Best places to visit in Kerala


Kerala is known for having the languid backwaters, long coastlines, sprawling tea gardens, and colorful dance forms, is also famously known as 'God's Own Country'. Located on the Malabar coast of Southern India, it is a tiny sliver of paradise that is also one of the best tropical tourist destinations one can look for. Whether you want to bask in the sun and sand of the palm tree-lined Kovalam beach or want to take a hike to Munnar hill station, or even if you're going to walk down the bustling streets of Kochi, Kerala has everything on offer to take your pick from!

Main tourist attractions of Kerala

Munnar

It is one of an idyllic hill station which is famous for its tea estates, exotic lush greenery and craggy peaks, is in the Western Ghats, in the state of Kerala. It serves as the commercial centre for some of the world’s largest tea estates. In addition, Munnar has many protected areas which are home to endemic and highly endangered species like the Nilgiri Thar and the Neelakurinji. One of the main attractions of Munnar is Rose Garden.

Alleppey 

Alleppey is also popular for its Houseboat cruises that pass through the serene backwaters, where you can catch glimpses of green paddy fields, choir making activities, beautiful avifauna and witness the life of locals in Kerala.

Wayanad

Wayanad is best known for the wildlife reserves - Wayanad wildlife reserve which is home to an exquisite variety of flora and fauna. Wayanad wildlife reserve is an integral part of the Nilgiri biosphere reserve peacefully located amidst the serene hills of Western Ghats. Wayanad homes a wide variety of wildlife like elephants, leopards, and bears. Wayanad is a perfect weekend idea from the cities of South India.

Poovar

Poovar is a small rustic town situated 27 kms from Thiruvananthapuram with unspoilt, unexplored golden sand beaches and beautiful backwaters of Kerala.  It is also known as a fishing village, the tranquil Poovar island lies between the Arabian Sea and the Neyyar River. Hiring a boat, (especially during the sunset) that will take you through the mangrove forest of backwaters is a must-do activity.

Varkala

Varkala has some of the best pristine beaches, hills, lakes, forts, lighthouses, natural fisheries and springs - all of this together makes this town a little paradise. You will also find a lot of shops with signboards in Hebrew selling Yoga mats, oxidized silver jewellery and harem pants made of cotton. Ayurvedic spas, affordable resorts, hostels, clean beaches make it a must-visit city of Kerala.

Best time to make a trip to Kerala

The Best time to visit Kerala is Winter Season between September and March when the Kerala has comfortable climate and pleasant weather with less humidity in all the tourist places. People who are looking for ayurvedic treatments prefer Monsoon season from June to August.

Main activities to do in Kerala

Cruise the backwaters on a houseboat

A trip to Kerala is not complete without experiencing the Kerala backwaters. The lush palm-fringed landscape, diverse wildlife, and houses and villages that line the backwaters make a houseboat cruise seem like a journey to another world.

Take a traditional village tour

Kerala's famous backwaters are dotted with small villages full of vibrant local people and customs. Visiting them just makes time stand still. Enjoy a meal with a local family while learning about their life story.

Enjoy an Ayurvedic treatment

 A trip to an Ayurvedic healing center can involve a week's stay and detox (called panchakarma), where the liver is purged, and the body becomes renewed. Or, you can book any one of their offered treatments, like an oil massage or a Shirodhara, a relaxing treatment that involves dripping warm oil onto the forehead.

Watch a snake boat race

Every year during the monsoon season Kerala comes alive with colorful snake boat races. One-hundred-and-forty-foot-long canoe-like boats holding 110 rowers each get together to race along the inland waterways.