Kerala Travel Guide: Backwaters, Hills, Beaches, Culture and Food
Welcome to our Kerala travel guide. Kerala, called God’s Own Country, is a green strip of land between the Arabian Sea and the Western Ghats in South India. It has palm-lined backwaters, tea-covered hills, spice gardens, wildlife reserves, quiet beaches, Ayurveda and a rich culture of dance, festivals and food. This guide covers the best places to visit, the best time to go, how to get there and travel tips.
Kerala at a Glance
Here are the key facts in our Kerala travel guide.
- Capital: Thiruvananthapuram (Trivandrum)
- Main airports: Kochi, Thiruvananthapuram, Kozhikode (Calicut) and Kannur
- Language: Malayalam; English is widely understood
- Known for: backwaters and houseboats, Munnar tea hills, Ayurveda, Kathakali and seafood
- Days needed: six to ten
- Best time: September to March
Best Places to Visit in Kerala
This part of our Kerala travel guide covers the places most visitors see.
Kochi (Cochin)
Fort Kochi has the Chinese fishing nets, St Francis Church, Dutch and Portuguese houses and art cafes. Visit the Mattancherry Palace, with its murals, the Paradesi Synagogue in Jew Town and the spice markets, and watch a Kathakali show.
Munnar
Munnar is the best hill station in Kerala, with rolling tea gardens at about 1,600 metres. See Eravikulam National Park, home of the rare Nilgiri tahr, the Tea Museum, Mattupetty Dam, Echo Point and Top Station.
Thekkady (Periyar)
Thekkady is home to the Periyar Tiger Reserve. Take a boat ride on Periyar Lake to see elephants, deer and birds, try bamboo rafting or a nature walk, and visit the spice plantations of cardamom, pepper and cinnamon. Tigers live here but are rarely seen.
Alleppey (Alappuzha) and Kumarakom
The backwaters are the heart of every Kerala travel guide. Cruise past villages, churches and paddy fields on a houseboat from Alleppey, or stay at a lake resort in Kumarakom on Vembanad Lake, with its bird sanctuary. Marari beach, near Alleppey, is quiet and clean.
Kovalam and Varkala
Kovalam has crescent beaches and a lighthouse near Thiruvananthapuram. Varkala has red cliffs above the sea, cafes and the Papanasam beach.
Thiruvananthapuram
The capital has the Padmanabhaswamy temple, open to Hindus only, the Napier Museum and the Kuthiramalika Palace.
Wayanad and North Kerala
Wayanad has forests, waterfalls, the Edakkal caves with ancient rock carvings, Banasura Sagar dam and Chembra Peak. Further north, see Bekal Fort and the Theyyam ritual dances.
Athirappilly Falls
Kerala’s largest waterfall, near Thrissur, is at its best in and after the monsoon.
Things to Do in Kerala
Our Kerala travel guide lists the top experiences:
- Stay a night on a houseboat on the backwaters.
- Walk through tea gardens in Munnar and spice gardens in Thekkady.
- Watch Kathakali dance and Kalaripayattu martial arts.
- Take an Ayurveda massage or treatment.
- Take a village canoe ride through narrow canals.
- Eat a sadya feast on a banana leaf, appam with stew and fresh seafood.
Festivals of Kerala
Every Kerala travel guide should mention the festivals. Onam, the harvest festival in August or September, brings flower carpets and sadya feasts. The Nehru Trophy Snake Boat Race is held on Punnamada Lake in Alleppey in August. Thrissur Pooram, in April or May, has decorated elephants and fireworks. Theyyam dances are held in North Kerala from about December to April.
How to Reach Kerala
This part of our Kerala travel guide explains how to get there.
By Air
Kochi airport is the main gateway, with flights from all major Indian cities and the Middle East. Thiruvananthapuram, Kozhikode and Kannur also have airports.
By Train
Ernakulam (Kochi), Thiruvananthapuram and Kozhikode have trains from Delhi, Mumbai, Bengaluru and Chennai.
By Road
Good roads join Kerala with Bengaluru, Mysuru, Coimbatore and Madurai.
Best Time to Visit Kerala
Our Kerala travel guide suggests September to March as the best time, with pleasant days on the coast and in the hills. June to August is the monsoon: green, quiet and the best time for Ayurveda. April and May are hot and humid on the coast but pleasant in Munnar.
Kerala Travel Tips
Before you go, read these tips from our Kerala travel guide.
- Pack light cotton clothes, a light jacket for Munnar and an umbrella in the monsoon.
- Dress modestly at temples; some temples are open to Hindus only, and men may need to remove their shirts.
- Choose a licensed houseboat with life jackets.
- Use insect repellent near the backwaters.
Shamrock travel tip: the hill roads have many bends; carry travel-sickness tablets if you need them, and plan no more than four hours of driving a day. For more advice, read our Shamrock India Travel Tips.
Kerala Travel Guide FAQs
How many days do I need in Kerala?
Six to seven days for Kochi, Munnar, Thekkady, the backwaters and a beach; ten days to add Kumarakom, Varkala or Wayanad.
Which is better, Alleppey or Kumarakom?
Alleppey has more houseboats and canals; Kumarakom has calm lake resorts. Both are lovely for the backwaters.
Is Kerala good in the monsoon?
Yes, if you like rain, green hills and Ayurveda. Some boat and beach activities may stop.
Is Kerala safe for tourists?
Yes. Kerala is one of the safest and friendliest states in India for travellers, with normal care.
What food should I try?
Sadya, appam with stew, puttu and kadala curry, Malabar biryani and fresh fish curry.
Ready-Made Kerala Tours
If you want us to plan everything, these private tours include hotels, transfers and a houseboat. See all our Kerala tour packages.
- 6-day Sweet Kerala tour: Kochi, the Kumarakom backwaters and Marari beach.
- 7-day Kerala Splendor tour: Munnar, Thekkady, an Alleppey houseboat and Marari beach.
- 8-day Kerala Delight tour: Kochi, Munnar, Thekkady, an Alleppey houseboat and Kovalam beach.
- 9-day Kerala Classic tour: Kochi, Munnar, Thekkady, Kumarakom and Marari beach.
- 9-day Kerala Panorama tour: Kochi, Munnar, Thekkady, Kumarakom and Kovalam beach.
- 11-day Kerala with the Taj Mahal tour: Kerala’s hills, backwaters and beach with Agra, Delhi and the Taj Mahal.
Plan Your Kerala Trip
We hope this Kerala travel guide helps you plan. Combine Kerala with the Taj Mahal on our Golden Triangle tour, see our South India tour packages, our cultural tours of India and all our India tour packages. Request your free quote
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