Kerala

Understand

Kerala is blessed with natural beauty – so much so that it is (rightly) called God's Own Country by the tourism department. The state is also considered one of the safest regions in India. Incidents of local people cheating tourists are almost non-existent. Kerala has high standards of living compared to its neighbours and other Indian states, and has indices such as education and healthcare on par with developed countries. Therefore, tourists can relax without being pursued by taxi drivers, touts or guides, though there are some beggars who have migrated from poorer states. Abundant rainfall means that lush greenery lingers pretty much throughout the year. A holiday here is an opportunity for rejuvenation. You can get an Ayurvedic oil massage, spend a day or two on a houseboat with nothing to do but watch coconut trees pass by, or just laze around on Kovalam or Varkala beaches. Thus, tourism is more experiential here, rather than being devoted to seeing highly touristed sights. Kerala was named as one of the "ten paradises of the world" and "50 places of a lifetime" by the National Geographic Traveler magazine.

History The ancient period saw the rise and fall of the first and second Chera empires, which were the only two periods when Kerala was united under a monarch. Kerala is mentioned in the writings of many Greek, Roman, Arabic, European and Jewish travelers and merchants from the 1st millennium BCE. It was known for the spices that were grown in the lush hills of the Western Ghats. During the Middle Ages, there were three powerful kingdoms – Kolathiri/Cherakal in the far north, Samuthiri/Zamorin in Calicut (north and central), Travancore in the south. The Portuguese were the first to discover a direct sea route between Lisbon and Calicut in Kerala, and this marked the beginning of European colonisation in the country. Soon the Dutch, French, Venetians and British were all lured by the wealth of spices and silk, and came to establish colonies. The defeat of

Getting there

By plane There are four airports in Kerala, with flights to domestic and international destinations: Kannur Kochi (Cochin), Kozhikode (Calicut), and Thiruvananthapuram. The airports have several carriers operating international flights.

Cochin International Airport (COK IATA) is the largest airport in the state, as well as the first Indian airport with solar-powered operations, with regular flight connections to most parts of India, of the Middle East, Southeast Asia, Sri Lanka and the Maldives. Europe- and U.S.-bound passengers need to transit in the Middle East, Delhi or Mumbai. Thiruvananthapuram International Airport (TRV IATA) has regular connections to major cities of India, and to the Middle East, Southeast Asia, Sri Lanka and the Maldives. Charter flights for tourism from London, New York and Moscow operate to Thiruvananthapuram. Calicut International Airport (CCJ IATA) is a new airport with limited international flights other than to the Middle East. 20 to 25 international carriers offer flights to Kerala. Apart from international carriers, Air India offers international connections from the three airports. Domestic destinations accessible by direct flights from these airports include Chennai, Bangalore, Mumbai, Agatti, Hyderabad, Mangalore, Goa and Delhi. There are daily, and some bi-daily flights, to most Indian cities from Calicut, Cochin and Thiruvananthapuram. Many of the major Indian low-cost carriers (LCC) such as SpiceJet and IndiGo offer daily flights from major Indian cities.

By train Indian Railways operates several trains to, from and within Kerala. Trains into Kerala start from neighbouring states like Karnataka and Tamil Nadu. Long-haul direct train services from cities like Delhi and Mumbai are also available. Log on to the Indian Railways booking site to book tickets online or walk up to any railway station to book tickets between any two destinations in India. Trains are the most popular method of transport and almost all trains in Ke

Getting around

Kerala is connected by many modes of transport. The flat southern side is better connected than mountainous north.

By train

Trains are good for long-distance travel within the state. Most trains are long-distance trains with stops at many of Kerala's stations. Short-distance trains are mainly intercity passenger trains, connecting only major cities like Thiruvananthapuram, Kochi, Palakkad, Alappuzha, Kollam, Kottayam, Kozhikode, Kannur and Thrissur. There are two Vande Bharat Express trains that run the length of the state, from Kasaragod to Thiruvananthapuram. They are identified by their distinct colours. The blue and white Vande Bharat Express train runs through Kottayam, while the orange and white one runs through Alappuzha.

Train fares The average fare for a 200 km distance for different classes is:

First Class AC: ₹1,200 Two Tier AC: ₹617 Three Tier AC: ₹430 AC Chair Car: ₹203 Sleeper Class: ₹120 Second class seat in Express train: ₹70 Second class seat in Passenger train: ₹30

By car Roads remain the primary mode of transport. The primary roads are NH 47, NH 49, NH 17 and NH 212 and are all National Highways. The NH 47 is one of the busiest as it connects Kochi and Thiruvananthapuram. The traditional primary road is MC Road, which covers some of the most scenic places in south Kerala. However, travel on the NH 47 cuts the time between Kochi and Thiruvananthapuram by at least half an hour. State Highways connect almost all parts of Kerala. Most of the state highways are two-lane roads. Due to heavy rains, potholes are common. Some of the wettest areas, like Alappuzha, Kottayam, and Iddukki, have badly damaged roads.

By bus

There two kinds of state-owned KSRTC buses: KSRTC (Kerala) and KSRTC (Karnataka) from the neighboring state, which buses drive into Kerala. Take care, on the website of KSRTC (Kerala) many bus routes and bus departures are not shown. The website only shows the few buses in which seats can be reserved. Generally KSRTC (Kerala)

See

Kerala gets rain for at least 7-8 months annually and the forests are classified as rainforests. There are many opportunities to trek, camp and see wildlife.

Scenic attractions The Backwaters of Kerala are a maze of lagoons criss-crossed with rivers, shallow pools and canals, all separated from the sea by sand banks. Backwaters are present throughout the state but Alappuzha and Kottayam are most notable in this regard.

The Blue Mountains of the Western Ghats, popularly known as Nilgiris, are close to Thiruvananthapuram and there are numerous hill stations in this area. The most popular is Munnar, the honeymoon capital of the state. The highest peak of the Western Ghats is Anamudi (2,695 metres), which is good for trekking. The area is also home to several sanctuaries and forest reserve areas. There are more than two dozen waterfalls, both large and small, with numerous rapids and springs. The largest waterfalls are at Athirampally, where three milky waterfalls fall at great speed.