Kovalam beach near Thiruvananthapuram was among the first beaches in Kerala to attract tourists. Rediscovered by back-packers and tan-seekers in the 1960s and followed by hordes of hippies in the 1970s, Kovalam is today the most visited beach in the state.Other popularly visited beaches[16] in the state include those at Kappad, Alappuzha, Marari Beach(Mararikulam, Alappuzha), Nattika (Thrissur), Vadanappilly beach (Thrissur), Cherai Beach, Beypore beach, Marari beach, Fort Kochi, and Varkala
The Muzhappilangad Beach at Kannur is the only drive-in beach in India. Marari beach was rated as one of the worlds top five HAMMOCK BEACH by National Geographic survey. Payambalam beach is one of the most beautiful beach in Kerala situated in Kannur. Other beaches in Kannur include baby beach, meenkunnu beach, azhikode beach, madaiparra beach, chootath beach, mermaid beach.
Kovalam beach near Thiruvananthapuram was among the first beaches in Kerala to attract tourists. Rediscovered by back-packers and tan-seekers in the 1960s and followed by hordes of hippies in the 1970s, Kovalam is today the most visited beach in the state.Other popularly visited beaches[16] in the state include those at Kappad, Alappuzha, Marari Beach(Mararikulam, Alappuzha), Nattika (Thrissur), Vadanappilly beach (Thrissur), Cherai Beach, Beypore beach, Marari beach, Fort Kochi, and Varkala.
The backwater network includes large lakes such as the Ashtamudi Lake, the largest among them, linked by 1500 km of canals, both man-made and natural and fed by several rivers, and extending virtually the entire length of Kerala state. The backwaters were formed by the action of waves and shore currents creating low barrier islands across the mouths of the many rivers flowing down from the Western Ghats range.
Eastern Kerala consists of land encroached upon by the Western Ghats; the region thus includes high mountains, gorges, and deep-cut valleys. The wildest lands are covered with dense forests, while other regions lie under tea and coffee plantations (established mainly in the 19th and 20th centuries) or other forms of cultivation
The Western Ghats rise on average to 1500 m elevation above sea level. Some of the popular hill stations in the region are Munnar, Vagamon, Paithalmala, Wayanad, Nelliyampathi, Elapeedika, Peermade, Thekkady and Ponmudi.
The major festival in Kerala is Onam. Kerala has a number of religious festivals.
Thrissur Pooram, Attukal Pongala, Beema Palli Uroos,
and Chettikulangara Bharani are the major temple festivals in Kerala.
The Thrissur Pooram is conducted at the Vadakumnathan temple, Thrissur.
The Chettikulangara Bharani is another major attraction.
The festival is conducted at the Chettikulangara temple near Mavelikkara.
The Sivarathri is also an important festival in Kerala.
This festival is mainly celebrated in Aluva Temple and Padanilam Parabrahma Temple.
Padanilam Temple is situated in Alappuzha district of Kerala, about 16 kilometres (9.9 mi)
from Mavelikkara town. Parumala Perunnal,
Manarkadu Perunnal are the major festivals of Christians.
Muslims also have many important festivals.
Annual festival Thirayattam is conducted Sacred groves and village shrine
of south malabar region (kozhikode and malappuram districts) in Kerala.
"Thirayattam" is a vibrant Ethnic performing art. it is an admixture of dance,drama
, songs,instrumental music,facial and body makeup, satire, martial art and ritualistic
function, composed in a harmonizing manner.
