Andhra Pradesh and Tamil Nadu - Top tourist destinations of india

Andhra Pradesh topped the domestic tourist arrivals list, with over 150 million tourists, while Tamil Nadu attracted the maximum number of foreign tourists at over 2.3 million for the year 2009. Though Andhra Pradesh is the most popular destination for domestic tourists, it ranks 7th when it comes to foreign tourist visits.

Kerala is not even in the list of domesic tourist visits list and is 8th for foreign tourist visits. Karnataka is 4th for domesic tourist visits and not in the list for foreign tourist visits.

Most foreign visitors are from France followed by USA, Spain, China, Italy, UK, Turky, Germany, Malasia, Mexico.

Read the complete statistics here

Kumarakom backwaters

Kumarakom village is a cluster of little islands on Vembanad lake in Kerala and is a part of Kuttanad region, famous for its mangrove forests, green paddy fields, coconut trees, etc. Cruising through the Kumarakom backwaters is an amazing experience of a lifetime.

Cheap small rowing boats to luxurious houseboats(Kettuvallams) are available here for backwater cruising. Kettuvallams are the houseboats of kerala previously used to transport goods. Now these houseboats are well modified, using as luxury houseboats having all the facilities like well furnished luxury rooms, toilet, kitchen etc. You can spend the whole day in these houseboats and enjoy the beauty of this place.

Kumarakom Bird life Sanctuary spread across 14 acres is on the banks of Vembanad lake. This Bird sanctuary is a favorite haunt of migratory birds. You can watch the birds while cruising round the islands.

Vembanad lake is habitat for several marine species like Karimeen(Pearl spotted fish), Prawns and Shrimp. Kumarakom is famous for Karimeen and Toddy(an alcoholic beverage made from the sap of palm trees)

There are several lakeside resorts here offer comfortable accommodation and exclusive leisure options like Ayurvedic massage, meditation, yoga,boating, fishing and swimming.

Alapuzha is the nearby backwater tourist destination. You can journey right upto Kochi through the backwaters.

Thekkady - a tourist place in Kerala

Thekkady is an important tourist place of kerala located at an altitude of 900 to 1800 meters above sea level. Main tourist attractions of Thekkady are Periyar National Park, Thekkady Lake, Boating, The evergreen forests, Wild animals etc.

Periyar wildlife sanctuary is very dense evergreen forest spread 777 squire kms area declared as Tiger reserve in 1978. Periyar wildlife sanctuary is famous for its evergreen forests, savannah grass lands and wild animals elephants, sambar, gaur, Nilgiri langurs, tigers, wild boars, lion tailed macaques...

The sanctuary is situated around an artificial lake formed by Mullaperiyar Dam accross the Periyar River. The herds of elephants playing in Lake is a wonderful sight while boating through the Periyar lake.

Thekkady is also known for plantations of various natural spices like black pepper,clove,cardamom,cinnamon,chilly,tamarind etc. Forest department,Kerala tourism development corporation(KTDC) and many private agencies offers many programs to promote adventure tourism in Thekkady.

Munnar - a beautiful Hill station in Kerala

Munnar is one of the most popular tourist places in Kerala, located 1600m above sea level in southern “Western Ghats” (A mountain range in the west of India). Munnar is situated at the confluence of Mudrapuzha, Nallathanni and Kundala rivers. The speciality of Munnar is its cool climate and greenery. A vast area of Munnar is occupied by tea plantations and evergreen jungles.

The Whole hill area is known as "High range" and rarely “Kannan Devan Hills”. In the age of British empire they developed this area to cultivate tea plants. The Bungalows built by them are still there in use.

Several Protected Wildlife areas in Munnar attract many tourists. You can see several threatened and native species like Nilgiri Tahr (Hemitragus hylocrius), Grizzled Giant Squirrel, Nilgiri Wood Pigeon, Gaur, Sambar and Neelakurinji here.

Neelakurinji (Strobilanthes kunthiana) is a rare kind of plant blooms once in 12 years. Eravikulam National park is known for Neelakurinji, Nilgiri Tahr and a few other protected species. Neelakurinji last bloomed in 2006. A vast area of mountain covered with Neelakurinji, giving the whole area a blue shade is an amazing spectacle for the visitors…

Many residents of here are employed in Tourism business. In Munnar there are above 3000 small and big resorts and several small hotels and restaurants.