Kerala is blessed with unique geographical features that have made it one of the most sought after
tourist destinations of the world, prompting National Geographic Traveler to include it among the fifty
must see destinations of a life time. Mesmerizing mountains, countless rivers that criss-cross the land,
pristine beaches awash with sugary sand, and vast expanses of placid backwaters, all add up to make
Kerala an idyllic get-away destination.
On Kerala's eastern flank is a long mountainous ridge running parallel to the Arabian Sea and leveling off
into the Deccan plateau. Nestled among these mountains are numerous resort towns. Best known
among these resort towns is Munnar, a land of gently undulating hills carpeted with meticulously
manicured tea plantations that lies about 150km from Teak House. Impossibly green and breathtakingly
beautiful, Munnar is perhaps the most popular hill station in South India.
A unique feature of the state is its extensive backwater system. No trip to Kerala can be called complete
without experiencing these waters.
There is a Kerala that thrives here, rural, rustic, laid back. It is like
being transported back in time.
The sheer beauty of the sweeping vistas that open up before you as you
skim these waters is beyond words.
If it’s history that interests you, Cochin has numerous sites that are of historical importance. These
include the 16th century Dutch Palace, the Jewish Synagogue built in 1662, the Church of St. Francis
originally established in 1503 and renovated in 1779, the Santa Cruz Basilica built in 1558, and a lot
more.
Few other States in India can match the grandeur and creativity of Kerala's performing arts. The most
representative dance form of Kerala is Kathakali, a spectacular classical dance drama, which combines
the performing art forms of opera, ballet, masque, and pantomime, with themes drawn from
mythology.
Kerala is known for its spectacular boat races featuring magnificent snake boats or 'Chundans', each of
which is manned by over a hundred sinewy oarsmen accompanied by boisterous and rhythmic boat
songs and the frenzied shouts of spectators.
The months from August to October witness these regattas
being conducted in different parts of the state.
The state has a handful of wildlife sanctuaries, the most popular of which is the Periyar National Park
and Wildlife Sanctuary in Thekkady which is located 185km from Cochin International Airport. Spread
over 925 km² of thick evergreen forest, the reserve is home to wild elephants, tigers, leopards, and the
endangered Nilgiri tahr.
If Kerala is skirted by the Western Ghats on the one side, it has the Arabian Sea on the other, running
along the entire length of its western flank. Numerous beaches dot the coastline, the most popular of
which is the Kovalam Beach that lies about 250km from Teak House, and offers a magical mix of sun,
sand, sea and sky.
