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Acclaimed by the National Geographic Traveler as one of the
ten paradises of the world. Lauded by Paul
Mc Cartney as truly God's Own Country.
Chosen by Travel and Leisure as one of the ten hot spots of
the millennium......Kerala. God's Own Coountry is today the
cynosure of the world for its unmatched attractions.
Natural beauty, rich cultural heritage, delectable cuisine....
you name it, Kerala has it.
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Sun, Surf and Solitude in Kerala
Kerala shares its western border with the
Arabian Sea. The state's 600 km shoreline is dotted with some
of the finest, most charming beaches in the world. These palms
fringed havens drenched in the pleasant tropical sun have
a singularity of their own.
Many of them are internationally renowned, like the Kovalam
beach in Thiruvananthapuram which has been a favourite
haunt of tourists since the 1930s. Varkala
also in Thiruvananthapuran, is a seaside resort much sought
after for its spa, high cliffs and rich mineral springs.
Other beaches herre relate an eventful history. Thangasseri
has historic attractions like the ruins of an old Portuguese
fort, churches built in the 18th century and an old lighthouse.
The pier, which extends into the sea at the Alappuzha
beach is about 140 years old. Dolphins can be sighted at the
Cherai beach bordering Vypeen island in Kochi.
Beypore in Kozhikode, a
prominent port and fishing harbour of ancient Kerala, was
an important trade and maritime centre. The rock studded Kappad
beach in Kozhikode is where Vascp da Gama, the Portuguese
explorer, landed on the 27th of May 1498 with 170 men in three
vessels.
Black rocks protect the four kilometer Muzhappilangad
beach in Kannur from the currents of the
deep, making its shallow waters a swimmer's paradise.
Remote and secluded, the Pallikere and Kappil beaches near
Bekal in Kasaragod, are fast becoming major toourist attractions.
The imposing Bekal Fort nearby is the largest
and best preserved fort in Kerala.
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Kerala Networks of emerald
silk
The backwaters mainly cover four districts
of Kerala and extend into a few others from Thiruvananthapuram
down south to Kasaragod in the north. The
largest backwater body, the Vembanad Lake
flows through Alappuzha and Kottayam
districts and opens out into the sea at the Kochi
port. The Ashtamudi Lake, the second
largest backwater stretch, offers the longest ride (eight
hours) and is considered the gateway to the backwaters.
Your holiday home in this tranquil world
is the comfortably furnished houseboat or 'Kettuvallam', which
means a boat made by tying together pieces of wood. It usually
has one or two bath attached bedrooms, an open lounge, deck,
kitchenette and a crew comprising oarsmen, a cook and guide.
You can board your houseboat from select spots along the backwaters.
Kollam, one of the oldest ports on the Malabar
coast, was earlier the centre of international trade.
the Ashtamudi lake coverrs a third of the district. Here,
you will spot Chinese fishing nets and meet large dugouts
lugging coir, cashew, copra and local produce. the picturesque
village of Alumkadavu, on the way to Alappuzha,
is where you can watch 'Kettuvallams' in the making.
At the end of the eight hour cruise from Kollam,
you reach Alappuzha, long eulogised as the
Venice of the east. This place offers spectacular
sights including the snake boat races and the endless paddy
fields of Kuttanad. From Alappuzha your boatmen
will row you past the Bird Sanctuary on the Vembanad Lake
at Kumarakom, and on to historic Fort Kochi,
where the waterways lead you to quaint spots like the Jew
Town, Willingdon Island, Bolgatty Palace, the renowned St.
Francis Church etc.
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