Kerala places to visit

• India For many travelers, Kerala is South India's most serenely beautiful state. This slender coastal strip is defined by its layered landscape: almost 373 miles (600km) of glorious Arabian Sea coast and beaches; a languid network of glistening backwaters; and the spice- and tea-covered hills of the Western Ghats, dotted with fiercely protected wildlife reserves and cool hill stations such as Munnar. Just setting foot on this swathe of soul-soothing, palm-shaded green will slow your subcontinental stride to a blissed-out amble. Kerala is a world away from the hectic action of the rest of India, its long, fascinating backstory illuminated by historically evocative cities like Kochi (Cochin) and Thiruvananthapuram (Trivandrum).

1 out of 54 Places To Visit in Kochi An international exhibition of contemporary art, the Kochi-Muziris Biennale started in 2012 as the lead occasion of the KMB Foundation with the support of the government of Kerala. A mix of Indian as well as international artists, all with very different experiences in art, come together to present their artworks in the form of films, paintings, photographs sculptures, sketches, fashion exhibits, music, dance, drama and many more. 4 km from city center 2 out of 54 Places To Visit in Kochi Fort Kochi is a seaside town in the south-western part of Main Kochi, which is known for its historical fortifications and ruins of old palatial buildings from the Portuguese or Dutch colonial era. Fort Kochi is dotted with European structures, churches and other architectural buildings which take you right back to a different era back in time. 3 km from city center 3 out of 54 Places To Visit in Kochi The Mattancherry Palace is a Portuguese palace popularly known as the Dutch Palace. It is now a museum displaying paraphernalia belonging to the rajas of Kochi. The four separate wings of the Mattancherry Palace surround a central courtyard which has a temple as well. Highlights: Antiques at Hill Palace Museum , Galleries at (Read More) the Museum, Ettukettu, Pottery and Ceramic Vases, Deer Park and Children's Park Located at Tripunithura, The Hill Palace is the largest archaeological museum in Kerala. It was built in the year 1865 and was once the Imper...

Widely known as the ‘Queen of Arabian Sea’, Kochi/Cochin is a paradise for travelers who come in search of wonders. Kochi is one among the top rated international travel destinations where tourists can closely experience the glimpses of pre-historic, historic and modern era. Kochi is in fact the heart of God's own country – Kerala. It is the financial capital of the city with booming IT industry and various other trading endeavors as it is one of the chief port cities in the country. This cosmopolitan city has everything that can attract tourists irrespective of the seasons such as the comforts of a metro city, amazing beauty of nature, incredible culture, and so on. Be it an adventurous trip or a laid back holiday experience, Kochi tourism would never disappoint any of its visitors. Historical Importance of Kochi The known history of Kochi dates back to the 14th century, when we were under the colonial rule. In fact Kochi was the first European colony occupied by the Portuguese. After the Portuguese, the city was occupied by Dutch and British respectively, and made it a Princely state. Since it was the major port city, Kochi was considered to be the main center for the spice trade during that period. Greeks, Romans, Jews, Syrians, Arabs and Chinese were the main traders of spices. According to historians, the Kingdom of Kochi came into existence during the 12th century after the Chera Kingdom. The specialty of this place was that many traders who came to this land, Jews b...

Petr Svarc/UIG / Getty Images Known as the "Gateway to Kerala", Kochi is an enchanting city that's had an eclectic influence. Arabs, British, Dutch, Chinese, and Portuguese have all left their mark there. The architecture and historical sites in Fort Kochi attract most of the visitors to the area. If you have children, consider taking them to Wonderla Amusement Park in Kochi as well. There's also many hotels and homestays for all budgets. Dinodia Photo/Getty Images. If you're interested in history, extend your time in Kochi to visit Muziris, situated about an hour to the north of the city. This multicultural districtused to be the most important trading port in Kerala, where business flourished for more than 1,000 years before it was severely damaged by a flood. It's being developed by the Kerala government as a heritage project. Muziris extends to Kodungallur (where the astonishing and rather gory Kodungallur Bhagavathy temple festival takes place in late March or early April each year) and Paravoor. It's full of old churches, synagogues, mosques, and temples. India's first mosque, Cheraman Juma Masjid, was built there in 629 AD. Cochin Magic offers a full-day private Diy13/Getty Images If you're after an easily accessible and peaceful beach break in Kerala, picturesque Marari is just 30 minutes north of Alleppey. This placid fishing village has a long stretch of undeveloped beach and a diverse range of accommodations, from plush resorts to simple homestays. Some front th...