Tour of South India

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Kerala is recognized for its panoramic backwater stretches, lush green paddy fields, highlands and beaches. The gorgeous green of the fringed palms ripple in the blue waters and blend into wavelets. The complete atmosphere spells peace, bliss and tranquility. It is an extremely various encounter to cruise on the backwaters in a kettuvallam, absorbing the beauty of the Kerala villages. The scenery flashes up vivid contrasts of breathtaking greens and deep blues. South India Tour takes you on one such journey in four pristine cities of Kerala.

KOVALAM
At Kovalarn, the enrapturing beauty of water, trees and birds unfolding along your leisurely kelluvailam journey will make you wonder if beauty can be redefined. An internationally-renowned beach with 3 adjacent crescent beaches, Kovalam is a favourite haunt of tourists from all over the globe. A huge rocky promontory on the beach has produced a fabulous bay of calm waters perfect for sea bathing.

The leisure choices at this beach are a lot and diverse. Sunbathing, swimming, herbal body toning massages, unique cultural programmes and catamaran cruising are some of them. Life on the beach begins late in the day and carries on properly into the night. The beach complicated consists of a string of accommodation possibilities, convention facilities, shopping zones, swimming pools, and Yoga and Ayurvedic massage centres. The top time to pay a visit to is from September to March, although it is an all- year-round destination.

KUMARAKOM
The village of Kumarakom is a cluster of small islands on the Vembanad Lake, and is component of the Kuttanad region in Kerala. Kurnarakom is a serenely beautiful and scenic backwater destination, jutting into the ever-effervescent Vembanad Lake that is dotted with plenty of traditional rice boats and canoes, leaving a scene that is immensely pleasing to the eye. The fresh water of the lake flows into the mainland producing a labyrinth of lagoons, canals and waterways.

When nature is all you will need to recuperate, Kurnarakom is undoubtedly 1 of the most invigorating and fascinating locations to unwind in Kerala. The slender coconut palms standing here, there and everywhere the never ever-ending paddy fields the meandering lagoons and backwaters and the mangroves will all serve to calm and inspire your mind.

The adventurous can indulge in water sports, such as wind sailing and water skiing. You could even take a canoe out into the quiet lake, and armed with a fishing rod, catch your own supper.

The bird sanctuary here, which is spread across 14 acres, is a favourite haunt of migratory birds and an ornithologist's paradise. Egrets, Darters, Herons, Teals, Waterfowls, cuckoo, Wild Duck and migratory birds like the Siberian Stork visit here in (locks and fascinate the visitors. The greatest way to watch the birds of the Kumarakom Sanctuary is to take a boat trip round the islands.

KOCHI
Kochi, colonial name Cochin, is a vibrant city in God's Own Country. This beautiful seaside city is flanked by the Western Chats on the east and the Arabian Sea on the west. Its proximity to the Equator, the sea and the mountains present a rich experience of a moderate equatorial climate. In Kochi, dawn is not normally a factor of breathtaking beauty, but just a careless smear of tinted light exactly where sea and sky unite. Daybreak is full of indeterminate promise. A slow lividness at the mist-obscured harbour mouth meets the swelling untamed surge of the ocean. Situated in Ernakulam district in Kerala, Kochi, recognized as the 'Queen of the Arabian Sea', is arguably the perfect starting point for exploring the unfathomable diversity and beauty of Kerala.

The Chinese fishing nets, Cheena Vala, are special to Kochi and only located here outside China. It is believed that traders from the court of the Chinese ruler, Kublai Khan, introduced these nets here. Various fishermen earn their livelihood by using these massive nets. A whole stretch of the coast along Fort Kochi and Vypeen are dotted with these nets.

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM
Thiruvananthapuram, the capital of Kerala, literally translates into the 'abode of Lord Anantha'. The Sri Padmanabhaswamy Temple-a extremely-venerated temple for the Keralites-in the heart of the city is devoted to the deity, Lord Anantha.

It is a bustling and urbanised city with all the contemporary facilities that 1 may well conceive of. Becoming the capital of Kerala, Thiruvananthapurarn attracts a lot of small business visitors besides leisure travellers. Tourists come from all over the world to marvel at the Thiruvananthapuram temples, identified for their exquisitely attractive architecture the naturally green and captivating picnic spots, particularly in the woods on the Western Chats and a host of other tourist attractions. The city's backwaters are the most charming and picturesque.

Sightseeing includes interesting places like Napier Museum, Sri Chitra Art Gallery, Padrnanabhaswamy Temple, Ponmudi hill station and SMSM Institute-a state-owned handicrafts emporium to choose up ethnic curios and other articles.