Outlook traveller getaways discovers amazing Kerala beaches backwaters hill stations, wildlife sanctuaries the big cities and places of pilgrimage and the pristine white sand and coral fringed beaches of Lakshadweep.
Everything you need to Kochi, for an exhilarating holiday what to see and do. Where to stay eat shop where to find the perfect houseboat stay. Ayurvedic treatment or backwater cruise is provided in each destination.
The Malabar, Kochi, Western Ghats, Kuttanad and Travancore sections are signposted with route guided highlighting tourist attraction in all the districts of Kerala and tourist guides on the three big cities of thruvananthapuram Kozhikode and Kochi. There’s also a tourist guide on the Lakshadweep archipelago.
An extensive experience section dwells on the cultural heritage of Kerala from its traditional dance and martial art forms to its unique architectural traditions and its own healing system Ayurveda the special section has essays that offer insights into the people of Kerala on the Malayali love of humor and toddy on Yesudas, PT Usha, Abu Abraham and more.
A comprehensive back if the book section has 54 pages of accommodation listings 16 pages of travel agents listings important numbers for transport planning and contact information of tourist offices across Kerala.
The late Abu Abraham once famously said the there is Kerala and there is India. He wasn’t wrong the land of Keralaputras or Keram (coconut trees) straddled by the evergreen western Ghats on one side and the fathomless Arabian Sea on the other is as different from the rest of Indian as pepper to chilli.
It is this favorable geography which makes Kerala unique. The monsoon winds pinned above Kerala by the Western Ghats are forced to release much of their precious content on this thin strip of land. The rivers that originate in these rainforests are short-lived. On their way to the sea they haven’t the strength to keep the sea form backing up into their mouths. The low-lying lands that separate the ancient towns of Kottayam and Thripunithara were thus carved by the Arabian Sea giving birth to Kerala USP the Venbanad and Ashtamudi Backwaters.
The monsoon drenched Ghats bestowed a fecund land a land whose produce the whole world would seek form the time of the early Cheras when pepper grew wild around Traccnacore and North Malabar when cinnamon trees and sandalwood grew tall in its dense forests and Nuddhas teachings permeated the Air Kerala knew no caser or ear. But she knew trade. She gave the world spices and pearls and as one Egyptian chronicle ones cosmetics. And thus stated her affair with the West. An affair in which exchange of ideas matched that of commodities stride for stride.
Trade to the rich port of Muziris brought with it first Egyptians then Romans later Arabs newly converted to Islam and the Chinese who introduced the art to fermenting batter plantation farming and some rather complicated fishing nets, these are still in use in Kerala as kung fu is in china a martial art inspired by Kerala’s Kalaripayatru.
A more lasting impression than the techniques were the ideas. It India is proud of its secular heritage today Kerala can be credited with a huge contribution to our diversity of faith. People of all religious persuasions docked of all palm fringed port of Muziris the Jews the Muslims and the Christian who first enters Indian at Kerala. Some of them stayed on life St. Thomas the Apposite who landed it Kodungallor. With each arrival a new layer was added to Kerala’s polity.
In the 14th century nature the greatest writer of history intervened. A severe storm reshaped kodungalloor by6 sitting up the mouth of the periyar and forcing the great river to turn south. The once fabled port ceased to be of consequence Instead the newly created harbor of Kochi grew into one of the most important ports of the east.
Soon Macro polo would stop by and exclaim everything is different from what it is with us and excels both in size and beauty New waves of trading interests and influences began to blow through Kerala. When Vasco da Gama Landed at Kappad in 1498 the Zanortin ruler of Lozhikode was unimpressed with both his ships settle for establishing themselves at Kochi but they soon turned their gaze north once again. War followed and by the mid 16th century the Zomrin was forces to grant the Portuguese the right to trade.
Kerala : An Introduction by Charu Soni | 16 |
101 Things to do in Kerala | 20 |
30 | |
Malabar : State of the Mind by Anita Nair | 32 |
Kozahikode Harbour of honesty by NP Hafiz Mohammad Psiharikavu| Thikkodi | Payyoli | Lokanarkavu | Peruvannamuzhi Dam | Kakkayam Dam |Rusharagiri Waterfalls | 35 |
Kannur Credit of the theyyam by Maya Jaypal | 57 |
Thalassery The Circus Town by Maya Jaypal Thodikaliam | 68 |
Bekal Anchored in Stine by Lionel Messaias and Shella Kumar Madhur | Annathpura | Manjeswaram | Ranipuram | 77 |
Ponnani Last Stop ont eh Nila by Deepa A | 91 |
Perinthalmanna An antique Land By Deepa A | 99 |
108 | |
Kochi Kochi : The Winds of Time by Chintha Ravidran | 110 |
Kochi History at Every Step by Ambika Menon and Anil Nair Chottanikkara | Edappally | Thirupunithura | Veegaland | 113 |
Spiritual Sanctuary By Suresh | 138 |
Thattekad Feathers Haven by Sanjeev Verma | 148 |
Thrissur Culture Capital by Shella Kumar Vilangankunnu |Aaratpuzha |Urakam |Arhat | 153 |
Guruvayur King of Hearts by Sheela Kumar | 166 |
Kodungalloor Gatgeway of India by Suresh Menon | 178 |
Chimmony A walk in the wild by Deepa A | 187 |
Cheruthuruthy A poet’s Gift by Sheila Kumar | 191 |
Athirappilly Free Failing by Deepa A Potta Divine Retreat Centre | 194 |
198 | |
The Ghats : Tethering the monsoon By VK Madhavan Kutty | 200 |
Vythri Rainforest Hideway by sugata Srinivasaraju | 203 |
Sultha Bathery A Farewell to Arms by Loinel Messia | 214 |
Thirunelly Heal Station by Anurag mallick | 220 |
Trissilery Palakkad Fields of Gold by Sheila Kumar Magot | Thunchan gurumadom | Thenkurussi | Kottayi | Lakkidi | Silent Valley National Park | 227 |
Nelliyampathy Very Beautiful by Sheila Kumar Kollengode | 244 |
Parambikulam Here be Tigers by S Vinayakumar | 249 |
Thekkady Lord of the Jungles by S Theodore Bhaskaran Peermade | Gavi | Pullumedu | 255 |
Vagamon A walk to Remember by Rhea Saran | 274 |
Idukki Power and glory by Aprana Chadraskeharan | 278 |
Heady Aroma of Tea by George N Netto top Sation |Kollukkumallay | Marayoor | Chinnar WLS Very Beautiful by Sheila Kumar | 288 |
304 | |
Kuttanad ; The Rice Bowl by Susan Visvanathan | 306 |
Alappuzha Life in Slow Motion by Susan Visvanathan Arthunkal | Cherthala | 309 |
On the Alleppey Backwaters by Avatar Singh | 321 |
Southern Alleppey Innocence by the Rivers by Janaki Venkataraman | 338 |
Kottayam Life is Beautiful by Divya Anand Mannanam | Ettumanur | Panchikkad | Changanassery | 349 |
Kumarakom Queen of Vembanad by KG Kumar | 360 |
Kanjirappally To the Mana Born by Shwetha George | 368 |
Pala Sacred Heart of Kottayam | 372 |
Pala Sacred Heart of Kottayam | 372 |
376 | |
Red Flags and pouring Rain by M Suchita | 378 |
Thiruvananthapuram God’s City by Latha Ananthraman Neyyantinkara | Aruvikara | Kanyakumari | 381 |
Kovalam Making Waves by Khyrunnisa A Poovar | 400 |
Varkala On the Rocks by Divya Anand Anjengo Fort | 412 |
Ponmudi A walk in the Clouds by khyrunnisa A | 420 |
Pathananmthita Garden of the Gods by Prabha Nair | 429 |
Kollam By the Eight Cornered lake by Prabha Nair | 439 |
Alumkadavu Kerala’s Sleepeist paradise by Baradwaj Rangan Malanada Duryodhana |St Mary’s orthodox Church | 446 |
Thenmala The Good Earth by Baradwaj rangan Hanging Bridge | Acharnkovil | Kattarakara | 453 |
Ponmudi A walk in the Clouds by khyrunnisa A | 420 |
460 | |
Dweep Breathing by Charu Soni | 462 |
Bangaram Island in the Sun | 465 |
Agati Walk the Sea | 470 |
Kadmat Eve’s own Isle | 474 |
Kavaratti The Blue Lagoon | 484 |
Minicoy Southern Comfort | 488 |
The Information | 494 |
496 | |
Sabarimala : This Country’s own god by VK Madhavan kuuty | 498 |
A Kerala Calendar buy Anita Nair | 508 |
Ayurveda by KK Gopalkrishnan | 514 |
Kerala Cuisine by Anita Nair | 530 |
Shopping in Kerala by Latha Ananthraraman | 558 |
Grand Old homes of Kerala by TS Nafarajan | 564 |
Magic of Yesudas by Ravi Menon | 572 |
Dance Drama action by KK Gopalkrishnan | 580 |
582 | |
Always Cone One day Before the Hartal by Paul Zacharia | 584 |
The Kutty Poorams By Anita Nair | 588 |
St Thomas in Kerala by Jeet Thayil | 590 |
The Karkuzahli by Dr. Scaria Zacharia | 594 |
Mappila Nerchas : At the feet of the Holy Saint by Shahjahan Madmapat | 596 |
Requiem for a Riverby MT Vasudevan Nair | 598 |
Toddy Shaap by Ajith Pillai | 602 |
Men In Black by Latha Anantharaman | 605 |
The Kerala Advantage by Ravi Menon | 606 |
Football Friends by Ajit Balakrishnan | 608 |
Always Time for a laugh by V. Gangadhar | 610 |
Whiter Than white in God’s own Country by Pankaj Mishra | 614 |
A Kerala Primer buy Sheila Kumar | 617 |
Accommodation listings | 618 |
Travel Help lines | 672 |
Travel Agents | 680 |
Tourist Offices | 696 |
Kerala State | 14 |
Kozhikode District | 34 |
Kozhikode City | 36 |
Kannur District | 56 |
Kasargod District | 76 |
Malappuram District | 90 |
Ernakulam District | 112 |
Kochi Ernakulam | 114 |
Thrissur District | 152 |
Wayanad District | 202 |
Palakkad District | 226 |
Idukki District | 254 |
Alappuzha District | 308 |
The Backwaters | 320 |
Kottayam District | 348 |
Thiruvan District | 380 |
Thriuvan City | 382 |
Pathanam District | 428 |
Kollam District | 438 |
Lakshadweep Archipelago | 464 |
Outlook traveller getaways discovers amazing Kerala beaches backwaters hill stations, wildlife sanctuaries the big cities and places of pilgrimage and the pristine white sand and coral fringed beaches of Lakshadweep.
Everything you need to Kochi, for an exhilarating holiday what to see and do. Where to stay eat shop where to find the perfect houseboat stay. Ayurvedic treatment or backwater cruise is provided in each destination.
The Malabar, Kochi, Western Ghats, Kuttanad and Travancore sections are signposted with route guided highlighting tourist attraction in all the districts of Kerala and tourist guides on the three big cities of thruvananthapuram Kozhikode and Kochi. There’s also a tourist guide on the Lakshadweep archipelago.
An extensive experience section dwells on the cultural heritage of Kerala from its traditional dance and martial art forms to its unique architectural traditions and its own healing system Ayurveda the special section has essays that offer insights into the people of Kerala on the Malayali love of humor and toddy on Yesudas, PT Usha, Abu Abraham and more.
A comprehensive back if the book section has 54 pages of accommodation listings 16 pages of travel agents listings important numbers for transport planning and contact information of tourist offices across Kerala.
The late Abu Abraham once famously said the there is Kerala and there is India. He wasn’t wrong the land of Keralaputras or Keram (coconut trees) straddled by the evergreen western Ghats on one side and the fathomless Arabian Sea on the other is as different from the rest of Indian as pepper to chilli.
It is this favorable geography which makes Kerala unique. The monsoon winds pinned above Kerala by the Western Ghats are forced to release much of their precious content on this thin strip of land. The rivers that originate in these rainforests are short-lived. On their way to the sea they haven’t the strength to keep the sea form backing up into their mouths. The low-lying lands that separate the ancient towns of Kottayam and Thripunithara were thus carved by the Arabian Sea giving birth to Kerala USP the Venbanad and Ashtamudi Backwaters.
The monsoon drenched Ghats bestowed a fecund land a land whose produce the whole world would seek form the time of the early Cheras when pepper grew wild around Traccnacore and North Malabar when cinnamon trees and sandalwood grew tall in its dense forests and Nuddhas teachings permeated the Air Kerala knew no caser or ear. But she knew trade. She gave the world spices and pearls and as one Egyptian chronicle ones cosmetics. And thus stated her affair with the West. An affair in which exchange of ideas matched that of commodities stride for stride.
Trade to the rich port of Muziris brought with it first Egyptians then Romans later Arabs newly converted to Islam and the Chinese who introduced the art to fermenting batter plantation farming and some rather complicated fishing nets, these are still in use in Kerala as kung fu is in china a martial art inspired by Kerala’s Kalaripayatru.
A more lasting impression than the techniques were the ideas. It India is proud of its secular heritage today Kerala can be credited with a huge contribution to our diversity of faith. People of all religious persuasions docked of all palm fringed port of Muziris the Jews the Muslims and the Christian who first enters Indian at Kerala. Some of them stayed on life St. Thomas the Apposite who landed it Kodungallor. With each arrival a new layer was added to Kerala’s polity.
In the 14th century nature the greatest writer of history intervened. A severe storm reshaped kodungalloor by6 sitting up the mouth of the periyar and forcing the great river to turn south. The once fabled port ceased to be of consequence Instead the newly created harbor of Kochi grew into one of the most important ports of the east.
Soon Macro polo would stop by and exclaim everything is different from what it is with us and excels both in size and beauty New waves of trading interests and influences began to blow through Kerala. When Vasco da Gama Landed at Kappad in 1498 the Zanortin ruler of Lozhikode was unimpressed with both his ships settle for establishing themselves at Kochi but they soon turned their gaze north once again. War followed and by the mid 16th century the Zomrin was forces to grant the Portuguese the right to trade.
Kerala : An Introduction by Charu Soni | 16 |
101 Things to do in Kerala | 20 |
30 | |
Malabar : State of the Mind by Anita Nair | 32 |
Kozahikode Harbour of honesty by NP Hafiz Mohammad Psiharikavu| Thikkodi | Payyoli | Lokanarkavu | Peruvannamuzhi Dam | Kakkayam Dam |Rusharagiri Waterfalls | 35 |
Kannur Credit of the theyyam by Maya Jaypal | 57 |
Thalassery The Circus Town by Maya Jaypal Thodikaliam | 68 |
Bekal Anchored in Stine by Lionel Messaias and Shella Kumar Madhur | Annathpura | Manjeswaram | Ranipuram | 77 |
Ponnani Last Stop ont eh Nila by Deepa A | 91 |
Perinthalmanna An antique Land By Deepa A | 99 |
108 | |
Kochi Kochi : The Winds of Time by Chintha Ravidran | 110 |
Kochi History at Every Step by Ambika Menon and Anil Nair Chottanikkara | Edappally | Thirupunithura | Veegaland | 113 |
Spiritual Sanctuary By Suresh | 138 |
Thattekad Feathers Haven by Sanjeev Verma | 148 |
Thrissur Culture Capital by Shella Kumar Vilangankunnu |Aaratpuzha |Urakam |Arhat | 153 |
Guruvayur King of Hearts by Sheela Kumar | 166 |
Kodungalloor Gatgeway of India by Suresh Menon | 178 |
Chimmony A walk in the wild by Deepa A | 187 |
Cheruthuruthy A poet’s Gift by Sheila Kumar | 191 |
Athirappilly Free Failing by Deepa A Potta Divine Retreat Centre | 194 |
198 | |
The Ghats : Tethering the monsoon By VK Madhavan Kutty | 200 |
Vythri Rainforest Hideway by sugata Srinivasaraju | 203 |
Sultha Bathery A Farewell to Arms by Loinel Messia | 214 |
Thirunelly Heal Station by Anurag mallick | 220 |
Trissilery Palakkad Fields of Gold by Sheila Kumar Magot | Thunchan gurumadom | Thenkurussi | Kottayi | Lakkidi | Silent Valley National Park | 227 |
Nelliyampathy Very Beautiful by Sheila Kumar Kollengode | 244 |
Parambikulam Here be Tigers by S Vinayakumar | 249 |
Thekkady Lord of the Jungles by S Theodore Bhaskaran Peermade | Gavi | Pullumedu | 255 |
Vagamon A walk to Remember by Rhea Saran | 274 |
Idukki Power and glory by Aprana Chadraskeharan | 278 |
Heady Aroma of Tea by George N Netto top Sation |Kollukkumallay | Marayoor | Chinnar WLS Very Beautiful by Sheila Kumar | 288 |
304 | |
Kuttanad ; The Rice Bowl by Susan Visvanathan | 306 |
Alappuzha Life in Slow Motion by Susan Visvanathan Arthunkal | Cherthala | 309 |
On the Alleppey Backwaters by Avatar Singh | 321 |
Southern Alleppey Innocence by the Rivers by Janaki Venkataraman | 338 |
Kottayam Life is Beautiful by Divya Anand Mannanam | Ettumanur | Panchikkad | Changanassery | 349 |
Kumarakom Queen of Vembanad by KG Kumar | 360 |
Kanjirappally To the Mana Born by Shwetha George | 368 |
Pala Sacred Heart of Kottayam | 372 |
Pala Sacred Heart of Kottayam | 372 |
376 | |
Red Flags and pouring Rain by M Suchita | 378 |
Thiruvananthapuram God’s City by Latha Ananthraman Neyyantinkara | Aruvikara | Kanyakumari | 381 |
Kovalam Making Waves by Khyrunnisa A Poovar | 400 |
Varkala On the Rocks by Divya Anand Anjengo Fort | 412 |
Ponmudi A walk in the Clouds by khyrunnisa A | 420 |
Pathananmthita Garden of the Gods by Prabha Nair | 429 |
Kollam By the Eight Cornered lake by Prabha Nair | 439 |
Alumkadavu Kerala’s Sleepeist paradise by Baradwaj Rangan Malanada Duryodhana |St Mary’s orthodox Church | 446 |
Thenmala The Good Earth by Baradwaj rangan Hanging Bridge | Acharnkovil | Kattarakara | 453 |
Ponmudi A walk in the Clouds by khyrunnisa A | 420 |
460 | |
Dweep Breathing by Charu Soni | 462 |
Bangaram Island in the Sun | 465 |
Agati Walk the Sea | 470 |
Kadmat Eve’s own Isle | 474 |
Kavaratti The Blue Lagoon | 484 |
Minicoy Southern Comfort | 488 |
The Information | 494 |
496 | |
Sabarimala : This Country’s own god by VK Madhavan kuuty | 498 |
A Kerala Calendar buy Anita Nair | 508 |
Ayurveda by KK Gopalkrishnan | 514 |
Kerala Cuisine by Anita Nair | 530 |
Shopping in Kerala by Latha Ananthraraman | 558 |
Grand Old homes of Kerala by TS Nafarajan | 564 |
Magic of Yesudas by Ravi Menon | 572 |
Dance Drama action by KK Gopalkrishnan | 580 |
582 | |
Always Cone One day Before the Hartal by Paul Zacharia | 584 |
The Kutty Poorams By Anita Nair | 588 |
St Thomas in Kerala by Jeet Thayil | 590 |
The Karkuzahli by Dr. Scaria Zacharia | 594 |
Mappila Nerchas : At the feet of the Holy Saint by Shahjahan Madmapat | 596 |
Requiem for a Riverby MT Vasudevan Nair | 598 |
Toddy Shaap by Ajith Pillai | 602 |
Men In Black by Latha Anantharaman | 605 |
The Kerala Advantage by Ravi Menon | 606 |
Football Friends by Ajit Balakrishnan | 608 |
Always Time for a laugh by V. Gangadhar | 610 |
Whiter Than white in God’s own Country by Pankaj Mishra | 614 |
A Kerala Primer buy Sheila Kumar | 617 |
Accommodation listings | 618 |
Travel Help lines | 672 |
Travel Agents | 680 |
Tourist Offices | 696 |
Kerala State | 14 |
Kozhikode District | 34 |
Kozhikode City | 36 |
Kannur District | 56 |
Kasargod District | 76 |
Malappuram District | 90 |
Ernakulam District | 112 |
Kochi Ernakulam | 114 |
Thrissur District | 152 |
Wayanad District | 202 |
Palakkad District | 226 |
Idukki District | 254 |
Alappuzha District | 308 |
The Backwaters | 320 |
Kottayam District | 348 |
Thiruvan District | 380 |
Thriuvan City | 382 |
Pathanam District | 428 |
Kollam District | 438 |
Lakshadweep Archipelago | 464 |