On The Road India

On The Road Productions filmed a portion of the up coming Common Ground Media produced documentary feature, DIRT! THE MOVIE in Kelara. The film was official selection at the prestigious 2009 Sundance Film Festival. For more details visit the http://dirtthemovie.org

Kerala also described as “God’s Own Country”, boasts some of India’s most spectacular locations for filmmakers. Kerala is a fertile strip on the south-west coast of India where a splendid network of backwaters stretching 900km and rolling green hills sprawling with tea plantations make up just a little of what makes this state unique and sought after by international filmmakers. The state is sandwiched between the Arabian Sea and the Western Ghats and has golden, tranquil beaches, beautiful creeks, waterfalls, jungles, mountains and rich flora and fauna packed into it.

Kerala also prides itself for its repertoire of rich cultural heritage. The cultural heritage of Kerala is revealed in its varied dance forms, martial arts and cuisine.

Kerala Tourism promotional video (Where The Season Never Ends )

Location & Cultural Features of Kerala

* Backwaters - Keralas network of navigable backwaters stretches to over 900km. These serene waterways are fringed by palm grove and paddy fields and offer a striking spectacle of the rustic life.

* Beaches Yellow and white sandy beaches featuring some of the best beaches in the country.

* Water Falls - waterfalls, cascade down from a height of about 1500m.

* Hills & Tea Plantations - Rolling green hills and the fresh mountain air, Sprawling tea plantations, picture book towns, winding lanes, trekking, Coffee, Cardamom, rubber and eucalyptus lying side by side with natural grasslands, pine forests and waterfalls.

* Tropical Jungles – Kerala boast some fantastic tropical jungle locations suitable for filming.

* Wild Life – Abundant with wildlife, Kerala has 3 national parks and 12 Wildlife sanctuaries for a total of 2346.88 Sq Km. The sanctuaries are home to many birds and snakes along with carnivores like the leopard, the tiger and the fox and herbivores like the elk, deer, barking deer, spotted deer, the bison and the elephant plus many more.

* Forts – Historic forts exist throughout Kerala. The historic Bekal Fort, St. Angelo Fort, Thalasseri Fort, The Fort of Tipu Sultan are some.

* Pilgrimage Centers – Unique temples, some with spectacular mural paintings others built around 2000 years ago. Kerala has pilgrimage centers for Hindus, Christians, Muslims and Jains. Kerala’s Cave temples carved out from a gigantic piece of rock are also a unique location.

* Religious Festivals & Boat Races - Many festivals and activities unique to Kerala such as the Snake Boat Races.

Climate

The climate is broadly tropical and humid, moderated by its proximity to the coast. But its mountains, which line the interior, mean a larger variety of climate than on other tropical coasts. While a night spent up in the mountains may be cool and even showery, just a few hours below will almost always be the baking heat we associate with India.

Within each area, the temperature range over the year is comparatively small. The coastal areas record a maximum temperature of 32 Celsius and a minimum of 22 Celsius. The highland interiors have a larger range, from around 30 Celsius down to near freezing at high altitude in winter.

Winter runs from December to the end of February, and sees little rain but pleasantly cool temperatures. Summer starts in February and continues until May, when the monsoons begin. Traveling at any time between December and May is reasonably pleasant, though the coast can get hot and humid by April (Kottayam is the wettest area). The South West Monsoon starts in late May and lasts until September, drenching and buffeting the state as it sweeps eastward from the Lakshadweep sea. There is a second, smaller monsoon from October to early December, which comes from the northeast.