with the sonorous cry of muezzins calling the faithful toprayer. The majority of the population is, of course, Hindu, but thereare sizeable numbers of both Muslims and Christians.Different invaders, from the Portuguese to the Dutch and British, haveall left their mark on Kerala, and there are monuments to colonialismeverywhere. Northern Kerala is place where the Roman armiesarrived in India, with Vasco de Gama alighting there. And it is also theplace where Phoenicians and Arabs traded.Kerala is on the southernmost tip of India, stretching along the coast ofthe Arabian Sea and separated from the rest of the subcontinent by thesteep Western Ghats. The breadth of the state varies from 32km in theextreme north and south to over 120km in the centre of the state. It isgeographically very much at the edge of India, a federal state that ishome to no less than seven universities and 186 colleges. The peopleof Kerala are mostly literate and English is widely spoken.

It is a feast for the eyes, and the list of places of interest in Kerala isimpressively exhaustive, with museums, forts, places of worship,spas, on-going festivals, colourful folklore and art. We present here aquick tour of some of the more prominent provinces of Kerala.

Alappuzha With the Arabian Sea on the western side and a vast network of lakes,lagoons and freshwater rivers criss-crossing it, Alappuzha is a districtof immense natural beauty. It is about 1,414sq.km in area and has aPopulation of 21 million. The province, which has been referred to asthe Venice of the East, is also home to diverse animal and bird life. Byvirtue of its proximity to the sea, Alappuzha has always enjoyed aunique place in the maritime history of Kerala.Today, it has grown in importance as a backwater tourist centre,attracting several thousand foreign tourists every year. Alappuzha isalso famous for its boat races, houseboat holidays, beaches, marineproducts and coir industry.A singular characteristic of Alappuzha is the region called

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Kuttanad, which, with its lush paddy fields, isknown as the Rice Bowl of Kerala and is oneof the few places in the world where farmingis done below sea level.The Mannarasala temple is a site of snakeworship in Kerala and houses 30,000 imagesof snake-gods. Here one will also find theChurch of St Sebastian, one of the mostimportant Christian sites in the state.

ErnakulamErnakulam is located on the coast of theArabian sea. The commercial capital and themost cosmopolitan city of Kerala, Kochi, inErnakulam, is also known as the Queen of theArabian Sea. It has an area of 2,408sq.km anda population of 31 million.Ernakulam has one of the finest naturalharbours in the world, once a major centre ofcommerce and trade with the British, Arab,Chinese, Portuguese and Dutch colonisers. It isno wonder then that Ernakulam and its environshas so many forts and colonial houses.Fort Immanuel was the bastion of thePortuguese in Kochi, a symbol of thestrategic alliance between the Maharajah ofKochi and the King of Portugal, after whom itwas named. Built in 1503, the fort wasreinforced in 1538. By 1806, the Dutch, andlater the British, had destroyed most of thewalls of the fort as well as its bastions.Today, remains of this once imposingstructure can be viewed all along the beachIn the 1660s, Fort Kochi peaked in stature as aprime commercial centre and its fame spreadfar and wide - variously as a rich tradingcentre, a major military base, a vibrant culturalhub, a great shipbuilding centre, a centre forChristianity, and so on. Today, centuries later,the city is home to nearly thirteen communities.A few interesting sites included in the tour arethe Chinese fishing nets along the Vasco DaGama Square, Santa Cruz Basilica, St FrancisChurch, VOC Gate, and Bastion Bungalow.Apart from these architectural splendours, anarray of restaurants serving fresh seafood arealso popular among tourists.The Chinese fishing nets erected on teakwood and bamboo poles work on the principleof balance. Records say they were first set uphere between 1350CE and 1450CE. Vasco DaGama Square, the narrow promenade thatruns parallel to the beach front, is the bestplace to watch these nets being lowered into,and pulled out of, the sea.Fort Kochi is also home to one of India’s oldestchurches – that of St Francis, a RomanCatholic church built during Portugueseoccupation (1503 - 1663). At the time it was aDutch Reformist church (from 1664 to 1804),and an Anglican church from 1804 to 1947.Today, it is governed by the Church of South

India (CSI). Another important fact about thechurch is that Vasco de Gama, who died in1524, was buried here before his remainswere returned to Portugal 14 years later.The Jewish Synagogue in Kochi is the oldestin the Commonwealth and is famous for itsHebrew inscriptions on stone slabs, greatscrolls of the Old Testament and ancientinscriptions on copper plates. There is alsothe Kaladi which is the birthplace of thephilosopher Adi Sankaracharya, with itsmagnificent architecture.

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IdukkiA landlocked district, Idukki is one of the richestareas of natural beauty in Kerala. It has an areaof 5,019sq.km and a population of 11 million.High ranges (2,200m above sea level) andwooded valleys are girded by three main rivers- Periyar, Thalayar and Thodupuzhayar - andtheir tributaries. The Pamba river also has itsorigin here. As a tourist destination, Idukki offersdiverse attractions including wildlifesanctuaries, hill stations, spice plantations,mountain treks, elephant rides, and so on.

Cheraman Juma -Thrissur Qƒ°SôK -¿ÉeGô°T óé°ùe„Ernakulam has one of the finest natural harbours in theworld, once a major centre of commerce and trade with the British,Arab, Chinese, Portuguese and Dutch colonisers. It is no wonderthen that Ernakulam and its environs has so many forts andcolonial houses.

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ThekkadyThe very sound of the word Thekkady conjuresup images of elephants, unending chains ofhills and spice-scented plantations. It is 900-1800m above sea level and has one of thefinest wildlife reserves in India (in the Periyarforests of Thekkady). Spread across the entiredistrict are picturesque plantations and hilltowns that hold great opportunities for treks

make Munnar a unique experience. You mayalso want to visit Keezharkuth, or the RainbowWaterfalls, which cascade down from a heightof about 1500m. This can be viewedthroughout the year. The forest aroundKeezharkuth is home to various medicinalplants and is an ideal place for rock climbing,mountaineering and trekking.

KannurWith the Western Ghats to the east (Coorgdistrict of Karnataka State), Kozhikode andWayanad districts to the south, LakshadweepSea to the west and Kasaragod to the north,Kannur is bounded by a wealth of naturalbeauty. It enjoys the credit of having been thecradle of many a colourful folk art and folkmusic of Kerala. It has a population of 24million and an area of 2,997sq.km.Thrichambaram Sri Krishna is a sacredplace of the Vaishnava cult, although thereare other important temples in this area. Theancient Madayi Mosque was built by Malikibn Dinar in the 12th Century.

KasaragodThe northernmost district of Kerala,Kasaragod is renowned for its coir and

and mountain walks, including Munnar.Munnar, one of the most popular hill stations inIndia, is situated at the confluence of threemountain streams-Mudrapuzha, Nallathanniand Kundala. Located at 1600m above sealevel, this was once the summer resort of theerstwhile British Government in South India.Sprawling tea plantations, picture book towns,winding lanes, trekking and holiday facilities

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handloom industries. It is home to 12 millionpeople and extends over an area of1,961sq.km. Fishing is a prime source oflivelihood in Kasaragod which is popularlyknown as the land of the gods, forts, rivers,hills and beautiful beaches. The fort at Bekal,which is in Kasaragod, is the largest andbest preserved fort in the state.Kasaragod has a variety of styles in templearchitecture - the unique style of the MadhurMahaganapathy Temple, the typical Keralastyle of the historic Malik Deenar Great JumaMasjid, and others, speak volumes about therich cultural heritage of the region. Thespectacular pageants of Theyyam,Yakshagana, Kumbla (buffalo race),Poorakkali, Kolkali, and so on, continue toenchant visitors.Kasaragod has, over the years, acquiredconsiderable importance as a centre ofIslam on the western coast of India. Thehistoric Malik Deenar Juma Masjid, whichwas built in the typical Kerala style, isbelieved to have been founded by Malik IbinDeenar. The Juma Masjid, which is one ofthe best kept and most attractive in thedistrict, is located at Thalankara.

KollamLocated 71km to the north ofThiruvananthapuram, Kollam is the centre of the

country’s cashew trading and processingindustry. One of the oldest ports on the Malabarcoast, it was once a central port in theinternational spice trade. Thirty per-cent of thishistoric town is covered by the renownedAshtamudi Lake, making it the gateway to themagnificent backwaters of Kerala. It has an areaof 2,579sq.km, and a population of 26 million.The district has, in addition, some interestinghistoric remnants and a number of temples built

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Tea Gardens at Devikulam - Munnar

in the traditional ornate architectural style of theregion. The Kottumkulangara temple is famousfor a festival in which men wear female attire.

KottayamBordered by the lofty Western Ghats to the eastand the Vembanad Lake and paddy fields ofKuttanad to the west, Kottayam is a land ofunique characteristics. Panoramic backwaterstretches, lush paddy fields, highlands,extensive rubber plantations and a literatepeople have given this district the enviable title,land of letters, latex and lakes. The region alsoboasts the first Malayalam printing press whichwas established by Benjamin Bailey, a Christianmissionary, in 1820. It is 2,203sq.km in areaand has a population of 20 million.The mausoleum of Shaykh Fariduddin atThangalppara gives this area a particularsignificance for Muslim pilgrims. Nearby isthe scenic hill station of Kurathikallu and thebeautiful Kottathavalam. The Juma Masjid atThazhathangadi is an ancient mosque on thebank of the Meenachi River and believed tobe a thousand years old.The Valiapally (St Mary’s Church) was built in1550, close to the Cheriapally which wasbuilt in the same century.

KozhikodeOnce the capital of the powerful Zamorinsand a prominent trading and commercecentre, Kozhikode was the most importantregion of Malabar in days gone by. Today,lush green countryside, serene beaches,historic sites, wildlife sanctuaries, rivers,hills, a unique culture and a warm, friendlyambience make Kozhikode a populardestination. As the name suggests, land andwater have struck an extraordinary kinship atThusharagiri (lit. misty peaks).

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It has an area of 2,206sq.km. and apopulation of 28,78,498. The plantation,which abounds in rubber, arecanut, pepper,ginger and spices, is a trekker’s delight.Trekkers begin early morning from thesecond waterfall on the hills and climb upthrough the pristine dense evergreen foreststhat are teeming with exotic birds andanimals, reaching Vythiri in Wayanad districtby evening.

MalappuramMalappuram (lit. land on top of hills) issituated 50km south-east of Kozhikode.Bounded by the Nilgiri hills to the east, theArabian Sea in the west and Thrissur andPalakkad districts to the south, Malappuramis enriched by three great rivers flowingthrough it - the Chaliyar, the Kadalundi andthe Bharathapuzha. It has an area of3,550sq.km and is 2,340m above sea level,with a population of 37 million.Malappuram has a rich and eventful history. Itwas the military headquarters of the Zamorinsof Kozhikode since ancient times. This districtwas the venue for many of the Mappila revolts(uprisings against the British East IndiaCompany in Kerala) between 1792 and 1921.The hill country has also contributed much tothe cultural heritage of Kerala. It was,moreover, a famous centre for both Hindu-Vedic learning and Islamic philosophy.The Jamaat Mosque, Malappuram, is animportant pilgrim centre for Keralan Muslims,and the four-day annual festival at the mosqueis celebrated in the month of April. Adjoining themosque is the mausoleum of the MalappuramShaheeds (martyrs) whose brave exploits havebeen immortalised in the Mappila ballads.There is also Pazhayangadi Mosque,Kondotti (18km east of Manjeri, on the way to

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Malappuram). The three-day Valia Nerchafeast at this 500 year-old Muslim pilgrimcentre, celebrated in February /March, is alocal cultural event.

PalakkadThe district of Palakkad is known as the granaryof Kerala, and is a land of valleys, hillocks,rivers, forests, mountain streams, dams andirrigation projects. Situated at the foot of theWestern Ghats is the gateway to Kerala fromthe north. Palakkad derives its name from theMalayalam words Pala (Alsteria scholaris) andKadu (forest) which goes to prove that thisplace was once a beautiful stretch of forest

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1784, after an eleven-day seige, the fort wascaptured by the British. Tipu Sultan lost his lifein 1799 in an encounter with the British and thefort later came to be known in his name.There is a famous mosque in this area, JumaMasjid, which houses the shrine of UthmanAuliya who is revered by the locals.

Pathanamthitta Pathanamthitta, a hilly terrain of pristinebeauty is popular as the headquarters ofpilgrim worship in Kerala. It is 500-1000mabove sea level, with an area of 2,731sq.kmand a population of 12,31,577. Fifty per-centof this land is covered by forests.

The district is frequented by visitors fromIndia and abroad often for its water fiestas,religious shrines and a cultural trainingcentre. Parthasarathy temple is a majorattraction in this area and is the starting pointfor the snake boat race during summertime.

ThiruvananthapuramLocated at the south-western tip of India,Thiruvananthapuram district is bounded by theArabian Sea to the west and Tamil Nadu to theeast. The wooded highlands on the WesternGhats in the eastern and north-easternborderland serves Thiruvananthapuram withsome of India’s most enchanting picnic spots.A long shoreline, with internationallyrenowned beaches, historic monuments,backwater stretches and a rich culturalheritage make this a much sought aftertourist destination. It is also the capital ofKerala, covering an area of 2,912sq.km anda population of 32 million. Also worth visitinghere are many magnificant temples, amongthem Padmanabhaswamy and AttukalBhagavathi, which are both connected withimportant local festivals.

ThrissurThrissur, with its rich history, cultural heritageand archaeological wealth is referred to as thecultural capital of Kerala. From ancient times,this district has played a significant role in thepolitical history of South India. Today, Thrissur isworld famous for the local Pooram festival. Acultural centre, the Kerala Kala Mandalam, theKerala Sahitya Academy and KeralaSangeetha Nataka Academy are also locatedhere. Thrissur has a population of 30 million andcovers an area of 3,032sq.km.Cheraman Juma Masjid, Kodungalloor, islocated 2km from the town of Kodungalloor, thismosque resembles a Hindu temple inappearance. Built in 629CE, this is the firstmosque in India and the second in the worldwhere Juma prayers were started. Other placesof interest nearby include Cheramanparambu,the ancient Thiruvanchikulam Temple, theBhagavathi Temple and the Portuguese fort.

WayanadWayanad is one of the districts in Kerala thathas been able to retain its pristine naturalbeauty. Hidden away in the hills of this land aresome of the oldest tribes, as yet untouched bycivilisation. It is known for its picturesque mist-clad hill stations, sprawling spice plantations,luxuriant forests and rich cultural traditions. Theleading tourist centres of South India, like Ooty,Mysore, Coorg, Kozhikode and Kannur arealso in this region, which has a population of 8million and an area of 2,132sq.km, at 700-2,100m above sea level.

covered with the sweet-scented flowers of thePala tree. It has an area of 4,480sq.km and apopulation of 26 million.Tipu’s Fort, also known as Palakkad Fort,stands in the heart of the town. One of the wellpreserved forts in southern India, this Fort wasconstructed in 1766CE and is today aprotected monument under the ArchaeologicalSurvey of India.The fort was built by Hayder Ali (1717-1782),Emperor of Mysore (now part of KarnatakaState), supposedly to facilitate communicationbetween both sides of the Western Ghats,(Coimbatore and the West Coast). Tipu wageda series of wars against British colonial rule. In

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Snake Boat RacesThe snake boat races of Kerala, which arepreceded by colourful water parades,bring to life the tranquil backwaters of thestate. Snake boat races are held inconnection with Onam, the harvest festivalin August/September. Scores of long snake

boats and other smaller craft participate inthese events, which are the largest teamsports in the world.

Ayurvedic TreatmentKerala is full of ayurvedic spas and herbaltreatment centres for all sorts of ailments.

These treatments promise to tone up theskin and rejuvenate and strengthen thebody’s tissues to achieve ideal health andlongevity. Treatments at one centre,Travancore, is typical of such spas. It includes a head and face massage withmedicated oils and creams, and herbal baths.The treatment is in several stages: first, thebody is covered with herb-infused oil to tonethe muscles and ease any tensions; a milky oiltreatment is then followed by a steam bathafter which the body is washed with a specialayurvedic powder. The ayurvedic treatment is supposed to stopthe ageing process too, and is a good way oftreating other ailments, including chronicheadaches, insomnia, tension and evenhysteria, hallucination and insanity,osteoarthritis, rheumatic diseases such asarthritis, paralysis, nervous weaknesses andnervous disorders, muscle wastage,rheumatism, Parkinson’s Disease, sportsinjuries, joint pains, emaciation, and skindisorders. It has been claimed that ayurvedacan also treat leukemia.

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„Wayanad is one of the districts in Kerala that has been able to retain its pristine natural beauty.Hidden away in the hills of this land are some of the oldest tribes, as yet untouched by civilisation. Itis known for its picturesque mist-clad hill stations, sprawling spice plantations, luxuriant forests andrich cultural traditions.

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