Kerala, God’s own country, is a beautiful state in India. Situated on the Malabar coast, Kerala is popular for its backwaters and tea plantations. Wildlife sanctuaries here are home to elephants, tigers, and langurs.
Here are the top 10 things to do in Kerala to have a memorable trip. Make sure you learn a few basic words in Malayalam for proper communication. You need not worry much about the language, as English is quite well-known among the people of Kerala.
1. Munnar
If you search for Kerala’s images online, the most common picture will be of tea plantations. And a common place where these pictures are clicked is Munnar. It is a part of dense western ghats. The biodiversity of western ghats is rare. And being a part of it makes Munnar a unique place to visit.
The most attractive thing here, apart from tea, is its climate. Cool, calm, and serene are the words to define Munnar. The aroma of tea leaves gives immense calm to the visitors.
As far as your eyes can see, you will spot only tea plantations. You can make a visit to Eravikulam National Park and hike the trail. The best time to visit Munnar is from September to March.
2. Alleppey
Alleppey, or the “Venice of the East,” is popular for its backwaters. The most fun way to enjoy Alleppey is to take a houseboat ride in the backwaters. Among the beautiful and dense flora, the houseboat ride offers the prettiest views.
Houseboat rides cost between 10,000 INR and 50,000 INR. The costs depend on the number of people and the bedrooms you need.
The concept of backwaters is so different in itself. The water is calm and stagnant. It stays untouched by other water bodies. You can visit here during the famous snake boat race at Punnamada Lake. This is a world-wide attraction and often makes headlines.
October to February is a favorable period to visit Alleppey. At Alleppey, you will come across temples and churches. The architectural designs of these belong to various periods. Make sure you visit Nagaraja and Krishna temples.
3. Periyar National Park
India is home to various species of flora and fauna that are native here. Kerala is no less. Periyar National Park, or Periyar Tiger Reserve, is also situated in the western ghats. The Western Ghats are a biodiversity area on the western and south-western sides of India.
You will come across elephants in Kerala many times. Periyar National Park has a huge population of elephants. Tigers, leopards, sambar, Indian bison, and lion-tailed macaques are easy to spot here.
We suggest you book your tickets online to save time. You can visit the official website of Periyar National Park for ticket booking. You can book tickets for as many activities you want to indulge in. You can book tickets to watch tribal dance or have a jungle inn night. Border hiking, bamboo rafting, and green walking are some other activities.
4. Wayanad
Wayanad is a continuation of the Mysore Plateau. Wayanad is also the only plateau in Kerala. It is a bridge joining the western and eastern ghats. Those who want to see the truest form of nature should visit Wayanad.
One place to visit here is the Edakkal Caves. The caves belong to the Neolithic period. The ancient petroglyphs here are proof of that. You can enjoy the nature here by trekking. Camping is another famous activity here.
Waterfalls at Wayanad are breath-taking. There are many waterfalls that you will find as you trek or walk. November to February are the best months to visit Wayanad. Even if the area belongs to the rural part, Wayanad has fetched visitors from all around the world.
5. Kovalam
Visiting Kovalam is going to give you one of the best views of your life. Kovalam Beach has three adjacent beaches with a crescent shape. Isn’t that unique and worth watching? If you are visiting Kerala for its beaches, visit Kovalam.
After Kovalam Beach, you can visit Samudra Beach. “Samudra” means sea. Here, you get to see wooden boats. The traditional lifestyle of Kovalam villagers is visible here. Don’t forget to visit Sri Dhamasastha Temple nearby. The three sides of this temple are surrounded by the largest freshwater lake.
Vizhinjam, a fishing village, is just 2 km away from Kovalam. It is a fishing harbor. Also, it is a natural port. There are many lakes, temples, and villages in and near Kovalam. If you have enough time, you should go here.
Kovalam is also a great place to shop. Being surrounded by the beaches, shops here sell some amazing items. You may find authentic Keralite items here.
6. Varkala
Varkala is a place where cliffs run parallel to the Arabian Sea. The coastal line has sandy beaches. The golden hour at these beaches makes the sand look golden, and the ambience is pure gold. Whether you want to relax or have more fun with water, visit Varkala.
Add more to the experience by having a meal at a cliff-top restaurant. The view of the sea and the cold breeze offer a great feeling. The next destination should be the ancient Janardanaswamy temple. The temple is more than 2000 years old.
Since 1757, a huge bell, called the Dutch Bell, has been placed here. There are many stories behind the temple and the bell. You may hear a few from the locals. Temple timings are 4:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. and 5:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.
7. Kochi Fort
Fort Kochi is the first fort ever made in India by European rulers. It was built by the Portuguese. It ranks at number 9 out of 25 as the top tourist destination in 2020. The markings were done by National Geographic.
The nearest city is Ernakulam, and you can take a bus to reach Fort Kochi. The fort area has multiple architectural marvels, like St. Francis Church. It is Vasco da Gama’s first church. The China Vela and Dutch Seminaries are also located here.
You can spend an entire day here. You have beaches, churches, and a lot to visit. Mattancherry, a Dutch palace at Fort Kochi, is a must-visit. The fort is a cultural blend. Once home to the Portuguese, the Dutch, the Chinese traders, and the Indian kings, it still speaks of it all.
The first ever township of the Europeans, Fort Kochi, is a tourist attraction. Whoever comes to Kerala visits here.
8. Thekkady
Asia, and especially India, is popular for its spices. The reason why Europeans found India was for its spices. Thekkady is the hub of spices, too. The farms here offer guided tours of spice farms. Thekkady comes from the word “thekku”. The meaning of the word is “teak”. Apart from teak trees, cardamom, pepper, and cloves are popular here.
You can also go to Elephant Junction. You can see how elephants bathe and give them a bath yourself. They are pampered here, and people gush over them. The visiting hours are between 8:00 a.m. and 6:00 p.m. Buy the tickets beforehand.
Gavi, an eco-tourism spot at Thekkady, celebrates an environmental lifestyle. You can spend a good two hours here. You will love to be in a natural place. A tribal heritage walk is a great activity. You can book a guided walk here. The walk will introduce you to the traditional lives of Kerala’s tribal population.
9. Thrissur
Thrissur is often called the cultural capital of Kerala. Pooram is a temple festival in Thrissur. It is celebrated at the Shiva temple- Vadakunnathan temple. The festival is one of the biggest festivals celebrated in Asia. It is often celebrated around April-May.
Kerala Kalamandalam is a cultural place. Carious art forms are taught here. If you want to see the traditional dance or martial art forms of Kerala, visit here. Thrissur is called India’s Golden City. It is all about business and Bullion.
If you want to buy gold jewelry, there can be no better place than Thrissur. Thrissur is also a place where multiple temple occasions take place. Make sure you visit here when these happen.
10. Marari Beach
The beauty of coastal regions comes from their beaches. This is a beach that not many people go to. Hence, it is clean, and the water is clear. Marari Beach is a place to sit, relax, and reflect. Leave behind your chaotic life and embrace the calmness at Marari Beach.
You might be one of the very few people to visit here, so it won’t be noisy. It is close to Alleppey. So, plan to visit here when you are at Alleppey.
Conclusion
Kerala is a wonderful land. There is a reason why it is called God’s own country. You will never regret your trip to Kerala. The greenery, the houseboat ride, the beaches—everything is beautiful. National parks and wildlife sanctuaries are the heart of Kerala.
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Editorial Staff at Travelco are experts in Global Tourism.