Kerala, a state located in the southern part of India, is a very famous tourist spot. It has been listed in National Geographic's 'top ten paradises of the world.' This state is geographically sandwiched between the Western Ghats and the Arabian Sea. This tropical paradise has many enchanting tourist places which are very popular among tourists. Tourism in Kerala is centered on three things basically- beaches, backwaters and wildlife sanctuaries. Let us get an overview about these three factors through this article.
Wildlife Sanctuaries: Kerala is one of the places in the world which has evergreen forests. It has got 12 wildlife sanctuaries and 2 national parks. Silent Valley and Iravikulam are the two national parks. Kerala's rich flora and fauna attracts nature lovers from all over the world to the state. Some of the sanctuaries are ideal places for trekking and camping activities. The major wildlife attractions in Kerala are Periyar Tiger Reserve, Silent Valley, Iravikulam, Thekkady, Kumarakom bird sanctuary, Ponmudi, Chinnar, Wayanad etc.
Beaches: As said earlier, Kerala is bordered by the Arabian Sea towards the West. It has a coastline of around 600 kilometers. There are a number of serene and beautiful beaches along this coastline which give people opportunities to casually enjoy themselves or engage in adventurous activities. The beaches in Kerala are places where you can feel the might and awe of nature, at its best. There are beaches which offer you various activities like swimming, diving, water scooting, surfing etc. The names of major beaches in Kerala are Kovalam, Varkala, Cherai, Veli, Beypore, Alappuzha, Fort Kochi, Shankumugham and Kappad.
Backwaters: Tourists from all across the world have been and continue to be charmed and enthralled by the fascinating backwaters of Kerala. Even though it is a small state, Kerala has a water network of more than 900 kilometers including canals, rivers, backwaters etc. The most popular way of backwater cruise in Kerala is 'houseboats' or 'kettuvallam' (as known in the local language, Malayalam). A cruise in these will give you a mesmerizing experience of water ride which includes seeing lush-green paddy fields, historical monuments and coconut trees.
Kerala is very famous for its hospitality to tourists. There are numerous hotels and resorts all over Kerala which are very tourist friendly. Some of these hotels don't just give you accommodation but also help you creating your travel schedule and make sure that it is done, giving you complete satisfaction. Taj Group of Hotels, Renaissance in Kochi and Mermaid in Kochi and Munnar are some of the most popular ones.
Martin Wynn
