The narrow strip of land at the southern tip of India squeezed between the Western Ghats in the east and the Malabar Coast in the west constitutes the state of Kerala. One of the richest and most developed states in the country, the jungles and waterways of Kerala come as a haven of serenity for those more accustomed to the chaotic mix of cities further north. This is a place of tranquility and stunning natural beauty, a land of charm that leaves few immobile. Here are some of the best places to visit in Kerala to get you started:
1. Cochin
Kerala’s most visited city has plenty of history, culture and architecture to keep anyone busy for a few days. Explore Fort Cochin and the streets of Mattancherry to catch a glimpse of the city as it once was before taking the obligatory photo of the iconic Chinese fishing nets as dusk falls in the evening.
Best time to visit: The best time to visit is during winter (October – February) as this is when temperatures are at their most comfortable. However, if you can stand the heat, the summer (March – June) is much less busy. The monsoon season (July – September) is best avoided.
Ubicación: Costa suroeste de India, Kerala
Cosas que hacer: Recorrer el Fuerte Kochi, visitar la Sinagoga Paradesi, explorar las redes de pesca chinas
Cómo llegar: Aeropuerto Internacional de Cochin, tren, autobús
Duración ideal: 2-3 días
Mejores experiencias: Paseos en barco, exploración del patrimonio cultural, cocina local
Atracciones cercanas: Alappuzha, Munnar, Thrissur
2. Kovalam
In the 60s, Kovalam was the reserve of intrepid hippies who descended the southern coast of India. However, in the last few decades, it has transformed into Kerala’s premier beach resort. Expect idyllic sandy beaches lined with palm trees, along with plenty of other tourists during busy periods.
Best time to visit: December to mid-January is peak season – Kovalam becomes overcrowded, and accommodation is at its most expensive. The months on either side of this, September to November and then January to the end of February, are the best times to visit. The monsoon is usually from July to September, not the best time to go.
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Ubicación: Costa suroeste de India, Kerala
Cosas que hacer: Disfrutar de la playa, practicar surf, visitar el faro de Vizhinjam
Cómo llegar: Aeropuerto Internacional de Trivandrum, tren, autobús
Duración ideal: 2-3 días
Mejores experiencias: Relajarse en la playa, masajes ayurvédicos, deportes acuáticos
Atracciones cercanas: Poovar, Trivandrum, Varkala
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3.Thrissur
The former capital of the state of Cochin is now styled as the capital of Kerala culture. The city is a pleasant place to spend a few days, but the real draw lies in the surrounding area, and Thrissur is the perfect base from which to explore. This is the place to come if you want to experience the state’s culture at its most authentic.
Best time to visit: The best time to visit is winter (December – February) when temperatures are cool, and the climate is relatively dry. Summer (March – May) can be oppressively hot, while monsoon season (June – September) sees heavy rain.
Ubicación: Región central de Kerala, India
Cosas que hacer: Visitar el Templo Vadakkumnathan, el Zoológico de Thrissur, participar en el festival Thrissur Pooram
Cómo llegar: Aeropuerto Internacional de Cochin, tren, autobús
Duración ideal: 1-2 días
Mejores experiencias: Explorar templos, festivales culturales, cocina local
Atracciones cercanas: Athirappally Falls, Guruvayur, Cochin
4. Athirappally Falls
Less than 60k from Thrissur can be found the largest and most spectacular of Kerala’s many waterfalls, often referred to as ‘the Niagara Falls of India’. The crashing waters have become the backdrop for a popular picnic spot, and the area is surrounded by atmospheric jungles that are teeming with animal life and an abundance of birds, including four species of.
Best time to go: To see the falls at their most spectacular, the best time to go is during the monsoon (June – September) when the rivers are at their highest. However, this is also the most dangerous time to visit due to high rainfall and slippery roads. A safer alternative is during the winter (November – February) when the weather is cool and dry. Summer (March – May) can be too hot and is best avoided.
Ubicación: Distrito de Thrissur, Kerala
Cosas que hacer: Admirar las cataratas, senderismo, fotografía
Cómo llegar: Aeropuerto Internacional de Cochin, tren, autobús
Duración ideal: 1 día
Mejores experiencias: Observación de aves, disfrutar de la naturaleza, picnic
Atracciones cercanas: Vazhachal Falls, Thrissur, Cochin
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5. Munnar
A former hill station from the colonial era, Munnar is now best known for its vast and picturesque tea estates stretching in all directions, making it a popular destination among local honeymooners. The town is home to a tea museum, and the surrounding area offers good walks, interesting villages and abundant wildlife, especially in the nearby Eravikulam National Park.
Best time to visit: The best time to visit is from October to March. This is the period after the monsoon when the area is at its most lush. Take raincoats and warm clothing because rain is still possible and temperatures can be cool, especially at night.
Ubicación: Región montañosa de Kerala, India
Cosas que hacer: Visitar las plantaciones de té, explorar el Parque Nacional Eravikulam, senderismo
Cómo llegar: Aeropuerto Internacional de Cochin, tren, autobús
Duración ideal: 2-3 días
Mejores experiencias: Observación de la fauna, paseos por las colinas, fotografía de paisajes
Atracciones cercanas: Alappuzha, Periyar National Park, Cochin
6. Alappuzha
If there’s one activity no visitor to the state should miss, it’s taking a boat on the languid network of rivers, lakes and canals that make up Kerala’s backwaters. Here you will be given a glimpse of a timeless way of life along the labyrinthine waterways that crisscross the jungle. Alappuzha is one of the most popular and convenient places from which to organize a trip.
Best time to visit: The best time to visit is during the colder winter months of November to February. From March to May you may see temperatures and humidity reach uncomfortable levels, while during the monsoon season (June – October), you may not even be able to get out on the water at all.
Ubicación: Costa suroeste de India, Kerala
Cosas que hacer: Paseos en houseboat por los remansos, visitar la playa de Alappuzha, explorar los canales
Cómo llegar: Aeropuerto Internacional de Cochin, tren, autobús
Duración ideal: 2-3 días
Mejores experiencias: Navegación en los remansos, observar la vida local, festivales de barcos
Atracciones cercanas: Kumarakom, Cochin, Munnar
7. Periyar National Park
Located on the Kerala-Tamil Nadu border and home to a variety of different species, this national park is one of the largest and most popular in India. You have a good chance of spotting wild elephants, sambar, gaur and others, and if you are very lucky, you might also spot leopards and tigers.
Best time to visit: Time your visit for the post-monsoon period (October – April) when drinking water becomes scarcer and animals are taken out of the forest to drink. The monsoon (June-September) is the worst time to visit, as the rains make walking difficult and also bring out a multitude of leeches.
Ubicación: Distrito de Idukki, Kerala
Mejor época para visitar: Octubre a junio
Cosas que hacer: Safari en barco, trekking, observación de vida silvestre
Cómo llegar: Aeropuerto Internacional de Cochin, tren, autobús
Duración ideal: 1-2 días
Mejores experiencias: Safari en el lago Periyar, trekking en la jungla, visitas guiadas
Atracciones cercanas: Munnar, Alappuzha, Thekkady
8. Kumarakom
The island town of Kumarakom is a renowned destination for bird watchers due to the large number of migratory birds that are attracted to the area. Even if you are not interested in bird watching, you will still be captivated by the lazy, almost somnolent charm of the tranquil rural location hidden in the lush backwater jungles.
Best time to visit: The best time to visit is during the colder months of November to February, this is also when the area is host to migratory birds that arrive to escape the cold of winter. As in other parts of the state, March sees temperatures begin to rise, although the heat does not reach the extremes in some places. Monsoon season is from June to September and is not recommended.
Ubicación: Distrito de Kottayam, Kerala
Cosas que hacer: Paseos en houseboat, observación de aves, relajación en resorts
Cómo llegar: Aeropuerto Internacional de Cochin, tren, autobús
Duración ideal: 1-2 días
Mejores experiencias: Navegación en los remansos, observación de aves en el santuario, relajación
Atracciones cercanas: Alappuzha, Cochin, Kottayam
9. Wayanad
One of the most remote and least visited destinations in Kerala, Wayanad district in the state’s north is a wonderland of trekking trails, waterfalls, tea plantations and sleepy villages. For those looking for more of a challenge, a hike to the summit of the 2,100m Chembra Peak will be rewarded with some of the most stunning views in this part of the country.
Best time to go: Due to its higher elevation, Wayanad can be visited during much of the year. Possibly the best time is the period after the monsoon has passed but before the hottest months, but you can visit any time from October to May. The only time to avoid it is from June to September, when the monsoon brings heavy rain.
Ubicación: Región norte de Kerala, India
Cosas que hacer: Senderismo, visitas a cascadas, exploración de cuevas
Cómo llegar: Aeropuerto Internacional de Calicut, tren, autobús
Duración ideal: 2-3 días
Mejores experiencias: Exploración de la cueva Edakkal, visita a la cascada Soochipara, trekking
Atracciones cercanas: Coorg, Bandipur National Park, Calicut
10. Poovar
For those looking for a Keralan beach destination without the crowds and commercialism of Kovalam, just south of the state capital Thiruvananthapuram lies Poovar Island, a true hidden gem. Located where the Neyyar River flows into the Arabian Sea and accessible only by taxi, the tranquil atmosphere of Poovar village is the antithesis of the hectic seasons of Kovalam just a little further south.
Best time to visit: Poovar is the perfect winter destination from November to February. As it doesn’t get crowded like Kovalam, there is no need to avoid December and January either. The monsoon season (July-September), on the other hand, is not the best time for a visit.
Ubicación: Distrito de Trivandrum, Kerala
Cosas que hacer: Paseos en barco, relajación en la playa, explorar el estuario
Cómo llegar: Aeropuerto Internacional de Trivandrum, tren, autobús
Duración ideal: 1-2 días
Mejores experiencias: Navegación por el estuario, relajación en resorts, exploración de la naturaleza
Atracciones cercanas: Kovalam, Trivandrum, Varkala
11. Kasaragod
Kasaragod district, in the far north of Kerala, centered around the city of the same name, is mainly known for the Bekal Fort, one of the largest and most imposing in the state. The district also has several undeveloped beaches, temples, mosques and little-visited stretches of backwaters, as well as good trekking possibilities for more active travellers.
Best time to visit: The cooler months of January and February represent the best time to visit Kasaragod. Summer is from March to May, when the weather is hot and humid. Monsoon can start from May and can continue till October or even November; The monsoon in Kasaragod is the heaviest in Kerala and should be avoided.
Ubicación: Región norte de Kerala, India
Cosas que hacer: Visitar el Fuerte Bekal, explorar playas, observar la vida local
Cómo llegar: Aeropuerto Internacional de Mangalore, tren, autobús
Duración ideal: 1-2 días
Mejores experiencias: Explorar el Fuerte Bekal, relajarse en las playas, fotografía
Atracciones cercanas: Mangalore, Kannur, Wayanad
12. Varkala
If your idea of a beach holiday doesn’t involve large-scale tourism development and packed resorts, the charms of Varkala north of Thiruvananthapuram might be more to your taste. While the first luxury hotels are starting to appear, this charming hilltop village still retains a relaxed atmosphere, making it the ideal place to come and recharge your batteries.
Best time to visit: The best time to visit is from December to February, when the weather is comfortably warm. Starting in March, temperatures begin to rise, and the weather is hot and humid. The monsoon arrives in June and lasts until September, making this the worst time to visit.
Ubicación: Costa suroeste de India, Kerala
Cosas que hacer: Disfrutar de la playa, visitar el Templo Janardhana Swamy, explorar acantilados
Cómo llegar: Aeropuerto Internacional de Trivandrum, tren, autobús
Duración ideal: 2-3 días
Mejores experiencias: Relajarse en la playa, tratamientos ayurvédicos, disfrutar de la vista desde los acantilados
Atracciones cercanas: Kovalam, Trivandrum, Poovar
For many, arriving in Kerala after passing through some of India’s brashest and most intense cities can be a relief. The pace of life slows down noticeably, and days spent cruising through gauzy jungles, exploring the hills or lashing out on palm-fringed beaches can take on an almost dreamlike quality. For some, the hardest part is when it’s time to leave.
Suggested travel itinerary for Kerala:
