Monsoon Holidays in Kerala

Monsoon and Holiday, do they even go together? Absolutely a resounding "Yes". There is some great stuff you can do in the monsoons in Kerala.

Southwest Monsoon hits Kovalam in Kerala around the 1st of June, and moves northwards along the Western Ghats creating green magic on its way. The beauty of monsoons can only be truly be appreciated with greenery all around you. The dust settles, the innumerable coconut trees bask in the sun after the rain, the rivers and backwaters are overflowing with lush green all around.

The peak tourist season is from November to February. But that also means the rates are at the highest and the place is flooded with tourists. May to September is called the "Dream Season" by Kerala Tourism and there are reasons for it.

Normal life does not come to a stand still because of rain. Locals are used to it, umbrellas become something people carry around and life goes on. You rarely see people waiting out the rain, maybe because they know it might be a long wait.

One of the reasons Kerala is popular is because Monsoon is considered the best time for ayurvedic treatment. Ayurveda advocates that monsoon is the best time for humans to rejuvenate with Ayurvedic treatments and cures. It is said the atmosphere remains dust-free, and the pores of the body opens to the maximum, making it most receptive to the therapeutic powers of herbs. And wouldn't you rather have a hot oil massage on a rainy day than on a hot day?

And if you have had a hectic times at work, it is the right time to rejuvenate, romance the rains. The beauty of rains is lost in the city, you need to be amidst nature to appreciate how breathtaking it can be. Most beaches are more enjoyable for a stroll during monsoons, than in peak season when sunbathers throng the beaches competing for every niggling space possible.

Last but not the least, you get some incredible deals on flights and hotels during monsoons. Even if you are stuck indoors due to rains, you can enjoy the amenities of good hotels and resorts. Most hotels have special monsoon packages.

And being Kerala, "rains" don't really mean "cold". As soon as the rain stops, the sun is out and everything dries up and its warm again for you to check out the places around.

So what are you waiting for, pack your bags and take a trip to see rivers in spate, startling green rice fields, dramatic skies, cascading waterfalls, hills and valleys draped in rich hues of green, sights of children playing in the puddles and enjoy the tantalizingly sweet smell of damp earth.

For a comprehensive list of monsoon tour packages from various providers, log on to www.polama.com. You can compare tour packages and then make a decision depending on whether the package suits your requirements and budgets.