Kerala Tourism

Kerala, a state situated on the tropical Malabar Coast of southwestern India, is one of the most popular tourist destinations in the country. Named as one of the ten paradises of the world by National Geographic Traveler, Kerala is famous especially for its ecotourism initiatives and beautiful backwaters. Its unique culture and traditions, coupled with its varied demography, have made Kerala one of the most popular tourist destinations in the world. Growing at a rate of 13.31%, the tourism industry is a major contributor to the state's economy. Until the early 1980s, Kerala was a relatively unknown destination, with most tourism circuits concentrated around the north of the country. Aggressive marketing campaigns launched by the Kerala Tourism Development Corporation—the government agency that oversees tourism prospects of the state—laid the foundation for the growth of the tourism industry. In the decades that followed, Kerala Tourism was able to transform itself into one of the niche holiday destinations in India. The tag line Kerala – God's Own Country was adopted in its tourism promotions and became a global superbrand. Kerala is regarded as one of the destinations with the highest brand recall. In 2010, Kerala attracted 660,000 foreign tourist arrivals.

History
The history of Kerala, India, dates back many millennia. Stone Age carvings in the Edakkal Caves feature pictorial writings believed to date to at least the Neolithic era around 5,000 BC, indicating the presence of a prehistoric civilisation or settlement in this region. From as early as 3000 BC, Chera nadu, currently known as Kerala had established itself as a major spice trade centre. Keralam, the then Chera nadu had direct contact across the Arabian Sea with all the major Mediterranean and Red Sea ports as well those of the Far East. The spice trade between Kerala and much of the world was one of the main drivers of the world economy. For much of history, ports in Kerala were the busiest (Muziris) among all trade and travel routes in the history of the world.

Fairs & Festivals
Kerala with its beautiful landscapes has more than enough reason to celebrate. And the varied culture of the state has given expression to a colorful mosaic of festivals and fairs. The spirit of celebration is very much a part of the ethos of the state of Kerala and for visitors to this state,its fairs and festivals are a must see event to be included in their travel.

Best Time to Visit
Kerala has two rainy seasons. One with the rest of the country and one in the winters and spring. While summers make the state too hot for comfort, the main monsoons leave no day wet with water. The monsoons can be an amalgamation of festivals, beautiful scenic views and the much talked about Ayurveda treatments. The backwaters would be flowing with monsoon water, and the temperatures would be down to enjoy the view to the fullest.

How to Reach :-

BY AIR - Kerala has 2 international airports - in Thiruvananthapuram and in Kochi while the domestic airport in Kozhikode is also strategically located. Flights of all the public and private airlines fly between these airports and link them to the main airports in India as well as abroad.

BY RAIL - Kerala has more than 200 railway stations, connecting various major cities as well as small towns of the state. Direct trains to various destinations in Kerala can be availed from major Indian cities such as Delhi, Mumbai, Chennai, Bangalore, and Kolkata, among others. Superfast and express trains such as Rajdhani and Duronto connect the larger junctions, whereas mail and passenger trains are also easily available. Kerala's railway network runs from Kasargod, a northwestern point of the state, to the southwestern Thiruvananthapuram.

BY ROAD - You can reach Kerala from any part of the country using National Highways 17, 47 and 49. Karnataka and Tamil Nadu are directly linked to Kerala through a good network of roads. Many important cities fall on the way.