One aspect of the state's rich cultural heritage is manifest in its varieties of religious architecture: ancient Hindu temples with copper-clad roofs, later Islamic mosques with "Malabar gables," and colonial Portuguese Baroque churches. Splendid paintings, especially murals, exhibit distinct local traditions and styles. The land is a flourishing center of the Kathakali dance form. The state has also a rich theatre tradition: the only surviving Sanskrit drama, Koottiyattam, is still performed by the Chakkiars of Kerala. Some principles of the Natya-Shastra are evident in their presentations.
Luxury hotels, medium type hotels as well as budget hotels are available. Sadhya, the typical kerala feast served on a banana leaf, is a sumptous spread of rice and more than fourteen vegetable dishes - sambar, rasam, olan, kaalan, pachadi, kichadi, aviyal, thoran etc., Pickle, crisp pappadam and banana chips topped off with payasam, the deliciously sweet dessert cooked in milk.

The climate is equable and varies little from season to season. The temperature normally ranges between 27º and 32º C in the plains but drops to about 21º C in the highlands. Winter - 32 to 20 º C. Kerala is strongly buffeted by both the southwest and northeast monsoons. Rainfall in many parts of the state exceeds 118 inches. Best season: October to March.

One aspect of the state's rich cultural heritage is manifest in its varieties of religious architecture: ancient Hindu temples with copper-clad roofs, later Islamic mosques with "Malabar gables," and colonial Portuguese Baroque churches. Splendid paintings, especially murals, exhibit distinct local traditions and styles. The land is a flourishing center of the Kathakali dance form. The state has also a rich theatre tradition: the only surviving Sanskrit drama, Koottiyattam, is still performed by the Chakkiars of Kerala. Some principles of the Natya-Shastra are evident in their presentations.
There are five types of dances in kerala i.e. tribal dances, folk dances, classical dances, neo classical dances and modern dances. 10-day annual festival in January at Sreekandeswaram Temple, Thiruvananthapuram. In February, is the week-long Nishagandhi Dance festival; Pooram festival in Thrissur around April-May; Flavor Food Festival, at the Kanakakunnu Palace grounds, Thiruvananthapuram in May. Onam Week celebrations, the annual harvest festival of Kerala begins in August and lasts for 10 days. Another important festival is the annual Pongala Utsavam, to which only women are allowed at the Attukal Bhagavathy Temple, Thiruvananthapuram. Therayattam festival is held to propitiate the gods and demons recognized by the pantheon of the Malayalis.

Languages:
Malyalam is the main language. Kannada in the northern districts and tamil in the eastern and southern districts are common. English and hindi are also in common use.

Rivers and Backwaters:
Kerala is a land of rivers and backwaters. 49 rivers, 46 west flowing and 3 east flowing, cut across kerala with its innunerable tributaries and branches. These rivers which are small and entirely monsoon fed, turn out to be rivulets in summer. The backwaters form a specially attractive and economically valuable feature of kerala. They include, lakes and ocean inlets which stretch irregularly all along. The biggest backwater is the vembanad lake which opens out into the arabian sea at cochin port. The other important back waters are Veli, Kadinakulam, Anjingo, Edava, Madayara, Paravoor, Asthamudi etc. Some of the most unforgetable sceneries is a back water journey from alleppey to the ancient port of quilon winding up the pampa river.

Wild Life Game Sancturies:
The periyar national park, eravikulam national park, silent valley national park, thattekad bird sanctuary, wayanad sanctuary, parambikulam sanctuary and a host of other smaller wild life reserves, make kerala attractive to the tourists.

1. Alleppey (Alappuzha) is a District of immense natural beauty in Kerala. Today, Alappuzha has grown in importance as a Backwater Tourist Centre, attracting several thousands of foreign tourists each year.It is also famous for boat races, houseboat holidays, beaches, marine products and coir products. It ia also known as the Venice of The East. For a total Alappuzha experience traverse the canals on small vallams (Boats) or anchor in the middle of the backwater lakes on a Kettuvallam (rice boat converted to cozy house boats) - spend the night under the star lit sky, listening to the splash of water on to the boat. Kuttanad Backwaters called the rice bowl of Kerala, because of her wealth of paddy crops is at the very heart of the backwaters. The scenic countryside of Kuttanad Backwaters with its shimmering waterways also has a rich crop of bananas.

2. Kochi (Cochin), the commercial and industrial capital of Kerala, has one of the finest natural harbours in the world. It is now Kerala's commercial center. It's also quite a tourist attraction and knows how to make a visitor feel at home. It is actually a loose agglomeration of townships connected by waterways. Its natural situation among the waterways and backwaters is quite lovely, and along with the Indian buildings are many remnants of the three colonial occupations (Portuguese, Dutch, English) that it has undergone. The Backwaters extend east and south of the harbour and contain tiny islands formed naturally over a long time by alluvial deposits from the rivers that empty into them.

3. Munnar. The Munnar, located about 5200 ft. above sea level is originally a comfort station among the hills built by the British planters. Munnar is only a three hour journey from the most happening city of Kerala, Kochi. It is a land with rolling hills, carpeted with green tea, tropical forest and has a treasure of plants and wildlife that do not exist anywhere else on the planet.