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| Kerala's Beaches, Hill Stations & Festivals | ||||
| THE BEACHES | ||||
KOVALAM About 30 minutes south of Trivandrum and more a relaxed sprawling village than resort, Kovalam has attracted beach-lovers since the 1930s, and is grouped around three adjacent crescent beaches - Lobster Beach, Palm Beach and the southernmost Lighthouse Beach (the most popular). Around the latter are a cluster of restaurants (serving fresh seafood and local delicacies) as well as little shops. Here you can unwind on a supremely relaxing beach holiday, enjoying the views, the walks and the simple beach life - or end your Kerala tour with a few easygoing days by the Arabian Sea. Among our recommended hotels are the long-established Kovalam Resort and Surya Samudra Beach Garden (the latter at nearby Mullur), both offering essentially simple and informal surroundings overlooking the sea. At nearby Chowara is the Somatheeram Ayurvedic Beach Resort, a simple but pleasant beachside retreat of traditional Malayli cottages and an important Ayurvedic centre. Chowara is also the setting of the Travancore Heritage - a unique new heritage resort where every cottage is adorned with rich wood carvings. |
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VARKALA To the north of Trivandrum (reached in about 90 minutes by car), the Papanasam beach in this small resort is known for its mineral springs and rocky cliffs. In the village is the 2,000-year-old Janardana Swamy Temple. This is the setting of the elegant little Taj Garden Retreat, perched atop a dramatic cliff overlooking the sea, and with a beautiful free-form pool and Ayurvedic Centre. |
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| THE HILL STATIONS | ||||
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High amid the Cardamom Hills in the Western Ghats of Kerala, at an altitude of over 5,000ft, Munnar was once the South India summer retreat of the British in former colonial days. Today it offers all who appreciate natural beauty and exotic mountain vistas a delightful setting amid sprawling tea plantations and wildlife-rich forests, with many fascinating echoes of its unique past. Here you can enjoy exhilarating walking and trekking in the refreshing upland air. Stay at the 'old world' High Range Club or the Windamere Estate. |
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OTHER HILL STATIONS Among other hill stations are PEERMEDE (near Periyar Wildlife Sanctuary, 50 miles from Kottayam amid plantations, pine forests and grasslands, and once the summer haven of the Maharajahs of Travancore) and PONMUDI (about 40 miles from Trivandrum and with excellent walking amid beautiful mountain flowers, butterflies, springs and streams). |
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| THE NORTH | ||||
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The home of 'calico' (block-printed cotton cloth) and a former major spice-trading port (Vasco da Gama landed here in 1498), this bustling northern coastal city has a distinct Arabian influence, and is reached through attractive scenery of coconut palms, tea, coffee and rubber plantations, groves of tropical fruit trees and traditional boat-building villages. The modern Taj Residency - which has an Ayurvedic centre managed by the renowned Ayushman Ayurvedic trust - makes an excellent base for exploring the unspoilt hinterland. |
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| KERALA FESTIVALS | ||||
| Kerala's renowned year-round programme of exotic festivals includes celebrations on both land and water - but as you would expect in a state where water has played such a key role in shaping its history and character, many of Kerala's most colourful festivals have a distinctively 'aquatic' theme. | ||||
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| Great Elephant Procession from Trichur to Alleppey | January | |||
| Elephant Procession (eight days) at the Shiva Temple at Ernakulum (Cochin) | January/February | |||
| Ulsavam at Guruvayur - Kerala's most sacred pilgrimage centre, with 40-strong elephant race and processions | Late February | |||
| Arat at Trivandrum, when lavishly decorated elephants carry the deity out to sea (also celebrated in October/November) | March/April | |||
| Pooram at Trichur - exotic temple festival with a parade of 30 brightly garbed elephants, with drum music and fireworks | April/May | |||
| Onam - a four-day harvest festival celebration, with major celebrations at Alleppey on the second Saturday in August, and at Aranmula in the second week of September, each playing host to a crowded regatta, with a spectacular Snake Boat Race for the Nehru Cup. This is the biggest team sport in the world (symbolising the integration and amity of the people of Kerala), with scores of 130ft long-prowed snake boats, carrying up to 130 men each, all rowing to the rhythm of boat songs from 25 on-board singers! | August/September | |||
| Makaravilakka - major Hindu pilgrimage to Ayyappa Temple at Sabarimala (100 miles north-east of Trivandrum, with devotees from all over India. | November/December | |||
| Golden Days In Asia has over 15 years experience in tailor made tours of Asia |
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| For Tour Bookings & Enquiries please call us on: 020 8893 1781 or email: tours@goldendays.co.uk |
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| All monies paid by you for the air holiday package or flights are ATOL protected by the Civil Aviation Authority. Our ATOL number is ATOL 4062. For more information see our booking terms and conditions |
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