Photo credits: Bobby Mathew
Munnar is one of the most popular hill stations in Kerala, nestled in the Western Ghats at an altitude of above 6000 ft. Its stunning expanses of tea plantations, mountains and valleys, and natural waterfalls play host to many exotic species of flora and fauna. Truly worth the visit! Continue reading
Photo credits: Shymon
Kottiyoor is an ancient Hindu pilgrim center, situated in the Kannur district of Kerala. This temple is dedicated to Lord Shiva and the Goddess Parvathi, and is located deep in the forest. Kottiyoor is a unique festival celebrated for 28 days, and it falls during the months of May and June. Continue reading
Photo credit: Jithin
Beef fry is a favorite traditional dish in Kerala. It is prepared with heavy spices and gets quite hot, so it is well paired with tapioca, poratta, and appam. The main ingredients are onion, garlic, ginger, coconut flakes, green chilies, curry leaves, Garam masala, turmeric powder, red chili powder, pepper powder, salt, and coconut oil. Continue reading
Photo credits: Sherfin
The Dark Blue Tiger (Tirumala septentrionis) is a butterfly that can be found across peninsular India at elevations up to 2000 meters. This butterfly prefers forested tracts, where they can be seen congregating in large numbers around pools of water and flowering trees. Continue reading
Photo credits: Shymon
Indian Licorice (Abrus precatorius) is a native of India and the tropical and sub-tropical areas of the Western Ghats. Despite its name, Indian Licorice is not closely related to the licorice (Glycyrrhiza glabra) that lends its flavor to candies, beverages, and other foods. The seeds are bright red and black in color and highly poisonous. Continue reading
Photo credits: Unni P
Mudumalai National Park is situated in the state of Tamil Nadu. One of the first wildlife sanctuaries established in India, the terrain consists of low hills, valleys, and flat lands with a few swampy areas scattered about. Continue reading
Photo credit: Faisal
The Common Mormon Butterfly is seen throughout the year in Kerala. The male butterfly is black with a band of large whitish yellow spots running across the lower portion of the wing. The female may have a rose color, but always has an entirely black abdomen. The male butterfly is frequently spotted near patches of standing water or mud puddles.
Photo credit: Unni P.
Periyar Tiger Reserve in Thekkady is one of 27 tiger reserves in India. The reserve’s diverse environment includes tropical evergreen and moist deciduous forests, grass lands and lakes. Although Periyar is a tiger reserve, there are many more animals than just tigers to be seen in the region: elephants, bison, Sambar deer, leopards, and wild boars also share the grounds. Continue reading
Photo credits: Shymon
The Chenda is a musical instrument commonly used in Kerala. This two-sided drum is famous for its rigid and loud sound. The Chenda melam is an integral part of all Kerala festivals, mainly played in Hindu temples. It is also the percussion choice for almost all Kerala’s classical art forms such as Kathakali, Panchavadyam, and Theyyam. The cylindrical wooden drum has stretched animal skin on both the sides that the drummers play using two sticks.
Photo credit: Jithin
Snake charmers can manipulate trained snakes by playing the instrument called pungi from Indian folk music. This practice originated in India and lives on today in street performances. The snake charmers lure the snakes from bamboo baskets with their pungi while tourists and residents alike pass by.
Photo credits : Shymon
Parippuvada is a popular evening tea-time snack in Kerala. Spicy and crispy, the dish is often made from chana dal, green chili, curry leaves, ginger, onion and salt. After the ingredients are ground, the mix is rolled into small patties and deep fried. Continue reading
Photo credits: Jithin Vijay
Kattakampal is a village in the Thrissur district of Kerala where Pooram is an important annual festival in the Kattakampal Goddess temple. The name Kattakampal is a combination of three individual words namely Kadu (forest), Kamadhenu (cow) and Pal (milk). Kathakali is the main attraction of this festival.
Photo credits: Shymon
Seeds from the rudraksha tree have been traditionally used as Hindu prayer beads. The rudaksha tree’s name means the “eyes of Lord Shiva,” rudra being another name for Lord Shiva. Mythology has it that the rudraksha plant was born out of Lord Shiva’s tear drops. Monks and yogis have found that merely wearing beads from the rudraksha tree imparts an astonishing tranquility to the wearer. Continue reading
Photo credits: Shymon
Banana leaves are used in many traditional dishes in South India, often wrapped around the food before it is cooked. Food wrapped in banana leaves can be grilled, steamed or deep fried. In Kerala, banana leaves are frequently used as a completely biodegradable “plate” in a Sadya (traditional Kerala meals), but they serve many other purposes as well. Continue reading
Photo credit: Shymon
Chakkiyarkoothu is a traditional dance form originally performed by priests at Hindu temples. This solo performance was traditionally performed only by the Chakkiyar community, a Brahmin caste of Kerala. The Chakkiyar narrates the story based on the Holy books of ‘Ramayana and Mahabharata’.
Photo credits: Renuka Menon
Idly is a popular breakfast food of South India. The main ingredients for this healthy and simple traditional food are rice, black gram dal and salt. Continue reading
Photo Credits: Ramesh Kidangoor
In the last few years, Kerala Tourism has recorded remarkable growth in the number of both international and domestic tourists visiting the state annually. After its rise to the top in 2003 as a recognized worldwide destination, Kerala Tourism was named a “super brand” by the India Tourism board. Continue reading
Photo credits: Nithin Vijay
Only 80 km from the city of Cochin, the Athirappally Waterfalls and Sholayar Forest are popular tourist destinations and an ideal location for film shooting. Tourist can enjoy these falls from the top of the rocks and watch water rush past to plunge down about 90 ft. Continue reading
Photo credits: Jithin Vijay
Kerala has a veritable array of performing arts. Theyyam or Kaliyattom is one of the most popular ritualistic dances of Kerala. Costumes with crownlike headgear, breastplates, ornaments, special face painting and variously shaped garments of cloth and palm leaf fronds make Theyyam a colourful visual. It is a devotional performance with a surrealistic representation of the divine. Continue reading
Photo Credits: Roji Antony
Located 1600 metres above sea level, this hill station become the headquarters for several tea plantations scattered throughout the Western Ghats. The need to serve these plantations led to the growth of Munnar and its surroundings. With the tag of tourism, it has became a magnet for travelers, offering great opportunities for walking, trekking, nature photography and golfing. Continue reading
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