subject: The Spice Garden Of India. [print this page] Kerala- the magical strip of land that lies between the mighty Arabian sea and the hefty peaks of the western ghats- has everything that a nature admirer looks for. It has marvelous hill stations, romantic beaches, picturesque backwaters, the evergreen forests and many more manmade buildings. The visitors have too many opportunities in Kerala. They can spend time enjoying the awesome hill climate, go for trekking in the forests and watch elephants cavort, they can camp, they can do adventures and ferry through the backwaters and they can visit numerous awesome places and do awesome things.
Kerala also has a rich and varied culture and boasts of historical tradition of many centuries. Kerala had contacts with many European nations and it is said that the teak wood furniture in Solomons palace was from Kerala. Kerala can be proud of its history- a mixture of old indigenous and foreign traditions. Many foreign countries had travelled to Kerala in search of the spices this Spice Garden of India boasts of.
The geography of Kerala is blessed with mountains of Nilgiris and Anamalas, the beaches like Kovalam, Varakala, Shanghumgham, Cherayi, Snehatheeram, Kappad, Bekkal, Thalassery etc, the wildlife sanctuaries of Thekkadi, bird sanctuary in Kumarakom and the Backwaters in central Kerala. This area is blessed with 7-8 months of rain each year and this helps the place retain its lush green terrain. There are 44 rivers and about two dozens of waterfalls in Kerala, the most famous being Athirappilli falls.
The state is one among the safest regions of south Asia and the people are very friendly with the stories. From kerala one can get numerous souvenirs like coconut shell products of Alleppey, different kinds of wooden and metal handicrafts like modals of snake boats, decorated elephants and traditional jewel boxes. Coir wall hangings with pictures of Kadhakali in it and the handfan made of bamboo or ramacham are also famous. Another expensive option for a souvenir is a Nettipatam that adorns an elephant in temple festivals.
Kerala is truly a place worth visiting at least once in a lifetime. It was named as one of the ten paradises of the world and one of the fifty places of a lifetime by the National geographic Traveller Magazine. The place has many good hotels according to anybodys budget. The most popular city is Kochi and the city is connected to all other places by rail, road and air.
