Tourism in Kerala

File: Resort calicut kerala.jpg

Since its incorporation as a state, Kerala's economy largely operated under welfare-based democratic socialist principles. This mode of development, though it resulted in a high Human Development Index and standard of living among the people, led to an economic stagnation in the 1980s (growth rate are 2.3% annually).{{Harvnb|Mohindra|2003|p=8}}. This apparent paradox—high human development and low economic development—led to a large number of educated unemployed seeking jobs overseas, especially in the Gulf countries.{{cn|date=September 2024}} Due to a large number of expatriates, many travel operators and agencies set up shop in the state to facilitate their travel needs. However, the trends soon reciprocated, with the travel agencies noticing the unrealised potential of the state as a tourist destination. The first travel agency in Kerala, Kerala Travels, was founded by Col G.V. Raja of the Travancore royal family along with P.G.C. Pillai.{{cn|date=September 2024}}

By 1986, tourism had gained an industry status. Kerala Tourism subsequently adopted the tagline God's Own Country in its advertisement campaigns. Aggressive promotion in print and electronic media was able to invite a sizable investment in the hospitality industry. By the early 2000s, tourism had grown into a full-fledged, multi-billion-dollar industry in the state. The state was able to carve a niche for itself in the world tourism industry, thus becoming one of the places with the "highest brand recall".[http://www.icmr.icfai.org/casestudies/catalogue/Marketing/MKTG047.htm Kerala Tourism - Branding a Tourist Destination] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070927174926/http://www.icmr.icfai.org/casestudies/catalogue/Marketing/MKTG047.htm |date=27 September 2007 }} In 2003, Kerala, became one of the fastest-growing tourism destination in the world.[http://www.domain-b.com/industry/tourism/20040817_tourism_destination.html Kerala is the world's fastest-growing tourism destination says Renuka Choudhry]. Domain-b.com (17 August 2004).

In 2012, National Geographic's Traveller magazine named Kerala as one of the "ten paradises of the world" and "50 must see destinations of a lifetime". Travel and Leisure also described Kerala as "One of the 100 great trips for the 21st century". In 2012, Kerala overtook the Taj Mahal to be the number one travel destination in Google's search trends for India. CNN Travel listed Kerala amongst its '19 best places to visit in 2019. Time magazine picked Kerala among 50 ‘extraordinary destinations’ across the globe to explore in 2022. The state was ranked ninth in the ‘World's Greatest Places' and was described as an ‘eco-tourism hot spot'.{{Cite web |title=Kerala among TIME Magazine's top 50 world destinations to explore |url=https://www.newindianexpress.com/good-news/2022/jul/13/kerala-among-time-magazines-top-50-world-destinations-to-explore-2475862.html |access-date=2023-01-16 |website=The New Indian Express|date=13 July 2022 }} In 2023, The New York Times selected Kerala as one of the 52 must-see tourism destinations in the world. Kerala was selected as thirteenth in the list and was the only state in the list from India.{{Cite web |title=The only Indian state on New York Times list of places to go in 2023 |url=https://www.moneycontrol.com/news/trends/kerala-on-new-york-times-52-places-to-go-list-9860191.html |access-date=2023-01-16 |website=Moneycontrol |language=en}}

{{main|Beaches in Kerala}}

File:Kovalam beach trivandrum kerala.jpg]]

Flanked on the western coast by the Arabian Sea, Kerala one of the long coastline of {{convert|580|km|mi|abbr=on}}; all of which is virtually dotted with sandy beaches.

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 today is one of the most visited beaches in the state.Ayub, Akber (ed), Kerala: Maps & More, Coastal Circuit, 2006 edition 2007 reprint, pp. 96-112, Stark World Publishing, Bangalore, {{ISBN|81-902505-2-3}}{{cite web | url = http://www.hinduonnet.com/mag/2005/06/19/stories/2005061900450800.htm

| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20080120091323/http://www.hinduonnet.com/mag/2005/06/19/stories/2005061900450800.htm

| url-status = usurped

| archive-date = 20 January 2008

| title = Ramparts by the Arabian Sea | access-date = 8 January 2008 | last = Govind| first = M.Harish | work = Magazine | publisher = The Hindu, 19 June 2005

}}[http://keralatourism.org/php/media/data/announcement/RT/kovalam.htm MINUTES OF THE WORKSHOP ON RESPONSIBLE TOURISM FOR KOVALAM] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080103095222/http://keralatourism.org/php/media/data/announcement/RT/kovalam.htm |date=3 January 2008 }}

Other popularly visited beaches in the state include those at Kappad, Alappuzha, Kozhikode{{Citation needed|date=January 2023}} Beach, Marari Beach (Mararikulam, Alappuzha), Thumpoly (thumpoly beach ) Alappuzha,Alappuzha , Nattika (Thrissur), Vadanappilly beach (Thrissur), Cherai Beach, Ponnani beach, Bekal, Kappad Beypore beach, Marari beach, Fort Kochi, and Varkala. The Muzhappilangad Beach at Kannur and Thikkodi Beach at Kozhikode are the only two drive-in beach in India. Marari beach was rated as one of the world's top five Hammock Beaches by the National Geographic survey and has been cited{{Cite web|url=https://www.express.co.uk/travel/articles/757181/india-holiday-kerala-globe-travel-centre|title=New era in Indian getaways: Recharge your batteries with THIS safe-haven holiday to Kerala|last=Cuskelly|first=Claudia|date=2017-01-22|website=Express.co.uk|language=en|access-date=2019-08-14}} in the international press.

{{main|Kerala Backwaters}}

File:Kerala Houseboat (191490747).jpeg Lake near Ponnani]]

File:Kottappuram-nileshwaram-house-boat.jpg at Kavvayi Backwaters, Nileshwaram]]

The backwaters in Kerala are a chain of brackish lagoons and lakes lying parallel to the Arabian Sea coast (known as the Malabar Coast). Houseboat or Kettuvallam rides in backwaters are a major tourist attraction in kerala. Backwater tourism is centered mostly around of Kerala like Alleppey, Kumarakom, Ashtamudi Lake, Kollam, Ponnani, Kavvayi Backwaters, Vembanad and Bekal. Boat races held during festival seasons are also a major tourist attraction in the backwater regions.

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.{{cite web|url=https://www.asiantrailsindia.com/post/kerala-backwaters-a-serene-escape-on-houseboats/|title=Kerala Backwaters: A Serene Escape on Houseboats - Asian Trails India|publisher=asiantrailsindia.com |date=2024-10-25}}

File:Munnar Hillscape.jpg Hillscape]]

File:Sithar Kundu View Point 01.jpg, Palakkad Dist. Kerala, South India]]

Eastern Kerala consists of land encroached upon by the Western Ghats; the region thus includes high mountains, gorges, and deep-cut valleys. The Western Ghats is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and is one of the 36 biodiversity hotspots in the world. 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 an average to 1500 m elevation above sea level. Some of the popular hill stations in the region are Munnar, Vagamon, Paithalmala, Wayanad, Nelliyampathi, Nilambur, Elapeedika, Peermade, Thekkady, Ponmudi and Kalvary Mount.

{{main|Wildlife of Kerala}}

File:Lightmatter lion-tailed macaque.jpg in Palakkad is home to the largest population of lion-tailed macaque. They are among the world's rarest and most threatened primates.]]

File:The View of the Athirapally Falls during the onset of Monsoon.jpg at Thrissur. Wildlife of Kerala is mainly concentrated in the forests of Western Ghats]]

Most of Kerala, whose native habitat consists of wet evergreen rainforests at lower elevations and highland deciduous and semi-evergreen forests in the east, is subject to a humid tropical climate. However, significant variations in terrain and elevation have resulted in a land whose biodiversity registers as among the world's most significant. Most of Kerala's significantly biodiverse tracts of wilderness lie in the evergreen forests of its easternmost districts. Kerala also hosts two of the world's Ramsar Convention-listed wetlands: Lake Sasthamkotta and the Vembanad-Kol wetlands are noted as being wetlands of international importance. There are also numerous protected conservation areas, including 1455.4 km² of the vast Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve. In turn, the forests play host to such major fauna as Asian elephant (Elephas maximus), Bengal tiger (Panthera tigris tigris), leopard (Panthera pardus), Nilgiri tahr (Nilgiritragus hylocrius), and grizzled giant squirrel (Ratufa macroura).{{Harv|Sreedharan|2004|p=12}}. More remote preserves, including Silent Valley National Park in the Kundali Hills, harbour endangered species such as the lion-tailed macaque (Macaca silenus), Indian sloth bear (Melursus (Ursus) ursinus ursinus), and gaur (the so-called "Indian bison"—Bos gaurus). More common species include Indian porcupine (Hystrix indica), chital (Axis axis), sambar (Cervus unicolor), gray langur, flying squirrel, swamp lynx (Felis chaus kutas), boar (Sus scrofa), a variety of catarrhine Old World monkey species, gray wolf (Canis lupus), and common palm civet (Paradoxurus hermaphroditus). Many reptiles, such as king cobra, viper, python, various turtles and crocodiles are to be found in Kerala—again, disproportionately in the east. Kerala's avifauna include endemics like the Sri Lanka frogmouth (Batrachostomus moniliger), Oriental bay owl, large frugivores like the great hornbill (Buceros bicornis) and Indian grey hornbill, as well as the more widespread birds such as peafowl, Indian cormorant, jungle and hill myna, Oriental darter, black-hooded oriole, greater racket-tailed and black drongoes, bulbul (Pycnonotidae), species of kingfisher and woodpecker, jungle fowl, Alexandrine parakeet, and assorted ducks and migratory birds. Additionally, freshwater fish such as kadu (stinging catfish—Heteropneustes fossilis) and brackishwater species such as Choottachi (orange chromide—Etroplus maculatus, valued as an aquarium specimen) also are native to Kerala's lakes and waterways.

{{See also|History of Kerala}}

File:SeaFromBakel.jpg, the largest fort in Kerala]]

Historical monuments in Kerala include palaces, forts, and religious institutions.{{cite book |last1=Sreedhara Menon |first1=A. |title=Kerala Charitram |year=2007 |publisher=DC Books |location=Kottayam |isbn=978-8126415885 |edition=2007 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=FAlXPgAACAAJ&q=%E0%B4%95%E0%B5%87%E0%B4%B0%E0%B4%B3+%E0%B4%9A%E0%B4%B0%E0%B4%BF%E0%B4%A4%E0%B5%8D%E0%B4%B0%E0%B4%82}} Notable forts include Bekal Fort, Arikady fort, Chandragiri fort, Hosdurg Fort, Palakkad Fort, Thalassery Fort, Fortaleza da São Tomé, Fort Kochi, St Thomas Fort, East Fort and Anchuthengu Fort. Notable palaces include Padmanabhapuram Palace, Kanakakkunnu Palace, Kowdiar Palace, Mattancherry Palace, Arakkal Palace, Shakthan Thampuran Palace, Hill Palace etc. The Malabar Coast is also home to some of the oldest temples, oldest mosques, oldest churches, and oldest synagogues in South Asia. The historic trading food streets in Kerala include the S. M. Street (Sweetmeat street) at Kozhikode. Mappila Bay harbour at Kannur is home to both fort and palace. Thalassery Cuisine, a traditional style of cuisine originated in Northern Kerala due to its historical trade relations, also attracts tourists.

File:Panchavadyam.jpg]]

File:Shashti075.JPG]]

File:Thirayattam (kuttychathan ) An Ethnic Ritual Perforning Art Form In Kerala State, India.jpg

The major festival in Kerala is Onam. Kerala has also 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 Sivarathri is also an important festival in Kerala. Aluva Sivarathri festival is the most famous festival related to Sivaratri. Festivals like Christmas and Easter are observed by the Christians. Parumala Perunnal, Manarkadu, Arthunkal, Thumpoly, Edathua Perunnal are the other regional festivals of Christians. Eid al-Fitr and Eid al-Adha are celebrated by the Muslim community. The annual festival Thirayattam is conducted in the village shrine of the south Malabar region in Kerala."Thirayattam" (folklore Text- Malayalam, moorkkanad peethambaran), State Institute of language, Kerala {{ISBN|978-81-200-4294-0}}

{{main|Kochi-Muziris Biennale}}

Kochi-Muziris Biennale is the largest art exhibition in the country and the biggest contemporary art festival in Asia conducted every year in the city of Kochi. The first Biennale in India was conducted in Kochi from 12 December 2012 till 13 March 2013.{{cite news|title=Kochi becomes Biennale city|url=http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/kochi-becomes-biennale-city/article4194320.ece|newspaper=The Hindu|date=13 December 2012}}

File:Kottakkal Arya Vaidya Sala OP Block.jpg, Kottakkal]]

Medical tourism, promoted by traditional systems of medicine like Ayurveda and Siddha, is widely popular in the state, and draws increasing numbers of tourists. Kerala is popularly known as hub of Ayurveda. The medical tourism segment of Kerala is known for its reputation.{{Cite news |last=Kallungal |first=Dhinesh |date=2022-09-06 |title=Kochi emerges as the medical tourist hub in Kerala |language=en-IN |work=The Hindu |url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/kerala/kochi-emerges-as-the-medical-tourist-hub-in-kerala/article65858142.ece |access-date=2023-01-20 |issn=0971-751X}}

{{main|Arts of Kerala|Culture of Kerala}}

File:Kathakali 1(Kerala).jpg is one of a major form of classical Indian dance]]

File:Vishnu Theyyam.jpg in Naduvilathu Kottam near Payyannur, Kannur.]]

File:Theyyam of Kerala by Shagil Kannur (28).jpg is a Hindu religious ritual practiced in northern Kerala]]

File:Kalaripayattu by young girls.jpg is an Indian martial art that originated in Kerala]]

Kerala's culture is mainly Hindu in origin, deriving from a greater Tamil-heritage region known as Tamilakam. Later, Kerala's culture was elaborated on through centuries of contact with overseas cultures.{{Harvnb|Bhagyalekshmy|2004|pp=6–7}}. Native performing arts include koodiyattom, kathakali—from katha ("story") and kali ("play")—and its offshoot Kerala Natanam, koothu (akin to stand-up comedy), mohiniaattam ("dance of the enchantress"), thullal, padayani, thirayattam, and theyyam. Other arts are more religion- and tribal-themed. These include chavittu nadakom, oppana (originally from Malabar), which combines dance, rhythmic hand clapping, and ishal vocalisations. However, many of these art forms largely play to tourists or at youth festivals, and are not as popular among most ordinary Keralites, who look to more contemporary art.{{cn|date=September 2024}}

Several ancient ritualised arts are Keralite in origin; these include kalaripayattu (kalari ("place", "threshing floor", or "battlefield") and payattu ("exercise" or "practice")). Among the world's oldest martial arts, oral tradition attributes kalaripayattu's emergence to Parasurama. Other ritual arts include Thirayattam, theyyam, poorakkali and Kuthiyottam. Thirayattam is a ritual performing folk art form of South Malabar region. Processions often include traditional music such as Panchari melam or Panchavadyam.{{cn|date=September 2024}}

In respect of Fine Arts, the state has an abounding tradition of both ancient and contemporary art and artists. The traditional Kerala murals are found in ancient temples, churches and palaces across the State. These paintings, mostly dating to between the 9th to 12th centuries AD, display a distinct style, and a colour code which is predominantly ochre and green.{{cn|date=September 2024}}

Kerala is known for its religious diversity. The major religions are Hinduism, Christianity and Islam. Jainism, Judaism, Sikhism and Buddhism have smaller followings.{{cn|date=September 2024}} The state's historic ties with the rest of the world have resulted in the state having many notable temples, churches and mosques. Kerala is home to the Kottakkavu church, one of the first churches in India founded by Thomas the Apostle when he reached Indian shores, Cheraman Mosque, the first mosque in India, which is considered to have existed even before the death of the Muhammad and Paradesi Synagogue, which is the oldest active synagogue in the Commonwealth of Nations.{{cn|date=September 2024}}

Recognising the potential of tourism in the diversity of religious faiths, related festivals and structures, the tourism department launched a "Pilgrimage tourism" project.[http://www.business-standard.com/lifeleisure/storypage.php?leftnm=5&subLeft=4&chklogin=N&autono=101092&tab=r Incredible Kerala]. Business-standard.com.[http://www.ndtv.com/features/showfeatures.asp?slug=Guruvayur+temple+to+woo+visitors&Id=1346 Jumbo tourism: Guruvayur temple to woo visitors] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140413145448/http://www.ndtv.com/features/showfeatures.asp?slug=Guruvayur+temple+to+woo+visitors&Id=1346 |date=13 April 2014 }} Major pilgrim tourism attractions include Guruvayur, Sabarimala, Malayatoor, Paradesi Synagogue, Arthunkal, Thumpoly church, St. Mary's Forane (Martha Mariam) church, Kuravilangad built in 105 A.D, Attukal Pongala (which has the Guinness record for being the largest gathering of women in the world), and Chettikulangara Bharani.

Here are a few Kerala-based tour operators that played a significant role in boosting tourism in the state:

• Golden Triangle India Tours
• Wanderful Holidays LLC
• World Travel Experiences
• Payless tours india
• Swastik India Journeys
• Kerala Tour Packages https://www.keralatourpackages.com/
• Bamba Travel
• Explore!

File:Jatayu Earth's Center Nature Park.jpg|Jatayu Earth's Center Nature Park

File:Bekal 1.jpg|Bekal Fort

File:Kannurfort9a.jpg|St. Angelo Fort

File:Edakkal Caves - Interior.jpg|Edakkal caves

File:Pookode Lake - snap - dec 2011 0117.JPG|Pookode Lake

File:Sargaalaya Arts & Crafts Village, Iringal views (5).jpg|Sargaalaya Crafts Village

File:Kottakkunnu, Malappuram municipality.jpg|Kottakkunnu

File:Malampuzha dam in Palakkad, Kerala. 32.jpg|Malampuzha garden dam

File:Malampuzha Yakshi - മലമ്പുഴ യക്ഷി 03.JPG|Yakshi

File:Thrissur pooram aanachamayam.jpg|Vadakkunnathan Temple

File:Athirappilly Waterfalls after the Monsoons.jpg|Athirapally Waterfalls

File:Edappally Church at night 03.jpg|St. George's Syro-Malabar Forane Church, Edappally

File:Chinese Fishing Nets Cochin.jpg|Chinese fishing nets in Kochi

File:Kochi International Marina, Bolgatty Island, Kerala, India.jpg|Kochi International Marina

File:Kochi Skyline.jpg|Marine Drive, Kochi

File:Bolgatty Palace Hotel by Augustus.jpg|Bolgatty Palace

File:Kuravan kurathi statue, ramakkalmedu.jpg|Ramakkalmedu

File:Munnar Top station.jpg|Munnar

File:009262022 Vaikom Mahadeva temple aerial view, Kottayam Kerala 012.jpg|Vaikom Sree Mahadeva Temple

File:House Boat in morning, Alappuzha, Kerala.jpg|Alappuzha

File:009232022 Ambalaphuzha Shri Krishna Swamy Temple Kerala 08.jpg|Ambalappuzha Sree Krishna Swamy Temple

File:Sabarimala temple during Periyar butterfly survey at Sabarimala, 2014 (3).jpg|Sabarimala

File:Sree Padmanabhaswamy temple Thiruvananthapuram,.jpg|Padmanabhaswamy Temple

{{Portal|Society|India}}

• History of Kerala
• Tourism in India

{{Spoken Wikipedia|keralatourism.ogg|date=2006-03-08}}

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{{Wikivoyage|Kerala}}

• [http://www.keralatourism.org/ Official Website of Department of Tourism, Government of Kerala !]

{{Kerala}}

{{Tourism in India}}

{{Topics related to Kerala}}

• [https://keralatourism.trickyzard.in/kerala-tourist-places/ Click on this link to know more about Kerala tourism !]

{{DEFAULTSORT:Tourism in Kerala}}