Friday 15 May 2015

Get-together for a fun-filled multi-activity day in Kerala

Families that travel together to a new destination often find it hard to decide on things to do and activities there, which could keep everyone amused in the group. However, while traveling in Kerala, you would never be short of such ideas for multi-activities with your family.


Whether cycling on the countryside roads, trekking on the hill/mountain regions, wildlife safari, kayaking and other water sports in the backwaters of Kerala – everybody in a family can collaborate to enjoy these fun-filled outdoor activities in the group.

If you have started your journey from Munnar (and plan to cover Periyar reserve as well), then after a comfortable stay in the hotel at the mountain region there, be the early bird and ‘get on’ to your bicycles (hired) for exploring the beauty of the nature. The morning breeze would make you feel sleepy a bit, but you would love the ride on the not so busy landscape in the early hours of the day.

During the passage, you can break in your journey to have a sip of tea (with leaves extracted from the highest plantations/tea estates) and try some snacks at the roadside restaurant. Watching the lifestyle of tribal villagers and riding through the backwater villages, plantations (there) would give you a refreshingly new feeling.

After a joyful ‘early morning’ experience on your bicycle along the countryside road, get back to your room for traditional Kerala breakfast. After eating like a King in the morning, get your backpacks reyady for trekking in the mountain regions there. A leisure walk through the woods with your family is yet another group activity, which you can enjoy amply.

You can even halt en route for a while and decide to camp (if have the equipment), cook and eat together. After having a heavy lunch, take forty winks on the woods there and get ready to exploring the backwaters. Your family can choose from a variety of itineraries on water. From Kayaking to a ride on houseboat of your choice, everyone in the family can enjoy together. BookHouseBoats.Com can help you plan itineraries on water and you can reach them at info@bookhouseboats.com.

During your stay there, do not miss to capture the wilderness, birds and animals to cherish beautiful memories of your visit in Kerala. In your campsite, you can even try different team-bonding activities and games and have a gala time with your family members.

As the day come to a still with the Sunset, we guess you are ready to get back to your hotel room/Homestay with the local guide AND of course with the promise of yet another beautiful day of fun-filled activities, in Kerala. 

Wednesday 13 May 2015

Gavi - A ‘Must Watch’ Eco-Tourism Destination for Travelers, in Kerala

One of the popular eco-tourism destinations, Gavi (in Pathanamthitta) attracts both domestic and foreign tourists, every year to the God’s Own Country.

For the nature lovers, Gavi is the ‘must visit’ destination, while they are traveling in this part of Kerala. The scenic beauty of the nature and the rich wildlife would give immense pleasure to the tourists, for sure, who can experience different varieties of birds and animals there, of which many are on the verge of extinction.

People that love watching birds in the natural habitat, can rejoice by stumbling upon more than 200 different bird species in the region, ranging from Great Hornbill, Kingfisher, Woodpecker to name a few. Besides, the herd of Elephants, Lion Tailed Macaque, Nilgiri Tahr and various other animals would be a common sight in the Jungles of Gavi, for the sightseers. Tiger, Leopard, Nilgiri Marten, Sambar (Deer), Gaur (Indian Bison) are other inhabitants of Gavi.

Gavi is easily accessible through Vandiperiyar and Kumily in Idukki, with about a distance of 28 km southwest, from Vandiperiyar and 14 km from Kumily.

A region of the Periyar Tiger Reserve, travelers can visit the place conveniently by car or Jeep (it can be an apt medium for wildlife exploration) from Vandiperiyar. The voyagers require paying the entrance fee of INR 25 to visit the place. If people carry camera/video camera with them, they would have to pay for those, separately (ranging from INR 25-100 respectively).

KFDC run (Kerala Forest Development Corporation Ltd) mansions, cottages and campsites are available in Gavi, for tourists that have special requirements for accommodation. Beautiful garden near the reservoir, tree house (for the adventure lovers) are some of the other attractions in Gavi, Kerala.

The travelers looking for Trekking, Wildlife Exploration, Bird Watching, Outdoor Camping, Boating and other fun activities should not miss visiting Gavi. Camping is available from November to March in the region and people that like to explore the day and nightlife of Gavi can do it by                                                                                           staying in the campsites, there.

The nature lovers visiting Gavi for wildlife exploration can even visit the nearby destination Thekkady with family and friends. They can enjoy houseboat tours in the backwaters and the adventurous folks can even give a try to bamboo rafting and other water sports, to have a gala time, there.

BookHouseBoats.Com manages water itineraries for tourists in this region. One can plan and manage their journey with the tour operator, while traveling in this part of Kerala.

Friday 8 May 2015

Bamboo Rafting, for Fun and Excitement in the Placid Lake of Thekkady, Kerala

While traveling in Kerala, the tourists will never be devoid of options for recreational activities on water. From Houseboat Tours on the placid river to White Water Rafting in the rapids or various other water sports, the God’s Own Country offers marvelous opportunities for tourists to have a gala time, during their visit.

Voyagers that are specifically looking for water rafting and trekking activities in galore can think about making visit at Thekkady in Periyar Wildlife Reserve, in Kerala. The adventurous folks can give a try to bamboo rafting in the serene waterway, here. Bamboo rafting session would be a perfect daytime outdoor activity for travelers in the Periyar Reserve.

The close encounter with the beautiful nature (at its best), the untamed animals and birds would give enough reasons for the voyagers to capture the moments in their camera and go home with fond memories of Kerala.

Unlike White Water Rafting, which one may have tried in the rapids of Kerala, the Bamboo Rafting session in places like Thekkady (Periyar Wildlife Reserve) would altogether be a different experience, for sure. After trekking through the woodlands, the bamboo rafting session on the slow-moving stream, exploring wild animals and different species of birds (some endangered ones) en route would be an enriching experience for the travelers.

The herd of Elephants, Indian Bison (Gaur), Sambar (Deer), Indian Giant Squirrel, Nilgiri Langur (Monkey) and various other species live in the region and possibilities are that one may stumble upon any of these while enjoying the bamboo rafting session, in Thekkady.

During the bamboo rafting expedition along the serene lake, the forest guards (with guns, in need) and local guides (usually the local villagers, well versed with the locality) would accompany the travelers to help with the region. The adventure-seeking travelers can even try hands at rowing the bamboo raft, of course but under the supervision of skilled rowers with them.

In case, the tourists want to spend more quality time in the Jungle, they can even choose to stay in the bamboo-crafted inns and other KTDC (Kerala Tourism Development Corporation) run Jungle hotels and resorts, available in the Periyar Wildlife Reserve.

After wildlife trekking in the woods and bamboo rafting over the lake in Thekkady, the travelers should not miss the houseboat rides as well over the backwater stretches, there. A cruise on well-furnished houseboats would enthrall the travelers for sure, in the God’s Own Country.

BookHouseBoats.Com manages houseboat tours in Thekkady and the travelers can seek them for an activity-full day on the serene waterways of Kerala.

Come to Kerala, for a fun-filled cruise on bamboo rafts and for trying different itineraries on water.