Surrounded by the Shendurny Wildlife Sanctuary, Thenmala has been declared an eco-tourism spot by the government. Standing over the Kallada River, the dam is more than 80m tall. There are facilities for boating and trekking here.

Besides the dam, Thenmala has an eco-tourism project that has the highest walkway in the state, facilities inside the project for trekking, biking and river crossing. Thenmala is only about an hour’s ride from Kollam and about an hour and a half from Kerala’s capital, Trivandrum. There are buses from both the cities. The nearest railhead is in Kollam.

This river has strong undercurrents; nevertheless, it is visited by families, school groups and nature lovers. It is only 10km from the town of Malayatoor and about 60km from Cochin.

The government is planning to start boating facilities here. Trekking, too, will be arranged. The Iringol forests, about three km away is a nice getaway for a trek and nature walks in the evenings. There is an ancient temple within the forest.

Kodanad, which has a prominent elephant training camp is close by. There are buses from Cochin and Angamaly to Illithode. Angamaly has the nearest railway station.

It was captured by the Dutch and handed over to Ali Raja of Kannur. Subsequently, when the British arrived, they took it under their arms. Now, it is protected by the Archeological Survey of India.

This fort is only three km from Kannur town. The Moppila bay forms a fishing centre and harbour here. A sea wall separates the waves from the fort. The Dharmadom island, too, is close by. You can have a spectacular sunset view from the fort. Kannur is about six hours from Cochin.

It is located about 20km from Pathanamthitta city. The forests surrounding the artificial lake has elephants and deer. You can go on boating and animal-spotting trips here. There are also many varieties of birds found here.

Besides the reservoir and the lake, Pathanamthitta has three main rivers, waterfalls, hilly resorts and beautiful nature reserves  to visit. the nearest railway station is at Kottayam. Kochi, Trivandrum, Thiruvalla and other major cities are reachable by road from here.

Would you like to spend your vacation in Kerala at a place that feels like home, with a beautiful orchard, pets and, of course, authentic Kerala cuisine? Or would you rather go trekking, an elephant ride or a walk in the hills? Well… whatever your choice, Hinterlaand at Mulanthuruthy is the answer!

This century-old house can easily house a large family, a group of friends or two medium-sizes families. Equipped with two air-conditioned rooms, satellite television, music-video systems and neat bathrooms, this makes for a great accommodation option a little away from the city. Talking of city, Cochin is only about 20km from here, and the airport, only 35km. Don’t worry about how to get there, as the hosts will take care of pick up and drop for you.

Hinterlaand is good option for weekend parties, business conferences and similar functions. Being close to the city, having a good garden, ample facilities to conduct events and the food are what attract people to this place.

The vegetables and fruits here are organically grown and waste matter is recycled. For those looking for trying their hand at fishing, here’s your chance. Hinterlaand has a pond with edible fish that can be caught. They also have a pond for ornamental fish. The orchard at the back of the house has mango, cashew, rambutan, custard apple, jackfruit and mangosteen trees. For those who love pets, you can find friendly dogs, a pack of geese and rabbits at the farm here.

The Jungle Gym, as they call it, has teak, mahogany and rosewood trees. You can go for walks here. Or else, you can stroll through pepper, clove and cardamom groves. The tourists can opt for boating, tours to nearby hill stations and trekking, which will be arranged by the hosts.

The Monsoon season in Kerala is a time to rejoice. It’s a respite from the summer heat. It also provides water for the dry agricultural lands and, of course, for the dams and reservoirs. The dams across Kerala are known to benefit from the rains as they can stock up the water for generating electricity.

The Monsoon livens up your spirits: you can find kids playing in the rains, splashing puddles on the road. Travellers from all over the world come here to experience this wonderful season. Just to laze around and watch the rains, to see te leaves sprouting happily and to enjoy a blissful vacation.

Be aware, though. The season also brings along diseases like Chikun Gunya and Rat Fever. With proper care, it can be prevented. Tourists should read about the Monsoon and what you can do here, what to take care of while travelling in the rains, etc., so that they can be well prepared.

It is about 10km to the south of Kannur in north Kerala. Situated in a quiant village with just a handful of fishermen and families, it has two private beaches and the coves are separated by cliffs. You can spend almost a whole day just relaxing at the beach, sunbathing, or taking a walk to the nearby temples. If you are lucky, you might spot a Theyyam performance-a ritualistic artform performed only in the Malabar areas.

The Bungalow has 4-5 bedrooms, bath-attached toilets, and the hosts provide three meals. Don’t be fooled; you’ll be served authentic Malabari cuisine and of course, sea food. From here you can travel  to visit the Kannur Fort and other attractions in and around Kannur.

The Costa Malabari is one of Kerala’s famous private beaches. It is close to the city, but out of the traffic and the hectic life. Do not think, just come over for a splendid vacation. The nearest airport is in Karipur, Calicut, and Kannur has the nearest railway station. There are frequent buses to and from Cochin, Calicut, Mysore and Mangalore.

visit: www.beachresortkerala.com

The famous Malayalam litterateurs of Kerala—like, Ezhutahchan, Vallathol, M.T. Vaasudevan Nair and Balamani Amma—have drawn inspiration from the Nila. Vallathol Narayana Menon set up the cultural centre of Kerala Kalamandalam at Cheruthuruthy, close by. The river has rich historical accounts and anecdotes.

Eco-tourism spots like the Silent Valley National Park and Nelliyampathy are located near the Nila’s tributaries.

Having a well-connected canal system, it’s no doubt that a majority of Kerala’s village folks still move about in canoes and boats. They ferry people as well as their produce to the markets. Talking about boats, there are a huge section of boats in Kerala-from snake boats meant for races to fibre fishing boats to traditional wood canoes to houseboats to classy yachts and luxury boats. Kerala’s rich coastline gives it ample scope for cruising as well as tourism.

The private and state-owned bus service connects even the far-flung hill stations to the major cities in Kerala and south India. Not to mention the ride in one!

How do we forget the good ‘ol railways? They have been running steady for years, connecting this coastal state with the rest of India. Being a cheaper and more reliable form of transport, a lot of tourists prefer them.

Cars, bikes and other vehicles available on rent provide flexibility for  travellers. An added advantage are the taxis and auto-rickshaws.

Which ever mode you choose, be sure to use them carefully and to the maximum. Riding a bike or a jeep in the hills of Munnar or Wayanad will prove to be an exhilarating experience (If you have the right company, nothing like it!).

Cochin is the base for travellers to Lakshadweep. Whether it is by flight or ship, tourists travel from Cochin to Agatti and Kavaratti. There are over 5 ships that operate between the two cities. There are also cruises originating from Goa and Mumbai with customised packages and offers. The cruises from Cochin vary from a three-night-stay a week-long one.

There’s a lot to do once in the coral-studded Laccadive islands. You can go sea swimming, turtle walking, trekking, bird watching, Scuba Diving, Yachting, snorkelling and boating. The Pitti bird sanctuary has plenty of terns and gulls, and there are nature trails and trekking paths all over the islands.

Thirty six islands are inhabited and there are world-famous island resorts, too, on them. Do not wait, hop on for a cruise and explore the enchanted islands of Lakshadweep.

Beaches at Kovalam, Cochin, Alleppey, Calicut, Varkala and Kannur are favourites for tourists from India and abroad. Each coastal city has its own history, culture and community lores. From the Malabar coast where Vasco da Gama landed to the one at Cochin, with its intricate backwaters, Kerala’s coastline is lined with beautiful beaches.

Tourist spots closer inland, too, find a mention. Seafood and Indian cuisine is a part of the coastal life. Most restaurants and shacks around the place have the option of letting you buy fish and them cooking it for you. Spicy fish curries, fried prawns and mussels, juicy lobsters and oyster dishes, all wait to be sampled.

visit: www.beachresortkerala.com

Boat cruises, diving trips, speed boating and house boating, are operated by travel agencies and private companies. Most cities also have trips and tours organised by government and private agencies. There are mangroves, estuaries, saltwater grooves, creeks and canals along the coastline. There are wildlife reserves, sanctuaries and bird parks which add to their tourist value and eco-knowledge.

As a result of the huge number of communities who have made Kerala their home, we have language communities from Gujarat, Maharashtra, Bengal and even Tibet! Malayalam is one of the 22 official languages of India, and is spoken by over 36 million people.

Malayalam is also widely spoken in Lakshadweep, Mahé, Kanyakumari in Tamil Nadu and southern districts of Karnataka. Not to mention those Malayalis in the US, the Gulf, the UK and other countries. A large part of the language’s vocabulary comes from Sanskrit, Arabic, Portuguese, Syriac, and English.

Difference and variance in tones, vocabulary, grammar and phonological elements are evident on these lines—region, community, occupation, religion, social strata, style and register.

The word “Malayalam” is the longest palindrome in English which stays a palindrome in another language, too, like when it is written in the Devanagiri script. Also, note the placement of ‘a’ after every other consonant.

And an interesting fact—the first Malayalam dictionary was compiled by German missionary Hermann Gundert.