26-50 things to do in Kerala

26. Marvel at elephant pageants The spectacle of 30-60 caparisoned elephants will enthral you as they move in a majestic procession, while trumpets and drum beats work up to a frenzy. The best of these spectacles is seen at the Thrissur Pooram. I have been a fan of Pooram and was a regular visitor to Thrissur Pooram. I belong to Trichur so used to go every year from my young school days. This year I was there, but it rained and poured, but still pooram was pooram. The Panchavadhyam, Thayambakkam, Eligimelam, Kudamattam, and the fire works are all so interesting. This is imbedded in my heart for ever. If you have not seen please see it.
27 Listen to temple music Panchavadyam is an orchestra of 5 native instruments - suddha-maddalam, kombu, edakka, elathalam and timila. This traditional temple music accompanying elephant pageants builds up the festive spirit. And never fails to leave its listeners entranced. Audio cassettes of panchavadyam are available. Now even the P.Leela's Astapadhi in Guruvayoor is a treat everyday at Vagacharthu time. I simply love it.
28 Visit the local marketsSmall stalls with fresh vegetables, fruits, fish, chicken… High pitched salesmen luring you with impossible bargains. Visit these bustling markets or chandas for fresh buys. Chandas are really interesting. Not any where else.
29 Go bananas In Kerala, red, green and yellow are synonymous with various types of plantains'. These digestives come in different shapes too — tall, short, stout, sleek... And while you taste banana chips, raw banana dishes, banana milk shake, banana ice cream, dried bananas, fried bananas… you'll wonder if there's any other fruit more versatile.
30 Try your hand at percussion Kerala's rich repertoire of percussion music and instruments is world famous. So bring alive your taste for good music and learn whatever your holiday allows.
31 Cheer racing oxen Entertain yourself at a Kumbala, the local ritualistic bullock race of Kasaragod or a Kaalapoottu – the agrarian sport of Palakkad. I have seen the race in Palakkad long ago. It is great. Our version of Spanish Bull fight.
32 Shop for souvenirsKerala's handicraft centers have an extraordinary collection of wood, coir shell and sandlwood souvenirs, trinkets and jewellery. Woodcarved Kathakali masks, snake boats, elephants, jewellery boxes etc. are perfect showpieces for your drawing rooms and ideal gifts for friends.
33 Stay in a tree houseSpend romantic nights in the tree houses of Palakkad washed in the sweet scent of the forest flowers, and let the sounds of the forest fill up your dreams. Tree house in Wayanad also is interesting.
34 Have a mud bath Go in for mud thereapy and discover its healing properties at the Kavil Bhavan Yoga and Cultural Centre at Nileswaram, Kasaragod. It is available at other Ayurveda centres too.
35 Bask in sunshine Screne, secluded and spellbinding. Kerala has some of the best beaches in the world. Ride the surf. Get a tan. Build sand castles. Or simply shift sand through your toes. Anything you do here will unwind and relax you. You can release all the stress here.
36 Watch a Malayalam movie Malayalam movies have excellent story lines and some of them are internationally acclaimed. If you visit the State during a film festival, you'll get to see good movies with English subtitles. East or West Malayalam is best.
37 Bath in healing waters Don't miss your chance to take a dip in the waters of the Nelliyampathy forests in Palakkad or the mineral springs at Varkala. These waters are known for their medicinal properties. Take a splash, heal yourself. There are lot other spirings. The kunti puzha in Silent valley. Excellent. I have enjoyed my treks to Silent Valley from my house in Ooty.
38 Buy gold for all occasions Kerala's gold jewellery, intricately disgined and delicate, will steal any woman's heart. Make sure you have enough money on you before you step into a gold shop. Because whatever be your taste, you'll find patterns you'd wish to own. No doubt the Kerala Gold is good, but I dont have the money. So I do only pass by these big Jewellery Shops, not even Window Shopping.
39."Mirror,mirror…" An Aramula mirror is made of a finely polished alloy of four metals –copper, silver, bronze and lead. Once a closely guarded preserve of royalty, these ornamental mirrors are exceedingly rare-only two master crafts men and their families still make them. 40 Feel the presence of God at Maramon Witness the largest Christian convention of Asia at Maramon, near Kozhencherry, Interestingly, the waters of the Pamba River dry up every year to reveal sands that serve as the venue for the event. We have tried to Protect Pamba River, but every year it is becoming worser. What to do? Should we move Ayappa from Sabarimala? or should we impose fine on devotees spoiling our sacred river.
41 Ride in an autorickshawExplore the streets of Kerala in an autoriscksha, a three wheeled taxi painted yellow and black. Don't be surprised if you meet a driver who has a degree in English literature or is fairly fluent with the language. Remember MohanLal in Aye Auto. The ordinary Malayalees life is so integrated even with an Auto.
42 Peep into your future The fortune teller on the street has your future written on his cards – your career, your life, you life partner and more. Just show him your palm and wait while his parrot picks your card from the pack. Astrologers are the most popular in our state. They know lot of things and magic. Even Mantras. Well....Watch yourself. If you have peace, you need not go to them. Your mind will guide you.
43 Spin coir See nimble fingers at work as they spin water treated coconut fibre into long ropes with a traditional hand spindle in the suburbs of Kollam. You can shop at a number of roadside stalls for brightly coloured coir door mats, wall hangings and carpets. I always loved people doing this traditional craft. One can even remember Thagazhi's (Sivasankaran Pillai) Kayar, great book.44 Learn exotic art forms Watch kathakali, mohiniyattam, theyyam or thiruvathira and pursue one that interests you most. Learn how a story unveils through the eyes, fingers, feet and myriad expressions of the artist. Cherthurthi was near to my Mothers home, but in the rat race to earn a livelihood, where will a modern malayalee send his children learn traditional art form. I still want to learn, No time. What to do?45 Rock about in a bullock cart On a pleasant evening, treaverse the scenic mud roads of Kerala at the unhurried pace of a bullock cart. The tinkling bells and roll-over-from-side-to-side motion of the cart will full you into a lazy reverie. Lovely experience. I have tried all modes of transport, this is the best. You are in tune with nature.
46 Walk the lanes of Fort Kochi Put on your hat and sunglasses, wear comfortable sandals and embark on a walking tour of Fort Kochi where bastions, churches and mansions built by the British, Dutch and the Portuguese, 500 years ago will greet you. Interestingly, Vasco da Gama, one of the world's greatest explorers, was buried here.
47 Order a metre of teaStop by a thattukada, a roadside kiosk, for a steaming cup of strong tea. Watch the expert stretch it to a metre while pouring it from glass to glass, blending it well and building up a tempting froth in the process. Thattukada is really a life time experience. You will know its importance only when you are away from Kerala.
48 Climb rugged heights Not all places to visit in Kerala are on well travelled roads. Or on roads at all. Hike up rugged terrains at Munnar, Wayanad and Kakkayam (Kozkikkod) for an exhilarating experience. If you haven't tried rock climbing before, our experts will teach you the tricks.
49 Engage in water sports An adventure sports lover will rarely find time to stay idle in Kerala. Her beaches provide you with unlimited watersporting options of wind surfing, rafting, sailing, power boating and even that of a simple catamaran ride.
50 Take a train through paradise A train journey is an interesting way to experience Kerala. Get a window seat and watch the landscape unfold like pages of a colourful picture book, or acquaint yourself with your fellow travellers who make interesting profiles. Kerala's train ride is really an experience. The fellow travellers will have lots to say. they easily befriend you. I have so many stories to say of my experiences. Yesterday, I was saying, I got more lead into my love also during a train journey.

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