Kerala Regions Guide - attractions

Thiruvananthapuram (Trivandrum)
Situated on a hilltop at the southern tip of the state, and India, is Kerala's capital, Thiruvananthapuram (still commonly known as Trivandrum). For most visitors the capital is simply a transit point on their way to Kovalam, the popular beach resort a few miles to the south. However it is worth lingering for a day in this easy-going city to explore the narrow backstreets, old gabled houses and parks that break up the modern centre. The most fascinating part of Trivandrum is the Fort area, around the Shri Padmanabhaswamy temple (closed to non-Hindus) and Puttan Malika palace, seat of the Travancore rajas. Some of the palace has been turned into a museum and displays a collection of heirlooms and artefacts, however the highlight is the typically understated, elegant Keralan architecture. Beneath sloping red-tiled roofs, hundreds of wooden pillars carved into the forms of rampant horses prop up the eaves, with airy verandas projecting onto the surrounding lawns. When it gets too hot at sea level, Ponmudi makes a welcome excursion. This enchanting hill station, tucked away in the Western Ghats, forty miles to the north of the capital, offers a lot to travellers with a passion for trekking or those who'd prefer a gentle wander along narrow, winding pathways, through cool green, wooded environs and among a variety of beautiful mountain flowers full of exotic butterflies. The hill resort is surrounded by tea-estates and mist-covered valleys, peppered with little stone cottages painted violet, pink and white. Another easy excursion from Trivandrum is Padmanabhapuram, the site of a magnificent palace.
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Kochi (Cochin)
The port city of Kochi (long known as Cochin) is located on a cluster of islands and narrow peninsulas half way up the Goan coast. The majority of tourists stay in the Ernakulam district but the old section of Mattancherry and Fort Cochin is the main focus of interest. All linked by a series of ferries and bridges, these districts are an unlikely blend of medieval Portuguese, Dutch and English architecture. Near the waterfront are St Francis Church (India's oldest), a 16th century Portuguese palace and a synagogue dating back 450 years. Set among all this is spice markets and a village green that could have been transported from rural England. The architecture follows the history of European influence. Kochi came to prominence in 1405 when the royal family moved here and the city became an important harbour attracting Christian, Jewish and Arab settlers from the Middle East. The Portuguese arrived in the early 16th century, followed by the Dutch and later the English. One of Kochi's main attractions is the Kathakali dance, which can be seen at one of many special tourist theatres, or, more authentically one performed by a temple-based company. The best way to explore the town is on bicycle, which can be hired from a number of companies.
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Transport: There are three railway stations in Cochin called Ernakulam Junction, Ernakulam Town and Cochin Harbor. For more information visit www.indianrail.gov.in
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. Periyar Wildlife Sanctuary
Situated in the Cardamom hills region of the Western Ghats, the Periyar Wildlife Sanctuary is one of the most popular wildlife reserves in India. It is home to a great variety of game including elephant, sambar, wild pig, mongoose, the Malabar flying squirrel and almost 300 species of bird. Leopards and dwindling numbers of tigers are also here but are rarely glimpsed by visitors. The park lies 75 miles southeast of Cochin at cool altitudes, between 900 - 1800m. Ironically the park was created by the royal family of Travancor to preserve their favourite hunting grounds from the encroachment of tea plantations, and centres on a vast artificial lake that was created by the British in 1895 to supply water to the drier parts of the state. Most people view Periyar from the lake, however many visitors prefer to explore by foot. Local guides take small groups on treks of various lengths, however visitors should avoid the weeks immediately following the monsoon, when leeches make hiking virtually unbearable. The best time to visit is from December to April, when the dry weather draws animals from the forest to drink at the lakeside. Periyar is also a good base for day-trips to visit the local tea and spice plantations, and see the waterfalls and views within the Cardamom hills.
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Website: www.indianwildlifeportal.com/wildlife-sanctuaries/periyar-wildlife-sanctuary.html
Transport: Nearest town is Kumily, 4km away, which is well connected to bus routes
Opening times: Daily from 6am to 6pm

The Backwaters of Kerala
One of the most memorable experiences for travellers in Kerala is a boat journey on the backwaters of Kerala. The best known is the area known as Kuttanad, situated between the hills in the west and the Arabian Sea, stretching for 50 miles south of Cochin. This extraordinary maze of rivers, lakes, canals and estuaries is lined with dense tropical greenery, and reveals a Keralan lifestyle that is totally hidden from the road. Boats are the only way to explore this area, billed as Kaleidoscope Kerala, where views change around every bend; narrow tree covered canals open into dazzling vistas of paddy fields, and through the trees can be seen churches, mosques and temples, and small farms and villages which remain almost untouched by the modern world. Buffalos are used for ploughing the fields and women bathe and wash their clothes in the rivers. Roads do cross this area but are almost entirely linked by manually operated ferries rather than bridges.

Kingfishers, cormorants and fish eagles compete with fisherman in rowing boats for the dwindling fish population; a massive increase in the population has resulted in much illegal land reclamation and use of harmful fertilisers, which have damaged the ecosystem.
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