|
4.
Sip tender coconut
Refresh yourself with a sip of
cool tender coconut- nature’s
rejuvenating nectar – and a scoop
of its soft white flesh, Nutrition
at its natural best.
|
|
5.Take
a swig of toddy
Ask your tour guide to arrange
for fresh madbura kallu (sweet
toddy extracted from the coconut
palm) and have it the Kerala way
with exotic karimeen pollicbathu
(baked fresh water fish) or spicy
pickles.
|
|
6.
Stay on an exotic houseboat
Embark on an enchanting journey
across sun – dappled backwaters
on a kettuvallom-fully furnished
traditional rice boats. While
your eyes explore the rustic life
that floats by, treat your palate
to backwater delicacies prepared
by your personal chef. |
|
7.
Ride a Canoe
Drift along serene waterways in
a country craft, Enjoy the breeze,
answer a cuckoo’s call. Wave back
at the cheerful village folk on
the banks. Invite some of their
chirpy children to hop in for
a ride. They’ll keep you well
entertained
|
|
8
Workout on a treadmill
In Kerala, traditional treadmills
are still used to irrigate the
paddy fields. Try your luck with
the local farmer and see if you
can get to pedal one. |
|
9.
See Chinese fishing nets
Watch fishermen tug at these huge
nets with their rich haul. These
nets that billow from massive
bamboo poles were brought here
by traders from the court of Kublai
Khan, the Mongolian King. Their
silhouettes against the evening
sky make for terrific pictures
too.
|
|
10.
Choose your pick from the Fisherman’s
net
Along the Malabar Coast and at
Vasco da Gama Square in Fort Kochi,
you can select your favourite
from an inviting display of juicy
sear fish, sardines, prawns, red
snappers etc. Ask the friendly
fisherman to fry it for you the
local way.
|
|
11.
Feast on kappa and meen
curry
Try Kerala’s hot red fish curry
with steamed tapioca or boiled
rice. It’ll make your mouth water.
And your eyes as well. But you’ll
still enjoy it.
|
|
12
Savour a Sadhya
Seat yourself on the floor, roll
your sleeves up and get started
on this multi-course feast of
rice, 12-15 vegetarian dishes,
spicy pickles, crunchy banana
chips, crispy pappadams, plantains
and payasam- the dessert. Served
on a plantain leaf, the meal is
eaten with the fingers.
|
|
13
Wear a Kerala saree
Stun
your friends in Kerala saree -
five metres of fine off-white
cotton edged with golden zari,
that lends an extraordinary elegance
to the person wearing it. Each
piece is specially woven on a
traditional handloom. |
|
14.
Wear jasmine in your hair
Get yourself a string of jasmine-the
natural ornament for your hair.
You could even pluck them fresh
from a garden and string them
yourself. |
|
15
Spice up your life
Kerala
is the Spice Coast of India.
Take
home a chest full of exotic spices
and win compliments for your aromatic
cooking. These are also available
in special gift pouches. |
|
16.
Ride on 8 tonner without wheels
At
the Periyar Wildlife Sanctuary
in Thekkady, you and your friends
can majestically into the scenic
jungle on an elephant. A mahout
will guide you on your enchanting
journey. |
|
17
Watch birds
Spot egrets, herons, Siberian
stork, darters, teals and hundreds
of other migratory birds in Kerala’s
enchanting bird sanctuaries. Hear
them sing. Take their Family photograph.
Applaud their aerobatic skills.
|
|
18
Follow the tiger’s trail
Join the Thekkady tiger trail-
a real adventure trek into the
dense forest with expert guides.
Cook in the jungle. Sleep in tents.
Wake up to the sounds of the wilderness.
Try and spot a tiger. |
|
19
Design a floral pattern
During Onam, the harvest festival
in August/September, you can see
colourful, beautiful floral decorations
in the courtyards of Kerala’s
homes. Try making one with family
and friends. |
|
20.
Cheer a snake boat race
Watch the backwaters of Kerala
come alive. Feel the excitement
bubble in you as teams of 100
oarsmen row their snake boats,
their bodies swaying in unison
to the fast rhythm of full throated
singing, in one of the most exhilarating
water sports. |
|
21.
Feel the rain on your body
Kerala’s
invigorating monsoon will cleanse
you. Refresh you, rejuvenates
you. Let it run down your body,
and wash away stress. So don’t
just listen to the pitter-patter
on the roof. Step out. |
|
22
Munch an uppumanga
You’ll
simply relish a meal that is accompanied
by uppumanga, tender mangoes preserved
in brine for months (the longer,
the better). |
|
23
Get an Ayurvedic massage
Gift
yourself new life. Surrender to
the magical fingers of specially
trained masseurs. To medicated
baths that will refresh you. Herbal
diets that will replenish you.
Yoga that will revitalize you.
And meditation that will recharge
you. |
|
24
Say hello to the Nilgiri Tahr
Half
the world population of the endangered
Nilgiri Tahr live in the Eravikulam
National Park at Munnar. Friendly
as they are, you can pat them
or pose for pictures with them.
So meet them and have plenty to
brag about when you get back home. |
|
25
Sip fine tea
Take
a walk through the green carpeted
tea hills of Kerala and strong
aromas will lead you in to the
factories over a hundred years
old. Here you can taste and pick
up the finest tea in the country.
|
|
26.
Marvel at elephant pageants
The
spectacle of 30-60 caparisoned
elephants will enthral you as
they move in a majestic procession,
while trumpets and drum beats
work up to a frenzy. The best
of these spectacles is seen at
the Thrissur Pooram |
|
27
Listen to temple music
Panchavadyam
is an orchestra of 5 native instruments
- suddha-maddalam, kombu, edakka,
elathalam and timila. This traditional
temple music accompanying elephant
pageants builds up the festive
spirit. And never fails to leave
its listeners entranced. Audio
cassettes of panchavadyam are
available. |
|
28
Visit the local markets
Small
stalls with fresh vegetables,
fruits, fish, chicken… High pitched
salesmen luring you with impossible
bargains. Visit these bustling
markets or chandas for fresh buys.
|
|
29
Go bananas
In
Kerala, red, green and yellow
are synonymous with various types
of plantains’. These digestives
come in different shapes too —
tall, short, stout, sleek... And
while you taste banana chips,
raw banana dishes, banana milk
shake, banana ice cream, dried
bananas, fried bananas… you’ll
wonder if there’s any other fruit
more versatile. |
|
30
Try your hand at percussion
Kerala’s
rich repertoire of percussion
music and instruments is world
famous. So bring alive your taste
for good music and learn whatever
your holiday allows. |
|
31
Cheer racing oxen
Entertain
yourself at a Kumbala, the local
ritualistic bullock race of Kasaragod
or a Kaalapoottu – the agrarian
sport of Palakkad. |
|
32
Shop for souvenirs
Kerala’s handicraft centers have
an extraordinary collection of
wood, coir shell and sandlwood
souvenirs, trinkets and jewellery.
Woodcarved Kathakali masks, snake
boats, elephants, jewellery boxes
etc. are perfect showpieces for
your drawing rooms and ideal gifts
for friends. |
|
33
Stay in a tree house
Spend
romantic nights in the tree houses
of Palakkad washed in the sweet
scent of the forest flowers, and
let the sounds of the forest fill
up your dreams. |
|
34
Have a mud bath
Go
in for mud thereapy and discover
its healing properties at the
Kavil Bhavan Yoga and Cultural
Centre at Nileswaram, Kasaragod.
|
|
35
Bask in sunshine
Screne,
secluded and spellbinding. Kerala
has some of the best beaches in
the world. Ride the surf. Get
a tan. Build sand castles. Or
simply sift sand through your
toes. Anything you do here will
unwind and relax you. |
|
36
Watch a Malayalam movie
Malayalam
movies have excellent story lines
and some of them are internationally
acclaimed. If you visit the State
during a film festival, you’ll
get to see good movies with English
subtitles. |
|
37
Bathe in healing waters
Don’t
miss your chance to take a dip
in the waters of the Nelliyampathy
forests in Palakkad or the mineral
springs at Varkala. These waters
are known for their medicinal
properties. Take a splash, heal
yourself. |
|
38
Buy gold for all occasions
Kerala’s
gold jewellery, intricately disgined
and delicate, will steal any woman’s
heart. Make sure you have enough
money on you before you step into
a gold shop. Because whatever
be your taste, you’ll find patterns
you’d wish to own. |
|
39.“Mirror,mirror…”
An
Aramula mirror is made of a finely
polished alloy of four metals
– copper, silver, bronze and lead.
Once a closely guarded preserve
of royalty, these ornamental mirrors
are exceedingly rare-only two
master crafts men and their families
still make them. |
|
40
Feel the presence of God at Maramon
Witness
the largest Christian convention
of Asia at Maramon, near Kozhencherry,
Interestingly, the waters of the
Pamba River dry up every year
to reveal sands that serve as
the venue for the event. |
|
41
Ride in an autorickshaw
Explore
the streets of Kerala in an autoriscksha,
a three wheeled taxi painted yellow
and black. Don’t be surprised
if you meet a driver who has a
degree in English literature or
is fairly fluent with the language.
|
|
42
Peep into your future
The
fortune teller on the street has
your future written on his cards
– your career, your life, you
life partner and more. Just show
him your palm and wait while his
parrot picks your card from the
pack. |
|
43
Spin coir
See
nimble fingers at work as they
spin water treated coconut fibre
into long ropes with a traditional
hand spindle in the suburbs of
Kollam. You can shop at a number
of roadside stalls for brightly
coloured coir door mats, wall
hangings and carpets. |
|
44
Learn exotic art forms
Watch
kathakali, mohiniyattam, theyyam
or thiruvathira and pursue
one that interests you most. Learn
how a story unveils through the
eyes, fingers, feet and myriad
expressions of the artist. |
|
45
Rock about in a bullock cart
On
a pleasant evening, treaverse
the scenic mud roads of Kerala
at the unhurried pace of a bullock
cart. The tinkling bells and roll-over-from-side-to-side
motion of the cart will full you
into a lazy reverie. |
|
46
Walk the lanes of Fort Kochi
Put
on your hat and sunglasses, wear
comfortable sandals and embark
on a walking tour of Fort Kochi
where bastions, churches and mansions
built by the British, Dutch and
the Portuguese, 500 years ago
will greet you. Interestingly,
Vasco da Gama, one of the world’s
greatest explorers, was buried
here. |
|
47
Order a metre of tea
Stop
by a thattukada, a roadside
kiosk, for a steaming cup of strong
tea. Watch the expert stretch
it to a metre while pouring it
from glass to glass, blending
it well and building up a tempting
froth in the process. |
|
48
Climb rugged heights
Not
all places to visit in Kerala
are on well travelled roads. Or
on roads at all. Hike up rugged
terrains at Munnar, Wayanad and
Kakkayam (Kozkikkod) for an exhilarating
experience. If you haven’t tried
rock climbing before, our experts
will teach you the tricks. |
|
49
Engage in water sports
An
adventure sports lover will rarely
find time to stay idle in Kerala.
Her beaches provide you with unlimited
watersporting options of wind
surfing, rafting, sailing, power
boating and even that of a simple
catamaran ride. |
|
50
Take a train through paradise
A
train journey is an interesting
way to experience Kerala. Get
a window seat and watch the landscape
unfold like pages of a colourful
picture book, or acquaint yourself
with your fellow travellers who
make interesting profiles. |
|
51
Treat your sweet tooth
The
famous Mithai Street of Kozkikkod
has everything to make your mouth
water – from heavenly haluvas,
juicy jillebies to creamy milk
sweets, Relish them as they melt
in your mouth. |
|
52
Study rare flora
Treat
your eyes to exotic orchids, anthuria,
sandalwood trees etc. in the forests.
One of these, the rare Neelakurinji,
bathes the mountains of Munnar
in blue once every 12 years. It
is expected to bloom next in 2006.
|
|
53
Romance the spice hills
Holiday
amidst the sprawling tea plantations,
picture book towns and winding
lanes of Kerala’s mist clad hill
stations – a world where tranquillity
abounds. The dense tropical jungles
in these hill stations house some
of the exotic bird and wildlife
sanctuaries in the country. |
|
54.
Watch the making of an Arabian
dhow
Witness
this 1500 year old tradition at
Beypore. It takes an expert team
of 15-30 strongmen at least two
years to shape a vessel in wood.
Locally called uru, this Arabian
trading vessel is fast fading
from the shipping scene. |
|
55
Bathe in waterfalls
Nowhere
else will you find water so playful,
So pure. So pacifying. Crystal
clear waters cascade down the
mountains of Kerala, gurgling,
whispering, laughing and cleansing
everything in their way. Watch
them wake serene rivers with a
magnificent splash. |
|
56
Go arty
You
can browse in the art galleries
for hours without track of time.
Among them are collections of
the world famous works of Raja
Ravi Varma, Raja Raja Varma, Svetlova,
Nicholas Roerich, rare murals
and masterpieces from China, Japan,
Tibet, Bali and other parts of
India. |
|
57
Visit scenic Kuttanad
Explore
the lush paddy fields of Kuttanad,
the rice bow of Kerala – the only
place in the world where farming
is done 1.5 or 2 m below sea level.
Kuttanad is in the interiors of
the beautiful backwater district
of Alappuzha. |
|
58
Taste Payasam
The
payasam, a rich milk delicacy
prepared with vermicili, gram
or rice, is a delight for the
plate. The most common dessert
of Kerala, the payasam is made
in scores of flavours and garnished
with raisins and nuts fried in
ghee. It is usually eaten with
salty snacks. |
|
59
Feast your eyes on the largest
mural
The
palaces and museums of Kerala
have an exotic collection of ancient
murals. The Krishnapuram Palace
at kayamkulam displays the largest
of these masterpieces – gajendramoksham
– which belongs to the 18th century
and depicts an event from mythology.
|
|
60
Watch Theyyam
Theyyam
is the oldest ritual art form
of Kerala, Look on in awe as Theyyam
performers invoke the temple diety
Bhagavathy with their frenzied
dancing and throbbing temple music
in the countryards of village
temples. |
|
61
Try coconut hair oil
The
secret of a Malayali woman’s long,
black, lustrous hair could be
yours too. Coconut oil is considered
the best nutrient for hair and
a coolant for the head. In Kerala,
both men and women massage oil
on their heads before a bath.
|
|
62
Explore a tharavad
Relive
the old times in the perfect settings
of antique furniture and exquisite
woodwork in Kerala’s heritage
holiday homes and nalukettu (quandrangular
mansions with a central countryard),
each more than 50 years old. |
|
63
Learn Malayalam
Malayalam,
Kerala’s sweet toned language,
has 56 letters in its alphabet.
Try learning the basics and roll
the words off your tongue. |
|
64
Star gaze
Steeped
in astronomy, Kerala’s planetariums
will show you much more than Mercury,
Venus and Mars. But a ticket to
the evening star gazing sessions
and experience the wonders of
the universe. |
|
65
Holiday on an island
Spend
a weekend on Kerala’s islands
or lagoons, and experience special
moments . Spectacular sunset,
balmy backwaters succulent seafood
at Bolghatty, Pathiramanal, Poovar….These
paradises can be reached only
by a ferry or boat. |
|
66
Picnic beside virgin lakes
Pack
a picnic basket and spend a romantic
evening beside the crystal clear
lakes near Munnar. Try your luck
at fishing and feast on your fresh
catch. Go for a long walk hand-in-hand,
undisturbed. Lie down on the most
comfortable of grass beds. |
|
67
Go paragliding
Sweep
across the lush green hills of
Munnar on a paraglider and enjoy
the vantage of an eagle. See the
soothing blues and greens of nature.
Enjoy the wind beneath your wings.
Feel on top of the world. |
|
68
Walk in to a palace
Besides
exquisite wooden architecture,
the palaces of Kerala flaunt the
finest floors in the world. Floors
that, surprisingly, need least
maintenance – being made of crushed
coconut charocoal, egg whites
and the sap of loan plants. You’ll
also see collections of antique
sculptures, paintings and bronzes.
|
|
69
Muse in a Museum
The
museums of Kerala, especially
the Pazhasiraja Museum at Kozkikkod,
pay full tribute to outstanding
crafts-historical and contemporary
ornaments, temple carts and Ivory
carvings of life sized figures
of Kathakali in full regalia.
|
|
70.
Watch Thullal
Thullal,
an exotic art form, and the rhythmic
sounds of music accompanying it
will keep you in a constant stage
of merriment. Humour, satire and
social criticism are its hallmarks.
This art form was fourmulated
overnight by the renowned poet,
Kunjan Nambiar. |
|
71.
Visit the zoo
The
zoological parks in Kerala have
plenty to excite the animal lover
in you. The Trivandrum zoo is
one among the best designed in
Asia and is set amidst a woodland,
lakes and lawns. |
|
72.
Wash your sins away
According
to a myth, sage Narada was approached
by mendicants who confessed to
having sinned. The place he created
for them to pray for redemption
is known as the Papanasham beach
(papanasham meaning redemption
from sins). Take a dip and come
out feeling clean in your heart
too. |
|
73.
Go nuts
You
can get raw, fried, grilled, salted
and spiced cashews at surprisingly
affordable rates from Kollam where
cashew plantations and industries
abound. |
|
74.
Chew into a juicy mussel
It
is indeed fun watching mussel
collectors anchor their boats,
dive down and bring up basket
loads of these fresh water delicacies.
The shells are later burnt in
kilns to make lime. |
|
75.
See wildlife from aboat
Watch
wildlife at close quarters from
the safety of a boat at the sanctuaries
of Kumarakom, and Periyar. Herds
of wild elephants bathing in the
lake, the Indian bison digging
his horns into an unaffected tree,
the cormorant darting into the
waters… a treat for an amateur
photographer. |
|
76.
Learn yoga
Relax
your mind with yoga at the special
ashrams in Trivandrum and Nileswaram
– the cultural centre of Kasaragod.
Sessions are conducted by spiritual
gurus and experts in the field.
|
|
77.
Walk the historic Kappad beach
This
is where Vasco da Gama landed
in 1498 with his men in three
vessels. Here, you’ll find an
interesting landscape of rocks
that sprawl right into the sea.
An 800 year old temple stands
nearby. |
|
78
Munch on crispy snacks
Kerala
has a wide range of crunchy snacks-
ethakka (banana) chips,
chakka vattal (jackfruit
chips), pappadam, kuzhalappam,
achappam, cheeda and churuttu.
All worth every penny spend on
them. |
|
79
Meet martial art experts
Kalaripayattu,
the martial art form of Kerala,
is the oldest and most scientific
in the world. Watch agile bodies
gleaming in oil and armed with
weapons practise their feats-chattam
(jumping), ottam (running), marichil
(somersault)-to stunning perfection.
Explore the Bekal Fort |
|
80
Explore the largest and the best-preserved
fort of Kerala at Bekal, Kasaragod.
The
imposing laterite structure rising
130 ft. above sea level, stands
on a 35 acre headland that runs
right into the Arabian Sea. |
|
81
Behold the Queen of the Arabian
Sea.
Kochi,
also known as the Queen of the
Arabian Sea, is breathtakingly
beautiful. Apart from being the
commercial capital and the most
cosmopolitan city of Kerala, Kochi
also flaunts one of the finest
natural harbours of the world.
|
|
82
Discover prehistoric settlements
The
Edakkal caves at Wayanad and the
caves at the mouth of the Shenduruny
River have interesting pictorial
writings and cave drawings from
the Stone Age. You’ll have to
trek at least a kilometer uphill
to reach the Edakkal caves. Say
a prayer at the old Synagogue |
83
The 500 years old Synagogue in
Kochi is adorned with mid 18th
century hand painted Cantonese
tiles. Hebrew inscriptions on
stone slabs, ancient scripts on
copper plates and great scrolls
of the Old Testament are preserved
here. An age-old clock tower stands
nearby. |
|
84
Let a mohini enchant you
Mohiniyattam
or the dance of the enchantress
reflects the graceful nature of
the land. The sensuous, graceful
movements of the dancer, clad
in gold and off white costumes,
will remind you of palms swaying
in the gentle breeze and sweeping
waves. |
|
85
Spend the night at a Kathakali
concert
Kathakali,
the four centuries old classical
art form, is usually staged at
night. Elaborate costumes, ornaments
and multi-coloured facial make-up
give the artistes a super human
appearance, which leaves you spellbound.
|
|
86
Cook in earthenware
In
most of the traditional homesteads
of Kerala, women cook their food
in earthenware. For some time-tested
reason renders a special taste
to the dish prepared. |
|
87
Collect antiques
Stroll up the Jew Street in Fort
Kochi for interesting finds like
period furniture, ancient coins,
elaborately carved pens, ornamental
brass latches, antique jewellery,
grandfather clocks and timepieces
etc. |
|
88
Cruise the backwaters of Alappuzha
Alappuzha,
embroidered with a labyrinth of
waterways, was extolled by travellers
as the Venice of the East. Visit
this land where the skiff is the
family vehicle, the ducks outnumber
chicken and children learn to
swim perhaps even before the walk.
|
|
89
Meet smart fishermen
It
is indeed a spectacular sight
to watch Kerala’ Smart fishermen
outdo the crashing waves by pushing
their boats into the sea from
a pier beyond the wave point,
and simultaneously jumping into
it in perfect coordination. |
|
90
See mind-blowing fireworks
Make
a wish under a thousand shooting
starts -brilliant firework displays
that mark the end of a festival
in Kerala. And you’ll never miss
them as every dawn in Kerala brings
yet another festival. |
|
91
Watch a puppet show
Yakshagana
Bombeyattu (puppetry) is the art
form of Kasaragod. Colourful puppets
in huge headgears, elaborate facial
make-up and loud attires dancing
to throbbing music will keep you
entertained. |
|
92
Go for a flower show
Spend
a colourful evening with pretty
asters, glowing anthuria, exotic
orchids, beautiful roses, elegant
lilies and a bloom of soft cotton
candy at a flower show. |
|
93
Smash the elusive pot
Uriyadi
(smashing the pot) is a spirited
sport connected with some of festivals
of Kerala. The festive pot colourfully
decorated will be hung from a
tall pole. All you have to do
is try and break it with a stick
as the crowd pulls it up and down.
|
|
94
Spot a dolphin
If
you ‘re lucky, you’ll get to see
the dolphins do their grand act
at the Cherai beach. Applaud them
as they spring out of the waters
magnificent splash only to take
a marvelous dive back into it.
|
|
95
Buy a Palmyra fan
In
Kerala, you’ll find small, handy
fans made of medicinal herbal
roots, palm fronds, bamboo splits
and grass. Get yourself a portable,
compact, cute and colourful little
fan that comes in handy anytime
of the day. When not in use, you
could even put it up on the wall
as a showpiece. |
|
96
Stay in exotic resorts
Kerala’s
innovative hoteliers have amazing
experiences in store for you.
Some even have Theme evenings
when centuries old art forms like
Kathakali and Mohiniyattom are
performed as well. |
|
97
Savour nectar
Beat
the bees and butterflies to it
in a banana plantation. Hold the
tip of a banana inflorescence
(koombu) to your mouth and suck
the sweet nectar. |
|
98
Visit a Snake Park
The
Snake Park at Parassinikadavu,
Kannur, is the only one of its
kind in the whole of India. There
are three snake pits and fifteen
glass cases full of various species
of snakes, and two large glass
houses for King Cobras. The snake
demonstration conducted every
hour is a major crowd puller. |
|
99.
Watch thiruvathira
Thiruvathira,
a traditional dance performed
by women, has simple steps and
a single rule-performers should
be clad in a Kerala saree. Join
them as they sing and move elegantly
around a ceremonial lamp (vilakku)
or a floral decoration (pookalam)
|
|
100.
Bring swing to your life Onam
is the season for fun and games.
Visit
Kerala during August /September
and you’ll find in every house.
The friendly people here will
be only too glad to let you join
them. |
|
101.
Try out new ways to fish
Dangle
a rod and line into the flowing
waters. Sweep a towel through
it. Feel for fish with your feet
in the mud below. Or simply try
trapping small fish with your
hands. Anyway, you’ll never return
disappointed. |
