Kerala Tourism - Wildlife

Periyar - Thekkady

Situated in Idukki district of Kerala on the Western Ghats Periyar Tiger Reserve is the hot bed for Kerala tourism and wildlife safari. Periyar is one of the most popular National Park in Southern India. It contains diverse habitats and a variety of mammalian and reptilian species. There are more than 265 bird species. Peyriyar is famous for wild elephants in Kerala. Tigers, gaurs and leopards are also found in the park.

The boat ride on the Periyar River offers exciting animal and bird sightings. Jeep safaris are also available in the tiger reserve. The forests of Periyar are home to many endemic animals and birds.   

The Sabarimala Ayyapan Temple is situated inside the Periyar preserve a popular pilgrimage spot visited by thousands of devotees.

How to reach Periyar

Air - Nearest Airport : Madurai (Tamil Nadu) 140 kms, Kochi (Nedumbassery - 185 km), Thiruvananthapuram (265 kms).

Rail - Nearest railway station is Kumarakom 114 kms. Madurai station is about 136 kms.

Road - An excellent road network from kumily (4 kms) links the to all major towns and cities in india.

Other Wildlife Places in Kerala --

Chinnar Wildlife Sanctuary
Eravikulam National Park
Idukki Wildlife Sanctuary
Kumarakom Bird Sanctuary
Thattekkad Bird Sanctuary
Wayanad Wildlife Sanctuary

There are many tour packages available for Kerala tourism. They include visits to National Parks and wildlife sanctuaries besides sightseeing. For further information about wildlife tours in Kerela please see the links on this blog.

About Kerala in India

The Kerala State Tourism

The Southern State is diverse, colorful and buzzing with life. The land of spices is home to multi-ethnic humanity an agglomeration of people from many lands. The Malayali Culture exhibits characteristic flavor of  amalgamation of many exotic communities. Festivities, rites and rituals abound and the celebration takes place in unison as one large community. 

Kerala is a complete tourism destination that offers many activities for holiday making. The land is full of historical forts, palaces, museums, beaches and backwaters. The cuisine is as exotic as it comes and the colors of the rich culture impress the visitor no end.

Major places to visit in Kerala:

1) Alappuzha Canal

2) Alappuzha Beach

3) Bekal Fort Beach

4) East Fort

5) Eravikulam National Park

6) Fort Kochi

7) Kappad Beach Kozikhode

8) Kovalam Beach

9) Munnar

10) Ashtamudi Backwaters

11) Silent Valley National Park

12) Periyar Wildlife Sanctuary

13) Veli Tourist Village

14) Wayanad

Kerala has been ranked among the World's top ten travel destinations and is the most popular travel destination in India. There are many tour operator packages for sightseeing in Kerala. The packaged tours offer sightseeing, beach tourism and backwater boat cruise.

Special ayurveda extension can also be arranged at health spas in the state of Kerala. One can find both luxury and budget spas in the state.

Kerala: Traveling Information

Kerala is situated at the western most tip of the Indian subcontinent with its capital as Thiruvananthapuram erstwhile Trivandrum. Kerala has the highest literacy rate and the language is Malayalam…English is very popular in this Indian state.

The major religions are Hinduism, Christianity and Islam. Culturally the people of Kerala are similar except few variances that are a characteristic of this diverse country.

The currency is Indian rupee and all modern banking facilities are available in major towns and cities. The weather is tropical with varying from 22 to 33 C May/Jan being the hottest.

The state is well connected by Air… both International and Domestic flights operate from major towns and the capital. The state is well connected by road and rail and buses operate throughout.

Kerala is famous for its backwaters, beaches and wildlife sanctuaries. Apart from all the destination is famous for its Ayurvedic spas which give body massages a system based on the age old Indian system of medicine "Ayurveda".

Keralite cuisine is unique and myriads of mouth watering food varieties await the traveler to this land.

There are many tours operators in Kerala for affordable tourism packages. Seek an affordable packaged tour option for visiting Kerala. The best season is from October to March.

Goa beaches, hotels, resorts and sightseeing

Goa offers the best beaches in India. This beach resort has number of tourist friendly beaches that are popular with sea bathers and sun bathers. Most of the holiday makers are from foreign countries in Europe and Asia. Calangute, Anjuna, Dauna Paula, Bagga, Vagator, Majorda are beach is the most inhabited beach at Goa.

This little paradise has many luxury beach resorts:

• Aguada Heritage Hotel
• Leela Palace Hotel, Goa
  
• Marinha Dourada Hotel
• Sun Village Resort, Goa
  
• The Kenilworth Beach Resort
• Hotel Delmon
• Longuinhos Beach Resort, Goa
  
• Hotel Panjim Inn
• Majorda Beach Resort
• Taj Hotels Goa
  

For budget travelers Goa has plenty to offer:

Budget Hotel Packages

• Hotel Nova Goa

• Whishpering Beach Resort

• Ronil Beach Resort

• Captain Lobos Hideaway

• Silver Sands

Goa Travel Guide: Places to See

• Panaji: is the state capital. Located on the south bank of the wide Mandovi river.
  

• Margao
  

• Mapusa
  

• Ponda
  

Forts:

• Aguada Fort
• Cabo De Rama Fort
• Cabo Raj Niwas
• Chapora Fort

• Mormugao Fort

• Teracol (Tiracol) Fort
• The Gate of the College of St. Paul
• The Gate of the Palace of Adil Shah
• The Tower of the Church of St. Augustine
• The Viceroy`s Arch

Goa: Churches & Temples

Churches of Goa:

• Se Cathedral
  

• Church of St Francis of Assisi
  

• Church of St Cajetan
  

• Church of St Augustine Ruins
  

Temples

• Shri Bhagavati
  

• Shri Bhagatvati Temple at Parshem
  

• Brahma Temple
  

Mosques

• Jama Masjid
  

• Safa Shahouri Masjid

Goa Carnival

The carnival takes place in the month of February about 40 days before Lent and is being celebrated since the eighteenth century. It is held for three days and nights. During the carnival the legendary king Momo takes over the state and the streets come alive with color.

Huge parades organized with bands, floats and dances and ball dances in the evening. The final day event is the red-and-black dance held by the Clube National in Panajim.

King Momo presides over the carnival, who on the opening day orders his subjects to party.

Indian states: Tourist Places

The states of India with much tourism potential are Madhya Pradesh, Delhi, Kerala and Rajasthan. Goa is another tourist which is very popular.

Madhya Pradesh is popular for Khajuraho Temples and Indian tiger reserves. Apart from these is Ranchi and places of interest near Ujjain, Bhopal and Indore. Kanha and Bandhavgarh tiger reserve. Indian wildlife and tiger makes its last stronghold in this state.

Delhi and Agra offers historical places to visit. Taj Mahal and Delhi fort, Kutub Minar are well known. Delhi is capital of India and bustling metro with excellent cuisine, culture and hectic civic life.

Kerala is God's own country with unique landscape, culture and back water paradise which is responsible for the popularity of this state. It offers excellent festivities and public ceremonies.

Rajasthan is ful of desert kingdoms of Rajputs. It is well known for its forts, palaces of Maharajas and desert life. It is well known for wildlife as well, namely Ranthambhore and Sariska tiger reserves.

Goa a union territory is a beach paradise well known for its culture, cuisine and beaches. Beach parties are important events for vacation seekers from USA and UK and from the rest of Europe.

Apart from all these states whole of India has tremendous tourism to offer. It is for those traveling in India decide what to see and where to see...tiger safari..cultural tour...historical tour..religious tours or just to experience India sub continent.

Places to see in India?

A very difficult question to answer since India is so vast and diverse. It is each to himself or herself depending upon what you wish to see during your travel in India. For lovers of archeology historical places in New Delhi and Agra are must visit, as for example the "Taj Mahal" Delhi Fort, Kutub Minar and Fatehpur Sikri.

For the lovers of Indian desert life it is a trip to vast stretches of Rajasthan to live in Maharaja style in the palaces in Udaipur, Jaipur and Jaisalmer to name few. Rajasthan has a rich colorful culture to offer to the visitors. Bharatpur offers excellent bird watching to birders and is one of finest birding destinations in India.

Central India offers best tiger safaris to wildlife enthusiasts. Kanha, Bandhavgarh and Pench are popular tiger reserves in India. Pachmarhi is a pristine, unspoiled little paradise for holidaying at high places. It is a popular hill station in Madhya Pradesh.

These posts are going to highlight best places to see in India so keep subscribe if you wish to know about the places to visit in India.

Indian Adventure

Experience India from close to know India better. For those accustomed to sterilized physical comfort, India exists only as a sightseeing destination amazing at that sure. See Taj Mahal at Agra, visit the historical monuments of Delhi, see Kahjuraho temples and live like a Maharaja in Rajasthan.

For those who can bow down low to grass root level and bear the discomfort that creeps in at times India exists as incomprehensible diversity that survives. It is a trubid sea of ups and downs, tragicomedy and bundle of delights, hope and hopelessness.

A travel volunteer serving at grass root level experiences India at much closer distance then a traveler who travels in five star comfort and gets a bird eye view of the country. Volunteering enriches on with a perspective that is truly Indian...not adultrated with western norms and attitudes. It is in rural society of the less fortunate that India exhibits it true colors. Seek an Indian nonprofit organization or an Ngo and let your journey begin...serve and discover India.

Indian Road Travel

Driving on the Indian roads is the most challenging task during India tour. India has vast road network that stretches miles and miles across. From six lane expressways to two lane highways and main roads, roads in the interiors you ask for it and there is a road.

Roads made of bitumen or good ones made of cement and the usual cross country and jungle roads which are popularly know as metal roads...most primitive type of road in the country.

The roads are classified as good and bad roads and those which do not come in either category are referred to as "ok" roads. During preparation for a road trip the first travel tip that is considered is the road condition, weather and climate come much later perhaps after the details of roadside food joints, dhabas and tea stalls have been inquired about.

Well whatever the road may be it is assured for an enthusiastic traveler it is the way to an exciting unexplored destination of India for him. That is the fun of travel in India the real good roads lead to more or less homogenous globalized metro or capitals but the rough roads to lead exciting destinations like historical places, wildlife reserves and eco resorts.

And in extreme cases road or no road ...keep move ahead...India awaits you.

India travel basics

When traveling in India the following tips will come useful for inbound tourists from all over the globe.

Make your reservations in advance. Seek a good travel agent and go ahead. Fix your itinerary in and deliver to the travel agency for quick booking of accommodation in hotels and wildlife resorts and rail or air reservations and of course the ubiquitous taxi for road travel where ever required.

If you are planning for a temple and tiger tour which would include both historical monuments like “Taj Mahal” and tiger safari for Indian wildlife then find a travel agent online who specializes in eco tourism. These online travel agencies offer both tours in one package.

When you arrive in India take these precautions…

Drink only mineral water from trusted companies like Bisleri, Pepsi and Kinley…there are many more.

Eat fresh hot food at clean restaurants and totally avoid road side joints. You can safely consume fruits with cover. Try a hot tandoori in chicken or other curry dishes if you can stand it for it is going to tickle your palate like nothing else. India is an abundance of gastronomic delights so do not be surprised if you get addicted to Indian food.

The safest beverage is tea which is brewed at high temperature. India chai tea is unique drink and is available everywhere in wide range of flavor and taste which is unique to the regions in India. You get ample supply of tea in Indian railway to keep your spirits full of cheer during a long journey. Do not forget to drink ginger tea if you are a tea lover or that masala chai of which it is a part.

Keep cash at hand when you travel to interior where banking facilities may be limited. The urban localities have an advance infrastructure so traveling is not difficult at all if you have made your bookings in advance.

Keep tag on weather and the climate of the places you wish to travel to for this vast land has varied climate and somewhere you will need warm cloths to fight of freezing cold and other places might be warm and humid.

English is quite popular in India and Indians understand sign language very well, but learning bits and pieces of local dialect especially Hindi is going to make your trip more enjoyable. Keep medicine for any medical emergencies if you are traveling to rural areas of Indian jungles since modern medication might not be available there.

Above all stay in high spirits and enjoy either the ruggedness of economy class or luxury of traveling in amazing India premium package. You can travel on budget or travel in the luxurious five star class if you are rich.

For student and adults with a spirit of service and sacrifice, travel volunteer is the best option to experience India from close at grass root level. There are many Indian ngo or non profit organizations that offer volunteer opportunity and internship. India is a growing economy with multitudes of problems and complexities where in you can take part for the betterment of the country and its people.

India Travel Information

I have added important information web sites for India tour which I am sure those interested in traveling in India will find it very helpful.

The websites I have linked are for online travel bookings and information. Most of the sites are Indian government travel resource websites for providing authenticated guide and resource to India travel.

The links are useful help to make one's India trip a success. There are links to travel information and directory of Indian states that are popular travel destinations. Please do submit your suggestions and comments.