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Kerala Backwaters
 Kerala Backwaters - Kerala has a unique inland
network of navigable canals, rivers and lakes that is almost twice as long as
its entire coastline of 560 kms. Many believe that these Backwaters are
the very essence of Kerala - swaying palms and gently flowing serene waterways.
You can travel from place to place in a variety of water craft getting a
close-up view of rural Kerala, preserved through the ages and completely hidden
from the road. Allapuzha (Alleppey) - the "Venice of the East",
Kottayam - one of the main centres of the Syrian Christian faith and
Kumarakom with its tourist complex and birds Sanctuary are some of the
interesting places on the backwaters.
The Great Boat Races - During August /September each year the
quiet backwaters undergo a change as the
villagers enthusiastically prepare for the Great Boat Races. These races are
held at many places on different days, the most famous being the Nehru
Trophy Boat Race at Allapuzha held on the second Saturday of August. The 50
m long wooden Snake Boats, each powered by over 100 oarsmen, attract the
most attention as they slice through the waters accompanied by songs and war
cries, cheered by thousands of spectators lining the banks.
Famous Hill Stations - The highlands along Kerala's eastern boundary have some of
India's most beautiful landscapes and cool bracing climate with a number of
famous hill stations for a quiet get-away.
Kerala's highest town
Munnar (1600 m, 5300 ft), 132 kms east of Kochi, is surrounded by tea
plantations. The Eravikulam National Park (home to the Nilgiri Tahr,
Bison, the Nilgiri Langur and the Lion Tailed Macaque) and South India's
highest peak Anaimudi (2695 m, 8840 ft) are nearby.
The tiny hill station Peermade, 145 kms southeast of Kochi, is just 43 kms from
Periyar Wildlife Sanctuary, one of India's largest, where herds of wild elephants can be
seen frolicking in the lake. Ponmudi (golden crown), so named because of
the golden glow cast over these hills by the evening sun, is renowned for wild
orchids, natural springs and beautiful picnic spots.
Festivals And Fairs of Kerala - The Great Elephant March is a spectacular
three-day procession of 101 beautifully decorated elephants that starts from
Thrissur and ends at Thiruvananthapuram. The Thrissur Pooram festival
held in honour of Lord Shiva in April or May, is a mammoth spectacle in which
30 caparisoned elephants participate in the festivities. Onam, the
harvest festival, celebrated in August or September, is Kerala's major festival
when all of Kerala has an air of merriment and joy. In February every year
Thiruvananthapuram showcases Indian classical dance forms including
Mohiniyattam, Odissi, Kathak and Bharata Natyam at the very popular week-long
Nishagandhi Dance Festival.
Kerala Foods - Apart from Idli and Dosa (with it's many variations)
which are common to the south Indian States, typical Keralite foods includes Malabar biryani,
avial (a mixed vegetable dish), thoran (a dry vegetable dish with
cabbage, peas, beans and grated coconut), appam (a crisp pancake eaten
with coconut milk or stews), pootu made of rice flour dough and
payasam, a dessert of rice cooked in coconut milk.
Shopping In Kerala - Sandalwood, rosewood and buffalo horn carvings, Kathakali dance
masks, brass temple lamps and figurines, handloom cottons, coir (coconut fibre)
and banana fibre products (table mats, coasters, rush mats) and curios made
from sea shells are some of the things which can be bought from the Kerala
Cottage Industries Emporia in the big cities.
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