Kerala Tourism officials hardsell God’s Own Country in Telangana

At Kerala Tourism Partnership Meet held in Hyderabad, officials invite tourists to indulge in adventure tourism including trekking, rock climbing, water sports this holiday season

HYDERABAD: The God’s Own Country springs in surprises for visitors with its diverse tourism options. Apart from beaches, hill stations, houseboats and backwaters, this holiday season, the State is inviting tourists to indulge in adventure tourism, including trekking, rock climbing, wildlife safaris, cycling, off- road jaunts, water sports and paragliding.

Tourists can explore the dense forests by trekking to the second highest peak of southern India at 1,868 metres at Agasthyakoodam, which is 70 km from Thiruvananthapuram. Similarly, Parambikulam at Palakkad and Munnar, Idukki offer some memorable trekking options for tourists. They can also test their physical and mental limits in rock climbing at Eruthavor, situated on the outskirts of Thiruvananthapuram and Thenmalla, Kollam, which is about 72 km from Thiruvananthapuram.

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After exploring the wild in the Periyar Wildlife Sanctuary, Idukki, Gavi Wildlife Sanctuary, Pathnamthitta and Wayanad Wildlife Sanctuary, there is an option to try cycling from the forests of Thattekkad in Ernakulam along the banks of Periyar to reach Adimali – the foothills of Western Ghats.

Cycling along tea and spice plantations and tropical plantations in Wayanad would definitely be a joy for many. And for the driving enthusiasts, a drive through the boulder-filled terrain of Ponmudi in Thiruvananthapuram and stream crossings of Peerumedu in Idukki, will be a good experience.

For water sport lovers, there are multiple options, including canoeing, kayaking, sailing and water rafting at the beaches of Alappuzha, Varkala and Kovalam.

At the Kerala Tourism Partnership Meet held here on Tuesday, Kerala Tourism officials said the State witnessed a sharp rise in domestic tourist arrivals, surpassing the pre-pandemic levels in 2022.

In the January to June season of 2024, the State recorded 1,08,57,181 tourist arrivals from within the country. International tourist arrivals were also increasing steadily to reach the pre-pandemic seasons, the officials said, adding that Kerala was also emerging as a preferred location for destination weddings.