Wednesday, January 15, 2014

Upgrade your Kerala tour with a stay in Kerala Hotels!

There is no doubt in anyone’s mind that Kerala tours set up just the right mood and settings for spending awesome vacations. The quietude, the serenity, the peacefulness, the energy and the vibrancy of Kerala lures one and all from the comforts of their homes. With beaches, backwaters, forests, hills, greenery, wide biodiversity, festivity and so much more happening at every corner, a trip to Kerala is ideal way to escape the boring escapades of day-to-day life.

To make a trip to Kerala memorable and upgrade the experience, one can chose to stay in the excellent hotels in Kerala. The thing about Kerala hotels is that they never leave anyone disappointed. The whole culture, the lifestyle, the history and the traditions of Kerala is engulfed in every hotel of this state.

The idea is simple, pick your favorite destination in Kerala, check out the hotels in Kerala list, pick the accommodation that totally fits your need and then see the magic that unfolds.

Some popular destinations of Kerala such as Cochin, Kumarakom, Kovalam, Alleppey and Wayanad have some of the finest accommodations in the state.

Hotels in Cochin


Cochin is the most active and busiest towns in Kerala backwaters. The city is famous for its heritage town, Old Cochin. Maximum number of hotels in all of Kerala backwater destinations can be found in Cochin. All the Hotels in Cochin possess the verifying tribute to the Portuguese and Dutch culture that has been left in the town by the former foreigner traders who set up their homes in here. The influence of these cultures can be visible in the cuisines that are provided in these hotels, in the architecture of these hotels, in the décor of the rooms of these hotels and even the hospitality the guests receive from the hotel’s staff. The heritage hotels in Fort Cochin are some of the best accommodations in the city. Favorite Kochi hotels include Hotel Taj Malabar – Cochin, Hotel Taj Residency, The Renaissance, Hotel Le Meridien - Cochin, etc.

Hotels in Kumarakom


Kumarakom has been given the designation of “Green Paradise on Earth” by tourists. Something is truly magical about the backwater destination in Kerala. This enchanting factor of Kumarakom which is visible in the city at every corner can also be experiences at hotels in Kumarakom. Every hotel in the city offers a chance to enjoy amidst the serene beaches, tranquil backwaters, swaying coconut and palm trees and lush greenery of Kerala. For nature lovers, these hotels are ideal retreat. There are several 5-star hotels in Kumarakom and all of them provide top class facilities to the travelers. There is no shortage of any kind of amenity or service in any of these hotels. Those who stay in here just get lost in the beauty of Kerala and find themselves never wanting to go back home. The comfort and luxury takes on a whole different meaning at Kumarakom hotels. Some of the best accommodations in the city are Whispering Palms Lake Resort, Water Scapes Backwater Resort, Cocobay Resort, Coconut Lagoon Resort, Taj Garden Retreat, etc.

Hotels in Kovalam


Kovalam is one of the most peaceful backwater stretches in Kerala. Newlyweds often pick Kovalam as their honeymoon destination. Hotels in Kerala feed on this particular romantic aspect of the city and provide ideal honeymoon retreats to couples. The ambience, the environment, the settings, the décor and the aura of these hotels are exceptional romantic. As soon as one enters Kovalam hotels, he/she senses and feels the love in the air. With romantic backgrounds of backwaters, beaches, misty hills and tall palm trees, one truly enjoys a stay in any of these accommodations. Some of the most preferred hotels in the backwater destination of Kerala are The Leela Kovalam, Vivanta by Taj Kovalam, The Travancore Heritage, Hotel Samudra, etc.

Hotels in Alleppey


Alleppey, now Alappuzha, can be called as the “backbone” of Kerala backwaters. The scenic Lake city is the starting and ending point of numerous backwater routes in the state. Tourists love enjoying vacations in the scenic town. Hotels in Alleppey take care of every desire of tourists. All these hotels offer some of the best possible views of Kerala Backwaters. Wide range of amenities and facilities are made available for tourists in these hotels. The serenity and tranquility that surrounds these hotels truly makes them an ideal retreat. Some of these hotels also arrange for kettuvalam or houseboat rides along the backwaters and hence tourists make the best of their backwater tours. Some of the best ones include Lake Palace Hotel - Alappuzha, Abad Turtle Beach, Marari Beach Resort, Sreekrishna Ayurveda Panchakarma Centre, etc.

Hotels in Wayanad


Wayanad is a small town in Kerala which is surrounded by mist-covered hills, dense forests and lush greenery. The city is famous among wildlife photographers as well because of its wide range of biodiversity. Tourists can enjoy the tour to Wayanad by selecting the right accommodation in the city. Hotels in Wayanad are ideal for nature lovers and understand the requirements of those who wish to wrap themselves in the arms of nature and thus give a full flow insight into the village life of Wayanad. Every accommodation in the city is more than a hotel; they are retreat into nature. Surrounded by forests and hills on all sides, these hotels give best view of the town with amazing facilities. Some best options include Vythiri Village, Vythiri Resort, Olives Homestay, The Windflower Resorts & Spa-Wayanad, Karapuzha Village Resort, etc.

Written By:
Karan Saxena is a literature student, with keen interest in writing about India and the world. His write-ups give an intricate, detailed version of the cultures and surroundings of the locations, he is writing about. All his write ups are thoroughly researched and completely accurate in providing factual details.

Wednesday, January 8, 2014

Top Tourist Destinations in Kerala, India

One of the most popular tourist destinations situated on the southern region of India, Kerala is one of the most picturesque and greenest states in India. Every year, millions of tourists from different corners of world visit Kerala. The region is quite famous for its beaches, backwaters, hill stations, colorful culture, historical culture, temples and wildlife attractions etc. Owing to its beauty, serenity and greenery, it has been mentioned as one of the 50 Must Visit Destinations by National Geographic Traveler. There are several breathtaking tourist destinations in Kerala which are commonly featured in most Kerala tour packages.

Kerala Tourism and Tourist Places witnessed immense development after 1980’s. The Kerala Tourism and Development Corporation (KTDC) did aggressive campaigns to promote Kerala as a popular tourist destination in India. It is fondly described as ‘God’s Own Country’ in tourism vernacular due to its eco-friendly and hospitable environment. Now-a-days, Kerala is growing as a super brand in travel and tourism sector. Here is a list of top tourist destinations in Kerala for your kind perusal.

Alleppey & Kumarakom- Backbone of Backwater Tourism 



The backwaters of Alleppey are considered as the backbone of tourism in Kerala. The long network of backwaters extends up to 115 kilometers. These backwaters are dotted with swaying palm fringes and offer a unique opportunity of houseboat Kerala tours. When it comes to backwater tourism in Kerala, Alleppey is the most favorite of all. The backwater cruise on board deluxe houseboats traditionally known as ‘Kettuvallams’. These houseboats are deluxe holiday homes floating over picturesque Vembanad Lake. Besides backwaters, other places that you can’t afford to miss include Alappuzha CSI Christ Church, Laccadive Sea, Krishnapuram Palace, Mannarasala Temple and Ambalapuzzha Sri Krishna Temple. Besides, there is Kumarakom, a popular tourist village in the Kottayam district of Kerala. There is a famous bird sanctuary in Kumarakom, where you can spot a wide variety of flora and fauna.

Thiruvananthapuram- Capital of God’s Own Country

Labeled as the ‘Evergreen City of India’, Thiruvananthapuram is the capital of the Indian state of Kerala. It is an ancient city that has plenty of coconut and palm trees spanned across the Malabar Coast. Right from natural environs to languid beaches and wildlife sanctuaries to famous religious attractions, the place offers everything required for a dream vacation. Other places of interest in Thiruvananthapuram include Poovar Island, Agastya Mala, Chowara Beach, Napier Art Museum, The Zoological Park, Puthenmalika Palace and Sri Padmanabhaswamy Temple. For shopping enthusiasts, there are various shopping complexes sprinkled across the city. The Sanker Road is quite famous for its handicrafts such as paper crafts, home decors, stationeries, jewelry and vegetable dyed clothing.

Cochin Tourist Destinations

Fondly known as the ‘Queen of Arabian Sea’, Cochin, also known as Kochi, is one of the cosmopolitan cities of Kerala. The term Kochi is derived from a Malayalam word ‘Kochazi’ that means a small lagoon. Once a famous hub of spice trade, today, Cochin is one of the top tourist places in Kerala. Kochi can be dubbed as a cluster of islands and all connected by bridges and ferries. Their names are Ernakulum mainland, Willingdon Island, Bolgatty Island, Vypin Island and Fort Kochi among others. In addition to this, tourists can pay a visit to Athirappily Falls, Paliam Palace, Cherai Beach and Bhoothathankettu. Onam Festival, Cochin Carnival Festival, Fireworks Festival and Shiva Temple Festival are celebrated at various times of the year. During Cochin Carnivals and Christmas, various colorful rallies and competitions are conducted.

Munnar Tourist Destinations


A popular hill station situated in the Western Ghats in the state of Kerala, Munnar is quite famous for its enchanting beauty and salubrious climate. The hill station is quite famous for its eco-tourism. The place has a vast expanse of tea plantation, immaculate valleys, rich wildlife heritage and balmy winds containing aroma of spices.  The beauty of this hill station lies in its verdant green slopes, scenic landscapes, tea & spice plantation and diverse collection of flora and fauna. Eravikulam National Park is the topmost attraction of this place as it houses a large variety of wildlife and bird species. Many couples prefer to visit this place for honeymoon and love to explore every aspect of nature.

Thekkady Tourist Destinations


Thekkady is one of the most popular wildlife tourist destinations of Kerala. The region houses the famous ‘Periyar National Park’ which is one of the most popular wildlife reserves in Kerala. The national park is a home to a large variety of rare and endangered varieties of flora and fauna. As per government census, this wildlife reserve is the home of 40 tigers, 20 leopards, 900 elephants and 180 species of birds. The boat safari is the best way to explore the beauty of this region. Other places of interest around Thekkady include Mangala Devi Temple, Chellar Kovil, Anakkara and Murikkady.


Kovalam Tourist Destinations


Located 7 kilometers away from Thiruvananthapuram, Kovalam is one of the most popular destinations of Kerala. Kovalam is divided into three crescent shaped beaches- Lighthouse Beach, Samudra Beach and Hawah Beach. The mesmerizing beaches with swaying palm trees, the immeasurable sky, the lashing waves, ubiquitous sights of fisherman catching fish and houseboats floating above backwaters together promise you a holiday full of pleasure and beauty. Skiing, swimming, surfing and kayaking are some popular water sports activities that can be enjoyed here. Of late, Kovalam is gaining popularity as a popular Ayurvedic destination among Indian and overseas travelers.

This completes the list of top Kerala Tourist destinations. Each name in the list is often featured in most Kerala holiday tour packages. All these destinations will familiarize you with different aspects of holidays in Kerala such as wildlife, beaches, backwaters, hill stations and temples among others.