Kerala
Kerala
The land of coconut trees and backwaters.
Best time to visit: August to March
Popular attractions: Backwaters of Alleppey, Beaches, Hill Stations, Periyar Wildlife Sanctuary
Overview
With a network of 44 rivers and turquoise blue backwaters, Kerala basks in the lap of nature. This pristine and serene state lies in the South - Eastern part of India and is much favoured due to its exotic wildlife, herbs, emerald green hill stations and the crystal clear Arabian Sea along its coast. It is indeed God's own country.
Kerala is also famous for its palm tree-lined beaches, ayurvedic treatments, sprawling tea gardens, festivals and colourful dance forms. This beautiful coastal state has everything on offer to take your pick from!
Celebrated as the Spice Coast of India, ancient Kerala played host to travellers and traders from across the world including the Greeks, Romans, Arabs, Chinese, Portuguese, Dutch, French and the British. Food historians believe that black pepper is native to Kerala, where the flowering vine has been cultivated for millennia.
Culture & Fine Art
Kerala’s cultural heritage is centuries old. Indian elephants form an integral part of the cultural ethos and are deeply connected to the state’s religious and social functions. The artistic field of Kerala comprises ancient classical art, folk art as well as modern artistic forms like the cinema. Kathakali and Mohiniyaattam are the traditional art of dance which lure tourists from world-wide.
Festivals
Kerala has many colourful festivals and every festival has its own importance. Onam, the annual 10-day harvest festival is the largest festival celebrated in Kerala in the month of August - September.
Cuisine
Every food-lover's paradise! The cuisine of Kerala is known for its generous use of spices, coconuts and vegetables exclusively grown in the region. The variety of flavours range from spicy to mellow and sweet. Banana and coconut are the two most important ingredients used here.
Kerala cuisine offers a multitude of both vegetarian and non-vegetarian dishes with rice as a typical accompaniment. Best dish to try is the Meen Curry – Kerala style fish curry made in fried coconut.
Traditional dishes include Sadhya and Puttu. Puttu is a common vegetarian breakfast savoured in homes and restaurants alike. Sadhya is a feast, usually served at lunch and includes 20-40 dishes, which are served on banana leaf. This is a 2,300 year old traditional way of serving food.
A staple drink in Kerala is Tadi and is mildly intoxicating. It is an ancient wine (2,500 year old) made of the sap of coconut palm trees. If you're a fan of sweet alcoholic beverages, you will love this. However, the most famous drink of India is tea and is well grown in Kerala. Visiting a tea plantation is a lovely highlight to your holiday.