Nature tourism in Kerala also known as `Gods Own Country` offers some really beautiful exploring options. Sun blanched white seashore, endless beaches, never-ending blue waves, mostly calm, green groves of coconuts bordering the beaches and dark blue mountains with frills are some of the offerings of nature tourism in Kerala. A traveller can relax by hanging around in the backdrop of a network of lagoons and backwaters. In Kerala, the virginal beauty of nature is preserved in innumerable places in the hills, the plains and on the sea-coast.
The coastal belt, a narrow strip of lowland, is the most picturesque region of Kerala, interspersed with extensive backwaters, lagoons and canals and flanked by luxuriant coconut groves and green rice-fields. A few kilometres from the sea, the surface gathers into slopes and clustering hills with numerous valleys in between. This undulating midland is watered by many streams. Further, the backwaters in the coastal region also have similar magical scenes to offer. The beauty of the backwaters is at its best in the Vembanad Lake which stretches from Alleppey to Kochi. The lake is full of activities. The Sasthamkotta Lake in Kollam district is the only major freshwater lake in Kerala. It is rather small but is situated in a picturesque setting with high hills on three sides.
Kerala has 12 wildlife sanctuaries and two national parks. These are Neyyar Wildlife Sanctuary, Peppara Wildlife Sanctuary, Shenduruny Wildlife Sanctuary, Periyar Tiger Reserve, Idukki Wildlife Sanctuary, Eravikulam National Park, Chinnar Wildlife Sanctuary, Thattekkad Bird Sanctuary, Chimmini Wildlife Sanctuary, Peechi-Vazhani Wildlife Sanctuary, Silent Valley National Park, Parambikulam Wildlife Sanctuary, Wayanad Wildlife Sanctuary and Aralam Wildlife Sanctuary. These are famous for elephants, wild boars, tigers, Nilgiri tahr, migratory birds, bisons and other animals. November to June is considered to be the best period for visiting these sanctuaries.
Peermede and Munnar are beautiful hill stations in the midst of extensive tea-plantations. Varkala, around 50 kilometres from Thiruvananthapuram, has the unique advantage of being a spa, a seaside resort and a place of pilgrimage. The beautiful hills and the long water tunnel linking the place with the lakes and canals of Kerala are among the other scenic attractions. Thus, through nature tourism in Kerala, one can experience complete relaxation and rejuvenation.
