FEBRUARY, 2013 insight S15
Life & Culture
A typical houseboat in the Vembanad lake
Destination:
INDIA
Kerala, God`s Own Country By Ankur Sud
S
erene sandy Beaches, emerald backwaters, lush green hills of tea estates, sprawling plantations and paddy fields, tiger reserves and national parks, magical festivals and vibrant culture, and much more justifies its tag of one of the “ten paradises of the world” given by National Geographic`s traveler magazine. Nearly twice the size of Okanagan Valley, its diverse landscape and culture can be experienced by driving in less than two hours between the close proximity enriched in the diverse tourist attractions. I understood this as part of my all India Motor biking trip where I ended up spending the maximum time of the total trip that too in one of the smallest states of India. Enjoying unique geographical features, wedged between Arabian Sea on the west and the Western Ghats in the east, the state of Kerala is located on the extreme southern tip of the Indian sub-continent making it a tropical paradise. Well connected with airports around the globe, Kochi serves as base for the state`s tourism with an international airport. Kerala`s diversity attracts tourists with all tastes and flavours ranging from sporting options to eco-tourism initiatives to Ayurveda spas and treatments. A comfortable 3 hour drive from Kochi will take you to Munnar, a hill town popular for tea plantations
journey between Alapuzha and Kottayam on the Vembanad lake stretch. Experience luxury stay in the houseboat with stops on rice paddy islands and savour the fish cuisine prepared in coconut oil, in the evening at the houseboat deck. The cook and his staff make sure you catch enough fish in the lake while you cruise in the beautiful Vembanad waters. Ending your cruise journey at Alapuzha, you should continue with a two hour drive to the beautiful beaches of Kovalam and Varkala. More laid back beaches than the ones in Goa, Kovalam has 3 major beaches.
originally settled by the Britishers. The country side of Munnar will leave you awestruck with never ending views of green tea hills. These hills are favourite of the Nilgiri tahr, an ungulate which wanders in the Eravikulam National Park. This park also hosts the blooming of “Kerala`s diversity attracts tourists strobilanthus, a with all tastes and flavours blue flower which blooms only once ranging from sporting options to every 12 years, last eco-tourism initiatives to seen in 2006. For the bird lovers, a Ayurveda spas and treatments.” short drive to Thattekkad will Lighthouse beach has been the take you to Salim Ali Bird Sanctuary favourite of westerners offering a which is home to bird species like relaxed atmosphere accompanied with woodpeckers, hornbills, frogmouths activities like board surfing, traditional and rollers. For the wildlife wooden boat and motor boat rides. enthusiasts, drive to the Periyar Tiger Beaches are abundant on the west coast Reserve, located in the mountainous of India, but none of them offers the region of Cardamom hills to spend charm of the one at Varkala. some secret moments with tigers and Overlooking the Arabian Sea, cliffs are elephants while you trace the nature adjacent to the seawaters and these trails in the cardamom plantations. cliffs throng with tourists, enjoying Watch your steps as you encounter food and drinks while listening to the marks on the ground of the Indian melodies and guitarists during the king cobra and python. beautiful dusk hours. I would highly recommend booking your stay well in Kerala`s most popular attraction advance to avail the room closest to the which brought it up on the cliff edges and take a 2 minute walk international tourist map are its down for sun bathing and swimming. backwaters. Criss –crossed network of A visit to Kozhikode beach might take brackish canals, lakes, lagoons and you back in time, as it is here that Vasco rivers both manmade and natural, Da Gama first landed in India making backwaters run for 1500 kilometres the start of European colonization. with the most scenic houseboat
/ToddStone2013
@toddstonebc
Chinese fishing nets at Kochi
The cliff walk in Varkala beach area
Kochi, a major port and cosmopolitan city offers the city`s heritage in Fort Kochi area. Get on a local ferry from the Kochi city to reach Fort Kochi, a small town in itself which offers culture, heritage and religion of various ethnicities. Walk around to visit the Santa Cruz Basilica, Indo Portuguese museum, Jewish Synagogue, Mattancherry Palace, and St. Francis Church. It was in St. Francis church where body of Vasco Da Gama was originally buried before his remains were removed to Lisbon after fourteen years in 1538. You are sure to witness the huge Chinese fishing nets known as Cheena vala. A
total of six fishermen are required to operate this 20 m high net to catch fish and crustaceans, which are taken to a street restaurant nearby to cook. Best season to visit is during the mild winter months from mid-October to late February. Make sure you pack some coffee, tea, home-made chocolates, authentic spices like cardamom, black pepper, cloves, turmeric from the major spice exporter since 3000 BCE. There is immense opportunity to experience in this least corrupted, highest literacy rate, highest life expectancy, and highest human developed index state in India.