Travel to Kerala - A guide to Kerala backwaters, beaches and waterfalls

Kerala is every vacationer’s dream destination. Verdant plains, rocky mountains and sandy beaches apart, Kerala is also famous for its picturesque waterfalls, the waters of which are believed to possess medicinal properties. While the soft whispers of ocean tides seek to eliminate any kind of fatigue, the thunderous roar of waterfalls in God’s own country is something one must experience at least once in a lifetime.

The Indian subcontinent is laced with some of the world’s most beautiful mountain ranges and the Western Ghats, running right from Maharashtra to Kerala, are the real jewels in the crown. The beauty of the Western Ghats is at its splendid best in the coastal state of Kerala, where they emerge as lofty mountain ranges interspersed with numerous waterfalls and steep cliffs. Clothed in dense tropical vegetation and home to exotic species of wildlife, the mountains of Kerala are also the source of some of the most famous Indian spices like cloves, cardamom, cinnamon and pepper.

Kerala has over 30 hill stations. Some of these hill stations are little known and not too many tourists visit them. One of these hill stations, Lakkidi lies 55 kilometers to the east of Kozhikode and is the gateway to the beautiful hill station of Wayanad. Lakkidi is a serene hill station, full of huge mountain ranges, cool streams, dense forests and winding roads. A visit to this hill station is a must if you are looking for adventure.

If you thought Kerala was only about coconut palms, sun-kissed beaches, and misty hill stations, think again. This elusive land of the Gods is much more than what meets the eye. If the blue beaches and sandy shores are the best mind and body rejuvenators, the blissful backwaters, rich in unique species of aquatic plant and animal life, are nectar to the soul. There are over 900 kilometers of interconnected waterways, rivers, lakes, estuaries and inlets that network to form the crystal backwaters of Kerala.