Jul 02 2010
What to Wear When Visiting Kerala
Foreign visitors to Kerala sometimes face with problems like prolonged glances or staring by people, although there aren’t any instances of physical aggression. Although there are locations where you can relax in a bikini, there are places you need to avoid it and wear dressing that covers your legs and belly.
S Photograph by Anoop Negi
Kerala has moderate climate almost throughout the year. Cotton clothes are most suited for the climate here. Woollen clothes would be too hot for most of the areas. Kerala society is quite a conservative society. Look at the dressing of local men and women – most of them cover their body almost completely.
Wearing loose clothes that cover the whole of legs and trunk can certainly help you avoid embarrassing stares from the locals.
Nudity is banned in India and women can’t sunbath topless in any part of Kerala, even if it is a private beach. Get a step ahead and cover your body – this step alone is enough to avoid the uncomfortable gazes from all different sides, while you go shopping.
The key is to blend in. You can blend in by wearing full length clothing. This way, you won’t easily become the centre of attention.
Inside the hotels, Ayurvedic treatment centres and at places that offer private areas, it is OK to sunbath in bikini. There are also beaches like Kovalam, where crowds of foreigners take a sunbath in bikini only. These are areas, where it is accepted and expected of tourists to enjoy themselves without any inhibitions. For other places, just be cautious.
There aren’t any security risks though. Kerala is a safe destination for tourists from any part of the world. This article is just to tell you how to avoid the uncomfortable stares, which many visitors, especially the westerners have complained about.
Make sure your trip to Kerala, either for pleasure trip or for Ayurvedic treatments a pleasant one.
More about Kerala:
Discover even more about Kerala and find out what your fellow travellers think recommend to try while in Kerala here:
http://www.indiatravelnotes.com/category/kerala/
