Kerala Area Guides

Kochi is in the state of Kerela. Called 'God’s Own Country' by the tourist promoters of the state, if you visit you will find it difficult to refute this claim. Amongst the greenest states in India, it features coffee plantations and wild life sanctuaries. It is also home to the famous 'Backwaters' and their houseboats. Activities such as day trips on the backwaters, such as coracle rowing, and swimming are popular here. Some five-star resorts even offer water sports of a more complex nature. Take your pick.

If you are looking for more traditional coastal pleasures, head for the beaches in southern Kerela. While they pale in comparison to the beaches of Goa, they are certainly worth a visit. Tradition and festivals are also a big draw for the state. The 'Snake Boat Race' is an annual event that gets wide coverage. The competition is quite fierce and even the spectators get involved in it thanks to the illegal betting that goes on alongside. Best time to visit is between November and March as the monsoons and summertime are best avoided.

Where to Stay in Kerala

Kerala has spectacular scenery, fantastic spa and massage facilities, and immeasurable backwater routes with houseboats to explore on. However if you are in Kerala Ayurvedic regime (and many go there for this) check into a nearby hotel or indeed go for a hotel that incorporates this ancient form of healing and wellbeing. As for the houseboat option, make sure that you have seen the actual boat before you sail off into the backwaters – options range from luxurious to the Titanically-inclined. (Read more...)

Kerala Attractions

Kerala State is famous for Ayurveda massages and healing, wildlife sanctuaries and its wonderful backwaters. There is so much to see in terms of historic buildings and monuments as well as in the modern sense. It has three international airports which make it very easy to reach from abroad. When you are here you must experience the backwaters. It is an unforgettable experience. If you enjoyed Venice, you will love it here. (Read more...)

Kerala Activities

The festivals of Kerala are ideal for in-depth learning about the local culture and its many traditions. There are plenty of them, well distributed all throughout the year, just make sure that you find a local to explain what they're about so you can benefit from and understand them better. Besides the festivals there are a number of other activities that you can enjoy here. Some of them are listed below.  (Read more...)

Kerala Restaurants & Nightlife

The state is not approving of discos and pubs in general and traditional nightlife usually revolves around eating out and maybe going to see a movie. The Kannada language theatre may not be as huge as the Tamil one, but it is quite popular in the state. Whatever discos and pubs that exist tend to be located in the five-star hotels in the big cities.  (Read more...)

Kerala Shopping

The name Kerala is synonymous with silk. The area has ideal conditions for the growing and manufacturing of this commodity and with a local tradition of silk production stretching back for generation after generation you can be sure that the quality of Kerala silk is second to none. Cotton is another textile that is in abundance in this part of India and many of the hip T-shirts, jeans, jackets and sweatshirts bound for Western boutiques and shops end up on market stalls here at prices a fraction of what they would command in the west. (Read more...)

Kerala Information

There are plenty of yellow taxis and auto rickshaws available in most of the bigger cities. In some cases ferries are needed to help you hop from one island to the next, this is especially true of Kochi. The state is fairly well connected by trains and has a few major airports, including three international ones at Thiruvananthapuram (Trivandrum), Kohikode, and Nedumbassery (Kochi). (Read more...)

Kerala Maps

Our interactive map (and satellite views) displays all available hotels with photos, facilities and guest comments as well as attractions, landmarks and other items of interest with links to relevant information pages. (Read more...)