Islands near Kerala

Answer: In Kerala, it is worth starting with the Fort Kochi, built by the Portuguese in the XVI century, where ancient cannons and the Catholic Church of St. Francis are preserved. Be sure to visit Chinese fishing nets, a unique example of medieval engineering thought still used by local fishermen. End the day with a walk through the Jewish Quarter with its Paradezi Synagogue, one of the oldest in India, founded in 1568.

Answer: The temple of Sri Padmanabhaswami in Trivandrum is a vivid example of the Dravidian style with its 30-meter gopuram and thousands of carved figures. Mattancheri Palace, built by the Portuguese in 1555, is known for its frescoes depicting scenes from the Ramayana epic. The Cathedral of Santa Cruz in Kochi, built in 1505, demonstrates the harmony of Gothic and Portuguese Baroque.

Answer: Periyar National Park offers boat safaris on a picturesque lake where elephants, tigers and deer can be seen. The Kovalam Puppet Museum will introduce Kerala’s traditional crafts through a collection of 3,000 exhibits. Varkala Beach with its mineral springs is ideal for safe swimming and picnics.

Answer: Alleppi, known as the “Venice of the East”, offers stunning views of the maze of canals surrounded by palm groves. Kovalam Beach with its golden sand and fishing boats is a classic sunset photo zone. The hills of Munnar with tea plantations and misty valleys create an atmosphere of mountain paradise.

Answer: According to legend, the temple of Sri Padmanabhasvami was built on the place where Vishnu appeared in the form of a giant serpent Ananta. In Fort Kochi preserved stone with inscriptions from the time of Vasco da Gama, the first European to reach India. Athukad Falls, surrounded by dense jungle, is considered the place where the ancient sage Agastia meditated.

Answer: The Edakkal Caves in Wayanad County contain prehistoric petroglyphs about 8,000 years old depicting humans and animals. The Beipur Mosque, built in the XIII century, is one of the oldest Islamic monuments in India. The village of Marurikkara is known for its traditional shipbuilding workshops, where wooden ships are still created by hand.