Kerala Holidays
Kerala is a 560-km long narrow
stretch of land. At the widest, Kerala is a mere 120-km from the sea to the mountains.
Gracing one side of Kerala, are the lofty mountains ranging high to kiss the sky.
And on the other side the land is washed by the blue Arabian Sea waters.
Alappuzha Beach - Referred to as the Venice of the East,
Alappuzha has always enjoyed a unique place in the maritime history of Kerala.
Today, it is famous for its boat races, backwater holidays, beaches, marine products
and coir industry. Alappuzha beach is a popular picnic spot.
Spectacular visual effects
and stunning music are hallmarks of Kerala's performing arts. In a land which
cannot boast of monumental architectural feats, unlike many other parts of India,
the performing arts, both individually and collectively, make up for the lost
magnificence.
Kerala has a long chain
of lush, mid-clad hill stations that are home to exotic wildlife. All the hill
resorts in Kerela offer the most enchanting experience of nature in all its virgin
beauty.
The backwaters of Kerala
are what have given it the sobriquet "God's Own Country". As you meander through
these on a houseboat you drift into a timeless land replete with picture-postcard
towns and ancient trading posts. The huge coconut trees provide an apt backdrop
and perhaps you can even eavesdrop on the strains of an oarsman's song.
The kettuvallam or ‘boat with knots’- was so called because
the entire boat was held together with coir knots only - not even a single nail
is used during the construction. The boat is made of planks of jack-wood joined
together with coir. This is then coated with a caustic black resin made from boiled
cashew kernels. With careful maintenance, a kettuvallom can last for generations.
Ayurveda evolved around 600
BC in India. This new system of medicine stressed on the prevention of body ailments
in addition to curing them. Followed by the Dravidians and Aryans alike, Ayurveda
has been practised ever since. Today, it's a unique, indispensable branch of medicine
- a complete naturalistic system that depends on the diagnosis of your body's
humours - vata, pitta and kapha - to achieve the right balance.
The Idukki Wildlife Sanctuary - A land-locked district,
Idukki is one of the most nature rich areas of Kerala. The Idukki Wildlife Sanctuary
here spreads over an area of 77 sq km in the Thodupuzha and Udumpanchola taluks
of the district. Situated at an altitude of 450-748 m above sea level, this sanctuary
occupies the forest land between the Cheruthoni river and the Periyar river
The colorful mosaic of Kerala festivals and fairs is as
diverse as the land, is an expression of the spirit of celebration, that is an
essential part of the State. Observed with enthusiasm and gaiety, festivals are
like gems, ornamenting the crown of Kerala tradition and culture. Round the year
the fests keep Kerala life vibrant and interludes in the mundane affairs of life.
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