Kerala, in southwest India, is considered one of the nation’s most beautiful states and is sometimes referred to as “God’s Own Country.” The state is consistently ranked as one of the best places to visit in all of India and is known for its vibrant festivals, customs, clothing, and delectable cuisine. Kerala is a great place for honeymooners and families to visit because of its lush tropical greenery, beautiful beaches, peaceful backwaters, and variety of flora and fauna.
Kochi is the capital of the state of Kerala, which is located on the Malabar coast in southern India (also known as Cochin). Every part of Kerala is accessible through international and domestic airports, highways, and train. Backwater houseboating is a popular way to explore the state’s most popular attraction, the saltwater lagoons known as the backwaters, especially at Alleppey. The cleaning and medicinal properties of Ayurveda are well-known all across the world, and this location is no exception.
The traditional cuisine, celebrations, and art forms all have a way of capturing one’s interest. Everyone in and out of the state comes together to celebrate Onam, the state’s most important event. The beautiful and colourful history of Kerala is reflected in Kathakali, a fundamental form of ancient Indian dance.
In addition, Kerala is home to numerous wildlife sanctuaries, enormous tea estates, and charming hill towns. These attractions draw visitors at all times of the year, helping to strengthen Kerala’s position as one of the top 50 tourist destinations in the world, according to National Geographic Traveler.
Places to Visit in Kerala
1. Munnar
Munnar, a hill town in Kerala’s Idukki district that is well-liked by couples, is a popular destination. Located in the Western Ghats at an elevation of 1600 metres, it is one of the world’s most popular places to visit, especially among couples. Munnar is well-known for its scenic tea plantations, lush forests, and mist-covered vantage spots.
There are two distinct areas of Old Munnar: Old Munnar, home to the town’s tourist information centre, and Munnar, where the bus station and the majority of the town’s inns and hotels are situated. The Salim Ali Bird Sanctuary, the Eravikulam National Park, and tea plantations are among its tourist attractions. Additional features of Munnar include the endangered Nilgiri Tahr and the rare Neelakurinji flowers, which only bloom once every 12 years (the next bloom is expected in 2030).
Munnar’s verdant tea estates were the British government’s summer getaway. Additionally, it is a perfect site for boating, paragliding, trekking, and camping. The two most popular tourist destinations in Kerala, Alleppey and Thekkady, are frequently visited alongside Munnar.
For those in search of tea and spices, Munnar is a destination. Many businesses in this hill village sell spices, including cardamom, ginger, cinnamon, clove, nutmeg, coffee, and a wide selection of handcrafted chocolates.
2. Alleppey
Alappuzha (Alleppey) is commonly referred to as the “Venice of the East.” The centre of Kerala’s backwaters and home to more than a thousand houseboats, Alleppey offers some of the best tourist attractions in the state. The houseboats that float across the canals of Alappuzha are modern updates of the traditional Kettuvallams. A word in Malayalam with the meanings of “living building” and “boat” is called kettuvallam. In the past, kettuvallam, or boats with thatched roofs and wooden hulls, used to move tons of rice and spices.
The inside of the houseboats have all of the newest hotel-style facilities, such as air conditioning, modern restrooms, comfortable living areas, kitchens, and even fishing balconies. From a houseboat, you can see how people live in the backwaters, which are lined with coconut trees. A perfect place for relaxation because of its tranquil canals and verdant surroundings. The 137-year-old pier that kinda into the water at Alappuzha beach and the Portuguese lighthouse, which dates back to the 17th century, only add to the attractiveness of the area.
Prepare to roam about the bus stop and the small but hectic city centre with its simple grid of canals. Alleppey fades into a watery world of hamlets, punted canoes, toddy shops, and houseboats while facing west or the backwaters. Take in the lush green paddy fields, curved rice barges, and village life along the banks as you float along. In fact, this is where nature has given the land her richest gifts. Come and explore Alleppey’s top tourist attractions.
3. Kochi
Kochi, also known as Cochin, is a commercial port with a 600-year trading history that is located on the southwest coast of India. The city, also known as the “Queen of the Arabian Sea,” serves as Kerala’s financial, industrial, and economic hub.
In this metropolitan center, you may buy luxury goods, see art, and stay in historic hotels. Along with palaces, beaches, temples, and historical sites, Ernakulum, Jew Town, and Fort Kochi are alive with vintage-meets-future cafes and shopping malls. Kochi is also a great place to see performances of Kathakali and Kalarippayattu, as well as the annual Biennale Festival.
This coastal city is easy to get to by all means, and it is both a popular tourist destination and an active naval base. The Indian Navy’s Southern Command and an air squadron are based there.
4. Wayanad
Wayanad is the best place to get away from the hot sun of North India because it is always a comfortable temperature. In addition to its pleasant climate, this area features undeveloped forests, misty mountains, and expansive plantations. Wayanad, India’s spice garden, has many tourist attractions including large orchards of cardamom, black pepper, star anise, fenugreek, and black cumin. Spice orchards give this place a unique smell that goes well with coffee plantations, organic fruits and vegetables, and paddy fields that move in the wind.
Having said so much about the city’s greenery, it’s clear that it will have many wildlife sanctuaries, reserves, and national parks preserving the forests. The second-biggest earth dam in Asia and India’s largest earth dam, Banasura Sagar Dam, are both located in Wayanad. Wayanad is a centre for trekking, hiking, mountaineering, rock climbing, rappelling, camping, and other adventure activities.
Banasura Dam is India’s largest earth dam, while Chembra Peak is Wayanad’s highest peak. This is not the end of the list. At Edakkal Caves, you can possibly travel back in time to the Neolithic era. There are several petroglyphs there for you to see prehistoric rock engravings used for communication.
5. Varkala
Varkala is a coastal town in southern Kerala famed for its unusual 15-metre-high ‘Northern Cliff’ near to the Arabian Sea. It is well-known for its hippie scene, the samadhi of Sree Narayana Guru, a saint from Kerala, and the cliffside shacks that serve delicious seafood and play international music. The Jardana Swami Temple, also called Dakshin Kashi, is another destination in Varkala.
Varkala is home to some of the world’s cleanest beaches, hills, lakes, forts, lighthouses, natural fisheries, and springs. There are also a lot of stores offering cotton harem pants, oxidised silver jewellery, and yoga mats with signboards in Hebrew. It is a must-see city in Kerala because of its ayurvedic treatments, cheap resorts, and hostels, as well as its clear beaches.
6. Trivandrum
Thiruvananthapuram, also known as Trivandrum, is the state capital of Kerala and is an attractive blend of a deeply rooted heritage and a nostalgic colonial legacy. The days when this city was only used by sea explorers are long gone; today, Trivandrum is an expensive town with modest urban beauty and a wealth of architectural and historical sites to visit. It is built upon seven hills.Additionally, Kovalam and Varkala, two prominent beach towns nearby, are accessible from Trivandrum.
A must-see temple in India is the Padmanabhaswamy Temple, sometimes referred to as the Anantha Padmanabhaswamy Temple. The Attukal Bhagawati Temple, the Aazhimala Siva Temple, the Karikkakom Chamundi Devi Temple, and the Pazhavangadi Ganapathy Temple are some of the other well-known temples in Trivandrum.
A few museums, including the Kuthiramalika Palace Museum and the Napier Museum, are located in the city. Close by to the Padmanabhaswamy Temple may be found the Kuthiramalika Palace Museum. This museum is known for its structural elegance and its Travancore-style architecture; within, you’ll find rare paintings, traditional furniture, and other treasures from the royal family.
7. Kovalam
In Kerala, the beach community of Kovalam is well famous for its spas and ayurvedic massage centers. It is around 13 kilometres from Thiruvananthapuram. Lighthouse Beach, which has a 30-metre-tall lighthouse, is Kovalam’s biggest beach. Samudra Beach and Hawa Beach are the other two nearby beaches. These three beaches have a crescent shape, shallow water, and a small tidal range. Kovalam was a fishing community in the past, but it began to flourish as a tourist destination in the 1930s, and its popularity skyrocketed during the hippie era of the 1970s. There is still a significant number of tourists coming from Europe and Israel.
Some of the most popular ways to treat yourself there are massages and therapies based on an old Indian practice called ayurveda. Other popular cultural pursuits include yoga and meditation. Kovalam’s rich spices, wooden statues
8. Athirapally Waterfalls
When visiting India, you must see the stunning Athirapally Waterfall in Kerala. Most people recognize it as “one of the best waterfalls in the country.” It is roughly 100 kilometres from Munnar and 269 kilometres from Trivandrum.
Athirapally, one of Kerala’s picturesque waterfalls, is formed over the Chalakudy River and features a plunge of 80 feet across multiple parallel streams. During the monsoon season, the water becomes much more powerful, and the several streams converge to create a scene reminiscent of Niagara Falls.
While visiting Athirapally, be sure to also pay a visit to the local attractions of Vazhachal Waterfalls, Charpa Falls, Anakkayam, Sholayar Dam, Valparai, and Malayattur Wildlife Sanctuary. River rafting, mountain climbing, and other extreme sports are also available.
The jungle surrounding Athirapally Falls is home to a wide variety of wildlife, including the great hornbill, Malabar pied hornbill, Malabar grey hornbill, Indian grey hornbill, Asiatic elephant, tiger, leopard, and bison. A tour of Kochi can include a stop at the waterfall.
9. Bekal
Bekal is a tiny town in the Kasargod district of Kerala, which is situated to the west of the Malabar coastline. It is well-known around the world for its coastal areas, backwaters, forts, and many tourist destinations. The Bekal Fort is the largest and most beautiful tower in Kerala. This is a perfect example of a defining feature of Kasargod. The Bekal fortress looks like a huge keyhole from the outside. On three sides, the Bekal fort views the Arabian Sea. Kappil Beach, the Chandragiri Fort, and the Nityanandashram caverns are a few of the other main attractions. The Nityanandashram caves consist of 45 individual caves. Lonely Planet ranked Bekal as one of the top 10 travel destinations in the world, making it another achievement for the city.
10. Blossom Park, Dark Forest
Blossom Park, also known as Dark Forest, is a lovely park that can be found in the general vicinity of the town of Munnar, which is approximately three kilometres away. It is in the Kanan Devan Hill Tea Estates, near the Muthirappuzha River and Pallivasal Hydroelectric Plant. The presence of a wide variety of blooming flowers contributes significantly to the overall attractiveness of this park. Travelers come to the park from every region of the world. The best thing about this park is that they have also planted flowers that are appropriate for the season.
Due to its naturally blooming flowers and rich foliage, Blossom Park is one of Kerala’s liveliest destinations. The park is a wonderful location for a variety of outdoor pursuits and activities, including but not limited to cycling, boating, hiking, and observing birds. In addition to that, they put on a spectacular flower show each year.
