Kerala, a state on India's tropical Malabar Coast, has nearly 600km of Arabian Sea shoreline. It's known for its palm-lined beaches and backwaters, a network of canals. Inland are the Western Ghats, mountains whose slopes support tea, coffee and spice plantations as well as wildlife. National parks like Eravikulam and Periyar, plus Wayanad and other sanctuaries, are home to elephants, langur monkeys and tigers. It is one of the most popular tourist destinations of India. Renowned for its beaches, backwaters, places of worship and world heritage architecture, Kerala is visited by large numbers of international and domestic tourists each year.
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Athirapally Waterfalls
Athirapally Waterfalls are one of the best waterfalls in India and one of the most famous tourist places in kerala & one of the popular weekend getaways from Kochi, Coimbatore & Munnar. These are magnificent waterfalls on Chalakudy River located at the entrance to Sholayar hill range in Thrissur district.
This waterfall drops from a height of 80 feet through several parallel streams offering a great scenic beauty. In monsoon season, the water gets strength and all the streams join together and appear like Niagara Falls. This is the biggest waterfalls in Kerala and well known for its scenic beauty.
Distance from Kochi: 73 km
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Munnar
Munnar is a fascinating hill resort located in Idukki district of Kerala. It is one of the best Tourist places in kerala and among the most popular hill stations in India. This is also one of the famous weekend getaways from Kochi, Coimbatore & Madurai cities.
Munnar town is situated at an altitude ranging from 5000 to 8000 feet on the Kannan Devan Hills in Devikulam taluk and is the largest town in the Idukki district covering an area of nearly 557 sq. km. It is also called as the Swiss of South India. It was once the summer resort of the British Governors of South India. Munnar is at the confluence of three rivers - Madurapuzha, Nallathanni and Kundala. In Tamil, Munnar mean 'Three Rivers'. Munnar is home for some of the world's best tea estates.
Distance from Kochi: 120 km
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Thekkady (periyar Wildlife Sanctuary)
Thekkady is one of the most famous Tourist places in kerala and also a well know summer getaway in Kerala state. Thekkady is also known as one of the scenic Kerala Backwater trips in Periyar lake.
In 1899, the Maharaja of Travancore, Chithira Thirunal Balarama Varma has declared the forests around Periyar Lake as a private game reserve to stop the invasion of tea plantations. Further, in 1934, the lake reserve was converted into a game sanctuary, the Nellikkampatty Game Sanctuary, covered an area of about 500 sq. km. It was established as Periyar Wildlife Sanctuary in 1950 and named after the Periyar River.
Distance from Kochi: 156 Km
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Kumarakom
Kumarakom is a cluster of little islands on the Vembanad Lake in Kerala. Also known as the Queen of Vembanad, Kumarakom is the most famous Kerala backwaters destination for traditional houseboat ride and it is among the most visited Tourist places in kerala state. This is also one of the ideal weekend getaways from Kochi & Trivandrum.
Kumarakom's soil is extremely fertile due to the proximity to water source, this has resulted in the growth of a wide variety of flora in Kumarakom, especially the mangrove and coconut trees. Kumarakom is an unbelievably beautiful paradise of mangrove forests, emerald green paddy fields and coconut groves. It is also famous for Ayurvedic massage, yoga, meditation, boating, fishing and swimming.
Distance from Kochi: 56 km
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Kovalam
Kovalam, on the shores of Arabian Sea, is one of the most famous Beaches in Kerala. It is also one of the most famous places to visit in Kerala state.
The beautiful Kovalam Beach is also known as the 'Paradise of the South'. Kovalam means 'A grove of coconut trees' and the whole area beyond the shores around Kovalam is literally filled with endless sight of coconut trees offering magnificent views while approaching the beach. Kovalam gained importance when Maharani Sethu Lakshmi Bai, the Queen of Travancore, built a palace, the Halcyon Castle on the top rock near the beach in 1930s.
Distance from Kochi: 63 km
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