Ten off- beat ideas on a Kerala Holiday - Part l
Comprising of fourteen districts Kerala is India's most well known state after Rajasthan and brings in close to a million inbound visitors every year. Kerala has enchanting beauty, breathtaking scenery, outstanding art, multicultural diversity, enchanting beaches, romantic backwaters and last but not the least it offers an array of herbal massages & treatments in the form of Ayurveda - preventive medicine known to increase longevity and agility. 'God's own country' offers a number of activities for intrepid travelers ranging from interacting with local cultures to trekking activities in the western ghats - now declared as a UNESCO world heritage site. Being pampered in luxury is not unknown in Kerala, be prepared for generous dose of traditional art, crafts, dance and martial art. The state in many ways can be said to bring body, mind and soul together - being blessed by Nature makes the task easier!
We've chosen fourteen inspiring 'to-do' things while on holiday in Kerala from fourteen districts of the state. Off beat ideas guaranteed to enrich your visit and make your outing worthwhile.
1. Cruise along Q S T & R Block Kayal in Allapuzha:
These regions are wonders of the indigenous agricultural engineering know-how of Kerala and remind visitors of the famous dikes of Holland. Extensive areas of land have been reclaimed from the backwaters and are protected by dikes built all around , a process that started 100 years ago. Here, cultivation and habitation are made possible four to ten feet below sea level. R Block, nearly 850 acres is the largest reclaimed area. A leisurely cruise along the canals that surround the 'kayals' is a memorable experience.
2.Visit the Hill Palace Museum in Tripunithara and Elephant Training Centre at Kodanad.
Hill Palace Museum, the official residence of the erstwhile Kochi Royal Family was built in 1865. The complex consists of 49 buildings in the traditional architectural style of Kerala and is surrounded by 52 acres of terraced land. A full fledged ethno-archeological museum and Kerala's first ever heritage museum are the main attractions. Displayed inside the gallery are oil paintings, 19th century paintings, murals, manuscripts, inscriptions & coins belonging to the royal family. Ancient musical instruments, clay models, bronze and silver items from 14-16th century are exhibited here.
Moving further visit Kodanad, 30 kms from Ernakulam and situated on the southern banks of the Periyar River to the largest elephant training centre in South India. Elephants specially trained for safaris are provided with saddles for riding.
3.Visit Kumblangi Tourist Village (25 kms from Kochi).
Essentially a fishing hamlet, this tiny village facing the Kochi backwaters in the western part of India's first designated ecotourism village and the rural tourism village of the state. Kalagraman, an artists village displays handicrafts and fishing equipment. Mangroves are nurtured here as well as fish farming. Bait fishing is extremely popular among tourists here. Many houses in the village are homestays and visitors can book their stay directly with the homestay operators.
4.Remain silent in Silent Vally and rediscover silence!
The 90 sq km national park is believed to be the sole surviving bit of evergreen forest in the Sahya Ranges. The peculiarity of the national park is it is even devoid of the chirping of cicadas. Vehicular transport is only possible upto Mukkali nearly 24 kms from the park. The rest of the way has to be covered by foot. The closest to the virgin forest in the entire Western Ghats, the Silent Valley National Park is home to India's last substantial stretch of topical evergreen forests. Its difficult terrain and the remoteness shelters a large number of wild animals. Permit issuing authority: Asst Wildlife Warden, Silent Valley National Park, Mukkali - Tel: 04924 - 253225
5.Muziris Heritage Village - 35 kms from Trissur
The ancient port city of Muziris, once a major centre for trade and commerce, was the gateway for various religious faiths like Christianit, Judaism, Islam and others. A thriving link in the Indo-Roman trade during first century B.C. merchants from a number of cultures are believed to have operated in this port. The Muziris Heritage Project is a unique preservation-cum-tourism project that provides circuit and timeline tours, culture tours, museum tours, backwater cruises to help rediscover the imposing past of this exciting new find on the international archaeological map.