Kerala - The Tropical Paradise, The God"s Own Country, Unlike Any Other Places
Kerala, a state in Southern India is known as a tropical paradise of waving palms and wide sandy beaches. It is a narrow strip of coastal territory that slopes down the Western Ghats in a cascade of lush green vegetation, and reaches to the Arabian sea. Kerala borders the states of Tamil Nadu to the east and Karnataka to the north. It is also known for its backwaters, mountains, coconuts, spices and art forms like Kathakali and Mohini Attam. It is the most literate state in India, and a land of great religiosity, where you can find Hindu temples, mosques, churches, and even synagogues. With world class tourist sporting options, ayurvedic spas and treatments, Eco-tourism initiatives, a large number of visit options ranging from beautiful high altitude blue mountains to pristine rain forests to golden sun-sand beaches and an enormous range of accommodation, Kerala has much to offer the visitor.
Cities of Kerala
Ecological Hot-spots
Kerala ecological hot spotsThere is plenty for nature lovers and wildlife enthusiasts to do in Kerala, such as exploring the innumerable national parks and wildlife resorts. Located along the western corner of the Nilgiris, Silent Valley National Park constitutes one of the last vestiges of an undisturbed tropical evergreen rain forest. With an unbroken ecological history, continuously evolving for millions of years,this is a unique region. It has been termed an ecological island, one that contains immense biological and genetic wealth. Thanks largely to its difficult terrain and remote location, Silent Valley remains pristine and untouched. Places such as Thekkady conjure up images of nature at its purest-undulating hills, crisp, clean air, and spice-scented plantations. Then there are the elephants-one of Indian's finest wildlife reserves is situated in Thekkedy's Periyar forests. The first in the state to promote environmental tourism, Thekkady continues to beckon the adventurous traveler, Many other well protected pockets of wildlife elsewhere in the state draw visitors for the variety of local fauna and the captivating greenery.
The Western Ghats:
Silent valleyVirgin beaches, languid backwaters and lush tropical vegetation are not the only attractions of Kerala. There are regions with cool climes and hilly environs that wait to be savored. The Western Ghats offer cool, misty mountains, undulating meadows and picturesque valleys where vast areas are given over to plantations of tea, coffee and cardamom. The rolling High Ranges form a demarcating line at the eastern edge of Kerala, separating the State from its neighbors. The dense forests, extensive ridges and deep ravines of the Ghats have always sheltered Kerala from mainland invaders. These highlands, with their meandering roads and magnificent waterfalls, have also bestowed upon this region an ambiance that is completely different from the State's other scenic locales. Remote yet easily accessible from any part of Kerala, each destination here is known for its own quaint charm.
Architectural Heritage:
Kerala architectureKerala possesses a distinctive architectural style. Tiled roofs and gables, with spires, are ubiquitous. However, structures rarely rise above the first floor. Wood was used extensively not only on doors and windows, but even to make solid, carved walls. The numerous palaces, temples, churches and mosques dotting the State showcase this traditional style. However, the heavy solid wood with brass embellishments, used earlier on doors and windows, is rarely used these days, if at all.
Mottled Midlands:
Kerala midlandsThe midlands too, are not to be ignored. Except for the absence of sandy beaches, this region appears to be an encapsulation of all that Kerala stands for. It is known for its undulating hills, flat valleys with extensive rubber plantations, a tract of forest that is one of the finest wildlife reserves in the country, panoramic backwater stretches, lush paddy fields, and a vibrant trading community with great economic clout.
Cities of Kerala
- Thiruvananthapuram (Trivandrum) - the capital, famous for its beaches, monuments and parks.
- Alapuzha (Alleppey) - a network of canals criss-cross the city, leading to it being called the Venice of the East. The biggest boat race in India for the Nehru Trophy happens here every August.
- Kochi (Cochin) - the commercial capital of Kerala and largest city of Kerala with unlimited shopping options; the major city in Southern India.
- Kannur - prominent city in Malabar, famous for its strong heritage and beaches,
- Kollam (Quilon) - the backwaters, and the former Portuguese settlement at Tangasseri close by.
- Kottayam - known for its latex, literacy and letters and as major educational center.
- Kozhikode (Calicut) - where Vasco da Gamma landed for the first time in India, and one of the world's oldest thriving trade centers.
- Munnar - one of the most untouched hill stations in India, with misty blue mountains and colonial bungalows
- Thrissur (Trichur) - the cultural capital of Kerala and also famous for Thrissur Pooram, jewelery shops and silk sarees.
Ecological Hot-spots
Kerala ecological hot spotsThere is plenty for nature lovers and wildlife enthusiasts to do in Kerala, such as exploring the innumerable national parks and wildlife resorts. Located along the western corner of the Nilgiris, Silent Valley National Park constitutes one of the last vestiges of an undisturbed tropical evergreen rain forest. With an unbroken ecological history, continuously evolving for millions of years,this is a unique region. It has been termed an ecological island, one that contains immense biological and genetic wealth. Thanks largely to its difficult terrain and remote location, Silent Valley remains pristine and untouched. Places such as Thekkady conjure up images of nature at its purest-undulating hills, crisp, clean air, and spice-scented plantations. Then there are the elephants-one of Indian's finest wildlife reserves is situated in Thekkedy's Periyar forests. The first in the state to promote environmental tourism, Thekkady continues to beckon the adventurous traveler, Many other well protected pockets of wildlife elsewhere in the state draw visitors for the variety of local fauna and the captivating greenery.
The Western Ghats:
Silent valleyVirgin beaches, languid backwaters and lush tropical vegetation are not the only attractions of Kerala. There are regions with cool climes and hilly environs that wait to be savored. The Western Ghats offer cool, misty mountains, undulating meadows and picturesque valleys where vast areas are given over to plantations of tea, coffee and cardamom. The rolling High Ranges form a demarcating line at the eastern edge of Kerala, separating the State from its neighbors. The dense forests, extensive ridges and deep ravines of the Ghats have always sheltered Kerala from mainland invaders. These highlands, with their meandering roads and magnificent waterfalls, have also bestowed upon this region an ambiance that is completely different from the State's other scenic locales. Remote yet easily accessible from any part of Kerala, each destination here is known for its own quaint charm.
Architectural Heritage:
Kerala architectureKerala possesses a distinctive architectural style. Tiled roofs and gables, with spires, are ubiquitous. However, structures rarely rise above the first floor. Wood was used extensively not only on doors and windows, but even to make solid, carved walls. The numerous palaces, temples, churches and mosques dotting the State showcase this traditional style. However, the heavy solid wood with brass embellishments, used earlier on doors and windows, is rarely used these days, if at all.
Mottled Midlands:
Kerala midlandsThe midlands too, are not to be ignored. Except for the absence of sandy beaches, this region appears to be an encapsulation of all that Kerala stands for. It is known for its undulating hills, flat valleys with extensive rubber plantations, a tract of forest that is one of the finest wildlife reserves in the country, panoramic backwater stretches, lush paddy fields, and a vibrant trading community with great economic clout.
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