TRIP TO KERALA

Kerala is an extremely pleasant, beautiful place that has pulled in visitors from everywhere throughout the world. Regardless of whether you need to meander the crowded avenue of Kochi, if you want to enjoy the traditional culture, or enjoy some cup of tea at Munnar, Kerala's most loved slope station, or just stroll down the superb palm-bordered shores of Kovalam, or having some seafood, Kerala has something for everyone!

God’s Own Country, known for its fifty shades of green, is paradise any time of the year. However, in the monsoons, it takes natural beauty to an entirely different level. The landscape is lush and plush whether you’re in Munnar, Kovalam, Thekkady or Alleppey! Regardless of your location, in Kerala, make the most of your stay during the rains by treating yourself to specialised Ayurveda treatments and beauty therapies. Using ancient practices, rejuvenate and refresh with traditional massages that will relax your mind, body and soul!

To Do:

Take a ride on a houseboat at Alleppey: No trip to Kerala is complete without a lazy ride on a kettuvallam meandering through the winding backwaters of Alleppey. Originally used for transporting rice and spices to and from the port, these boats are now luxury liners that are available for hire.

Cruise along the Periyar River: One of India’s most popular wildlife sanctuaries, the jungles of Periyar are home to langurs, bisons, sambars and tigers. Take a one-and-a-half-hour cruise, organized by the Forest Department and Kerala Tourism Development Corporation (KTDC), to spot some wildlife!

Watch a performance at the Kathakali Centre, Kochi: Kathakali is the ancient form of storytelling through dance that originated in Kerala in the 17^th century. Get a taste of the past with an enthralling dance performance at the Kathakali Centre. If you’re feeling adventurous, the Centre also holds performances of Kalaripayattu, one of the oldest forms of martial arts.

What to eat:

Puttu: It was among the dishes mentioned by National Geographic Traveler as Worlds best breakfast and  the magazine described that ordering breakfast is a pleasure for the tongue with dishes like Puttu. Puttu is usually eaten with banana, papadam and kadala curry.  Puttu is made by slowly adding water to ground rice until the correct texture is achieved. It is then spiced, formed and steamed with layers of grated coconut and served hot for breakfast.

Appam with Stew: A must-try in a Kerala visit is the crisp lacy appam served with meat/vegetable stew. Appam is most frequently eaten with breakfast or dinner and is a fermented flat bread made out of Rice and Coconut. Appam is usually referred for various kinds of dishes like Idiyappam, Palappam, Velayappam, Kallappam, Vatayappam.

Kerala Beef Fry with Malabar Porotta:  Chunky, fried pieces of beef cooked in a spicy masala mix served with light, flakey Malabar paratha—one of Kerala’s signature dishes.

Dosa: It is a fermented crepe or pancake made from rice batter and black lentils which is indigenous to and is a staple dish in the southern Indian states of Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Kerala and Andhra Pradesh as well as being popular in Sri Lanka. It is rich in carbohydrates, contains no sugar or saturated fats. Its constituent ingredients of rice and lentils mean it is gluten-free and contains protein. Most popular versions of dosa include Masala Dosa, paper Dosa and Mysore Masala Dosa.

Karimeen Pollichathu (Pan seared Fish):Karimeen is a fish that is present in backwaters of Kerala and is an essential part of the Kerala Houseboat menu. Karimeen is actually Marinated pearl spot fish is wrapped in a huge banana leaf, steamed still done and served with parboiled rice and this is known as Karimeen Pollichathu which is a common dish in central Kerala. The fish is first roasted and then steamed with onion and other spicy condiments inside a banana leaf and for the fish lovers in Kerala unwrapping a steamed fish is as good as unwrapping any other gift for a food lover.

Prawn Moilee:What’s Kerala without its seafood? While everything from the karimeen to the lobster here is delicious, don’t leave Kerala without trying the moilee, a curry made from coconut and kokum, a local fruit used to add a sour tang to curries.

What to Pack:

·        Light cotton clothes if you’re travelling in summer or the monsoons, since humidity tends to be very high.

·        Beachwear, of course, and sunblock.                                                                   

Flip-flops for the beach and comfortable shoes for walking around in the city.