An introduction to Kerala, the green paradise, its unique cultural heritage and ancient history coupled with unmatched beauty, the place with a 100% literacy rate, the land of the nicest people, one of the most visited places on the Planet Earth
With a catchy tagline, “God’s Own Country” destination Kerala is a global brand and is regarded as one of the destinations with the highest recall. Its culture and traditions have made Kerala one of the most popular tourist destinations in the world. National Geographic’s Traveler magazine names Kerala as one of the “ten paradises of the world” and “50 must-see destinations of a lifetime”. Travel and Leisure names Kerala as “One of the 100 great trips for the 21st century”. Kerala’s tropical backwaters, pristine beaches, lush tea gardens, wildlife sanctuaries, mountain ranges, and green environment are the major attractions for visitors from all across the globe
Geographically, a narrow strip of land along the Arabian Sea and the fortunate location made this place a green paradise, the land of coconut groves, green mountains, paddy fields, spices, coffee and tea plantations, and many others. Once the hub of ancient Indian Ocean trade routes, the major trade center of South Asia by establishing strong trade relations across the Arabian Sea with all major Mediterranean and Red Sea ports as well as those of Africa and the Far East. During the early Ages, immigrants arrived here and shaped society. This kingdom has seen many rulers and acted as major gateways to the western coast of medieval South India for several foreign entities. These entities included the Chinese, the Arabs, the Persians, the Africans, various kingdoms from Southeast Asia, and the Europeans
Let’s have a trip to this unique green paradise, the prime tourist destination…
Kochi, also known as Cochin the biggest city in the Southern Indian state of Kerala and the “Queen of the Arabian Sea” due to its great importance in spice trading from ancient times. Modern Kochi has retained the charms of the many cultures that influenced it – British, Arabian, Portuguese, and Chinese. Kochi has also been ranked seventh in Lonely Planet’s list of top 10 cities in the world to visit in 2020, also the gateway to Indian and international travelers visiting the beautiful state of Kerala. This place famous for many amazing reasons
Historic St.Francis Church in Kochi is one of the oldest European Churches, built-in 1503. That’s pretty cool but what makes the Church even more special with the fact that Vasco da Gama (the famous Portuguese explorer) was buried in this Church, as he died in Kochi in the year 1524 and, after 14 years time period he moved to Lisbon though
Kochi’s historic Jewish town is lined with charming-painted buildings, to see the Mattancherry Synagogue, one of the oldest existing synagogues in the Commonwealth
Chinese fishing nets are a must-visit spot on the list of every visitor who comes to Kochi. They are elaborate mechanisms towering over the wooden board covered with massive nets. Unlike usual nets, these are fixed land installations and can only be found at this place, outside of China, the lasting testimony to the good relations between ancient Chinese emperors and the rulers of Kerala at that time. One can see the beautiful scenery in combination with the sunset colors
Alleppey also known as Alappuzha the tag for this town ‘Venice of the East’ fascinating backwaters of Alleppey are dotted with green paddy fields and palm trees making it one of the best backwater destinations. The classic houseboat accommodation is one of the main features of the trip to Alleppey, discovering the charm of the backwaters with a leisurely cruise along with its canals
Explore the local culture of this place and see villagers going about their routine chores as you drift away on a serene journey. This place is for all age groups and all kinds of interests, for the family looking for some bonding time, for the couple for some peace and quality time, for solo travelers for some solitude, and the group of friends seeking leisure and adventure
Kumarakom town is blessed with a mesmerizing beauty, one of the ancient places in Kerala, the heaven for nature lovers, houses the magnificent Kumarakom Bird Sanctuary. The town is located near beautiful Vembanad Lake, this backwater destination is the kind of place you want to keep returning to
Along the cruise, you can gaze at the sunset against a setting of coconut trees while letting your feet dip in calm water. The little and less crowded backwater hamlet with exotic scenery, is famous for unique houseboats and luxury resorts, upon reaching this place you can imagine how green and calm Kumarakom is
Munnar is the most popular hill station in Kerala at an altitude of 1600 m above sea level, hilly retreat is all about the lofty clouds, picturesque mountains, rolling hills, and a soothing ambiance making it ranks in the list as one of the best hill towns of India. Once the summer capital of the Britishers, Munnar is now famous for its lush tea plantations and the tea museum. Experience endless, sloping valleys of greenery and wake up to the smell of refreshing tea leaves during your stay in a tea estate in Munnar
Thekkady is an evergreen tourist spot in Kerala. A green heaven for nature lovers and wildlife enthusiasts, Thekkady is one of the best tourist places in Kerala to explore spice gardens and enjoy various adventure sports. The home to wildlife like elephants, bison, deer, Nilgiri langurs, and tigers. The lush greenery of the forest and the calm water can have a soothing effect on you. The Periyar National Park is a Tiger and Elephant reserve where you can go on a jungle safari, treks along the Tiger Trail, bamboo rafting, camps, and safaris organized for those who are looking for leisure with adventure
Picturesque and playful beaches of Kovalam located along the coastlines of the charismatic Arabian Sea, the beach town is undoubtedly one of the best places to visit in Kerala. If you are looking for one of the best beaches that offer a multitude of activities (including a surf club), Kovalam should be on your travel list where you can connect back to yourself and nature. A quiet beach town with three splendid crescent-shaped beaches Hawa, Lighthouse, and Samudra, and many beach sports to treat your adventurous soul here
The serenity and tranquility of Mararikulam or Marari beach, if there is any other place that can be a paradise for beach lovers; has to be Marari beach in Kerala. A local fishing town on Arabian Sea Coast, Marari is one of the perfect places for holidaying with family and friends
Marari is a sleepy fishing town that is less crowded and home to one of the most beautiful, unspoiled beaches. It is a long, stretch of white sand bordered by palm trees and tiny fishing villages. You can see the fishermen’s boats lined up all over the coastline and can also watch them going to the seas to get the catch of the day
The beaches of Varkala flaunt their gracious beauty and charm while having a tryst with the Arabian Sea, one of the most gorgeous places in Kerala. It is the only place where you can find enticing cliffs by the sea, which makes Varkala beach stand out from the rest of the beach destinations in Kerala. Varkala is also known for water sports like parasailing and windsurfing because of its long tides and favorable weather. One of the best things to do in Kerala is to see the romantic sunset at Papanasam beach in Varkala. It is a beautiful experience to bring in with your loved ones. If you are lucky enough, you might also spot a few dolphins frolicking around in the sea
The town of Wayanad is known for its pleasant climate throughout the year, Wayanad is a pleasant hill station, one of the locations in Kerala that you can visit throughout the year, Wayanad means ‘land of paddy fields and offers you a lush landscape dotted with rice paddy fields, betel nut trees, coffee plantations, and bamboo forests
Wayanad also has caves with rock and wall carvings belonging to the Neolithic and Mesolithic ages, this town is also a great place to spot wildlife, especially wild elephants, Wildlife Sanctuary adds more to Wayanad’s enchanting beauty and its heritage, and visitors can also unfold history while visiting this beautiful place in Kerala. The lush and pristine forests in Wayanad are said to be more than 3,000 years ago
Kodungallur is a historical town in Kerala, home to the first Mosque in the Indian subcontinent, the Cheraman Juma Mosque of Kodungallur thought to be the first Mosque in the Indian subcontinent. Legends claim that Cheraman Juma Mosque was built by Hazrat Malik Deenar in 629 CE, during the life of Prophet Muhammad, which makes it one of the oldest Mosques in the World. The Mosque is one of the prime examples of unique Indo-Islamic architecture
The structure of the Mosque was modified with many additions over the years, making it a mix of features from Indian and Middle Eastern architectural styles
According to various historical accounts, once King Cheraman Perumal probably named Ravi was walking with his queen in the palace when he witnessed the splitting of the moon. Shocked by this, when some Arab merchants visited his palace, he asked them about this incident. Their answers led the King to Mecca, where he met Prophet Muhammad and converted to Islam. Muhammad named him Tajuddin or Thajuddin or Thiya-aj-Addan which means “The Crown of Faith” the king died on his way back and was buried in Salalah, Oman. Before his death, the king wrote a letter to his kingdom to accept Islam and follow the teachings of Hazrat Malik Deenar. Al-Tabari of the 9th century in his Firdousul Hikma and Ferishta in his Tarikh Ferishta agree with this
The first Islamic heritage museum in Kerala maintained as part of the Heritage Project has been set up in the Cheraman Juma Masjid complex
The Islamic heritage museum illustrates the history of Islam in Kerala to visitors through information panels and visual media. Murals and paintings of the story of Cheraman Perumal, the Chera king who embraced Islam, are elaborately displayed here in the museum
Under the Heritage Project the main features are, a portion of the Cheraman Juma Masjid has been retained, an inscribed unique traditional oil lamp placed inside the Mosque, The Mosque has a traditional thatched wooden roof, a burial ground, visuals of the earliest Mosque in Kerala, documentaries, and interviews of people, Miniature of the Mosque structure, Wood carving panels from the Mosque
We offer specially designed features and selected destinations to cater quality services for halal-friendly tourism and hospitality. We ensure Muslim travelers the best of hospitality while on trips and holidays in India
With HalalTrip India, you’ll discover cultural intricacies and connections across a wide range of subject areas and themes like art, architecture, archaeology, history, and the natural image of this destination. Our services are a unique blend of vibrant Indian history and culture with gorgeous natural scenery. Our tours are not just ordinary tours, but meaningful experiences for the longest memories
Follow us – www.facebook.com/IndianHalalTourism
Follow us – https://www.instagram.com/halaltripindia/
Follow us – www.twitter.com/TourismHalal
Write us – travel.HalalTripIndia.com