A tropical paradise of waving palms and wide sandy beaches, Kerala offers backwater trips along peaceful lagoons and canals, hill stations, wildlife sanctuaries and complex cultural customs. Kerala is sandwiched between the Lakshwadeep Sea and the Western Ghats.

Climate
Temperature - 22ºc-35ºc   Monsoon - June - September
Places to visit
Thiruvananthapuram: Built over seven hills, Thiruvananthapuram (City of the Sacred Serpent) retains some of the ambience characteristic of Old Kerala. Pagoda-shaped buildings with red-tiled roofs and narrow winding lanes. Sri Padmanabhaswamy Temple: Built in Dravidian style, the 260 year old Sri Padmanabhaswamy Temple covers an area of 2400 sq. m Velli Tourist Park: This well-designed park contains fine sculptures by local artist Kanayi Kunjiraman. Ponmudi: A small hill resort just 61 km north -east of Thiruvananthapuram, makes for a pleasant day trip or overnight excursion. Neyyar Wildlife Sanctuary: The Sanctuary has a lion park and a crocodile breeding park.

Kovalam: A picture - perfect tropical beach, a traditional Kerala fishing village providing fresh fish, fruit and toddy (coconut beer). This tiny beach is the focus of a multimillion dollar business, drawing thousands of tourists for a two week stay in paradise. more about Kovalam

Kollam: Sorrounded by cocunut palms and cashew plantation, on the edge of Ashtamudi Lake, Kollam, is a typical Kerala market town, with old wooden houses whose red - tiled roofs overhang winding streets.
Alappuzha : This is a pleasant easy-going market town built on canals and surrounded by cocunut (palm trees). A walk through the streets will present many examples of Keralite architecture. In August, the Annual Nehru Cup Snake Boat Race is not to be missed. In this houseboat city, there are many opportunities for backwater tours. The most popular backwater cruise is the eight hour trip between Kollam and Alappuzha.

Nehru Cup Boat Race: This famous regatta on Vembanad Lake takes place on the second Saturday of August each year. Scores of long, low - slung chundan vallams (snake boats) compete for the Nehru Cup. Each boat is crewed by up to 100 rowers shaded by gleaning silk umbrellas.

Kumarakom Bird Sanctuary: The Kumarakom Bird Sanctuary on Vembanad Lake is 16 km west of Kottayam. Between October and February is the time for cormorants, teals and ducks.
Periyar Wildlife Sanctury : Periyar is south India’s most popular wildlife sanctuary. If you treat Periyar as a pleasant escape from the rigours of Indian travel, and an opportunity for a lake cruise and a jungle walk, then you’ll probably find a visit quite enjoyable.
Munnar: Set amid dramatic mountain scenery in what was once known as the high range of Travancore, the hill town Munnar is the commercial centre of some of the world’s highest tea growing estates. Walks around Munnar offer spectacular views.

Kochi: With its wealth of historical associations and its setting on a cluster of islands and narrow peninsula, the city of Kochi perfectly reflects the electicism of Kerala. Main attractions are Fort Kochi, Mattanchery Palace, Synagogue.

Kozhikode : Historical port where Vasco da Gama landed, Churches and Mosques, Handloom textiles, Kallai timber yards second biggest in the world.
Information services
Tourist Facilitation Centre, Museum Road,
Thiruvananthapuram      Ph. 0471 321132
Tourist Reception Centre, KTDC Hotel,
Thiruvananthapuram,     Ph. 0471 330 031
KTDC Tourist Reception Centre,
Ernakulam,                    Ph. 0484 353234
Government of India Tourist Office,
Willingdon Islands,
Ernakulam,                    Ph. 0484 668352

Places to stay		Phone
Mid Range
	Hotel Chaithram (KTDC), Central Station Road, Thiruvananthapuram	0471 330 977
	Hotel Highland, Manjalikulam Road, Thiruvananthapuram.	0471 333 200
	Hotel Seaweed, Kovalam	0471 480 391
	Royal Retreat, Kovalam	0471
	Hotel Raiban, Alappuzha	0477 251930
	Woodlands Hotel, MG Road, Ernakulam	0484 368 900
	Hotel Hill View, Munnar	0486 530 567
Top end
	Mascott Hotel (KTDC), Museum Road, Thiruvananthapuram	0471 438990
	Hotel Luciya Continental, Thiruvananthapuram	0471 463 443
	Hotel South Park, Thiruvananthapuram	0471 333 333
	Hotel Sea Face, Kovalam	0471 481 835
	Taj Garden Retreat, Kumarakom	0481 524 371
	Taj Malabar, Kochi	0484 666 811
	Casino Hotel, Willingdon Island, Kochi	0484 668421
			More hotels

Getting there and away

By Air Indian Airlines has direct connections to Bangalore (three flights weekly) Mumbai (daily), Chennai (four weekly), Delhi (daily) Ph. 0471 318 288 Jet Airways has daily flights to Mumbai and Chennai Ph. 0471 325367 Flight Schedule Click Here By Bus The State Road Transport Corporation has services to all the places inside Kerala and interstate services. Ph. 0471 323 886, 0484 372 033 By Train Thiruvananthapuram is connected to all major cities of India by rail. See special article on the backwaters in the Tourism section.