WHY KERALA TAKES PRIDE IN CALLING ITSELF "GOD'S OWN COUNTRY“

This is my native state, but from my young days I was abroad and am now settled at Chennai in South India. Here are real-time pictures of the scenic backwaters and lakeside resorts of Kerala. You decide if the title of this write-up is justified by viewing the pictures. Yes ladies and gentlemen ---This is a heavenly part of your great India which most of

you may not know of.

TONY CHACKO (tonychacko2000@gmail.com)

Basic Tourist's  Map Of Kerala

The heavenly joy of going along the Backwaters of Kerala in a Houseboat.

Kumarakom, is considered the premier hotspot tourist destination of Kerala.

Kumarakom, the famed backwater tourism hotspot in Kerala, is fast moving forward to become an international Model Responsible Tourism (MRT) destination. The Kerala Institute of Tourism and Travel Studies (KITTS) is providing equal importance to social, economic and environmental aspects at the four centers selected in the State for conversion into MRT destinations. Various local agencies such as panchayats, local community, tourism industry, NGOs will be actively involved in formulating strategies to promote RT initiatives in select areas. Director of Kerala Tourism, said that the main strategy is to create a sustainable tourism destination with the support of tourism stakeholders. Each stakeholder will be given the responsibility in making tourism sustainable on the economic, socio-cultural and environmental fronts, he said. Wayanad, Thekkady and Kovalam are the other three identified spots for MRT destination. It was decided to elevate at least one destination into the level of international model and Kumarakom was chosen.

Kumarakom KTDC RESORT by the Lake

Kumarakom Lake Resort near Kottayam in Kerala

The Kumarakom Lake Resort takes eminence by its traditional architecture blended with world class resort facilities

Heritage Lakeview Villas

Lemon Tree Resort, Vembanad Lake, Alleppey

Taj Garden Retreat, Kumarakom

Taj Garden Retreat, Varkala

Cocobay Resort Kumarakom

Lakesong Resort Kumarakom

The Ramada Caravela Beach Resort, Cochin

Lake Palace Resort, Alleppey

Vivanta Bekal, Taj Resort in Kerala. 71 stylish villas and rooms with Kettuvallam house boat motifs woven in Balinese design and laterite lined exteriors spread over landscaped gardens along Kappil Beach Shore.

Great seaside cottage hut facilities of Vivanta Taj

Edasserry Kayal Resort, Kumarakom

The Zuri Kumarakom Resort

Kalathil Lake Resort at Kumarakom (a kind of panorama at its best)

Closer view of Kalathil Lake Resort

The Backwater Heritage Resort

The floating cottages of Poovar Island Resort which is 20 km from Thiruvananthapuram

The Kumarakom Bird Sanctuary

Munnar a real heavenly Kerala village town of hills , valleys and river lakes ( They say Munnar is the ultimate place for experiencing the true essence of Kerala)

Would you like to wander through the fantastic hilly tea estates of Munnar in Kerala.

Camp Noel Resort at Munnar

Some Tree Houses at Munnar in Kerala

The Raviz Resort in Kollam (of The Welcome Group)

The Leela Kempenski Beach Resort, Kovalam near Thiruvananthapram. It is uniquely built on a rocky cliff with every room overlooking the Arabian Sea.

Road down to private beach from Leela Kempenski Resort

A view of the lovely Kovalam Beach from Leela Kempenski

The New Idukki Dam of Kerala

The famous Mullaiperiyar Dam of Munnar in Kerala

The Athirapally Waterfalls (called the Niagara of India) near Thrissur in Kerala.

The Awesome Snake Boat Race at Vembanad Lake near Alleppey held in mid-August every year.