Places to Visit in Kerala
munnar
The confluence of the three mountain rivers - Muthirapuzha, Nallathanni ,Kundala- have given the resultant big river the name Munnar (three rivers). This hill resort, situated 1600mtrs. Above sea level, leaves you this hill station leaves you with cold summer sweetness. Richly dotted with lakes, reservoirs, mountain streams, scabrous rocks, wooded valleys, wavy grass hills, this hill station offers a great variety choices at short intervals. Along the quiet drives of Munnar, through the unending sea of tea plantations, a sign of human life itself is a rare sight apart from similarly attired plantation workers.
Thekkady
Reputed to be the ‘eastern gateway’ to Kerala-God's owns country – Kerala – Thekkady is replete with bright green vegetation which soothes your eyes as well as mind in no time. The Panoramic views that present themselves as you drive along the winding roads, the blue sky reflecting in the still water of the lake below, the beams of sunlight trickling through the cracks in the foliage, and the breeze that embraces you from nowhere, all make Thekkady a dream destination for a nature lover.
Alappuzha
Alleppey, also known as Alappuzha, is a town in Alappuzha, is a town 56 Kms. South of Kochi. Richly adorned with blue lagoons, navigable wide canals, backwaters and long sandy beaches, the town has an important position in the list of tourist destinations worth your money and time. It was Lord Curzon himself who gave allepppey the apt epithet when he called her the 'Venice of the East', as he was impressed by the wide network of canals in the town. This town is also a commercial centre with its flourishing coir and cashew nut industry.
Varkala
Even though Varkala is a small town, it is an important place in the tourist map as indigenous and foreign tourists throng the place because Varkala is the only place in southern Kerala where one can see cliffs meeting with the Arabian Sea. These tertiary sedimentary formations of the cliffs area unique geological feature known among geologists as ‘Varkala Formation’. They are recognized as a geological monument by the Geological Survey of India.
Kumarakom
Occupying its rightful place in the ‘rice bowl’ of Kerala known as Kuttanad, Kumarakom village is also known for its bird sanctuary, having a 14-acre patch of land in the eastern banks of the Vembanad Lake. The birds that migrate to this sanctuary include egrets, darters, herons, teals, waterfowls, cuckoos, wild ducks and Siberian storks. The best way to watch the birds in the Kumarakom sanctuary is by a quiet boat trip round the islands in the sanctuary.
You can also stay in the local houseboats.
Athirappally
The largest waterfall in Kerala, this Athirapally is an important tourist destination in Kerala. Originating as a sliver streak from the high mountains and crashing through gorges lined on both sides with wild bushes and large trees, the waterfall gains strength and mass as it thunders down to its final dive to join the river downstream. It is one of the best places in India where one can enjoy the charm and majesty of nature.
Thrissur
Renowned as the cultural capital of the state of Kerala, thrissur offers the best of Kerala’s rich and vibrant cultural heritage. The very famous Thrissur Pooram takes place in this city and lakhs of people participate in this religious festival in which a large number of caparisoned elephants also participate. The town of Thrissur was founded by Sakthan Thampuran in 1790 A.D and it was once the political capital of the kingdom of Cochin. The town grew into the present city around the Vadakkumnathan Temple where the pooram festival is celebrated every year.
Guruvayur
The whole town of Guruvayur more or less revolves around the Sri Krishna Temple which is visited by a whopping 30 million devotees yearly. Every devout Hindu in Kerala pays a visit to the temple at least once every year, while some make the trip every month. They believe that the visit can cleanse them of all sins and bestow them with spiritual as well as material wealth.
Trivandrum
Thiruvananthapuram, the state capital, literally serves a diminutive version of all the exotic charms of Kerala on a platter - rivers and backwaters crisscrossing its verdant terrain, long golden sand beaches, historic monuments, palaces, museums and towering skyscrapers scattered across its cityscape. The city is a major hub of art, literature and culture, besides being the political and media capital of Kerala
Kovalam
Relax, leave your cares and worries and the world behind; there are just soft sands, clear waters and greenery here, and beyond that, the warm blue skies- Welcome to Kovalam, the jewel among the beaches of Kerala. Grey-green and forbidding in the monsoons, pale pink in the dawn, crimson in the late evenings, serene and silver in the moonlight - at Kovalam, you can just lie back and watch the sea and the sky change color. Be it the world-weary traveler seeking peace and calm, or the couple wanting to spend a romantic evening, or the party hoppers, Kovalam is bound to leave each and everyone asking for more.