IMPORTANT TOURIST ATTRACTIONS OF KERALA

Introduction


A silver of dense greenery sandwitched between the Arabian sea and forested western ghat mountains,the state of KERALA runs down the southwest coast of India around 550 km long and 120km wide and it is blessed with unique geographical and cultural features and the over powering tropical landscape with 41 rivers and countless waterways,fed by 2 annual monsoons intoxicates every new comer.Equally Kerala's arcane rituals and spectacular festivals stimulate even the most jaded imaginations continuing centuries of tradition that has never strayed far from the realms of magic.

For visitors the most popular is the great PORT OF KOCHI,where Kerala s extensive history of peaceable foreign contact is evocatively evident in the atmospheric old quarters of MATTANCHERY and FORT COCHIN, which is famous for tea and spice trade.The capital THIRUVANANTHAPURAM almost as far south as you can go and a gateway to the near by palm fringed beaches of KOVALAM provides visitors of varied opportunities to sample kerala;s rich cultural and artistic life.

The greatest joy of exploring Kerala is the actual travelling especially by boat,in the spell binding KUTTANAD region near Kollam and Alappuzha.Vessels,from cruisers to wooden long boats,ply the backwatres in day long voyage well worth taking for the chance of a closeup view of village life.Further more it is always easy to escape the heat of the low lands by taking off to the hills.Roads through a landscape dotted with churches and temples pass spice,tea ,coffee and rubber plantations and natural forest,enroute to wild life reserves such as PEPPARA or PERIYAR roamed by hearts of mud caked elephants.

Following an unwritten law,few buildings ,whether houses or temple are higher than the surrounding trees,from highground in the urban areas.This can create the miraculous illusion that you are surrounded by forest.


Phenomenal amounts of money are lavished upon many varied and often all night enetrtainments associated with Keralas temples.Fireworks rend the air,while processions of gold-bed ecked elephants are accompanied by some of the loudest drum orchestras in the world.most famous POORAM festival in Thrissur is the most astonishing but smaller events take place through out the state - often outdoors,with all welcoem to attend.