Asia Travel

God's own country, Kerala also pride itself for its repertoire of rich cultural heritage. Kerala holds a place of honour among the people of India who have enriched Indian Cultural Heritage and helped the cause of national integration. Kerala's culture is in fact, an integral part of Indian culture. Kerala is a great place to tour to during your holidays. The culture of Kerala is also a composite and cosmopolitan culture to which several people and races have made their significant contributions. Kerala's population comprises of a large number of the people from the Dravidians race, who also inhibit most of the southern part of India. Hinduism is the principal religion with considerable percentages of Muslims and Christians. The gradual evolution of composite and cosmopolitans culture led to the emergence of a spirit of tolerance and catholicity of outlook, which still persist among the people of Kerala. Thus during your tour to Kerala you get to be a part of the tradition and culture of the native people. The cultural heritage of Kerala is also revealed in its varied dance forms, martial arts and cuisine. Kathakali is a 300-year-old dance form developed exclusively in Kerala combining the performing art forms of opera, ballet, masque, and pantomime. Other dance forms of Kerala are Krishnanattom, Mohiniyattom, Thullal, Koodiyattom, Kolkkali, Thiruvathirakali, Kakkarishi Natakom, Oppanna and Chavittunatakom. Panchavadyam, Nadanpattu, Omanathinkal Kidavo and many more music forms have evolved over the centuries in Kerala. There is a lot to explore while you are on a tour to Kerala, India.

Backwaters of Kerala The backwaters refer to the large inland lakes, lagoons, rivers & canals water network of Kerala. Kerala's life is largely influenced along with these backwaters. Backwaters are the accumulation of Sea water at the sea beach during the to-fro motion of sea-waves in the form of lagoons, estuaries etc. They stretch over the state physique, bestowing paddy fields with good harvests, and provide the whole village with drinking water and other facilities such as fishing and a mode of transportation. Once, these backwaters were acted as a major mode of transportation for rice, coconut & other produce from highlands to nearest ports. In this world of simple pleasures, you will skim past ancient Chinese fishing nets, water lilies, lush paddy fields, coir villages, rustic homes, temples and coconut groves. Endless lagoons, lakes, canals, estuaries and the deltas of forty four rivers make up the 900km backwater network of Kerala.

Thiruvananthapuram also known as Trivandrum, is the head quarters of Kerala state & the Thiruvanathapuram District. The name 'Thiruvananthapuram' means the seat of the sacred snake-god Ananthan, on whom Vishnu, the God of protection, is believed to be reclining. Once Mahatma Gandhi referred this city as "Ever Green City of India", besides its legislative importance, the district was the formerly ruled by the erstwhile royal family of Travancore and it is identified among travelers for its enthralling beaches, picnic spots and sites of historic significance. Kovalam This world famous beach is a personal pride of Thiruvananthapuram district; it was in the map of beach lovers the early 1930 itself. It is located 13 kms away from Thiruvanathapuram city & it is considered as one of the best bathing bay in the world. Kovalam consists of three neighboring crescent beaches. Light house beach is located on the southernmost is more popular than other two beaches. Kovalam is also considered as the second best beach destination in India after Goa in terms of tourist traffic.

Ernakulam is the first fully literate district in the country and the most industrially developed district of the State, with its headquarter Ernakulam being recognized as the commercial capital of Kerala with more than 1.5 million population. There are many prestigious large and medium scale industries in the industrial belt covering Ernakulam-Kalamassery-Eloor and Alwaye.Besides this there are large number of small scale and cottage industries. The district is also rich in mineral deposits. Captivating Kochi is the commercial capital and the most cosmopolitan city of Kerala. It is an excellent blend of traditions and modernity and is a perfect reflection of the cosmopolitan society of Kerala. The town also known as the "Queen of the Arabian Sea" has one of the finest natural harbors in the world and is one of the oldest ports in country.It is indeed one of the most spectacular cities of the country, brimming with history, legends and natural beauty. Since time immemorial, Arabs, Chinese, Dutch, British and Portuguese had trade relations with Kochi. The city's rich historical legacy is well exhibited at Fort Kochi and Mattancheri, which still retains the ambiance of the colonial past. Here one can see ancient temples, Churches and synagogues staying closely and standing as a symbol of complete harmony of Kerala.

Distance : 160km from Thiruvananthapuram, 76km from Cochin Perched On The Western Ghats Nestling at the foothills of the lofty Western Ghats, Kottayam is synonymous with a picturesque landscape, labyrinthine backwaters, lush paddy fields, rubber plantations, ayurvedic resorts and a fully literate population. The palm-fringed Vembanad Lake, embracing the western part of Kottayam, fully compensates for the lack of a sea coast. The eastern side of the district is hemmed in by the rugged Western Ghats. While Ernakulam forms the northern boundary of Kottayam, Alappuzha and Pathanamthitta are to the south of the district. Like most other places in South India, Kottayam has a tropical humid climate with plenty of rainfall throughout the year.

Kannur is a place with a rich history right from the time of the Aryan migration. With the Western Ghats in the east (Coorg district of Karnataka), Kozhikode and Wayanad districts in the south, Lakshadweep in the west and Kasargod in the North, Kannur is bounded by a wealth of natural beauty. A popular holiday destination in Kerala today, Kannur has been a key contributor to the cultural, religious, political and industrial heritage of Kerala. In addition, Kannur enjoys the credit of having been the cradle of colourful folk art and folk music of Kerala, notably Theyyam - a stylistic dance form guaranteed to make your vacations in Kannur a memorable one. There are several attractions for tourists to visit when they travel to Kannur. The St. Angelos Fort in the Kannur Cantonment, which was constructed in 1505, is a symbol of Portuguese architecture and attracts plenty of tourists. The Thalassery Fort is an important tourist center in Kann

A picturesque hill station in Kerala, Ponmudi is a mere one and a half hour's road journey from the beaches of Thiruvananthapuram (Trivandrum). And true to its meaning in Malayalam - golden crown - Ponmudi truly glitters amongst the hill resort of India. On the way to Ponmudi, the thick tropical forest greets one at the foot of the Ponmudi hill range. The road passes under a canopy of thickly matted foliage. The forest recedes gradually giving way to neatly clipped tea bushes. As one leaves the city behind, one enters the region of plantations - rubber, pepper, cardamom and tea. The change is abrupt. The tappers can be seen going about briskly gathering the milky fluid from rubber trees collected in coconut shells. Coconut thatch mats cover almost one half of the road, over which women spread black pepper for drying. One may come across a lone elephant ambling along carrying his mahout atop and his breakfast of coconut thatch in his trunk.

Kollam, is also known as Quilon is located approximately 75 kms away from Thiruvananthapuram, the capital city of Kerala. Kollam was an ancient port city on the Arabian cost. This town have a rich costal history that even made the famous ancient travel writer Ibn Batuta to refers this port as one of the five important port in the 14th century. You should reconsider the fact that Ibn Batuta traveled 24 years vigorously around the globe on the known world. Kollam shares it's boundary on the south by Thiruvanathapuram District, on the north by Pathanamthitta & Alapuzha, on the east by Tamilnadu and on the west by Arabian Sea. The Kollam town is known for its cashew trade & processing and coir manufacturing. Kollam district's around thirty percent is covered by the Ashtamudi Lake, therefore it called as "Gate way to the backwaters of Kerala" and thus a outstanding tourist destination in the region. Kollam town is well copious with beautiful beaches such as, "Thirumullavaram beach" is an ideal place for swimming & bathing. This wonderful beach is located only 5 kilo meters away from Kollam town. "Thankassery beach" located around 5 kilometers north of the Kollam town, it is also known for its European settlement during the colonial days. Some remnants of the European settlement is still exist. This beach is very famous for its 44 meter tall light house. This light house was built in 1902. Nendakara located 7 kilo meters away from the city is famous as a view point for " chaakara" a post monsoon phenomenon occurs in the cost, that attract a plenty fish to the cost.

Situated on the banks of the Chaliyar River, Nilambur is beautiful town in the Malappuram district of Kerala. Famous for having the world's first teak plantation raised in the Conolly Plot about 150 years ago, the Teak Museum here is worth visiting if you travel to Nilambur. Established by the Kerala Forest Research Institute in collaboration with the Kerala Forest Department, it is a thematic museum housing historical, cultural and aesthetic aspects of teak, all under one roof. A collection of bamboo trees on the way to the museum imparts a special beauty to the place. The carved teak door at the entrance of the museum has a painting of the Kannimara teak. It is the oldest living teak tree not only in India but also in the world, located in Parambikulam Wild Life Sanctuary in the district of Palghat, Kerala. It is 47.5 m tall with a girth of 642 cm.

Administrative maps of Chinese provinces, each with a street plan of the provincial capital, plus, in some titles, enlargements of important local areas, plans of other cities, etc. Presentation varies: on some provincial maps only the names of main cities are transliterated, whilst on others most place names are in both Chinese characters and Roman alphabet. Each map shows the division of the province into its constituent administrative units. The presentation of the road network is at times rather basic and in densely populated provinces difficult to read against a large number of place names, although the railway network is clearly visible. The maps do not show any geographical coordinates.

Traveler reviews and photos for hundreds of Kunming hotels, bed and breakfasts, inns, resorts, guesthouses, hostels and other accommodation.

ban extends into some parts of the three provinces surrounding Tibet; ahead of the 50th anniversary of the Dalai Lama's exile on March 10.

Google Mapmaker Preview of poorly mapped areas

Winter 2009: Visa and logistics for overland entry into Burma as of January 2009

bed & breakfast guesthouse located in the historic French Concession neighborhood of Shangha