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Famous Cities in Kerala

Kerala, the God's Own Country has several attractions for tourists that draw people from everywhere to its shores due to its beautiful ambience and a motherly touch of nature. World famous backwaters of Kerala are a great draw for tourists along with its magnificent temples, imposing historical structures, exotic wildlife, charming beaches and the ever attracting natural beauty. The climate of Kerala remains pleasant for most part of the year with temperature ranging from 28o C to 32o C with a slight drop during winters. Here, we will discuss in brief about the major tourist places in Kerala cities like Kochi, Thiruvananthapuram, Munnar, Periyar, Alleppey and Kumarakom.

Cochin

Also referred as Gateway of Kerala, Kochi is a vibrant city situated in the southwest coast of Indian peninsula. Foreigners like Arabs, Chinese, Dutch, Portuguese and British used to trade and live here in earlier days, and hence have left their mark on architecture and culture of Kochi. Over a period of time Kochi slowly but gradually emerged as the commercial and industrial capital of Kerala. The port cities in Kerala are flanked by the Western Ghats in the east and Arabian Sea in the west. Arguably, Kochi is an ideal starting point for exploring the beauty of Kerala.Cochin is known as one of the famous tourist places in Kerala.

Trivandrum

Thiruvananthapuram name is made from words- Thiru- Anantha-Puram which means “Home of Lord Ananatha”. Anantha is name of the serpent on whose head Lord Vishnu or Padmanabha reclines according to Hindu mythological stories. At the center of the city is the huge temple of Sri Padmanabhaswamy which has a great religious significance. It is considered among the richest temples in the world with its partially revealed assets worth US $ 19 million. Mahatma Gandhi once referred this city as “Evergreen City of India”.

Periyar

Periyar, a protected wildlife sanctuary is located in Idduki district in Kerala at a distance of 4 kilometers from Kumily town. Also sometimes referred as Thekkady sanctuary, this is the biggest wildlife sanctuary of India and a dream tourist places in Kerala for all tourists and wildlife lovers. Primarily a tiger reserve, Periyar wildlife sanctuary is home to many endangered species and boasts of a rich tribal culture. Spread across an area of 777 Sq Kilometers, Periyar Wildlife Sanctuary boasts of 35 species of mammals, 265 species of birds along with a variety of reptiles and fishes.

Alleppey

Alleppey is one of the most popular cities of Kerala and it is so because of its natural beauty and enchanting backwaters. It has now become one of the most sought after tourist places in Kerala. The landscape, the canal, the beaches, lagoon, lush green paddy field, coconut and palm trees dotted around the place altogether make it so picturesque that it is deservingly called "Venice of East". This district has a network of three serpentine rivers viz. Manimala, Pampa and Achancovil. Apart from this there are backwaters of Vembanad Lake, Kayamkulam Lake, canals and sea coast. Domestic and international tourists come to Alleppey to enjoy the backwater cruise and also the Ayurvedic therapies whose centers are found here in plenty. When you are here do not forget to buy coir products like mats, bags, wall hangings etc.

Kumarakom

Kumarakom is one of the most sought after tourist tourist places in Kerala which is located near the city of Kottayam in Kerala. It is basically a cluster of many beautiful little islands. This village which is located about 14 km from Kottayam is known for its serene backwaters, mangrove forests, huge Vembanad Lake and its natural beauty. Lush green paddy fields, waterways and canals make this place so close to nature that no one could remain aloof from its charms. Tourists from all over the world get lured with its beauty and visit this exotic place in a large number every year. Kumarakom is rich in art and culture and exotic flora & fauna are present here in impressively wide varieties. Kumarakom is a leading religious center and attracts the tourists for its Ayurvedic therapy centers also. Kumarakom is known as one of the famous cities in Kerala.

Munnar

The lovely Munnar is also known as "Kashmir of South India". Its alluring terrain is snuggled at the confluence of three serpentine rivers viz. Madurapuzha, Nallathanni and Kundala. The idyllic Munnar hill station is located at 6000 ft above sea level in Anamalai range of mountains in Western Gharts region of Kerala. You will be able feel the aromatic zing of tea and coffee plantations everywhere in Munnar. Its misty fog, verdant valleys and rolling hills summon tourists from far and wide to this favorite hill resort of the British. Its breathtaking beauty never misses to captivate visitor's attention at the first sight and its swathes of lush greenery are a big charm for the travelers. Families can enjoy a variety of adventure sports here like paragliding, trekking, rock climbing, cycling, mountain biking while in Munnar. 2696 m high Anamudi Peak is the highest peak of South India that lies in Munnar which can be sighted from many locations in the hill station. Neelakurinji flower is one of the exotic species of flower found in Munnar. It blossoms every 12 years and the next Neelakurinji will blossom in 2018. During Neelakurinji blossom season, the thick vegetation of Munnar gets a bluish hue everywhere, providing a great visual delight to the tourists.