Places for family Holidays in Kerala

 February 17 2010 | Category : Traveler | | (6) Comments Tweet

Without family no joy is truly joyous! What would be lovelier than a family holiday touching mesmerizing shores of Gods Own Country? Now, pack those bags, book those tickets and take off, only to be spell bound at what awaits you when you land! Every district in the state has plenty to offer your family in terms of fun and frolic and we will take you through a district tour to reveal the riches they have in store.

Ernakulam (Kochi)

Queen of the Arabian Sea, Kochi (Ernakulam) is a dream land for tourists. Truly mystic and majestic at its core while being exuberant and fun loving on its face, the city could be the best vacationing place everyone in your family would like to visit. Known for its backwater trips, palaces, temples and churches this place should be the first on you Kerala tour diary.

Ernakulam has many palaces for those interested in archaeology and history. Bolgatty palace and Mattancherry palace which display Portuguese style of architecture and Hill Palace Museum and Parikshithu Thampuran museum which bear the imprints of the Kochi Rajyam masonry are not just favorite tourist spots for history and architecture lovers but even for children who would like the picturesque and adventurous backwater rides to these spots. Wellington Island and Bolgatty Island offer speed boat rides, fishing points and fantastic eateries where seafood is a specialty.

For the spiritually inclined Kochi offers many ancient temples and churches. Ernakulathappan temple, Chottanikkara Devi Kshethram and Sree Poornathreyeesha temple are visited by the pious in scores. Malayatoor church which is known for its miracles of healing and St Francis Church which bears the mortal remains of Vasco da Gama should not be given a miss for their historical and spiritual value. Not to forget are the backwater and house boat stay which will be enjoyable to all. And for children who are interested in water theme parks, Veega land is just close by.

Ernakulam is well connected by air, rail and road. Cochin International Airport at Nedumbassery is near to Ernakulam. There are two Railway Stations at Ernakulam city which cater to the people who visit the place.

Thiruvananthapuram

Being the land of both beaches and temples the state capital combines the two extremes – the spiritual and the ephemeral. The place occupies a `do not scratch out’ status on you tour list as it is that land which can satisfy the passions of all in your travel team.
Temples like Sree Padmanabhaswami Kshetram, Aruvipuram Siva Temple and Janardhana Swamy Temple are all intricately connected with the history of the place which was under the rule of Travancore Kings. The temples are specimen of intricate artistic brilliance with their wide corridors, elaborately decorated halls and ancient idols.

The city which is flanked from two sides by the sea has many beautiful, golden sand beaches which were hot tourist spots even during the British rule. Kovalam and Sankumukam beaches are two such picnic hot-spots which now allow interesting water sports including scuba diving. For the art and architecture lovers Thiruvananthapuram has many palaces and museums which have historical importance. Kuthiramalika Palace Museum, Museum of Science and Technology, Koyikal Palace, Kanakakunnu Palace and Napier Museum are a few must visit places. For children places like Chacha Nehru Children’s Museum and Zoological Park might be of interest.

Thiruvananthapuram International Airport provides air connectivity to the place. The place can also be reached on road through the neighboring state TamilNadu. Being the capital the rail connectivity to the place is excellent.

Palakkad

To enjoy the rustic charm of the state, Palakkad would be the right place for a family holiday trip. The district which is fringed by the majestic and poetic Western Ghats opens up your world to the literature in the state. Featured in most of the literary works in Malayalam, the place which is dotted with Palm trees and green stretches of cultivable land does make the tourist feel at home with its nostalgic rural charm.

Having many reservoirs, wildlife sanctuaries, forts, parks and ancient temples the place informs the visitor of its rich tradition. Of the grand forts which stand erect even after ages, the one known as Palakkad fort built way back in the 18th century is the most sought after tourist location. Being a rugged landscape surrounded by lush vegetation, the place has many trekking spots especially those like Pothundy reservoir and the long stretch to ancient Thiruvalathur Temple.

Interestingly, the sober looking Palakkad has the most number of Children’s parks including the one situated around Malambuzha dam. The dam and its surrounding which is developed into a lovely tourist location in best enjoyed by children due the presence of a rope way which gives a bird’s eye view of the scenic place and also the water theme amusement spot ‘Fantasy Park’.

Palakkad is well connected to the rest of the state by road and rail. It can also be reached by train from TamilNadu being just 52 km from Coimbatore.

Wayanad

The district which perches high on the Southern tip of the Deccan Plateau is a hill station which can offer a delightfully tranquil holiday. But for those who are interested in some adrenaline pumping sports the place has many trekking and hiking spots which leads one through intriguing jungles with its bounty of flora and fauna.

Mainly known for its well maintained hill resorts at Vythiri, Mananthawadi and Sultan Battery, Wayanad can offer your family that naturally healing stay where you wake up every morning to spice scented cool air which calms the senses. Most of the resorts, especially the ones in Vythiri and Lakkidi (known as the gateway to Wayanad) have yoga and tribal medicine spas which will calm those tensed nerves.

But for those interested in working out those muscles and reaching out beyond their mundane lives, the trekking trips to Chembra Peak and Edakkal Caves will be of utmost fun. The day long trek to Chembra peak would definitely be the mountaineering experience you are looking for where you will be allowed a stay on top of this highest peak in Wayanad at the end of the trek. Natural caves of Edakkal would take your breath away with its depth of 36 feet and walls where prehistoric carvings are present. The carvings represent the presence of a highly civilized prehistoric tribe in the region which has the highest tribal population in the region (36 per cent).

Trip to Wayanad through the Western Ghat pass itself would be a wonderful experience for people who travel by road. The nearest railway station will be Kozhikode railway station which is 72 km away. The place could also be reached via Mysore (Karnataka district).

Mahe

For a fun loving family fond of carnivals and late night bashes set against a picturesque landscape, Mahe, the erstwhile French colony would be the right place to visit. Situated on the banks of river Mayyazhi, this former French enclave is named after the French admiral, Mahe de La Bourdonnais, who landed here in 1741.

The place which bears the imprints of the bygone French rule is a lovely town with its neatly packed European Villas and lonely roads. There are many tourist cottages at Mahe which are known for their good services and picturesque settings on the banks of the river which flanks the place. The place retains many traditions of the European era which are now part of the local sentiment like the French carnival which falls in the months of November and December. There are many night cruises and midnight bashes which happen on sale boats in Mayyazhi River.

There is a spiritual side to Mahe with its huge churches which are built in the fashion of European Cathedrals. St Theresa’s Church where Mahe Festival (October) is held in praise of the abundant bounties of Lord from the time of the French occupation is a place of historical importance and artistic splendor. The ruins of St Georges fort at Cherukallai situated at a distance of 1 km from Mahe facilitate a bird’s eye view of this beautiful town.

The place is now under the administrative control of the Pondicherry government and is 647 km away from the union territory. It is geographically situated inside Kannur district of Kerala and is still known to be a part of Malabar (North Kerala).

Photos by:
Dieyoung, 2Vodka Stockist, Hardik Patel, LookingThroughTheGlass, Mehul.antani, PhotoKada Photos, vinod.sankar, Prabeeshnayar2009, Feroze kaliyadan, Thaimadathil