Now more than ever, travel must have meaning, more depth than just simply its landscape. Booking that next vacation (for me especially) has to check off so many lists. More importantly, I need more than landscapes. I want the destination to inspire me to open my eyes and soul to new cultures, people, and places. Perhaps that is why India tops the bucket list for many travelers and why Kerala is God’s Own Country.
This post may contain affiliate links. If you click through and buy, TravelingInHeels will get a small commission. Thank you for your support!
This article was sponsored by Kerala Tourism. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
Life is busy and it’s easy to get caught up in the day-to-day, sometimes mind-numbing, routine of just living. Yet for travelers that visit Kerala, God’s Own Country, time stands still.
History intrigues me. I’ve seen countless ancient sites, from the Western Wall, in the Old City of Jerusalem to The Colosseum in the city of Rome, and so many others.
Those visual memories are imprinted in my mind — and in photographs. But it wasn’t the sites or landscapes in those countries that I remember most. It is the locals who live (past and present) amongst these great places. It’s the people and their stories who touched me and fed my soul, causing me to hunger for that next great adventure. One of those great stories of human by nature is in Kerala, God’s own country.
Read More: 10 best things to do in Kerala, India
Is Kerala God’s Own Country?
Table of Contents
Located in the southwestern coastal state of India, this little slice of heaven is actually a small state, stretching about 360 miles along the Malabar Coast. Poets and storytellers have written about this extraordinary destination, yet few can really capture its full beauty in mere words. While the tag line “God’s Own Country” was actually a successful marketing campaign for tourism, travelers enticed to visit Kerala are never disappointed.
This stunning area is surrounded by Mother Nature, the Arabian Sea on the west and the lush Western Ghat mountains on the east. Its network of rivers and lagoons, thick forests, exotic wildlife, emerald backwaters, and shoreline of serene beaches, combined with its rich cultural heritage never fails to wow the visitor.
So yes, Kerala is God’s Own Country.
The Locals
Yes, this is what human by nature and Kerala is about – the locals. Always welcoming and kind, and actually as curious about travelers like me as we are about them. I was surprised to learn that many do speak English, and the locals wanted to take photos with us.
And the best part? This is truly a time to wind down as life slows down in Kerala. Once you arrive, you immediately feel the soothing spirit of the locals and no one really seemed like they were in a hurry or too busy to smile. It truly does calm your own spirit — if you let it.
Human by Nature Through Its Cultural Diversity
Rare are lands that have been blessed with such abundant nature, rich culture, colorful festivals, diverse flora and fauna, breathtaking temples, mosques and churches and so much more. Every nook and corner in Kerala you will see Hindu temples, Muslim mosques, and Christian Churches.
Breathe in Kerala, God’s Own Country.
The beautiful backwaters, waterfalls, hill stations connecting visitors to the beauty of Mother Nature. Old and imposing temples that inspire nostalgia and speak simultaneously of the intertwining past and present. Majestic and colorful festivals connecting humans to nature. This melting pot of faiths and cultures co-exist and celebrate their diversities like no other place in the world.
My go-to quote about travel is from Mark Twain. “Travel is fatal to prejudice, bigotry, and narrow-mindedness, and many of our people need it sorely on these accounts. Broad, wholesome, charitable views of men and things cannot be acquired by vegetating in one little corner of the earth all one’s lifetime.”
And here in Kerala, allow yourself to be pulled into the “magic in the every day and eternity in the ordinary” with powerful human stories. Allow yourself to be drawn into the fascinating interaction between humans and nature.
Human By Nature: Kerala Tourism Campaign
What amazes travelers the most about Kerala isn’t the calm backwaters, scenic tea plantations, or stunning sunsets, it is their people.
This unique and strikingly beautiful way of life is the focus of Kerala’s latest global tourism campaign—Human by Nature. This collection of stories from tourists who have previously visited Kerala will inspire you to “let the courtyard of the world inspire you to make us human all over again.”
