INDIALINE
Complete India Travel Guide

Kerala - God's Own Country

Houseboats on Kerala Backwaters

Recently I visited the state of Kerala which is blessed with enchanting beauty, a certain tranquility of its ambience and the serenity and sacredness of its culture. Kerala is among the top five states in India which boast of high revenues through tourism. It is also a popular site for movie shootings which is evident from a number of Bollywood flicks that have time and again cashed on its beauty.

All the parts of Keralr that I visited are stunning nature's wonder; however there are few places that stand out from the rest. Some 'must visit' places in Kerala are The Periyar Wildlife Sanctuary; this sanctuary has been perfectly preserved and is reasonably well protected from poachers and trespassers. Out of the many wildlife sanctuaries that i have been to, Peiyar sanctuary has the most strict rules which are followed throughly. I took up an jeep safari(which is a pre requisite to visit the core area). I was able to spot tigers, cheetahs, wild boars, deers and many others of the wildlife quite easily. Instead of a jungel resort, i decided to stay in a tree houses which are very much preferred by tourist to Periyar. The tree houses was equipped with all the basic necessities if not luxuries; but who expects luxuries in the midst of a forest. There are other famous wildlife parks in Kerala like Wayanad Sanctuary and Kumarakom Sanctuary. They are considered to be among the best preserved wildlife sanctuaries in India.

Kerala - the paradise on Earth is wordly known for its 'backwaters'. So there was no way I was missing out on them. I rented a houseboat and set out into the never ending stretches of backwaters. The houseboats that sail here are equipped with all the facilities that a guest expects. No doubt, the necessities get converted into luxuries as the rates go up. There are several natural lakes and waterfalls with towering coconut trees on the river bed side. These provide the perfect feeling of peace and tranquility with their 'motherly shelter'.

How can one visit Kerala and not have the amazing experience of Kerala Ayurveda. I took a day off from all the traveling and went to an ayurvedic spa instead. The Ayurvedic spas use herbal treatments and Ayurveda therapies to cure stress related problems. Those were the most refereshing moments I experienced in Kerala. It was time for me to explore the much celebrated beaches of Kerala. The beaches were neither crowded nor deserted. The scene of children chasing and being chased by small waves was really eye catching.

Kerala's beauty is impossible to explain through words so, just a piece of advice for all - Go visit God's Own Country.