Kerala has bountiful beaches and rivers that are thronged by tourists. These beaches and rivers offer plenty of opportunities for water sports. On your tours to Kerala, you can look forward to water sport activities like swimming, angling, canoeing, sailing and diving and catamaran rides. You can indulge in some of the popular water sports activities in Kerala in a safe and secure environment.

If you do not have a nose for adventure sports, you can always try out activities like angling, swimming or speed boating.  In case you are a group of fun seekers, then a spell of beach volleyball would be a great bet. For the adventure buffs Kerala spreads out an impressive catalogue of activities including canoeing, sailing and wind surfing among others.

Canoeing: The lagoons and rivers (as many as 44 of them!) in Kerala is well tailored for canoeing in Kerala. It would also allow you to thoroughly explore the backwaters. Canoes are easily available on rent, which makes it all the more popular among holiday makers.

Catamaran sailing: It is a fairly new entrant into the adventure sports list in Kerala. A catamaran is a small, wooden yacht with twin hulls joined together and is propelled with an oar. Motorized catamarans are also available these days. You can set out on a Catamaran sailing across the tranquil backwaters of Kerala or the sea.

Wind surfing: The windy weather and the calm seas make wind surfing in Kerala a popular leisure activity. Feel the adrenalin rush as you sail past the waves on the surf board. A must do fare during your visit to Kerala as the impressive coastline of Kerala is just right for this activity.

The crystal clear waters that flow down the mountains of Kerala make a wonderfully refreshing shower. Once considered to have medicinal properties as they carried down minerals  from the hill forests, today after deforestation any medicinal benefit has gone. However, if you are hot and tired from a climb through the woods, there is probably nothing more refreshing in the world than standing beneath the falls with your head in the water.

Our favourite waterfalls.

Athirappally and Vazhachal Waterfalls: Vazhachal falls is located at Chalakudy at a distance of 55 kms from the Cochin International Airport. This majestic 80 feet waterfall is located in the famous Sholayar range of forests of Kerala. Athirappally fall is 5 km away from the Vazhachal waterfall.

Try to plan a holiday soon after the monsoons sometime in August- September as the waterfalls will be at its majestic best. Starting in the high ranges, these waterfalls cascade down through gorges and rocks before transforming itself into a rich white spray of water.The visiting time is only between 8 am and 6 pm. Consumption of alcohol and smoking is prohibited. Swimming is also not allowed.

Thommankuthu – Located at a distance of 74 km from Cochin, this waterfall tumbles down in seven steps, offering a spectacular sight. Each step forms a beautiful cascade and a pool beneath. There are also many caves surrounding the waterfall, where you can hang out.

Palaruvi – This beautiful waterfall is at a distance of over 75 km from Kollam. Dropping down from an awesome height of over 300 feet it forms numerous cascades around it, which gives it the appearance of a milky fall, true to its name. Swimming is allowed.

Power House Waterfall – Add fun to your trip to the famous wildlife sanctuary of Periyar in Munnar by making a stop over at the Powerhouse Waterfall. A spectacular visual treat, this waterfall plunges down from an astonishing height of over 2000m. The surrounding Western Mountain ranges add to its mystic charm.

Kerala is rich in many local art forms such as Kathakali, Mohiniyattam and Theyyam. Kathakali when translated into Malayalam means 'a story told in the form of a dance'. Kathakali is the classical dance-drama of Kerala, which traces its origin to as early as the 17th century and is heavily inspired by Hindu mythology. In Kathakali, performers assume various roles picked from mythology and enact them on stage.

The technique of Kathakali includes a highly developed language of gesture and eye movements through which the artist conveys whole sentences and stories. The body movements and footwork are very rigorous. The costumes are elaborate and the facial make up exquisite, which would demand hours of painstaking effort by expert artists. Natural products are used for giving various hues and shades such as Indigo, Rice paste, Lime, Coconut oil etc. There are various Kathakali centres in Kerala, which host regular shows for the benefit of tourists. Kerala Kalamandalam at Cheruthuruthy near Palakkad is an eminent school, where Kathakali in its purest form is taught to many Indian and foreign students.  

Mohiniyattam is a traditional dance form which was originally performed by the courtesans. It is an expression of the various kinds of love felt by a woman. This is a graceful dance form and relies heavily on the facial expressions and sensuous body movements.

Theyyam is a popular ritual dance where the dancer takes up the role of deity. In this artistic dance form metaphysical thoughts and expressions of immortal souls are impersonated to a believer through a mortal body.

Take a dip in the mineral waters of Varkala or in the Nelliyampathy forests in Palakkad. Varkala, an important Hindu center of pilgrimage, includes high cliffs with rich mineral springs. The mineral springs rising from the coastline are rich in their medicinal value.

Nelliampathy hills are an easy getaway fromPalakkad, while Varkala is a beautiful beach near the State capital of Trivandrum. The medicinal properties of these mineral water springs make them very beneficial. These are known to heal the mind and the body.

Take a dip in the bubbling waters of the hot springs. The sulphur rich water of these springs is thought to be beneficial for many ailments related to the skin and musculo-skeletal structures. Bathing in these mineral springs not just revitalizes you but also increases your appetite. Get ready for a hearty meal after a good bath in these wonder springs. It has antiseptic properties and can kill the germs and viruses, making you robust and healthy.

These waters also rejuvenate your tired bodies after an eventful sight seeing day. The icing on the cake is that it can also arrest ageing to some extent! So do not miss out to have a refreshing shower in these natural spas, which will entice you to come back for more.

This is an athletic sport with a difference. Watch the bullocks racing against each other in this exciting rural sport often conducted in the water logged paddy fields after the harvest season. You can participate in the thrill by crowding around with the locals and rooting for your favorite bull. Local folks sometimes even mint some money by placing bets. This post harvest festival has some clear advantages. Apart from the excitement factor, it also prepares the soil for sowing.

The racing bulls are given special food including egg along with home made brew to make it strong and swift. The excitement and feverish pitch that go with this event is unmatched. In many villages of Kerala the bullock race is still considered as a stimulating agrarian sport, pursued by the villagers with gusto.

These events like Kakkoor cattle race are deeply rooted in history and hold special sentimental value for the local populace. If you fancy an action packed afternoon with an overdose of hoof-thumping adrenaline, swearing and jubilation, do not settle for anything less than the bullock race.

Unleash your passion for fast paced races at these sprawling races, ruled by luck and chance. It is a great activity for all no matter whether you are a game for betting or not. The electrifying excitement, wild cheering and the echoing hoof beats are more than enough for you to fall in love with this unbeatable sport.

 

Ayurveda, the science of holistic treatment has its origin in Kerala. Favored for both its medicinal and rejuvenation benefits, tourists flock to Ayurvedic Centres to get themselves pampered. While you are holidaying in Kerala, get a massage in one of the very many Ayurvedic centres in Kerala.
 
The traditional alternative medical therapy of Ayurveda, which helps to revitalize the body has always been popular among health watchers and both Indian and Foreign tourists.  You can also experience the nature’s goodness at its best through these Ayurveda packages that are aimed to cleanse, rejuvenate and detoxify the mind and body using traditional ayurveda techniques.

Make sure you take the services of a recognized and reputed Ayurvedic Centre, as there are many unauthorized and illegal centres mushrooming in the State. There are many Ayurveda resorts and hospitals that offer a range of treatments and ayurveda packages to suit your diverse durations and budgets. Ayurveda packages for many disease conditions like obesity, blood pressure and arthritis among others are on offer apart from the all time popular rejuvenation therapies that ensure good health and vitality to everyone.

A vegetarian diet recommended by the physician is given to the patients and rejuvenation packages of various convenient durations ranging from one week to one full month are available. Your trip to Kerala will not be complete without the healing touch of Ayurveda, which would soothe and relax your worked up nerves and hurting heels. It could well be the most befitting finale for your Kerala holiday.

A cruise on a country craft gives you a first hand experience of the unhurried pace of life in rural Kerala. These are indigenous wooden made small crafts, which are commonly used for surface transportation by locals who are residing along the backwaters and canals. You will be taken in a Traditional country craft through the narrow canals to explore the typical village life of Keralites.

The nature springs up a surprise at every turn of the cruise so keep your eyes glued at the many interesting sights around.Taste the tender coconut juice from the village folks, who still live the way their forefathers did over a hundred years back. Catch up a toddy tapper in action, who makes the tangy brew of toddy from tender coconuts or try clambering up a coconut tree, something which need not be as simple as it might sound!

Visit the vast coconut plantations or coir villages, where the locals make coir carpets and mats the traditional way using hand spindle. You can also pick up these colourful eco friendly coir products, which make excellent souvenirs to someone special.

During the cruise you would come across huge flocks of ducks being herded to pastures; you can stop by the lake side duck farming centers to buy fresh duck eggs. Some of the other typical sights in the cruise would include fishermen going about their routine business in small kayaks and village lads soaking up some fun in the shallow backwaters, fishing and swimming. Needless to say, a cruise is the best possible way to witness the special features of Kerala unfurl itself.

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Snake boat Race is a sporting event on the backwaters of Kerala that draws large crowd. Usually, a snake boat is manned by four helmsmen, 25 singers and 100-125 oarsmen, who row in unison to the fast rhythm of Vanchipattu (song of the boatman). Join the excitement and the thrill of the boat race by crowding around the water's edge and cheer along. Watch these magnificent fiestas bring alive the tranquil backwaters. Many interesting myths are tagged with this exciting sport event.

Snake boat races are held in connection with Onam, the harvest festival in August/September. Scores of long snake boats and other smaller crafts participate in these events. The largest team sport in the world, the snake boat races are preceded by colourful water parades.This mesmerizing event draws hoards of enthusiastic tourists from all over the world.

These huge wooden boats will be painted in vibrant colors that add to the festivity of the milieu. Shaped like massive  snakes with their prows shaped like open snake jaws, these boats offer a visual treat. If you happen to visit Kerala in the month of August you can be part of the fun and frenzy of one of the most famous snake boat races held in Kerala - The Nehru Trophy boat race. Held every year on the second Saturday in the month of August, it is a must see activity. The fast drum beats and boat songs set off the spectators and the oarsmen into a frenzy of activity.

Rice/Tapioca and fish curry are some of the favoured dishes by the local folks of Kerala. A trip down to this coastal State is incomplete without savoring these thorny delicacies. The best places for this are the Vasco Da Gama Square in Fort Kochi and along the Malabar coast. Or if you walk down the Kovalam beach, you can spot open stalls cum kitchen frying fish. You can pick your favourite variety of fish from the array laid out in front of you. He will fry it for you using local spices.

There are many seafood restaurants all over the State where the catch-of-the-day will be cooked in a semi-alfresco setting. You can select from a variety of freshly caught seafood displayed and decide how to get it prepared. We recommend you to sample the grilled lobsters with loads of spices if you are a game for the strong and spicy flavours of Kerala.

Feted for its distinctive cuisine, Kerala is the right place to savour the irresistible seafood delicacies- cooked at least in a million different ways. It is available almost everywhere from the beachfront shacks to the high end resorts and luxury hotels. Some of the chart busters in the seafood menu include shrimp, crabs, oysters, cuttlefish, squid, prawn and tuna. Mussels are undeniably the all-time favorite seafood in Kerala. You will surely love the tasty dish made of mussel and rice flour, cooked in the shell.

The fish curry cooked with lots of spices and coconut is a rage among tourists. Try out the pearl spot specialty of “Karimeen Mappas” or prawn curry in thick coconut gravy.
 

Chinese fishing nets give the Kochi harbour its very unique identity. As the name implies they are of Chinese origion and are huge nets hung on teak posts. You can buy the fresh catch and get it grilled at a roadside eatery. Fresh catch, freshly grilled, a gastronomic delight.



They are typically used at night with a light directly above the net.  The net is lowered beneath the water and the light is shone into the water so that fish gather beneath the light, but above the net. When the large square net is raised, the fish are trapped.

You can help at the nets in For Cochin, but it is most fun during the rainy season with a real fisherman, catching actual fish.