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SOUTH INDIA
KERALA

Edged by a thread of continuous beach line, the Kerala’s heart is composed of deeply green paddy fields and a unique network of rivers and lagoons. Upland Kerala, comparatively little visited, is composed of hills thickly wooded with teak and rubber. Trivandrum which is also the state capital has an remarkably fine museum set in an amusement park. Kovalam, one of the most well-liked beaches in the country.

Sri Padmanabhaswamy temple in Trivandrum and Padmanabhapuram Palace are significant monuments. Cochin has been Kerala’s center of maritime trade for countless centuries.Jew town, complete with an immaculately preserved synagogue, has a flavor all its own, while Tripunathura, at the other end of the city, has many traditional houses with central courtyards. Kerala’s multitude of faiths – Islam, Judaism, and a host of sects of Christianity and Hinduism – all coexist harmoniously. Kerala’s traditions of dance forms, which originated from temple worship, can be witnessed at regularly held performances. A five hour drive from Cochin leads into thickly forested hills, past rubber and spice plantations, and into southern India’s tea growing district headquartered at the charmingly old world Munnar. From Kottayam to Alleppey is a world of palm fringed waterways, a route which is covered by motor launch. Elderly sailboats, long barges transporting tons of coconuts and tiny skiffs used to transport children to school are common sights on these backwaters.

TRIVANDRUM

Trivandrum, the capital of the state of Kerala, is a beautiful seaside city built on seven hills. The city gets its name from the word, Thiru Ananthapuram meaning the city of Ananth or the abode of the sacred serpent Anantha, on which Lord Vishnu, the preserver of the Hindu trinity, reclines.

Altitude - Sea level,

Temperature (deg C) - Summer - Max.36.2, Min.20.6. Winter - Max.35, Min.18.,

Rainfall - 170 cms (May to November),

Best Season - October to March.

Places of Interest

Padmanabhaswamy Temple, Zoological Park, Napier Museum, Sri Chitra Art Gallery, Science & Technology Museum, Veli Lagoon, Shanmugham Beach, Aruvikkara Dam and Neyyar Dam, SMSM Institute.

Excursions

Kovalam- 16 kms, Kanniyakumari- 87 kms, Padmanabhapuram Palace- 54 kms, Ponmudi- 61 kms Quilon- 72 kms, Suchindram Temple- 99 kms, Thekkady (Periyar Wildlife Sanctuary)- 272 kms, Varkala- 55 kms.

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KOVALAM

On the Malabar Coast along the Kerala coastline is a small village, called Kovolam is 16 kms away from Trivandrum, a protected bay endowed with unusual beauty. This natural bay is a secure sea-pool free from high waves and surge. The beach resort here is of global standard. Today Kovolam has become one of the mainly popular beach hangouts in India. Kovolam means a grove of coconut trees and truly the coconut trees along the beaches like heavenly heaven of nature.

ALLEPPEY

Alleppey located in south of Cochin, is the center for backwater cruises in Kerala. It has a big network of canals which passes through the town, provides its lifeline & has a long sandy beach. It is also the center of the famous coir products of Kerala. Nehru Trophy Boat Race - the most colorful snake-boat race in Kerala - is held here on the second Saturday of August every year.

Altitude - Sea level,

Temperature (deg C) - Summer- Max 35, Min 22.5. Winter- Max 32, Min 22.,

Rainfall - 254 cms,

BestSeason - October to May.

Places of Interest

Backwater Cruise

Excursions

Ambalapuzha- 14 kms, Haripad- 33 kms.

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QUILON (Kollam)

The present day Quilon is famous for its varied modern industries, Cashewnut Processing & Research, fisheries etc. for the tourists coming from Trivandrum, Quilon is the beginning of the magnificent backwaters of Kerala. Quilon like Alleppey is also surrounded by beautiful coconut palms presenting a panoramic view cruising on this lake is very interesting.

Altitude - Sea level,

Temperature (deg C) - Summer- Max 35, Min 25, Winter- Max 33.5, Min 24.,

Rainfall - 279 cms.,

Best Season - October to March.

Places of Interest

Thangassery Light House and Backwaters.

Excursions

Chavara- 16 kms, Kundara- 13 kms, Courtallam (Health Resort)- 104 kms, Alleppey- 85 kms.

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KOTTAYAM

Kottayam situated in South of Cochin is a cultural Center with good-looking Old churches. Though a busy profitable city, on its west, it has gorgeous backwaters & on its eastern parts it is full of greenery. At Vembanad Lake in Kumarakam tourists could enjoy the beautiful backwater trips.

Area - 15.54 sq. km.,

Altitude - Sea level,

Temperature (deg C) - Max Min Summer- 35 Deg 22.5 Deg. Winter- 32 Deg 22 Deg,

Rainfall - 176 cms.,

Best Season - October to March.

Places of Interest

Valiya Pally, Thazhathangadi Mosque and Kumarakam.

Excursions

Periyar Wildlife Sanctuary (Thekkady)- 114 kms, Ettumanoor- 13 kms, Vaikkom- 48 kms.

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PERIYAR WILDLIFE SANCTUARY

The Periyar wildlife Sanctuary at Thekkady is a significant tourist attraction. It is situated on the Periyar Lake in the hills of Western Ghats and is the finest refuge for viewing & photographing Indian wild elephants. Altitude - 900 m to 2000 meters, Temperature (deg C) - Summer: Max 29, Min 18. Winter: Max 21, Min 15.5.,

Rainfall - 203 cms (June to October),

Best Season - September to May.

Places of Interest

Indian Wild Elephants, Sambar, Barking Deer, Wild Boar, Tigers, Panthers, Wild Dogs, Bison, Spotted deer, Leopard, Musk deer. Wildlife can be seen in its natural habitat by cruising on the lake in motorboats.

Excursions

Forest Arubi creek- 16 kms, Crusoe Island- 19 kms, Manakkavala- 10 kms, Mullakudy- 29 km Pavarasu 19- kms, Periyar Dam- 12 kms, Thannikudy- 38 kms, Peermade- 40 kms.

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COCHIN (Kochi)

Cochin, the commercial heart of Kerala, is a town of great historical importance. It has a fine natural harbor around which the city has grown. The Fort Cochin area, where the Portuguese settled in the 16th century, has been affirmed as Heritage Zone. Climate (deg C) - Summer Max 35 deg Min 22 deg. Winter Max 32 deg Min 20 deg., Rainfall - 254 cm (June to October),

Best Season - October to March.

Places of Interest

Dutch Palace, Jewish Synagogue, St.Francis Church, Bolghatty, Gunda and Willingdon Islands, Kerala History Museum, Hill Palace Museum, Parishath Taamburan Museum, Chinese Fishing Nets, Santacruz Cathedral (Basilica).

Excursions

Alwaye- 21 kms, Kalady- 45 kms, Alleppey- 64 kms, Trichur- 80 kms, Kottayam- 76 kms, Guruvayur- 109 kms, Munnar- 136 kms, Idikki- 138 kms, Palghat- 163 kms, Periyar Wildlife Sanctuary (Thekkady)- 190 kms, Sabarimala 209- kms, Calicut (Kozhikode)- 218 kms.

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TRICHUR (Trissur)

Trichur, 78 kms north of Cochin on National Highway 47 lies at the base of a hillock, crowned by the well-known Vadkkumnathan (Shiva) temple. This former capital of Cochin State was captured by Zamorin and later by Tipu Sultan in the second half of the 18th Century. The famed pooram festival is celebrated at the Vadakkumnathan Temple each year during April-May. The Kerala Sahitya Academy and Kerala Sangeetha Nataka Academy are situated in Trichur. The Vadakkumnathan Temple is a typical example of the Kerala Style of architecture. The temple contains the holy shrines of Paramashiva, Parvathy, Sankaranayana, Ganapathi, Sri Rama and Sri Krishna.

Altitude - Sea level,

Temperature (deg C) - Summer- Max 35, Min 22.5, Winter- Max 32.3, Min 20.,

Rainfall - 254 cms.,

Best Season - October to March.

Places of Interest:

Vadakkumnathan Temple, Town Hall, Zoo, Aquarium, State Museum, Art Museum.

Excursions

Guruvayoor- 32 kms, Cheruthuruthy- 29 kms, Peechi Dam- 23 kms, Tiruvilwamala Temple- 29 kms, Cranganore (Kodungallor)- 36 kms, Triprayar- 25 kms, Irinjalakuda- 21 kms, Kalady- 55 kms.

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GURUVAYUR

Guruvayur is one of the most holy and significant pilgrim centers of Kerala, attracting thousands of pilgrims from all parts of the Country. Its chief attraction is a temple devoted to Lord Krishna known as 'Guruvayurappan'. Guruvayur, with its temple devoted to Shri Krishna, is one of the most popular pilgrim centers of India. It is at this temple that Melpattur Narayana Bhattathiri calms his renowned Sanskrit devotional poem Narayaneeyam.

Altitude -Sea level,

Temperature (deg C) - Summer- Max 35, Min 22.5. Winter- Max 32.3, Min 20.,

Rainfall - 254 cms.,

Best Season - October to March.

Places of Interest

Guruvayur Shree Krishna Temple and Punnathur Kotta.

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STATES OF SOUTH INDIA

• Andhra Pradesh
• Lakshadweep
• Karnataka
• Kerala
• Tamil Nadu