Tourist Destinations in Kerala
Munnar
Kumarakom
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Kumarakom, the famous backwater tourist destination in Kerala is located about 12 kms from Kottayam. This place can be reached through a voyage from Alappuzha. This rich green, sleepy little village of Kumarkom is located on the Vembanad lake amidst mangrove forests and coconut groves. Kumarakom is an enchanting picnic spot and provides boating, fishing and sightseeing experiences that are truly exhilarating. The slender coconut palms standing here, there and everywhere, its never ending paddy fields, meandering lagoons and backwaters, mangroves nesting birds of a hundred varieties can peacefully calm and invigorate your mind.
Getting there :
Nearest railway station : Aluva, 130 km away from Munnar.
Nearest airport : Cochin International Airport, about 130 km
By road : 300 kms from Thiruvananthapuram, 135 kms from Ernakulam, 100 kms from Thekkady, 120 kms from Palani and 150 kms from Coimbatore
Places of InterestAnayirangalThe Anayirangal dam is surrounded by Tata Tea plantations and evergreen forests. An ideal picnic spot.Top Station32 km from Munnar. The rare Neelakurunji (Strobilanthus) belongs to this region.Mattupetty13 km from Munnar. Situated at a height of 1700 m, Mattupetty is known for its highly specialised dairy farm - the Indo Swiss Livestock Project. Over a 100 varieties of high yielding cattle are reared here.Devikulam7 km from Munnar, This idyllic hill station with its velvet lawns, exotic flora and fauna and the cool mountain air is a rare experience.Eravikulam National ParkEravilulam is the only national park in the state. Hill tops dominate this area. This is a best place for adventure filled trekking. Even you can reach the top of Anamudi peak by foot which is 2695 Mts high. The travel by road distance to Eravikulam National Park is 15 km from MunnarMarayoorMarayoor is located 40 kms away from Munnar town. Marayur was once the part of the Stone Age civilization dating back to 1000 BC. The dolmens, rock caves or Muniyaras, engravings and rock edicts proclaims its heritage. Its the only place in Kerala with its natural sandalwood forest is situated. There are a lot more to be felt in this wonderful place . Serene rivers, waterfalls, cave temples, dense bamboo forests and a lot more.
Thiruvananthapuram
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Thiruvananthapuram
Thiruvananthapuram also known as Trivandrum, is the capital of Kerala. It is a beautiful seaside city built on seven hills. Thiruvananthapuram is ranked first in the number of foreign tourists visiting Kerala. It is also a major destination for Medical Tourism, Ayurveda etc.
Getting there :
Mahatma Gandhi has referred trivandrum as “Evergreen city of India“Nearest railway station : Thiruvananthapuram .
Nearest airport : Thiruvananthapuram
By Road - ThiruvananthapuramPlaces of InterestKovalam BeachBest time to visit kovalam during September to March, though it is an all year destination. Kovalam is an internationally renowned beach with three adjacent crescent beaches. Thiruvananthapuram has interesting places to see like the Napier Museum, the Sri Chitra Art Gallery, the Padmanabhaswamy Temple, Ponmudi hill station, SMSM Institute etcVarkala51 km north of Thiruvananthapuram city and 37 km south of Kollam, Thiruvananthapuram district, south Kerala. Main attractions are beach, mineral watersprings, the Sivagiri Mutt and a 2000 year old Vishnu temple.Thiruvananthapuram ZooThe fifth oldest zoo in India. Main attractions of the zoo are the beautiful Victorian-style cages, the lake, the curling pathways, the lawns, and the nearby Top Garden. Most of the animals are in open enclosures.Napier MuseumThe museum is named after former British Governor of Madras, Napier. The structure of museum is marvelous. Tall and slander towers, stained glass windows and special type roofs make the structure different. This museum has collections of bronzes, historical ornaments, temple chariots and ivory items.Shanmugham BeachThis beach is near the city is known for its white sanded quiet Beach free from any traps. The visitors can see from here the sea swallowing the sun slowly and compensating the loss of light by stars ascent one after one from nowhere.Poovar18 km from Thiruvananthapuram city, 3 km from Kovalam. This beautiful place is close to the Poovar river, backwaters and the sea.Ponmudi61 km from Thiruvananthapuram, 3002 feet above sea level, the crown of nature’s beauty. it is a scenic feast. Valleys and mountains with hair-pin bends, it hugs the clouds gracefully. Ponmudi likes mist and when the nature becomes benevolent most of the time, the mist-clad Ponmudi unlit paradise.
Thekkady
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Thekkady
Thekkady's main attractions are its Spice Plantations and the Periyar National Park. Thekkady is the only sanctuary in India where you can have the unique experience of viewing wildlife at close quarters from the safety of a boat on the lake. The greatest attraction of Periyar remains the large herds of wild elephants that come down to the lake's edge.
Getting there :Nearest railway station : Kottayam, 114 km away and Madurai station is about 136 km away.
Nearest airport : Madurai, 140 km away, Kochi (185 km), and Thiruvananthapuram (265 km)
By Road - kumily, 4 km away. Kottayam, 192 km awayPlaces of InterestPeriyar Wildlife SanctuaryThe Periyar Wildlife Sanctuary is situated on the banks of the Periyar lake - an artificial lake, at Thekkady. Here the high ranges of the Western Ghats are clothed in dense evergreen moist deciduous forests and savannah grasslands. Below this thick green canopy roam herds of elephants, sambars, tigers, gaurs, lion tailed macaques and Nilgiri langurs. Apart from the sanctuary, there are plenty of tea and spice plantations that spread their aroma and draw you like a magnetPeriyar Tiger TrailThe Periyar Tiger Trail is a unique program launched by the forest department to provide a the opportunity for visitors to explore the wildlife deep into the forest. This program is conducted by the erstwhile poachers who are reformed themselves as saviors of forests. These people possess exceptional knowledge about the terrain and wildlife. The team comprises of 5 tourists, 5 guides and 2 forest department officials. There are two types of programs offered, such as 1 night and 2 days or 2 nights and 3 days covering a distance of around 35 km. Team members trek along the forest during the day time and stay inside the tents at nights. Food is cooked in the forest using vegetables and fruits available in the jungle. This program provides great opportunity to encounter wild animals such as giant suirrels, elephants, sambars, sometimes even tigers.
Alappuzha
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Alappuzha
Alappuzha (also known as Alleppey), is the main hub for backwaters tourism in Kerala. It is a town with picturesque canals, backwaters and lagoons, once described as the "Venice of the East" by English viceroy Lord Curzon. Alappey is famous for coir industry, It is here that most of the snake boat races are conducted and a majority of the rice boat & houseboat cruises are scheduled
Getting there :Nearest railway station : Alappuzha, 2 km away.
Nearest airport : Cochin, 85 km away
By Road - Cochin, 85 km awayPlaces of InterestAlappuzha beachBeach of Alleppey is endowed with fresh and stimulating breeze that erazes tiredness and tension out of MindAlappuzha beach is a popular picnic spot. There is pier, which extends into the sea is over 137 years old. Vijaya Beach Park near to the beach is another attraction. An old lighthouse nearby which is greatly fascinating to visitors.BackwatersAlappuzha remains prominent on the tourist trial of Kerela as one of the major centers for backwater boat trips.
Wayanad
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Wayanad
A hilly district, this green paradise is nestled among the mountains of western ghat and is located at a distance of 76 km from the nearest sea-shore of Kozhikode and home to some of the oldest tribes in South India.
Getting there :Nearest railway station : Kozhikkod, 72 km away.
Nearest airport : Kozhikkod, 72 km away
By Road - Cochin, 335 km awayPlaces of InterestWayanad Wildlife SanctuaryThe Wayanad Wildlife Sanctuary is adjacent to the protected area network of Nagarhole and Bandipore National parks of Karnataka and Mudumalai of Tamilnadu.LakkidiKnown as the gateway to Wayanad and is situated at the top of the Thamaraserri Ghat pass. Lofty peaks, rippling streams and luxuriant forests add magic to the journey up the winding roads to Lakkidi.Banasura Dam15 km west of Kalpetta, This Dam is the largest earth Dam in India. A vast expanse of crystal clear water is enclosed by blue hills on all sides, except one. It is an ideal picnic spot.
Munnar
Munnar meaning "Three rivers" is situated at the confluence of three mountain streams and is a delightful, small hill station which is more than 5000 feet above sea level. Munnar has some of the biggest tea plantations in the world. Among the exotic flora, there is the Neelakurinji, which blooms every 12 years
Getting there :Nearest airport : Cochin International Airport, about 130 km
By road : 300 kms from Thiruvananthapuram, 135 kms from Ernakulam, 100 kms from Thekkady, 120 kms from Palani and 150 kms from Coimbatore