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| About Kerala & Tourism in Kerala |
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The New York Times describes this green paradise as a land where India flows at a relaxed pace. The Financial Times UK recommends it as the destination for the smart traveller. For The National Geographic Traveler, it is one of the ten paradises of the world.
Kerala figures as one among the 50 millennium-destinations for tourists listed by The National Geographic Traveler, some time ago. The only other destination in India is the Taj Mahal! Almost all the leading magazines and travel guides around the world – Time, Travel & Leisure, Cosmopolitan, Lonely Planet, Le Guide du Routard and others have gone over board to praise the travel-worthy Kerala. You don’t call a lady voluptuously beautiful just like that, if she is not actually one of a kind!
As one of the ten must-see tourists destinations in the world, Kerala’s Unique Selling Proposition (USP) is her alluring gift in the form of beautiful beaches, fantastic lakes, and eye-catching islands surrounded by vast stretches of backwaters ideal for hydel-tourism. The backwater tourism in “the Venice of South India” is one of the biggest attractions.
Out of the 18 “global hotspots” of bio-diversity, which represent high areas of endemism and significant threat of imminent extinctions, three lie in the Indian subcontinent. One is the Western Ghats. The other two are the East Himalayas and the Indo-Burmese region. Of these three, the most potential tourists’ destination is the Western Ghats in Kerala. Realizing this, the Tourism Department is on a green path, rolling out and regularizing eco-tourism in the State. |
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Talk about culture, religion and heritage, Kerala’s richness stumps you straightaway. The first mosque in India, the first church in India, one of the oldest synagogues in India, some of the oldest churches of almost all the Christian congregations in India, some of the finest Shivite and Vaishnavite temples in India etc., etc., are all here. Kalaripayittu – the father of martial arts, Koodiyattam – the mother of folk dances of south India, the only metal mirror making village in the world, the only awe-inspiring uproarious speeding race of giants of snake boats in the world………you have them all in Kerala, the land of myriad experiences. You will fall in love with Kerala at first sight! It is not just God’s Own Country, it is Goddess’ Own Country too!
Kerala cuisine is unique and Kerala’s hospitality in superb. You won’t believe it unless you experience it.
It is difficult to refrain from using hyperboles and superlatives while describing Kerala. For the beauty and diversity of this state is truly astounding - well-documented by those beaches and backwaters, hill stations and forests that Kerala is synonymous with. But for the discerning eye, there is more. Every slice of this land is beauteous and irrespective of whether it is captured on canvas, paper or on screen, its beauty sparkles, going beyond the medium to entice the onlooker.
· One of the ten paradises of the world - National Geographic Traveler
· Beaches, backwaters, hill stations, wildlife sanctuaries and more
· A rural landscape dotted with spice plantations and paddy fields
'Unique' is a word that cannot be qualified. It does not mean rare or uncommon; it simply means being one of a kind in the universe. By the grace of God, Kerala is unique. What else can you call a land that has been endowed with natural beauty and cultural wealth beyond compare? And has inspired a thousand minds to see life in a new light? What else can be a more fitting location for myths, legends, fables and dramas to unfold? |
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Kerala’s natural beauty has bestowed the land with a rare visual culture, which in turn fostered a rich artistic heritage. Here you’ll experience art all around - not only in museums and galleries, but also in homes and streets, in the courtyards and walls. And this visual culture finds its utmost expression in the vibrant repertoire of art forms and festivals the land conscientiously safeguards - from Kathakali to Kalaripayattu, Panchavadyam to Pooram. · Highly defined visual culture - Immense cultural and artistic wealth - Wide repertoire of art forms and festivals.
Kerala inspires! There is enchantment in every square kilometre of the land - not just in the backwaters, beaches or hill stations; but also in the lush paddy fields and spice plantations, in the quaint towns and streets, in the monsoons. For Kerala, these are living, breathing entities; an integral part of the land’s social and cultural milieu; its Muse. This is perhaps epitomized well by the Nila nadi (river Bharathapuzha) by whose banks have blossomed a thousand storylines and celluloid dreams. This is perhaps why Kerala could nurture many men and women who have made their mark globally in the field of art.
A unique blend of cultures, Kerala offers a variety of looks and moods, predominantly through its diverse architectural styles - British, Chinese, Portuguese, Dutch and more - that are remainders of its age-old ties with other countries. Architecture apart, nature has also contributed its share. Munnar, for instance, has the charm of Scotland; the beautiful waterways of Alappuzha beat the visual splendour of Venice; the waterfalls of Athirapally have the ferocity of the Niagara. A diversity that helps filmmakers translate their concept with complete authenticity. |
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