Are you looking for a truly romantic place, a place where you and your partner can sit down for a while and express to your hearts full? How about a serene beach and a stroll in the moon lit night, a candle light dinner in an open roof restaurant? Some moments next to the most beautiful monument you have come across with, that is symbolic of love and heightens your feelings and commitment? Or a place where legends of love have been created and recreated?Or would you like to explore the wonderful shallow waters in a slow paced boat, through the lush nature in the tropical lands, capturing beautiful moments with the person who has been with you and who is going to be with you all your life? You chose the occasion and we have the place.We let you explore the wonderful lands of India, explore some of the best romantic places and spots located on its territory. Some of these destinations, as you will observe, have been enlisted and given below.
GOA:
GOA - OVERVIEW... Along the west coast of India lies a small state, beauty of a place and as live as can be. Goa - with its pristine beauty and its sublime character intoxicates the travellers that pass through. It is a gateway to the seas of happiness witholding waves of contend. If you can't be merry here then you better quit considering your travel plans and schedules.Located along the coastal belts of Konkan, Goa is a treasure trove for tourists. It is one big name in the tourism industry. Goa is the second smallest state in India (area wise) that lies abutted by the Arabian Sea. The eastern and southern boundaries are secured by Karnataka state, where as the state shares its northern borders with Maharashtra state. The western region stands over the Konkan coastal belts and faces the sea. Sea shores have given Goa much more than the towering peaks give to the north Indian states. Beaches are the most attractive and the much prized gifts the state is endowed with.Goa is a beach paradise. The alluring aquamarine drenched feeling and the pale white sandy beaches invites quite a crowd. This erstwhile Portuguese colony has a very distinct identity. The occupation by the foreign state has left some indelible impressions. Popular culture reveals very lively and liberal characters. Monuments and historical places adds up to mixed feelings - Goa is one place that stands far at the edge considering the popular culture. GOA - TOURIST DESTINATION:
Goa is one of the most visited tourist place in India. This exuberant beach state lures tourists from all corners of the world. Apart from that, the state is also famous for its unique heritage and historical places. Pleasant climate, cosmopolitan culture and its genteel population serve as desserts after a refreshing vacation as meals. From luxurious resorts to small taverns, you will find quite an experience at Goa. Some important tourist destinations in the state include Old Goa, Mapusa, Panjim, Arambol, Canacona, Margao, Marmagao, Vasco Da Gama, Ponda.
GOA BEACHES:
Beaches are the most coveted places in Goa. These salubrious stretches of land have won great favors for the state. The beaches are amongst the best in the world. Leisure and facilities are readily available here. Gentle surf, soft sand shores, resorts, swaying palms and ancient monuments and more, all contributes to wonderful stay at Goa. Popular beaches at Goa include Anjuna Beach, Baga Beach, Benaulim Beach, Bogmalo Beach, Calangute Beach, Colva Beach, Dona Paula Beach, Varca Beach, Candolim Beach, Majorda Beach, Vagator Beach.
CHURCHES OF GOA:
At Goa you will find some amazing buildings and structures that were erected during the Portuguese occupation. Amongst the important structures special reference has been given to churches. A large number of tourists and travellers find their way to these popular attractions. Other than their building structure these churches are also famous for historical events associated with them. Some popular churches in the state are Church Of Our Lady Rosary, Convent and Church of St Francis, Basilica De Bom Jesus Church, Se Cathedral Church,Convent and Church of the Cross of Miracles, Royal Chapel of St Anthony, the Chapel of St Catherine, the Church and Convent of St Monica, The Church of Camelites.
GOA WILDLIFE:
A part of Sahayadiri ranges fall in the state of Goa. These small hilly ranges of the Western Ghats homes to a great many species of birds. Moving away from the hills and towards the Arabian Sea tropical climate takes over. The warm temperature and the loamy soil helps the vegetation and so does the low lying hills. These hills are responsible for adequate rainfalls and forest growth is more spread over here. A mere ten percent of the land area in Goa constitutes the wildlife reserves. Even though, some exotic bird and animal species are found in Goa. Important wildlife sanctuaries include Bhagvan Mahavir Wildlife Sanctuary, Cotiago Wildlife Sanctuary, Salim Ali Bird Sanctuary, Bondla Sanctuary, Netravali Wildlife Sanctuary.
GOA RESORTS:
Goa, often referred to as the 'beach paradise', draws thousands of tourists from India as well as different parts of the world. For these tourists Goa offers plenty of accommodation options including some of the finest resorts of the world. These resorts, known for their contemporary amenities and warm hospitality, provide you a comfortable and memorable stay. Moreover, most of the resorts in Goa have luxury spas, which offer Ayurveda therapies to unite your body, mind and soul. Far from the hustle and bustle of cities, Goa resorts take you to a secluded world, where you can relax, relax and relax.
GOA CARNIVAL:
Goa Carnival, the most eagerly awaited festival in Goa is celebrated every year in the month of February for three days and nights. A unique and exclusive festival to Goa, Goa Carnival was introduced by the Portuguese who ruled over the state around 500 years. Initially started as a rowdy celebration by the local people, the Goa Carnival has now crossed the boundaries of the state and attracts thousands of people from almost all parts of the country. A number of events epitomizes the festival including parades with bands, dances and songs with colourful costumes, stage play, mock battles etc.
NIGHTLIFE OF GOA:
Goa is a state which never sleeps and due to its unique feature it serves up a variety of things to do at night. Nightlife of Goa attracts people from cities and towns of the state and neighbouring states. A full-night party in any of the Goa’s beach shacks is a fine option to drink and dance all through the night or you may enjoy some of the delectable cuisine in any of restaurant by the beach. Some of the popular nightlife options in Goa include a lavish dinner in Panaji, Mapusa, Margao or Vasco, European food in the sea-side restaurant, rave parties in bars, cruising through the Mandovi river by night and gambling away the evening in the casinos.SHOPPING AT GOA:
A visit to Goa is incomplete unless you bring back some souvenir from this beach paradise. Shopping in Goa is an exciting affair, you may buy a wide variety of items from the big city markets or small beach-side markets. Apart from these, Goa is also known for its flea markets like Anjuna Wednesday Flea Market and Anjuna Saturday Night Market. A wide range of items are on offer in these Goan markets such as clothes, shoes, jewellery, semi-precious stones, flowers, bags, handicrafts, traditional Goan items, homemade pickles, sweets spices, baked delicacies, fruits, vegetables and dry fish.
KERALA:
About Kerala ... Located in the extreme south of India, the state of Kerala attracts tourists in large numbers from every part of India and abroad. On the map of India, Kerala resembles a banana leaf clinging between the Western Ghats and beaches of Arabian sea. Packed with a highly literate population of 26 million people, Kerala covers an area of 38,900 sq km.
Kerala occupies a unique place in India's tourism due to certain attractions exclusive only to this state. The green valleys, thick forests, beautiful lakes and rivers gives the Kerala landscape a great charm. But Kerala is better known for her backwater delights and Ayurvedic centres. Backwaters are inter connected inland lakes snaking through the picturesque landscape of the state. Coupled with them are Kerala's splendid festivals laced with some mysterious rituals. Kerala also preserves historical heritage in the form of many ancient and medieval period temples. The beautiful hill station of Munnar and popular wildlife sanctuary of Periyar are also located in the state. Kerala has been an important centre for trade since the medieval period. The British also contributed to the development of her infrastructure. After independence, Kerala has earned reputation of being one of the few Indian states to progress rapidly in various spheres.
KERALA TOURISM:
Close to the end of this century, the much famous National Geographic Traveller covered 50 tourist destinations for once in a life time visit and Kerala was the only one to score, besides Taj Mahal which was included as a single most tourist place, from the sub continent. Kerala's beauty lies in its placid nature encompassing serene backwaters, beaches, hill stations, flora and fauna, forts, Ayurveda, boat races, natural harbors and more. The entire state with an approximate area of 39,000 (38,863) sq kms is a complete package including numerous tourist destinations. Nine out of 14 districts exist as major tourist destinations. Pleasant climate, popular and traditional modes of transportation and a distinct culture add a fourth dimension to the picture. Provided with modern facilities of a comfortable and luxurious stay, the place is all set for international rankings.
TOURIST DESTINATION:
Kerala exists as a major tourist hub in the Indian sub continent. Stretched out as a narrow land strip on the Western Coasts of India, the place has been acclaimed as one of the best tourist places in India. This enchanting state features beautiful backwater lakes, low lying hills, beaches and the famous spice gardens of India. There are numerous places one can visit, each exhibiting a speciality of its own. The physical proximity of these places makes them available as major destinations which in simpler terms represents a town or city with most of the tourist places located in its premises. The major tourist destinations of Kerala include Alappuzha, Kochi, Kollam, Kovalam, Kozhikode, Kumarakom, Munnar, Thekkady and Thiruvananthapuram.
BACKWATERS OF KERALA:
The inland lakes, lagoons and canals are spread throughout Kerala and are navigable. A journey through such backwaters in traditional boats makes up a unique experience. Major backwater destinations of Kerala include Alappuzha Backwaters, Kochi Backwaters, Kollam Backwaters, Kozhikode Backwaters, Kumarakom Backwaters.
KERALA BEACHES:
Kerala beaches that stand on the shoreline of Arabian feature are exquisite and ideal for summer vacations. Golden beaches dotted with coconut and palm groves, ayurveda and spa resorts, etc., are the prized attractions of Kerala. Sun bathing, swimming, ayurvedic treatment are some popular beach activities at Kerala. These laid down beaches include Kovalam Beach, Alappuzha Beach, Bekal Beach, Varkala Beach.
HILLSTATIONS IN KERALA:
Far from the coasts and towards the eastern periphery of Kerala are located some beautiful hill stations. The landscape is fascinating, with velvety green low lying hills, adventurous treks, tea plantations and a cool thin mist that refreshes mind and soul. Bestowed with rich flora and fauna, there are more than tourists there. The known hill stations of Kerala are Munnar Hill Station and Devikulam Hill Station.
WILDLIFE:
Elephant is a symbol of wildlife when talking about Kerala. There are many sanctuaries and parks established throughout the state featuring the rich biological diversity. Forest lands and backwaters are the happy grounds for numerous species of birds and animals, found at large in Kerala. Periyar Wildlife Sanctuary, Wayanad Wildlife Sanctuary and Kumarakom Bird Sanctuary are three important sanctuaries of Kerala.
KERALA RESORTS:
Kerala, the God’s Own Land offers plethora of man-made and natural wonders for tourists. Beaches, Backwaters, House Boats, Lofty Hills, Waterfalls etc. are some of the major attractions of Kerala, which draw tourists from all over the world. All the tourist destinations of Kerala have a number of resorts which provide comfortable stay and the ayurvedic treatment as well. Some of the famous resorts of Kerala are Kumarakom Lake Resort, Keraleeyam Resort, Shalimar Spice Garden, Marari Beach Resort, Kairali Resort, Surya Samudra Beach Resort, Somatheeram Resort, Spice Village and Taj Garden Retreat.
CLIMATE:
Kerala has a tropical climate. Summers are hot but not unbearable. Temperature may rise to a high of around 35 degrees in most places. The south west monsoon brings a lot of rainfall to the state between June-September period. Winters are never chilly as temperatures seldom drop below 20 degrees during the November-January period.
HOW TO REACH:
Air : There are three major airports in Kerala-Trivandrum, Cochin and Calicut. The airports of Trivandrum and Cochin also handle international flights while Calicut Airport operates nationally. Flights operated by Indian Airlines and private carriers are regularly available from many national destinations to Kerala. RAIL: All the major towns and cities of Kerala are connected by a well laid broad gauge network. Express train services operate from many destinations of India to Trivandrum and Cochin-the two big stations of Kerala. Road : The entire state of Kerala has an excellent road network. Both the national highways and state highways of the state are in very good condition. Inter-state deluxe bus services originating from neighbouring states operate to all major destinations of Kerala.
WHERE TO STAY:
A wide range of accommodation options are available in all of Kerala's places of tourism interest. Although luxury accommodation may not be available in the smaller towns, all the big cities and towns have well developed accommodation infrastructure. Kerala also offers some rare and unique accommodation choices to tourists in the form of backwater house boats and Ayurvedic health resorts.
SHOPPING:
On their way back home after a refreshing tour of Kerala, tourists must not forget to pick some of the best products of the state. The best buys of the state include traditional handicraft items like carved wooden elephant souvenirs, other wood carvings, brass ware, copper ware, bell metal products, cane and bamboo furniture, coir products, sandalwood, conch shells and different varieties of paintings and masks.
KERALA TOUR PACKAGES:
number of services and facilities are provided to meet the requirements of a successful tour in the beautiful state of Kerala. These services and facilities are provided as regular tour packages where-in all requisite arrangements are made by the operator on behalf of the tourists on visit. The packages are customized for the preferred places and the time available to the tourist. The operators provide guided tours and services like transportation, accommodation, catering, pre booking arrangement in case of parks, sanctuaries, hotels, resorts, medical assistance, etc. Tourists, who visit as large groups often receive a reduction in the rates charged, due to sharing of some of the facilities. The tour packages provide one sure means to check out the popular attractions in the state.
