Essence of Kerala

COCHIN

Like most cities in India, Kochi has a very long and illustrious history. But, the origin of the name is still shrouded in mystery. Many theories exist, but none are strong enough to be conclusive. Some historians believe that Kochi is a modified form of the word 'Cochazhi' which in Malayalam means 'small sea'. Others are of the opinion that 'Kochi' was named so by the Chinese. According to them, traders from the court of the Chinese ruler Kublai Khan, gave Kochi the name of their homeland. The peculiar Chinese fishing nets found here, the only place outside China where it has been spotted, can possibly be attributed to the heavy Chinese influence the city has had in the past. Still another theory is that Kochi is derived from the word 'Kaci' meaning 'harbour'

PERIYAR WILDLIFESANCTUARY

The Periyar Wildlife Sanctuary is one of the most popular tourist destinations in India. The Periyar Wildlife Sanctuary is located in the Western Ghats, in the Idukki district of the state of Kerala. The Periyar Wildlife Sanctuary is also known as the Periyar Tiger Reserve. The north-east boundary of the Periyar forest is a 90 kilometers border between the states of Kerala and Tamil Nadu. The Periyar Lake covers an area of 26 square kilometers and is the core region of the Periyar Tiger Reserve. The territory of the Periyar Wildlife Sanctuary is riffling. The base of the main prey of the tiger is sambar, along with the wild boar and the Indian bison. The big herds of cattle are found in the peripheral areas of the forest and they also form an important portion of prey for the tigers.

KUMARAKOM

Kumarakom is a tourist village in Kottayam district, Kerala, India. It is a cluster of little islands on the Vembanad Lake in Kerala. Coordinates: 9°35′N, 76°26′E. Kumarakom is home to a wide variety of flora and fauna. Kumarakom Bird Sanctuary is a noted bird sanctuary where many species of migratory birds visit. The Vembanad Lake, the largest backwater in Kerala, is habitat for many marine and freshwater fish species and it teems with 'Karimeen' (Pearl Spotted Fish), shrimp (chemmeen in the local language) and prawns. The bird sanctuary extends over 14 acres (57,000 m²), and came into existence following preservation efforts from the government. It is a major tourist attraction.

MARARIKULAM

Marari originates from " Mararikulam ", one of the local fishing villages, where life still goes on much as it did a hundred years ago, with the men going out to sea each day to earn a living bringing in the daily catch. Completely new to the holiday maker. Marari offers endless miles of superb sand beaches backed by swaying palms, virgin territory where you can experience the local charm and traditional Kerala Hospitality at its best. Not that you need to spend the whole of your holiday in seclusion, you couldn't be in a better location for exploring the marvellous backwaters, where the tranquility, the stunning scenery and the feeling of being transported back in time, make it a superbly relaxing and inspiring experience.