Kerala

Photos from India - Landscapes of Kerala - Asia Photographs - India Images

Kerala, “land of coconuts” is the appropriate name for this thin strip of land in the south west of India. Tall lush coconut palms line the coast but as one travels inland up to the Western Ghats, slowly they are replaced by plantations of tea, coffee and spices; pepper, cardamom, nutmeg and a whole wealth of others. In between may be the humble banana and cashew nut, and down on the flat plains fields of rice. Kerala is therefore a land rich in natural resources and beauty.

Kerala’s beauty takes many forms, the coastal strip where small tourist resorts occupy the land near bustling ports and picturesque fishing villages. The backwaters wind their way inland. Here converted rice barges slowly wend their way down sleepy channels carrying entranced tourists from far off lands. On the banks of the channels, village women seem to endlessly wash their family’s clothes and children wave and shout with glee at the foreign faces that return their warmth and charm. What appear to be sleepy villages, turn out to be fascinating places with beautiful mosques or churches and charming bungalows and houses which may provide an overnight stay for the weary traveller. Villagers go about their daily lives in local industries using the coconut husks to spin into rope.

They say there is nowhere like India and so this is true of this tropical paradise. Bustling towns like Munnar in the Western Ghats are full of fascinating faces and jostling crowds. The market overflows with local produce and restaurants feed the mass of people with spicy curries. Back down on the coast splendid seafood is cooked from the day’s catch and if you need entertaining the kathakali dance with dazzling, painted dancers is a daily event in Cochin.

Kerala has all the things that make India an amazing spectacle; colour, vibrant people, street events, religious mysticism, decorated elephants, beautiful scenery and for the photographer a never ending opportunity to take that shot of a lifetime.