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About Kerala


Kerala has 14 districts that are spread across the length and breadth of the region and these districts basically make the major cities of Kerala. All the cities of Kerala have been lavishly blessed by Mother Nature and have immense tourist potential. The cities of tourist attraction in Kerala includes the Backwater paradise of Alappuzha, the commercial capital and twin city of Kochi - Ernakulam, the great pilgrimage centre of Pathanamita, the green and clean capital city of Thiruvananthapuram and Kerala's cultural capital Thrissur.

Location : Ernakulam, Kerala
Languages : Malayalam, English, Hindi
Known As : Cochin
Best Season : September To May

Kochi (also called Cochin) An all time tourist favourite, Kochi is the commercial capital of Kerala. It has to offer palaces, forts, beaches, backwaters, old churches, snake boat races, Kathakali, museums and the convinence of the big city. Kochi is just about the center of Kerala. It is basically a collection of islands and narrow peninsulas. Ernakulam is the commercial centre and forms the main land. The two main railway stations and the bus stands are located here. Fort Kochi & Mattanchery, form an ellongated island west of Emakulam. Willingdon island which houses the Airport, Port & the Naval base lies between Emakulam & FortKochi. Jos junction in Ernakulam is considered as the nerve centre of the city.

Prime Attractions of Kochi (Cochin)
Mattancherry Palace ( Dutch Palace) : This monument was built by the Portuguese in 1557 and presented to Raja Veera Kerala Varma of Kochi. The Dutch renovated it in 1663. The murals in the bedchambers and other rooms, depicting scenes from the Ramayana, Mahabharata and Puranic legends are the important features.

Santa Cruz Basilica : This Roman Catholic Church situated close to St. Francis Church is a historic church built by the Portuguese. Pope Paul IV elevated the church to a cathedral in 1558 AD. But in 1795 AD, the British demolished it. About a hundred years later, Bishop Dom Gomez Ferreira commissioned this new building. Pope John Paul II proclaimed Santa Cruz a Basilica in 1984.

Cherai Beach : This lovely beach bordering Vypeen Island is ideal for swimming. Dolphins are occasionally seen here. A typical Kerala village with paddy fields and coconut groves nearby is an added attraction of this beach.

Chinese Fishing Nets : Lined along the sea-front, these fishing nets exhibit a mechanical method of catching fish, introduced by Chinese traders from the court of Kublai Khan. These nets are also seen along the backwaters between Cochin and Kottayam, and between Alleppey (Alappuzha) and Quilon (Kollam). They are mainly used at high tide.

Willingdon Island : Beautiful backwaters surround this man-made island named after Lord Willingdon, a British Viceroy to India. This is the site of Kochin's best hotels, customs and trading centres, the port trust and the headquarters of the Southern Naval Command.

Excursions of Kochi (Cochin)
Alappuzha Beach (70 km) : Also known as the Venice of the East, Alappuzha is famous for its boat races, houseboat holidays, beaches, marine products and coir industry. A singular characteristic of this land is the region called Kuttanad. The granary of Kerala, Kuttanad is one of the few places in the world where farming is done below sea level.

Periyar Wildlife Sanctuary, Thekkady (190 km) : Rolling hills, tea and cardamom plantations welcome you to Thekkady. One of the largest wildlife reserves in India, the Periyar Wildlife Sanctuary is more popular as a tiger reserve. A boat ride on the splendid waters of the Periyar Lake provides the perfect recreation.

Munnar (130 km) : 1600 m above sea level, Munnar is a nature lover's paradise and was the summer resort of the British government in South India. Sprawling tea plantations, picture-book towns, winding lanes and holiday facilities make this a popular hill station.

How to Get There
Air : Kochi is connected by excellent air network to all major cities in India.
Rail : Kochi has three main railway stations, namely, Ernakulam Junction, Ernakulam Town and Harbour Terminus on Willingdon Island.
Road : Kochi (Cochin), an important commercial centre of the South India is very well serviced by a network of national and state highways, connecting it to all major centres of the area.
Local Transport : Taxis, city buses and autorickshaws.

Many people from different countries and cultures, intermingling their languages get together in this paradise of the South and spend their leisure time joyfully. It makes moments heavenly. A former fishing village, Kovalam is just 16 kms away from Trivandrum, Kerala's capital city.



Kovalam offers you some unique beaches in the range of colours from white to black sands. Its palm-fringed beaches enchants you and enhance the pleasure in your life. The beaches that expectedly waits you are : Samudra beach, Aluwa beach, Lighthouse beach and Ashok Beach. Today Kovalam beach is known as the "Paradise of the South". With high rock promotory and a calm bay of blue waters, this beach paradise creates a unique aquarelle on moonlit nights.Over the past three decades, the place has been well developed, and now figures prominently on the world tourism map. The grilled seafood items such as lobster, king prawns and kalamari which are got fresh from the sea at Kovalam and Ayurvedic massage parlours, yoga centres and water sport facilities, makes Kovalam a popular heaven for tourists from all over the globe. It is warm and clean by the coconut trees and the white sandbed as the seabreeze gently plays with the waves. Swimming and bathing are very refreshing and exhilarating in the waves. Most of the visitors like to have a sunbath here. Many people from different countries and cultures, intermingling their languages get together in this paradise of the South and spend their leisure time joyfully. It makes moments heavenly.