The Hindu Business Line : Varied and fascinating

KERALA offers the traveller a varied menu of holiday options to choose from. Beaches, backwaters, forests, hills, wildlife sanctuaries, ayurveda, culture and art forms — the State offers them all. And what's wonderful is that these diverse experiences are just a few hours apart, so one holiday can include several `mini holidays'.

Acknowledging that the State offers multiple holiday experiences, B. Suman, Director, Department of Tourism, Government of Kerala, says thematic holidays are being developed.

Besides beaches, backwaters and ayurveda, Kerala's tourism department is promoting `monsoon holidays', `plantation holidays' and other options that focus on providing tourists varied experiences, says Mr Suman. Plantation holidays, for instance, give visitors an opportunity to engage themselves in activities such as plucking tea leaves or picking pepper, he explains.

The Kerala Tourism Minister, Mr K.C. Venugopal, recently said that the State is looking to promote farm tourism to give visitors an opportunity to understand and experience life in Kerala.

A tea estate in Munnar - M. Srinath

The tourism department is also looking to promote holidays in the northern districts of the State. With its pristine beaches, verdant forests and places of historic interest, north Kerala is a holiday paradise waiting to be discovered. As part of its efforts to encourage tourism in this region, Kerala Tourism is promoting the `Malabar tourism circuit' and the `North Kerala circuit'.

Kerala's strong tourist appeal is evident from the fact that over 3.45 lakh foreign tourists and more than 59.72 lakh domestic tourists visited the State in 2004. Equally important is the fact that travellers have started spending more time in the State, visiting more places. From spending two-three days, visitors now stay in Kerala for seven to 14 days.

The State's strength is its ability to offer visitors a series of unique experiences, says the Managing Director of a Kerala-based travel company that has played host to celebrities such as former Beatles member Paul McCartney. For many visitors, especially those from abroad, a fulfilling holiday is one that allows them to really `experience' the land, he says. Kerala is also increasingly being seen as a destination for combining work and holiday, he adds. The growing number of corporate events held in Kerala is proof of this trend.

Over the past few years, the backwaters have become an important part of most tourist itineraries in the State. One can take a houseboat cruise for several days along Kerala's extensive network of canals and lagoons, followed by a day or two at resorts such as Aquaserene near Kollam. And for those on a smaller budget, a ride on the local ferry that links villages and towns offers a short, no-frills backwaters experience.

Visitors can also rejuvenate themselves for a couple of days with ayurveda therapy at beachside resorts such as the Thapovan Heritage Home in Nellikunnu near Thiruvananthapuram. This can be followed by a night or two on a kettuvallom or a houseboat, cruising the backwaters of Alappuzha or Kollam, rounding off with a visit to the Periyar Tiger Reserve and the hill town of Munnar.

Travellers looking for an enriching urban holiday can explore the fascinating sights that Thiruvananthapuram and Kochi have to offer. A holiday in Kochi is complete only after a visit to Fort Kochi — savour the bustling streets, the antique shops and the synagogue. Also, take a close look at the Chinese fishing nets that are now almost synonymous with tourism in Kerala.

The East Fort area in Thiruvananthapuram, with its heritage buildings, including the Padmanabhaswamy temple and the Kuthiramalika Palace Museum, offers the visitor a glimpse of the cultural and architectural history of the princely kingdom of Travancore.

For those in search of a rich cultural experience, towns such as Thrissur can provide a rewarding experience, especially during the famous Thrissur Pooram.

With about 30 per cent of its area covered by forests, Kerala also offers eco-holidaying options. Thekkady, on the fringes of the Periyar Tiger Reserve, is a popular destination. Wildlife holidays could include visits to the Kumarakom Bird Sanctuary and the Eravikulam National Park.

Those looking for more focused holidays can choose from an assortment of customised options that the State's tour operators offer — bird watching holidays, itineraries that expose visitors to the `scents' of Kerala and temple tours. One can even have a wedding at an exotic locale.

Those who love cooking and want to study Kerala's cuisine can opt for a `culinary holiday'. And those interested in art and culture can choose packages that demystify Kerala's performing arts such as kathakali, mohiniattom and koodiattom.

For visitors who want to experience life in a typical Kerala family, `home stays' are the preferred option.

Quite simply, the holiday options that Kerala offers the visitor are many. And like the monsoon that rejuvenates the land, a holiday in Kerala can rejuvenate the body and the mind.