With an equable climate, culturally and naturally rich Kerala has achieved an inevitable position on
the worldwide tourism map. All the 14 districts of Kerala have something to show you and tell you
as a tourist place and have the magical power to make you revitalized on your Kerala tour. This
travel guide is an introduction to the whimsical wonderland with gurgling rivers, chattering
cascades, gigantic waterfalls, and misty hills. After knowing about the best tourist places in kerala,
pack a backpack with the essentials like shoes of love, a pinch of empathy, a wardrobe of friends
and, an umbrella of your will and start your journey to Kerala.
Kerala Culture and History
Culture of Kerala is a contribution of individuals of different races who lived in Kerala and is deeply
rooted. From 3000Bc Kerala was famous for its spice trading. Trading – items like pearls, spices,
ivory, teak, and sandalwood – with foreign countries such as Romans, Greeks, Arabs, and Chinese in
ancient times- by which Kerala became sects with different cultures-influenced Kerala culture
drastically. The beauty in peace among various religious people who believes in different religions
such as Islam, Christianity, Buddhism, Jainism, Sikhism, and Hinduism make Kerala a gem in India.
The culture of Kerala reflects in its art forms– kathakali, kalaripayattu, thullal, garudan thookkam,
ottamthullal are some of them , festivals – onam and vishu, language – Malayalam, and dress –
mundu. Culture shows Keralites' inner identity and gives a clear idea about Kerala's prosperity and
their unity to the travelers who are overwhelmed by the charming views of Kerala and this culture
makes its visitors explore. For its prosperity, Kerala is dependent on seaborne trade. Hindu
mythology says that when Parasurama had thrown his axe to Gokarna, the Kerala state was raised
from the sea where the axe was landed. According to the Archeology department, the Negritos –
the hunters- were the first people who stayed in Kerala. Following them, Austriches, and then the
Aryans influenced the Kerala culture.
Things to do in Kerala
Ayurvedic treatment: Kerala as the origin of Ayurveda, is a suitable place for an ayurvedic treatment
that will give a glow on your face and youth to your soul and body, and thus you will be refreshed
after your Kerala holiday. Monsoon season is the perfect time for this treatment because of the
dust-free atmosphere. Though many hotels and resorts provide spas and massaging for their guests, Ayurvedic centers are the best for authentic treatment.
Houseboat trip in Kerala: The trip on a houseboat will be a fond memory that could be cherished
throughout your lifetime and it will help you to learn about the way of living of the ancient people
who lived on houseboats. The view of Kerala backwaters and lakes is an eye-soothing view.
Freshwater fish dishes, Kathakali are other highlights during your stay on a houseboat.
Spend time at beaches: Walk on the seashore barefoot and watching the sun, the sky, the birds, and
the boats are more relaxing than simply lying in a bed. Kerala beaches are extremely beautiful with
a cool breeze from the lush coconut groves.
Roam around Kochi streets: While roaming around the narrow, well-organized, and clean streets –
with no rush- of Fortkochi filled with churches, houses on the sides with vibrant colors, blue sky on
roofless walls with glassless windows that have plants as green frames, you will feel them as
painting.
Wooden house stays in Idukki: Stay in a wooden house covered by mist and encircled by lush
greenery enjoying the sceneries of endless green nature with waterfalls and ponds with chirps of
birds as background music is truly an amazing experience to be cherished while your vacation in
Idukki.
Enjoy Kerala Food: Kerala cuisine is lovely with coconut milk and grated coconut. Keralites use
spices in their dishes. Normally Meals called sadhyas will be served on a plantain leaf with rice,
curries, and payasam. Their seafood recipes and freshwater fish recipes are must-try items during
your stay in Kerala.
Best time to visit Kerala: All year round is perfect for a Kerala visit. Though there will be summer rain irregularly during summer season, atmosphere will be hot. This season is apt for a visit to Kerala beaches and hill
stations. Kerala's festival Vishu is in the summer month April. Rainy seasons which are the north-
east monsoon and the south-east monsoon, are suitable for Ayurveda and Panchkarma treatment
and can enjoy the sceneries of rain and huge and foggy waterfalls in chilled weather. Boat race in
Alappuzha and Onam are held in the month of August. During winter, Kerala is not awfully cold.
Especially for visiting full-blown forests and wildlife sanctuaries, winter is a good season. In the
opinion of travelers, winter season is the best season to visit kerala.
What to see in Thiruvananthapuram
Well known as 'Trivandrum' among the outsiders of Kerala but for Keralites, it is the place (Sanskrit
word 'pur' means village) of God Ananthan staying in Padmanabha Temple which is in the heart of
the city – maintained by the Travancore Royal family. It is famous for its beauty with majestic
architecture and wealth in its vaults. Attukal temple and Pazhavangadi temple are other famous
temples here. In Palayam there are a Church and a Mosque which are opposite each other.
Thiruvananthapuram is blessed with lots of beaches, which comprise Kovalam, Sanghumugham,
Varkala, and Poovar. Beaches are famous for water-sport activities and their tranquility. Paragliding
on Varkala beach is a wonderful experience and on the shore of religiously significant Papanasam
beach, there is a temple known as Janardhanaswami temple. Sivagiri near Varkala beach is a pilgrim
center. Thiruvananthapuram has lagoons including Veli and Kadinamkulam, and hill stations such as
Ponmudi and Agasthakudam where you can do trekking and birdwatching. Famous museums are
Kanakakkunnu palace, Napier museum- a house to keep rare artifacts, ornaments, ivory carvings,
and much more. The art gallery consists of paintings that are visual treats. Kuthiramalika palace has
80 rooms and 122 wooden horses – built by Balarama Varma Maharaja. There is a Zoo with animals
and birds in the city. Maharaja Swathithirunal, who had a lot of animals in his collection, is the
innovator behind the formation of the zoo. Museum for Science & Technology, a dam, and
sanctuary in Neyyar, Santhigiri for ayurvedic treatment, palaces such as Attingal, Koyikkal, and
Padmanabhapuram showing old architecture, and the ancient library in India named State Central
library are some of the must-visit places in Thiruvananthapuram.
How to reach Thiruvananthapuram
Regular flights are available at the International airport in Thiruvananthapuram. When you reach
here, cabs, rikshaws, and buses are available to take you to your tourist destinations. Trivandrum
railway station is there at the center of the city. Online and offline booking is available for your
flight, rail, and bus journey.
Where to stay in Thiruvananthapuram
Hotels, resorts, and homestays are there to make your stay comfortable. Most hotels and resorts
offer you massaging therapies to make you refreshed after your hectic journey. The Leela Kovalam
is a famous 5-star resort. Nonvegetarian and vegetarian foods are available here in every resort
where you stay. Annapoorna hotel at Pazhavangadi is famous for its vegetarian food. Udupi cafe at
Palayam is famous for its variety of dosas. Chutney is a curry made with grated coconut. They use
usually ghee in their food and curd is also served with rice. Kesari and Kheer are some sweet dishes.
What to see in Alleppey
Renowned for its backwater sceneries. A ride in a houseboat with aquatic plants and flowers on one
side and endless paddy fields on the other side with a cool breeze is an inevitable thing during your
tour in Alleppey. The view of shimmering waters in the moonlight is a splendid view at night. An
escape from the chaos of city life to Allepey will provide you serenity on the lap of nature. Other
than these backwaters, Alappuzha has beaches – Alappuzha, Punnapra, and Marari and rivers –
Manimala, Pamba, and Achankovil and Lakes – Vembanad and Kayamkulam and numerous canals.
An island named Pathiramanal amid Vembanad Lake which is home to lots of rare birds and rare
plants is a spot for watching birds. Alappuzha is also famous for its coir trading which is one of the
main incomes of this district. The boat race in August month held in the lake of Alappuzha at the
time of the Onam festival is world famous. Karumadi is a village that is famous for Buddhist
pilgrimage. People from worldwide come here to seek blessings. Krishnapuram palace – a museum
– shows the architectural brilliance of Kerala and the mural paintings inside this palace are a treat for
your eyes. St. Mary's Forane Church is a pilgrim center from where you can get an idea about the
lifestyle of Christians in Kerala and their culture. St. Sebastian's and St. Mary's Feasts are two
festivals held in this church. Arthunkal Church and Mullakkal Rajeshwari Temple are important
religious landmarks of Alleppey. Lighthouse is included among the oldest structures – built in 1862 –
a symbol of the longstanding history of trading.
How to reach Alleppey
The International airport in Kochi is the nearest airport from where you can take any cabs or
rikshaws or buses either to reach Alappuzha. Alleppey railway station is there in the city from where
you can go to major cities inside and outside of Kerala. Bus services are also available to reach
Alappuzha from outside of Kerala. You can book your tickets online and offline.
Where to stay in Alleppey
Resorts and hotels are available in Alappuzha with price ranges from low to high according to the amenities they provided, which have ayurvedic therapies. Keraleeyam lake, the World Backwaters, and Green palace are some of the famous resorts in Alleppy with good amenities. A homestay is a good option here for solo woman travelers for their safety and comfort at a low cost. Sambar, rasam, and fish recipes should be tried during your stay at Alleppey. Breakfast dishes include idli, upma, dosa, and poori. Vada, baji, and bonda are some of the snacks in Kerala.
What to see in Kochi
A fusion of modern and ancient is this port city. Most of the tourists are attracted by its ancient
side, some others like its modern and fast-growing side. Syrian churches, Santa Cruz basilica,
Mattancherry palace, and Paradesi synagogue – famous places of worship in Kochi – show the
religious diversity that exists as the result of long-term spice trading with Arab, Romans, British,
Chinese, and Greeks –are tourists spots in Fort Kochi. An exhibition named Biennale is
internationally popular with a mix of art, film, and media – held in Fort Kochi. As Kochi is encircled by
backwaters and lakes, a houseboat trip is a must to see the scenic beauty filled with coconut trees
and green fields. Tripunithura hill palace is a museum where you can see murals and oil paintings,
manuscripts, and sculptures. There is an art gallery in Durbar hall where displayed art forms.
Folklore theatre in Thevara – built by 62 workers with a time span of 7 years- gives you an idea about
art forms. Try to include these places while you go for Kochi sightseeing. The fast-growing side of
Kochi has shopping malls and metro rails. Cherai beach in Vypin is famous for its soothing tranquility
where you can enjoy the charming sight of Chinese nets used for fishing at the time of sunset. These
are the famous places to visit in kochi.
How to reach Kochi
Nedumbassery International Airport is near Kochi city. When you reach here at the airport, you can
catch a taxi to reach the main road from where you will get buses to travel to reach your
destinations. Ernakulam railway station is in Kochi city from where you can travel inside and outside
of Kochi. KSRTC buses and private buses are also available to make it easy to travel where you
wanted.
Where to stay in Kochi
Numerous accommodation options are there in Kochi from luxurious hotels to low-cost home stays.
Crown Plaza, Imperial regency, and Holiday Inn are some of the hotels in Kochi. While your stay
here in Kochi, try to taste their Karimeen fish curry and fry, coconut appams, and Malabari parottas.
Nonveg and veg food dishes are available in all hotels in Kochi.
What to see in Idukki
Kerala district with hill stations and forests with its soothing atmosphere throughout the year allure the tourists. Idukki dam is the main highlight of this district which has been formed by the Travancore Government between two hills named Kurathi and Kuravan. At the time of this construction, Government took help from a tribal person named Kolumban whose memorial is an attraction to the tourists who come to know the history of this dam. The picturesque beauty around this dam is marvelous. Kulamavu, Cheruthuruthi, Mattupetti, and Malankara dams are other dams
to be visited. Sandalwood forest in Marayoor is near Munnar is a thick forest with reduced rainfall
which is suitable for trekking. Orchards of fruit trees such as orange and apple can be seen
throughout here. The wildlife sanctuaries in Thodupuzha and Eravikulam are home to many animals,
varieties of snakes, and colorful birds. Bird sanctuary in Thattekad is for bird lovers to birdwatching.
Thommankuthu waterfall with seven steps and nearby caves where tribal communities lived, is a
picnic spot with charismatic sights that allure everyone. Kuthumkal waterfall with its misty effect is
popular among tourists. Anchuruli waterfalls with a tunnel built by Britishers, Powerhouse
waterfalls, Keezharkuthu falls, Valara falls, and Cheeyappara falls are some unfamiliar waterfalls
among tourists, but they are worth watching. National parks in Pampadam, Anamudi Shola,
Mathikettan are home to biodiversity. Parunthumpara and Anamudi peaks are places for trekking to
adventure-loving tourists. Pothemedu viewpoint and Meesapulimala are the places offering
amazing sights. Elephant Safari in Thekkady inside the forest is a highly recommended one. Munnar
– colonial bungalows are evident to its glorious past- with its mist-filled tea, spice, and coffee
plantations already become a favorite honeymoon spot among people. Mangaladevi Temple amid
the forest –formed 2000 years before by Pandian King – has great reverence among locals.
How to reach Idukki
There is no airport or railway station in this district. After reaching Cochin airport, you can catch
buses – both private and government-owned or taxis – both rental or nonrental to reach this district.
Jeep is commonly used here to reach highranges of Idukki. You can book your travel vehicle online
or offline. Railway stations near this district are Ernakulam, Theni, and Kottayam.
Where to stay in Idukki
Homestays are available in and around each tourist place with local food at a very low cost. During
your stay in a private home of locals, you can experience their lifestyle, communication, unity among
the members, and learn their language and customs. Hotels, resorts, and Cottages are available
near your visiting place in the Idukki district. Thattukadas and restaurants can be seen abundantly on
the sides of roads with vegetarian and non-vegetarian dishes.
