Kerala in India

The narrow strip of Southwestern Indian coastline called Kerala boasts from National Geographic Traveler’s accolade as an “earthly Paradise.” The spice-perfumed air of the Cardamom Hills; 44 rivers winding from its Arabian Sea beaches to its interior lakes and jungles; and the nearby Lakshadweep Islands’ tropical reefs all lure tourists to the state of Kerala.

History

Kerala’s history is as rich as its landscapes. Its seaports welcomed spice traders ancient China, Phoenicia and Rome. Kerala’s Christian tradition holds that Jesus’ apostle St. Thomas visited Kerala in A.D. 52. Kerala assumed it present boundaries after India became independent in 1947, and includes the former states of, Kochi, Travancore, and Malabar.

Kerala also gave rise to the Ayurvedic healing traditions. One unforgettable experience during a trip to Kerala is to indulge in an all-natural, Aryurvedic full-body massage, or a facial massage with warm herbal oils. Qualified Ayurvedic doctors undergo more than five years of rigorous training. If you decide to pamper yourself during your visit, avoid the many hotels and commercial chains offering treatments unless administered by fully qualified doctors.

Other Attractions

Almost as relaxing as an Ayurvedic massage is a cruise through Kerala’s backwaters. This canal-linked series of lakes extends more than 500 miles from the coast to the interior. Two popular backwater destinations accessible by traditional shuttle boats, or kettuvalloms, are the Kumarakon tropical bird sanctuary, and the Kumbalanghi model tourist village. Here you can stay overnight with the locals for a hands-on experience of backwater existence.

Kumbalanghi lies just under 5 miles from Kochi, a once-thriving trading port with cosmopolitan flair. Modern Kochi grew up around an historic central district where a Jewish synagogue and Muslim mosques exist peacefully among Portuguese houses. All fall under the watchful gaze of Fort Kochi, which in its five centuries of existence has passed through Portuguese, Dutch and British control. Chinese-inspired fishing nets gather their fresh catch each day from Kochi’s Vasco da Gama waterfront square.

Periyar National Park and Tiger Reserve

The Periyar National Park and Tiger Reserve covers 300 square miles at the foot of the northwestern Kerala’s Ghat Mountains. Several hundred wild elephants — and up to 40 wild tigers — live within the park. Periyar’s centrally located, 21-square mile lake also provides water for wild boars and bears, Indian bison, macaques, wild dogs, leopards and deer. Watchtowers along the lake permit wildlife viewing.