Home Log In Sign Up Districts
Kerala—God's Own Country ------- This is a true story of the beautiful state of Kerala, of its famed backwaters and wetlands, of its rain-swept Western Ghats.

Culture And Hotspots

Kerala has an endless list of tourist destinations that will interest any traveller. Renowned for its scenic locations and natural beauty, Kerala is sure to enchant any nature lover with its hills, backwaters, beaches, waterfalls and wildlife. The state also has a rich heritage and thriving culture one can explore by visiting the various forts, palaces, museums, monuments and pilgrim centers. Both natural and manmade brilliance await you at every turn.

Explore Kerala

...
Varkala
...
Cherai
...
Kovalam
...
Meenkunnu
...
Chimmini
...
Kallar
...
Malampuzha
...
Willington Island
...
Kuttanad
...
Valapattanam
...
Eravikulam
...
Thattekad

The Thaipooyam Mahotsavam Festival pulls you in with the pulsating beats of the chenda (drums) while the cymbals punctuate every movement of the dancing devotees bearing the kavadis. All present seem possessed by a divine spirit that helps them shed their earthly burdens and revel in an otherworldly bliss. The exuberant colours and frenzy induced by the spirited performance of the devotees charges the atmosphere with a mystical energy as thousands congregate here. The event is the Thaipooyam Festival of the Koorkancherry Sree Maheswara Temple, celebrated in January / February in reverence of Lord Subrahmanya, son of Lord Shiva.

Most people wouldn't expect giant chariots sweeping through their city streets. Well, to this day, one can view exotic, colourful chariots during the annual Ratholsavam (chariot festival) at Sree Viswanatha Swamy Temple at Kalpathi in Palakkad. The temple, dedicated to Lord Viswanatha or Shiva and built over 700 years ago, usually celebrates the festival during November. This event has been celebrated for centuries and devotees crowd the streets in large numbers. As the chariots pass, people can be seen dancing and celebrating throughout the route. Recitations of Vedic rituals and cultural programmes are held.

A secluded temple in a forest glade with over 30,000 images of snakes adorning the paths and among the trees. This is the unique Mannarasala Sree Nagaraja Temple in Alappuzha District. The temple, dedicated to Serpent Gods, is also unique in that a Brahmin woman is the priestess of this temple. The major festival here is the Ayilyam Festival that falls on the Ayilyam asterism in the Malayalam month of Thulam, which roughly corresponds to the months of Oct/nov

Kottur elephant rehabilitation centre, nestled in the foothills of the Western Ghats, retains its serenity. Spread over 56 kilometers, the elephant centre in Kottur is surrounded by trenches on all side checking those surprise intrusions from the wild out there. Visitors arriving at 09oo hours will get to watch the elephants taking bath and is one of the most magnificent sights that one shouldn’t miss. If you reach around 1030 hours, you get to watch the elephants being fed by their handlers.

Caressed in the folds of the Western Ghats is the picturesque Thusharagiri Waterfalls. Lying 50 km from Kozhikode, the Thusharagiri Waterfalls comprises Erattumukku, Mazhavil Chattom, and Thumbithullum Para which can be reached through trekking. Thusharagiri or 'mist-capped peaks' gets its name from the beautiful silvery crown formed at the mountain top due to the waterfalls. Nature here will transport to a different dimension where time itself comes to a standstill. Having a dip in the cool water here is highly recommended as well, to revive one’s body and mind. The atmosphere on the way to waterfalls is filled with the aroma of various plantations that are on every traveller’s wish list like arecanut, pepper, ginger and spices.

Caressed in the folds of the Western Ghats is the picturesque Thusharagiri Waterfalls. Lying 50 km from Kozhikode, the Thusharagiri Waterfalls comprises Erattumukku, Mazhavil Chattom, and Thumbithullum Para which can be reached through trekking. Thusharagiri or 'mist-capped peaks' gets its name from the beautiful silvery crown formed at the mountain top due to the waterfalls. Nature here will transport to a different dimension where time itself comes to a standstill. Having a dip in the cool water here is highly recommended as well, to revive one’s body and mind. The atmosphere on the way to waterfalls is filled with the aroma of various plantations that are on every traveller’s wish list like arecanut, pepper, ginger and spices.