KERALA Tour Information

Kerala, southwestern coastal state of India. It is a small state, constituting only about 1 percent of the total area of the country. Kerala stretches for about 360 miles (580 km) along the Malabar Coast, varying in width from roughly 20 to 75 miles (30 to 120 km). It is bordered by the states of Karnataka (formerly Mysore) to the north and Tamil Nadu to the east and by the Arabian Sea to the south and west; it also surrounds Mahe, a segment of the state of Puducherry, on the northwestern coast. The capital is Thiruvananthapuram (Trivandrum). Although isolated from the Indian interior by the mountainous belt of the Western Ghats, Kerala has been exposed to many foreign influences via its long coastline; consequently, the state has developed a unique culture within the subcontinent, not only with a diverse religious tradition but also with its own language, Malayalam. Also notable is the high social status that continues to be accorded to women of Kerala, owing to the former strength of a matrilineal kinship system. Area 15,005 square miles (38,863 square km). Pop. (2011) 33,387,677. Kerala is a region of great natural beauty. In the eastern part of the state, Anai Peak (8,842 feet [2,695 metres]), the highest peak of peninsular India, crowns the Western Ghats. Descending from the rocky highlands westward toward the coastal plain is a stretch of farmlands, with different crops cultivated at different elevations. Along the coast, a linked chain of lagoons and backwaters form the so-called Venice of India. Among the more important rivers that flow to the Arabian Sea are the Ponnani (Bharatapuzha), Periyar, Chalakudi, and Pamba. The climate of Kerala is equable and varies little from season to season. Throughout the year, daily temperatures usually rise from the low 70s F (low 20s C) into the 80s F (27 to 32 °C). The state is directly exposed to the southwest monsoon, which prevails from July through September, but it also receives rain from the reverse (northeast) monsoon, which blows in October and November. Precipitation averages about 115 inches (3,000 mm) annually statewide, with some slopes receiving more than 200 inches (5,000 mm).

How to Reach:

By Train: 
The distance from Kolkata to Kerala by train is 2286 Kms and it is an overnight journey. The train's starting point is the Howrah Junction Railway Station. The time taken normally is about 40 hours 35 minutes, but in an express train, it takes only about 37 hours, after which you will reach Ernakulam in Kerala.
By Flight:
Kerala is conveniently accessible by air. The state houses three international airports, namely Thiruvananthapuram International Airport, Kochi International Airport and Kozhikode International Airport. The domestic airport of the state is situated in Kollam.

Highlight:

                  ♦ Fishermen working on their nets in Cochin.
                  ♦Tranquil Hideaway is set within remote and lush rainforest.
                  ♦ Tea plantation in Munnar.
                  ♦ Houseboat on Kerala's backwaters.
                  ♦ Fishermen on a Kerala beach.
                  ♦ A dish of tiger prawns.
                  ♦ The mountains of Kerala.
                  ♦ Leopard in Nagarhole National Park in the southern state of Karnataka.