Festivals of Kerala:

Onam: The annual harvest festival of Kerala. Celebrations are on for ten days with Highlights like Floral decorations, Elephant processions, Thiruvathirakali, Classical and folk dance performances, Classical and folk music recitals, Cultural pageants, Water carnivals etc.

 Thrissur Pooram: Pageant of 30 caparisoned elephants assembled in the precincts of the vadakumnathan temple. Kudamattam (changing of umbralla from hands to hands) Chendamelain ( kind of drums) Panchavadyam ( five typical instruments played) and Spectacular fireworks are the highlights of this festival.

 Boat Races: ceremonial water procession, Spectacular water floats, Decorated boats, Vanchipattu (folk song of the oarsmen). The chundanvallom (snake boat, over 100 feet in length, with a Raised prow similar to the hood of a snake) race.

  Monuments & Architecture:

Kerala being a land of Kings and Queens in the past still carries with it the rich architectural splendor in its various palaces and forts. Some of the famed palaces are KrishnapuramPalaceat Kayamkulam, Mattancherry Palace, and The Hill Palace at Thripunithura. Similarly, some of the ancient forts that have stood by the times are St. Angelo Fort in Kannur, Thalasseri Fort, Bekal Fort of Kasargod and the Fort of Tipu Sultan located in the heart of Palakkad.

Kochi, the commercial capital of Kerala and the last port of Vasco Da Gama is where you will find synagogues, mosques, churches and temples side by side. The Jew Street of Kochi almost a walk down the lanes of antiquity.

Nalukettu, the traditional upper class homestead ('tharavadu'), the quadrangular mansion recreated using wood and tiles with a central open courtyard, corridors, massive pillars and dormer windows is typical of Kerala's Architectural Style. Inside the Nalukettu are displayed a wealth of antiques. Priceless furniture in Teak, Mahogany and Sandalwood, charming curios like Jewellery Boxes, Spice Bowls, Ethnic Jewellery, Exquisite Paintings and Shields and Swords Wielded by men of yore are on show. Musical Instruments, Palmyra Fans, majestic Wooden Four Poster Beds, household utensils remind one of a bygone era.

The ancient temples and churches of Kerala are worth a look for its traditional architecture and practices. The Sreekrishna Temple at Ambalapuzha is famous for 'Palpayasam', a milk porridge of exceptional sweetness offered to the deity. Guruvayoor is among India's most important pilgrim centers. The Sree Krishna Swamy Temple, which attracts thousands of pilgrims dates prior to the 16th century. Sabarimala’s shrine is dedicated to Lord Ayyappa.. Devotees visit the Shrine after undergoing 41 days of ' Vrutham' (self imposed devotional penance). Padmanabhaswamy Temple, an imposing seven-storied tower built by Raja Marthanda Varma in 1733 A.D in Trivandrum.

  Cuisine:

Kerala has a distinctive cuisine, very unusual and different from the rest of India. Located on the coastal portion of the country, seafood is one of the main essences in the daily meals of the commom man and the locals. Almost every dish prepeared in Kerala has coconut and spices to flavour, giving it a  sharp pungency that is increased with the use of tamarind, while cocnut imparts the richness to some of the pepper hot delicacies.

Sadya is a typical Kerala feast served on plantain leaves with more than 14 vegetaraian dishes topped with dessert called ‘payasam’. There are varieties of payasam served during a sadya. Sadya is a typical Kerala feast offered by the Hindu community on the occasion of weddings an d other important ceremonies.

The Muslims and Christians however, excel in non-vegetarian delicacies. Located on the coast of the Arabian Sea, Kerala seafood is one of the main essences in the daily meals of the common man and the locals.