Backwaters of Kerala

An interactive map that shows ferry routes in the scenic backwaters of Kerala. The map comprise a serene stretch of backwater lakes, canals and lagoons located parallel to the coast of the Arabian Sea. The backwater regions of Kerala are one of the most popular tourist destinations in the world. The tranquil backwater cruises are a once in a lifetime experience.

Backwaters of Kerala

Kerala, a state located on the southwestern coast of India, is famous for its natural beauty, including its backwaters. The backwaters of Kerala are a unique network of interconnected lagoons, lakes, and canals that lie parallel to the Arabian Sea coast of the state of Kerala in India. These backwaters are a network of more than 900 sq km of waterways, and they are a significant feature of Kerala's landscape and culture.

The backwaters are formed by the network of brackish lagoons and lakes lying parallel to the Arabian Sea coast of Kerala. They are fed by 38 rivers and several small streams that flow down from the Western Ghats. The backwaters are located along the entire length of Kerala's coastline, but the most extensive network is in the Kuttanad region, which is known as the rice bowl of Kerala. The network of waterways covers a vast area, connecting several districts in the state, including Alappuzha, Kottayam, Ernakulam, and Thiruvananthapuram.

The backwaters of Kerala are a unique ecosystem, providing a habitat for many aquatic animals and plants. The area is also an important breeding ground for many species of fish, including prawns, crabs, and oysters. The waters are rich in nutrients and support a diverse range of marine life, including dolphins and otters.

The backwaters of Kerala also play an essential role in the state's economy, serving as a major transportation route for goods and people. Traditional rice barges known as Kettuvallams or houseboats are a popular mode of transportation and are widely used for tourism. These houseboats are made from natural materials such as bamboo, coir, and wood and have become a significant tourist attraction. Kettuvallams are traditional boats that have been converted into luxurious floating homes. These houseboats come equipped with all the amenities one would find in a modern hotel room, including bedrooms, bathrooms, and kitchens. Tourists can spend their days cruising along the waterways, taking in the scenic beauty of the region, while enjoying traditional Kerala cuisine..

Tourism in the backwaters of Kerala has grown significantly in recent years, with tourists from all over the world coming to experience the unique beauty and tranquility of the backwaters. The houseboats offer a unique experience, with the opportunity to see the local communities that live along the waterways and to witness their traditional way of life. Many houseboats are equipped with modern amenities, including air conditioning, and provide a comfortable and luxurious way to explore the backwaters.

Apart from tourism, the backwaters of Kerala are also used for fishing and agriculture. The waterways provide irrigation for the rice paddies and other crops, and fishing is an important source of income for many communities. The local people have developed unique methods of fishing, including the use of traditional Chinese fishing nets, which are a common sight along the waterways.

The backwaters of Kerala are a essential and vital aspect of the state's culture and economy. They offer visitors a chance to experience the beauty and tranquility of the waterways and to witness the traditional way of life of the local communities. With its rich ecosystem and vibrant culture, the backwaters of Kerala are a true wonder of nature that should be experienced by anyone who loves nature and adventure.

In conclusion, the backwaters of Kerala are a unique ecosystem that plays a vital role in the state's cultural and economic landscape. The waterways are not only a source of livelihood for the local population but also a popular tourist destination, attracting visitors from all over the world. With its scenic beauty, diverse wildlife, and cultural significance, the backwaters of Kerala are a must-visit destination for anyone traveling to the southern part of India.

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Reserve Forests & National Parks in India

An interactive map that shows reserve forests and national parks in India, for nature-lovers and enthusiast, with nearest connectivity point.

Forests Cover in India

India's climate mirrors its geographical diversity, with the majority of the country experiencing a tropical climate. And so, a dominant part of the natural vegetation in India are covered by Tropical Evergreen forests.

Since 19.53% in the early 1980s, India's forest cover has increased to 21.71% in 2021. Adding to this a notional 2.91% tree cover estimated in 2021, the country's total green cover now stands at 24.62%, on paper.

Area-wise, Madhya Pradesh has the largest forest cover in the country followed by Arunachal Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Odisha and Maharashtra. In terms of forest cover as percentage of total geographical area, the top five States are Mizoram, Arunachal Pradesh, Meghalaya, Manipur and Nagaland. Mizoram has nearly 90% area of state under forest, followed by Arunachal Pradesh. Madhya Pradesh has largest area under forest.

Haryana had the lowest forest cover with respect to total geographical area in India at 3.63 percent. Trailing closely behind was the state of Punjab with 3.67 percent forest cover. Both Haryana and Punjab are located in the northern part of India.

Flora and Fauna in India

The Tropical forests in India support a variety of ecosystems with diverse flora and fauna. Forests include tropical evergreen, semi-evergreen, and dedious forests, tropical dry deciduous, and thorn forests, littoral and swamp forests, subtropical hill, and pine forests, wet temperate forests, Himalayan moist, and dry temperate forests, sub-alpine, and moist alpine forests.

Wild lifes include Asian elephants, Indian (Bengal) tigers, different types of leopards, one-horned Rhinos (Assam, West Bengal), wild buffalos, monkeys, langur, gibbons, serows, bears, deer, sambar, gaur, jungle cat, wild boar, macaque, lemurs, sloths, squirrels, king cobras, Indian pythons, snails, innumerable endangered birds, which include owls, bats, vultures, eagles, hawks, and more.

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The Ramayana Tour (In Sri Lanka)

An interactive map that shows the places associated with Hindu mythological cum historical epic Ramayana in Sri Lanka.

Ramayana Proofs in Sri Lanka

As we all know, during exile Sita was abducted by demon king Ravana from Lanka. Lord Rama gathered an army of monkeys and bears to search for her. The allies attacked Lanka, killed Ravana, rescued Sita, and crowned Ravana's brother Vibhishana the king of Lanka and restored rule of law.

The island country Sri Lanka boasts something around fifty Ramayana-related sites, ranging from Sita's imprisonment to the battlegrounds where Rama defeated Ravana. Sri Lanka Ramayana tour mainly focus on the Ramayana historical places in the country that are truly living witnesses of the epic in Sri Lanka. These include places like such as Rama temples in Chilaw and Trincomalee, Ravana's palace in Sigiriya hill top, Ashoka Vatika in Nuwara Eliya where Sita was imprisoned, Hanuman Temple in Ramboda, Ravana Water Fall and Ravana Caves, Ussanggoda torched areas where Hanuman was set to fire with his tail, Kelaniya Vibhishana Temple in Colombo, etc.

Hence, with the Ramayana tour in Sri Lanka, one can get an opportunity to discover the mythological as well as historical sites that have their mentions in the Hindu epic of Ramayana that was written in approximately 200 B.C.E, that’s seven thousand years back!

In order to complete visiting all these Ramayana sites in Sri Lanka, one would need at least 7-8 days to maximum 13-14 days, depending on tourist’s available time for the tour. The tour would start from the capital city Colombo, and then subsequent transfers (in the order) to the locations Chilaw, Anuradhapura, Trincomalee, Kandy, Nuwara Eliya, Kataragama. Finally take a flight from Mattala (near Kataragama) and get back to Colombo. Please browse the above map in this sequence.

Jai Shree Rama

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The Ramayana Tour (In India)

An interactive map that follows the sacred places and the associated travel routes related to the path taken by Lord Shree Rama during His exile in the Epic Ramayana.

The Ramayana Tour

The Indian Railways has started a tour called the ‘Shri Ramayana Yatra’ on 7 November 2021 that covers the sacred places associated to Ramayana. The tour, also called the Ramayana circuit tour, got an overwhelming response with 100% occupancy. According to the Indian Railway Catering and Tourism Corporation (IRCTC), the “Shri Ramayana Yatra” theme based pilgrimage tour "Dekho Apna Desh" (Trans. See Our Country) initiative launched as an appeal by the Prime Minister to the middle class to prefer domestic tourism over international tourism.

The deluxe air-conditioned tourist train on the Ramayana circuit covers the prominent sacred places that are associated with the life of Lord Rama. The tour package of 16 Nights/17 Days will cover Delhi, Ayodhya, Varanasi, Sitamarhi, Janakpur, Prayag, Nasik, Hampi, Chitrakoot and Rameshwaram.

Some of the major tourist attractions that the tour covers are Ram janmbhoomi temple, Hanuman garhi, Saryu Ghat, Bharat-Hanuman Temple, Bharat kund, Ram-Janki Mandir, Janaki Mandir at Sitamarhi, Punaura Dham, Tulsi Manas temple, Sankat Mochan temple, Vishwanath temple, Sita Mata temple, Bharadwaj Ashram, Ganga-Yamuna Sangam, Hanuman temple, Shringe Rishi Samadhi and Shanta Devi Temple, Ram Chaura, Gupta Godawari, Ramghat, Bharat Milap temple, Sati Anusuiya temple, Trayambkeshwar temple, Panchvati, Sita gufa, Kalaram temple, Anjanadri Hill, Rishimukh Island, Sugreeva cave, Chintamani temple, Malyavantha Raghunath temple, Shiva temple and Dhanushkodi.

As per details available on the IRCTC website, in 1AC class, single occupancy charges Rs 1,12,955 per person; twin occupancy charges Rs 1,02,095 per person; triple occupancy charges Rs 1,02,095 per person; occupancy for child with bed charge Rs 93,335; occupancy for child without bed charge Rs 91,185. While in 2AC class of the tourist train, single occupancy charges Rs 93,810 per person; twin occupancy charges Rs 82,950; triple occupancy charges Rs 82,950; occupancy for child with bed charges Rs 74,185; occupancy for child without bed charges Rs 72,040.

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UNESCO World Heritage Sites

An informative map showing locations of the UNESCO World Heritage Sites on Google map, scattered across various countries worldwide. Click on the red circular dots on the map, representing UNESCO World Heritage Sites, to know more details.


Data Source: UNESCO World Heritage Sites: Official World Heritage List in other formats

UNESCO World Heritage Sites

A World Heritage Site is a landmark or area which is selected by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) as having cultural, historical, scientific or other form of significance, and is legally protected by international treaties. The sites are judged important to the collective interests of humanity.

There are various parameters that needs to be fulfilled for a site or place to be selected by UNESCO as World Heritage Site. It should have either historical importance or should represent scientific or cultural value of the civilization. Once a site is selected as World Heritage Site, it is the responsibility of the central government of the country in which the site is located to protect and preserve it for future. India is fortunate enough that it has many sites selected as UNESCO World Heritage Sites owning to its rich and diverse heritage covering scientific, cultural, historical significance. As of 2018, India has 36 heritage sites, the sixth most of any country (Wikipedia), representing magnificent specimens of architecture, unique traditions of culture and amazing natural objects.

UNESCO World Heritage Sites are generally the places of tourist attraction and attract people from all over the world to visit them. Hence, it would be helpful for people, mainly like tourists, to know about the location and surroundings of these places before planning a tour. The above map was created after grooming the freely available KML file from the above-mentioned data source.

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