Places to visit in Kerala
Kerala is often called God’s Own Country, and rightly so! You will find many beautiful tourist spots at Munnar, Alleppey and Kumarakom. Munnar’s stunning beauty is worth the experience. Its charms lie in its rolling hills, acres of lush green plantations, gushing waterfalls, and old world colonial buildings. The Kuttanad region of Alleppey is known as the rice bowl of Kerala because it’s one of the few places in the world where farming is done below the sea level. Birders and those who do manage to overcome holiday laziness, find themselves at Kumarakom’s biggest attraction, Kumarakom Bird Sanctuary. Here are tourist attractions for nature lovers.
Aruvikkuzhi Waterfall, Kumarakom
Aruvikkuzhi Waterfall is located around 35km from Kumarakom, It is a major attraction among nature lovers. Surrounded by thick rubber plantations, the waterfalls cascading down from 100 feet is simply breathtaking. While you’re here, also visit the nearby St Mary’s Church.
Kumarakom Bird Sanctuary, Kumarakom
Kumarakom Bird Sanctuary is one of India’s most precious wetland reserves. During winters, it welcomes flocks of migratory birds like osprey, steppey eagle, garganey teal and marsh harrier. Whereas June to August is the breeding season of the sanctuary’s residents, Indian darter, cormorants, egrets, herons, kingfishers and many more. Come prepared with binoculars and cameras.
Bay Island Driftwood Museum, Kumarakom
The Bay Island Driftwood Museum makes for an interesting visit, especially if you are an art enthusiast. The story behind this museum is quite interesting too. It was established by a dynamic school teacher who picked up pieces of driftwood deposited on the beaches of Andaman and Nicobar Islands. Some of these pieces of wood and roots were centuries old. She cleaned, scraped and trimmed them into artistic shapes resembling various animals and birds. Her unique art is now visited by many art students and connoisseurs.
Munnar Tea Museum, Munnar
Ever wondered how India’s (and Britain’s!) favorite drink is made? At the excellent Munnar Tea Museum (also known as Tata Tea Museum) you can learn about the process of making tea and the growth of tea plantations in Munnar. Set inside Tata Tea’s Nallathanni Estate, the museum houses a demo model of a tea factory. Browse through the museum’s collection of old photos and a rudimentary tea roller dating back to the colonial times.
Eravikulam National Park, Munnar
Situated at just 15km from Munnar, this park makes for a lovely half-day trip. Divided into three different zones, only the Rajamalai zone is open to tourists. The park is home to 26 diverse species of animals and over 120 species of birds. Look out for the rare Nilgiri tahr, an endangered mountain goat indigenous to South India.
Kuthumkal Waterfalls, Munnar
Tucked away in the quaint little village of Rajakkad, 26km away from Munnar, the pristine Kuthumkal Waterfalls are often missed by tourists. It’s beautiful location far away from the crowds makes it an ideal spot for a picnic.
Pathiramanal, Alleppey
Athirty-minute boat ride from Alleppey will take you to the quaint and rustic little island of Pathiramanal. Covered with thick tropical vegetation, this island’s sole inhabitants include thousands of migratory birds. Bird-lovers, keep your binoculars handy, you’ll be spotting birds like pintail ducks, common teal, night heron, cormorant, darter, Indian shag, purple heron, gulls, terns, egrets, and many more.
Houseboat Ride in Backwater, Alleppey
It would be a shame to visit Alleppey and not take a houseboat ride through its backwaters. An amalgamation of brackish lagoons and lakes, Alleppey’s backwaters are its biggest attraction that are best explored on a traditional Kerala houseboat. Cruise along, and you’ll discover tiny little backwater villages, churches, watch life lazily pass by, and bump into hundreds of birds.
Alleppey Beach and Lighthouse
One of Alleppey’s biggest attractions, Alleppey Beach is serenely beautiful. Even though it draws crowds during peak season, this beach impresses nonetheless. Its famed pier has been Alleppey’s silent witness for the past 137 years. A few steps away from the beach lies a candy-stripped lighthouse built in 1862, which you can climb to the top! Atop, you can enjoy lovely bird’s eye views of the sea and city.
