• Kerala is a beautiful state in South India. It is the most sought after tourist destination, famous for its tranquil stretches of backwaters, serene beaches, lush hill stations and wildlife. Ayurvedic treatments in Kerala have gained reputation all over the world.
• Thiruvananthapuram is the capital city of Kerala. Alappuzha, Kovalam, Ernakulum and Kumarakom are some other exotic locations in Kerala. Houseboats are the most inspiring feature found in palm fringed waterways of Kerala. You can find all the luxuries like furnished living room, TV, Music system, fully equipped kitchen, spacious bathroom, twin beds and much more. You can choose a trip on houseboat, which is accompanied by a crew comprising of two oar men and a cook.

      Tourist Attractions:

·     Backwaters:  

      Kerala is bestowed with an intricate maze of backwaters and several beautiful rivers. The backwaters let you enjoy scenic natural attractions. Spending a few days at any of the backwater destinations can help to rejuvenate your mind, body and spirit. Alappuzha backwaters allow you to enjoy viewing water birds, gorgeous flowers and greenery along their banks.  

      The Ashthamudi Lake in Kollam is the gateway to the splendid backwaters in the state. The eight hour trip between Kollam and Alappuzha passes through lakes and beautiful water bound villages. Kassarkod backwater offers fascinating trips to the awe-inspiring Chandragiri and Valiyaparamba.  Kozhikode backwaters let you explore the unspoilt beauty of Mother Nature. You can take a boat cruise to enjoy an enchanting water world.

·     Hill Stations: 

      Kerala hills are home to exotic vegetation and wildlife. Cardamoms, pepper, cinnamon and cashew nuts are grown well in these hills. Idukki hill station is one of the marvelous tourist destinations in Kerala that offers habitat to a range of wildlife. Arch dam, tea and spice plantations, Keezhar Kuthu waterfalls and Idukki wildlife sanctuary are some of the important tourist attractions here. Munnar hill station allures a wide variety of people with its picturesque landscapes.

Pakshipathalam hill station is renowned for its pristine beauty. It is one of the important eco tourism centers in Kerala. It is close proximity to Kuruvadweep Island, where a rare species of orchids and variety of flora can be found. Malampuzha hill station is the base on which the Bharathappuzha river flows over the green slopes of the Western Ghats. Malampuzha garden, children park, Snake Park, Hanging bridge, Japanese garden and Rock garden are some of the fantastic attractions in this hill station.

·     Beaches:

     The palm and coconut fringed serene beaches of Kerala offer an exotic experience. Alappuzha beach is becoming a prominent tourist destination The rice cultivation below sea level at Kuttanad and the boat races are must see things in Alappuzha. You can enjoy authentic Kerala cuisine in this beach.

      Kovalam Beach is an enthralling getaway from day to day stress. It comprises of three crescent shaped beaches. Vizhinzam mosque and lighthouse are the most important attractions here. Poovar Beach is a pleasant tourist spot, where you can enjoy a cool dip in cascading waves. Shanghumugham beach is thronged by hundreds of tourists to enjoy a tranquil experience. The sapphire water and sandy beach let you enjoy a perfect getaway.

·     GENERAL INFORMATION

Area: 38,863 sq km, which is 1.27% of India's total land area and is located at the Southwest tip of the India's main land

·         Weather: Tropical

·         Summer: April-June [24 - 33 degree Celsius]

·         Monsoon: July-September [22 - 27 degree Celsius

·         Winter: October-March [22 - 32 degree Celsius]

·         High Season: December-May

·         Capital: Thiruvananthapuram (Trivandrum)

·         Language: Malayalam; however English is widely spoken and understood by the fully literate populace of Kerala.

·         Number of Districts: 14

·         Major Cities: Thiruvananthapuram, Kochi (Ernakulam district) & Kozhikode (Calicut)

·         Access
By Air: The International airports at Thiruvananthapuram , Kochi (Cochin) & Kozhikode facilitate easy access by air. Direct flights operate from Singapore, Colombo, Maldives, Kuwait, Muscat, Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Riyadh, Doha and Bahrain.

·         By Rail: All major tourist destinations and important cities of India are well-connected by rail to Kerala.
Food: Most restaurants, coffee shops, eateries or cafes offer a Cosmopolitan fare for Chinese, Continental, Indian or American. You can find many who specialize in Kerala Delicacies.

·         Clothing: Ideally light cottons. However the cooler hill stations may warrant woolens

·         Communication: Kerala has a well-knit communications network. Ttelephone, fax and Internet centers in almost every corner.

·         Religion: 58 % Hindu, 21 % Muslim and 21 % Christians

·         Seaports
Major : Kochi
Minor : Beypore (Kozhikode), Alappuzha, Kollam.

·         Major Beaches : Kovalam, Varkala, Fort Kochi, Kappad and Bekal.

·         Major Wild Life Sanctuaries :Thekkady (Periyar), Parambikkulam, Wayanad, Silent Valley, Aralm, Peechi-Vazhani, Chimani, Shenduruny, Idukki, Chinnar, Peppara, Neyyar.

·         Bird Sanctuary : Thattekad, Kumarakom.

·         Major Hill Stations :  Ponmudi, Peerumade, Thekkady, Munnar and Wayanad.

·         Farm / Cash Crops :Rubber, Coffee, Tea, Spices, Pepper, Cashew, Coconut, Arecanut and rice.

·         Exports :Marine, Coir, Handicrafts, Spices, Food and other Products.

·         Major Industries :Tourism, Information Technology, Fertilizer, Oil Refining and Power Generation, Ship Building, Machine Tools, Electronics, Cables, Rubber.

·         Visa : For clarification please contact the Indian High Commision/Embassy.

·         Money :There is no limit to the amount of foreign currency that visitors can bring.

·         Banks : Banks are open for transaction from 10:00 - 14:00 hrs on week days and from 10:00 - 12:00 hrs on saturdays.

·         Credit cards : Main hotels, restaurants and shopping centres honour major credit cards.

·         Time :(Hours fast (+), slow (-) on IST)
USA: -10.30, Germany: - 4.30, Canada: - 10.30, France: - 4.30, Australia: + 4.30, Spain: -4.30, UAE: - 1.30, uk:-5:30

·         Best time to visit
High season: December - May
Monsoon Rejuvenation programmes: June – November

·         Travel Kit :Cotton outfits, hats, sunglasses, sunscreen lotion etc.

·         Drugs :Heavy penalities including imprisonment for possession of narcotic drugs.

·         Ayurveda :Go only to those Ayurveda centres that are classified/approved by the Department of Tourism

·         Food :All standard restaurants offer a variety of cuisines including Continental, Chinese, Indian and typical Kerala fare. Tap water is purified and quite safe to drink. It is not advisable to drink water from slow moving streams, lakes or dams. Bottled water is also available.

·         Emergency numbers
Police control room: 100
Fire station: 101
Ambulance: 101

·         Temple codes :Some temples do not permit entry to non-Hindus. Strict dress codes are followed in most of the temples. Footwear is banned inside the temple premises

·         Nudity :Nudity is not allowed in any Kerala beach.

·         Smoking :Smoking is banned in public places

·         Footwear in houses :Visitors to most Kerala houses leave their footwear outside before entering the house.

·         Demonstrativeness in public :Behaviour demonstrating affection in public like hugging or kissing is not an accepted practice in Kerala.

Wildlife sanctuaries :To visit a wildlife sanctuary, prior permission has to be taken from the concerned authority of the sanctuary.