Kerala Holidays: Something For All

By Author: Sanjay Gopinath
Total Articles: 11
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Kerala, a small strip of state on the southern tip of India has many distinct features scarcely seen in other parts of the country. Set in a perennial greenery, it has three geological traits: hills, midland, and coastal plains that allow every taste of the visitor. An escapist holiday station, which is comparatively cheap, it also offers you great scope for trying India's own medicinal system, Ayurveda, for rejuvenation.

Hill stations like Munnar in Idukki or Palakkad offer adventure tourism of many varieties including rope climbing, tree-top houses, living secluded in caves which the ever-willing operators arrangfe.

If you want a mix of pleasure and scenic splendour in equal measure, districts like Kottayam, Kollam, Thrissur, Kozhikode provide you both. And, if you have the oceanic tastes where you want to walk on sugar-sands on naked foot while naughty waves laps at your feet, then coastal districts of Eranakulam, Kannur, are the right places.

This state is so blessed with natural bounty that it has everything except snow to boast of. The extensive network of backwaters gives the romantic and poetic ...
... minds enough food for contemplation. The meandering backwaters (inland lakes) networked with canals stretch to over 1900 km.

A boat ride on a moonlit night along backwaters has treats you to other-worldly ambience that has to be experienced to be believed. Many operators in the coastal Alappuzha town provide boats.

Being a coastal state, Kerala has been a place where great many sailors and overseas traders have frequented for ages. Little wonder it has assimilated a lot many varieties of faiths and cultures, consequently very many different architecture and monuments. This also happens to be the most-literate state of India and people know English fairly well. Kerala cuisine has a uniqueness of amazing variety.

The boiled cassava roots and fish curry, for instance, are a healthy combination you can savour to your heart's content.

If you are romantic, you rather visit the state at the onset of South-West monsoon inn June-August. Though travelling takes longer time during rainy time, it affords the heavenly loveliness of misty mornings on the hillside tops. More, this is considered the right time to go for health rejuvenation with medicated oil massage and strict diets. One week to 3 weeks rejuvenation therapy at one of the reputed Ayurveda firm like Kottakkal will take 10 years off you if the regimen is kept as per scriptures.

If you are finicky of weather, you had better visit this state during winter—October to December when the state weather is temperate . European visitors prefer this time of the year while people from middle-east like to be here during rainy season for witnessing the exhilarating rains and go in for Ayurveda therapy.

Whatever, a fortnight holiday for a communion with nature or health re-creation or honeymooning, or adventure in Kerala is something you can savour for life. And, it all comes with a reasonable price tag.