Kerala tourism is a story of how three magic words – ‘God’s Own Country’ catapulted overnight a heretofore quiescent state into the national and international consciousness. Kerala captured the imagination of millions and the National Geographic Traveler went on to name it one of the 10 paradises in the world. Incidentally, I was confronted by a query that had me stumped – Why is Kerala called ‘God’s Own Country’? This question became the theme for a major rebranding exercise in the tourism firm I work for and the creative directors came up with something amazing- finally, for the love of god, a convincing reason! Without further ado, I present to you:
Kerala – Five Senses and a Million experiences
Ingenious! Kerala- a festive destination for all the five senses and, at the end of it all, for your sixth sense too. Because Kerala is where all your five senses come alive to gift the body and soul a heavenly experience and your sixth sense tells you there’s more to it than meets the eye. Yes, Kerala just gets under your skin. Read on as I try to discern how Kerala treats our five senses – See, Hear, Touch, Feel and Taste and makes a holiday in Kerala an experience of a lifetime!
SEE – Your dreams up close
Sight is considered the most beautiful of our senses. Kerala – the beauty that it is has a visual extravaganza to offer which can be proffered by no other place in the world. The sun-kissed blue waters, charming beaches, spectacular hill stations, tranquil backwaters, abounding wildlife and Colourful festivals of Kerala can make you see your dreams up close!
The Plethora of Options:
Kerala is a destination for all reasons and has something to offer for everyone. Whether it is a visit to the palm-fringed beaches which are some of the most charismatic and finest beaches of the world or the Mist-clad green Hill stations or the tranquil backwaters, fringing paddy fields and picturesque village life, Kerala’s options are as varied as they are irresistible. One of the greatest advantages that Kerala offers to the traveler is that he can move from one theme destination to another in a matter of a few hours. There is no place in the world where beaches, green jungles, rolling hills and magical backwaters all come together in a tiny strip of land. The colorful medley of Kerala fairs and festivals is as varied as the land, is an expression of the spirit of celebration and reflection of the joyous Kerala life. No wonder why Kerala has always fitted the western notion of Eden. Thus the enchanted traveler ends up spending more time in Kerala than in any other destination.
HEAR – the sounds of silence and music
The sense of sound is considered best to inflict the feeling of calmness. The musical tradition of Kerala consists of both vocal and instrumental form with both sharing equal importance in the Keralites psychic. The rhythmic percussion, to purity of wind instruments, the energy of the boat songs and the harmony of carnatic classical music can wake our heightened sense of sound.
The Sounds of Silence and Music:
Close your eyes and listen to mixed sounds of the loud twittering of birds and the gentle murmuring of the backwaters. Kerala lays claim to a wide range of native musical instruments which together boast a host of unique notes and melodies. Characterized by rhythm (taala), Speed (Kaala) and Time (Samaya), there are so many kinds of musical combination or melas of varying depth and acoustics designed to treat your sense of sound. Kerala also claim host to various schools where the style of devotional rendering was customary. Hear the exuberance of boat songs accomplished by a large contingent of artistes and technical resourcefulness involved in building up the tempo is consummate.
TOUCH – life in its fullness and be touched
Kerala is a chance to touch your real inner self and feel life in its fullness. You will be amazed by the culture of contentment living in harmony with nature, its permanence of love and timeless values, the sanctity of family life and the unhurried pace of fruitful living in Gods own country. But Kerala is more than sightseeing destination; it is also a destination for spiritual and intellectual adventure.
Enjoy life in its fullness and be touched:
Let the sanctity, trust and unconditional love of family life touch your heart. Be touched by the tolerance and selflessness of family love. Have nature at its best be touched by the contentment of ethnic living in harmony with nature. Kerala in an intellectual experience offering real hope for the third world with unbelievable religious tolerance, newspaper readership is highest in the world, more women than men and great health systems. Kerala is an epitome of social development, there is truly no place like it.
FEEL- The beauty and meaning of life
Give yourself a chance to feel the enduring value of arts and culture, the warmth of traditional hospitality, the rejuvenation of body and soul through ayurveda and the coziness of a home afloat in unique houseboats and a treat yourself to the experience of a life time! Its culture and tradition along with its varied demography has made Kerala one among the most popular tourism destinations in the world.
Feel the beauty and meaning of life:
It is often the simplest of things in life that bring the most delight and that is why the matchless experience of a backwater cruise is so ideal. The silence is breathtaking. What is truly magical about a houseboat ride is the breathtaking view of the untouched and otherwise inaccessible rural Kerala that it offers. The cultural confusion is exactly what makes Kerala so alluring. In Kerala another draw is its unmatched reputation for performing arts. The colorful and elaborate costumes of dancers add to the visual beauty and charm of the performances that are invariably part of all celebrations and festivities in the state. Today Kerala caters to the experience tourist with traditional tharavadu, traditional meals on the plantain leaf eating with fingers, out on sea with fishermen on their catamarans and elephant rides. Beat that! But let’s not forget Ayurveda – Kerala’s perfect art of Rejuvenating, Purifying, Beautifying and Vitalizing the human body. Who is not fascinated by that?
TASTE – The delicacies of an eclectic culture
Kerala has immense potential to tickle your taste buds with its remarkable simplicity, taste and range. The diversity we see in today’s Kerala food evolved from its past of profound historical and social events the influenced the diet of its inhabitants. Its history has left an indelible mark on the cuisine which in the course of time has evolved into one with an identity of its own. Kerala’s spicy food may the best vegetarian cuisine on the planet.
The delicacies of an eclectic culture
Taste the natural tang of spices which make each Kerala dish a veritable symphony of flavours. This spice concerto is what makes the cuisine so unique. Kerala is also renowned for the mouthwatering coastal seafood cuisine. The varied and delicious vegetarian cuisine is mainly represented by the Kerala Sadya which is a cuisine with a cornucopia of influences that emanated from diverse situations and was fashioned into a cohesive masterpiece. The indigenous flavor of tender coconut water and other tropical fruits is mesmerizing. But the best part of Kerala food is that it is steamed food with almost zero which auger well both your tongue and stomach!
Tailpiece:
To be in Kerala is like stepping into a magic looking glass as its magnetizing natural beauty is so tempting and fascinating. Kerala tourism is one of the brands with the highest brand recalls but there is no wonder why. People just feel that discovering Kerala is has got more to do with the soul. Yes that’s why Kerala is God’s own Country – A land where all your five senses come alive to gift the body and soul a heavenly experience and your sixth sense tells you there’s more to it than meets the eye.
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