Celebrity Malayalam Film Actress Mamta Mohandas Speaks about Kerala.
Kannur has something for everyone
As I belong to the Malabar side of Kerala, I’d pick Kannur aka Cannanore as my favorite. Kannur also happens to be the place where my dad grew up and quite coincidentally my first movie was also shot there. Kannur is a place with history, beaches, forts, temples, and beautiful art forms. It has an old fort called St. Angelo and one of the oldest lighthouses which is still in use. Payyaambalam is a gorgeous drive-in beach with a long coastline. I like watching Theyyam, a traditional and religious art form, where a person dances chanting prayers. I also love the Marari beach and resort there. I visited Periyar Wildlife Reserve recently with friends. The experience was amazing, and we got some mind-blowing pictures of tigers, leopards, pythons and cobras.
Try new things
Adventure
You want a bit of adventure on your next Kerala sojourn, make a stopover at Vagamon, a hill station in the Idukki district. Vagamon is located 3000m above sea level and is the new hot spot for paragliding. Adventure Sports and Sustainable Tourism Academy (ASSTA) in association with Kerala Tourism organises an annual International Paragliding Festival at Vagamon.
Stay
Stay at the Vasundhara Sarovar Premiere, Vayalar : Homestays are a good and reasonable option if you are visiting the backwaters of Kerala but if you prefer the luxury of a hotel then check into Sarovar’s new five-star resort. It has the advantage of the great Lake Vembanad and endless pristine stretches of the backwaters. It offers all the luxuries while being close to nature.
Destination
Visit Ilaveezha Poonchira: It’s true that the name is bit of a tongue twister, but this little known destination is well worth the visit and is starting to attract tourists. Ilaveezhapoonchira is located 55 km from Kottayam. Surrounded by three enchanting hillocks—Mankunnu, Kodayathoormala and Thonippara— makes this place ideal for trekking and long walks in the hills. And there’s also a pristine lake in the surrounding area.