You don’t call a place God’s Own Country for nothing! Something must look totally ethereal to make it the land of the Almighty, right? Firstly, if you plan to visit Kerala, get ready to be awestruck by the natural beauty and gorgeous views with enveloping greenery that will leave you seeking more of it for a long time to come.
This state lies on India’s tropical Malabar Coast with an enviable 600 km of Arabian Sea shoreline. It’s known for its palm-lined beaches and backwaters, a network of canals. The Western Ghats inland has mountains whose slopes support tea, coffee, spice plantations and wildlife.
Kerala hosts many tourist destinations making it one of the most visited locations in India and has the highest literacy rate. Kerala never ceases to surprise visitors with its diverse landscapes, architecture, rivers, mountains, and ancient cultural heritage. Here are the 15 best places to visit in Kerala.
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Wayanad
Visiting Kerala and not having Wayanad on your to-be-visited list must be a crime. Oozing a number of places that beg to be visited, Wayanad is a must-see. With beautiful shades of green surrounding you from every side, the place offers more than its natural richness. This place is filled with waterfalls, historical caves, comfortable resorts, and homestays. It is situated at an astounding height of 700-2,100 meters.
Best Time to Visit: Throughout the year
Nearest Railway Station: Nilambur Railway Station.
Best Spots: Wayanad Wildlife Sanctuary, Banasura Sagar Dam, Chembra Peak, Soochipara Falls, Sentinel Rock Falls, Kanthanpara Waterfalls, Kuruva Island, Pookode Lake, Lakkidi, Muthanga Wildlife Sanctuary, Pakshipathalam, Edakkal Caves, SulthanBthery & Chain Tree.
Munnar
Its been established that Kerala offers its visitors many hill stations and lakes to choose from. One of the most beautiful hill stations to grace our country, Munnar hosts a range of hills and valleys. Tea plantations cover this tiny paradise. Located in the Western Ghats at 1600 meters, Munnar is littered with greenery blankets of mist forming natural-view points. It is a versatile tourist destination popular among couples and families alike.
Best Time: Throughout the year
Nearest Railway Station: Ernakulam Junction.
Best Spots: Blossom Park, Devikulam, Pallivasal, TATA Tea Museum, Vattavada, Attukal Waterfalls, Cheeyapara Waterfalls, Kundala Lake, Nyayamakad, Meesapulimala, Kolukkumalai, Lock-Hart Gap, Eravikulam National Park, Mattupetty Dam, and Pothamedu View Point.
Kollam
A hidden treasure, Kollam captures eyes with its serenity and history. Loved amongst culture-lovers, this is a commercial hotspot and home to India’s cashew-producing industry.
Encaptured by the Lakshadweep Sea and caressed by the emerald Ashtamudi Lake, Kollam, also known as Quilon, is a popular tourist destination for its busy, quiet, commercial and cultural paradoxes.
Best Time: September to February
Airport: Kollam Domestic Airport
Nearest Railway Station: Kollam Railway Junction
Best Spots: Kollam Beach, Ashtamudi Lake, Palaruvi Waterfalls, Paravoor, Punalur, Thenmala, Mayyanad, Deer Park, Thevalli Palace, British Residency, Chavara, Jatayupara, Thangasseri, Rameshwara Temple, Dutch Quilon, and Picnic Village.
Kannur
A green and beautiful city located on the western coast. It is titled the crown of Kerala and is one of the best sightseeing places. With plenty of beaches, monuments, ancient temples, and picnic spots, Kannur is a must-hit spot.
It welcomes all and has the rare ability to please everyone. Frequented by nature lovers, beachgoers, history buffs, culture fans, thrill-seekers, or casual backpackers.
Best Time: October to March
Airport: Kannur International Airport in Mattanur
Nearest Railway Station: Kannur Railway Station
Best Spots: Payyambalam Beach, Meenkunnu Beach, Thottada Beach, Baby Beach, Mopila Bay, Dharmadam Island, Parassinikkadavu, Arakkal Museum, Sundareswara Temple, Fort St. Angelo, Pallikunnu, and Holy Trinity Cathedral.
Palakkad
Located in southwestern India, Palakkad boasts splendid architectural sights. The 18th-century Palakkad Fort has sturdy battlements, a moat, and a Hanuman temple.
Palakkad is the land of Palmyras and Paddy Fields and is famous as the chief granary of Kerala. Palakkad gets its name from pala trees that once dominated the area. The town also holds a rock garden. Palakkad is known for Tipu Sulthan’s Fort’s ruins and four dams.
Best Time: July to March
Nearest Railway Station: Palakkad Railway Station
Best Spots: Palakkad Fort, Silent Valley National Park, Pothundy Dam, Jain Temple, Dhoni waterfalls, Walayar Dam, Ottapalam, and Mangalam Dam.
Kochi
Kochi is the busiest city in Kerala. Cochin, as it was earlier called, is a bustling hub of activity. This city is situated on the southwest coast of India and is a commercial port city with a trading history that dates back to at least 600 years. Kochi is termed the Queen of the Arabian Sea and is considered the state’s financial, commercial, and industrial capital. For a fun, activity-filled vacation, be sure to hit Kochi.
Best Time: July to April
Airport: Cochin International Airport
Nearest Railway Station: Kochi Railway Junction
Best Spots: Fort Kochi, Vypeen Island, Vypeen Beach, Cherai Beach, Andhakaranzhi Beach, Marine Drive, Bolghatty Island, Guruvayoor, Chinese Fishing Nets, St. Francis Church, Basilica of Santa Cruz, Thrikkara Temple, Kanjiramattam Masjid, Shri Guru Singh Sabha Gurudwara, Jewish Synagogue, Cochin Cultural Centre, Malayattoor, Mattancherry, and Lulu Mall.
Alappuzha
Acclaimed across the country for its bewitching backwaters, Alappuzha will draw you in with its quiet and enigmatic appeal. A frequented tourist place, the stay-in boats are popular for the overnight experience they offer. Seated on the banks of the azure Vembanad Lake, you will be astounded by the view of the stars above and rippling waters below.
Best Time: June to March
Nearest Railway Station: Alleppey Railway Station
Best Spots: Vembanad Lake, Alleppey Beach, Marari Beach, Krishnapuram Palace, Pathiramanal, Kuttanad Backwaters, Arthunkal Church, Ambalapuzha Temple, Mannarshala Temple, Karumadikuttan Statue, and St. Mary Rorane Church.
Vagamon
Vagamon, known as Wagamon, is a quiet offbeat hill station in Kerala. This place offers a pleasant year-round climate. This tourist spot has tea estates, pine forests, waterfalls, and hill stations. If you want a slow tour that will allow you to take leisure walks while breathing in the aromatic air, Vagamon is the place for you.
Best Time: Throughout the year
Nearest Railway Station: Kottayam Railway Station
Best Spots: Peermade, Mangala Devi Temple, Pattumalai Church, Kuttikanam Palace, Murinjupuzha Water Falls, Ulipooni Wildlife Sanctuary, ElaveezhaPoonchira, Idukki Arch Dam, Pine Hills, Parumthumpara Point, and Kurisumala.
Kumarakom
With all the beaches present in the state of Kerala, can you be surprised that some of India’s best seafood is cooked there too? Imagine a green plantain leaf wrapped around a freshly caught fish and cooked over sizzling fires to perfection…Ummm. That is what Kumarakom promises you. Located at a distance of 16 km from Kottayam in Kerala and on the banks of Vembanad Lake, Kerala’s largest lake, Kumarakom is a cluster of many small man-made islands reclaimed from the lake.
Best Time: September to March
Nearest Railway Station: Ernakulam Junction
Best Spots: Eravikulam National Park, Mattupetty Dam, Pothamedu View Point, Anamudi, Blossom Park, Devikulam, Pallivasal, TATA Tea Museum, Nyayamakad, Meesapulimala, and Kolukkumalai.
Idukki
Idukki has evergreen and so pristine! Canopied by lush vegetation, this part of ‘India’s Backwater Capital’ has a unique charm and attracts visitors from almost all the corners of the globe. Idukki is known for its rugged appeal, wildlife sanctuaries, beautiful bungalows, tea factories, rubber plantations, and forests. With rich natural sights to soak up, Idukki is a traveller’s treasure and a heaven for nature lovers.
Best Time: Throughout the year
Nearest Railway Station: Theni Junction
Best Spots: Periyar National Park, Periyar Lake, Idukki Arch Dam, Thekkady, Nandukani, Painavu, Gavi, Murikkady, and Kulamavu Dam.
Kozhikode
Kozhikode, earlier known as Calicut, was the Capital of Malabar during the Zamorin rule 500 years ago. The city is famous for its centuries-old trade in cotton and spices with Jews, Arabs, Phoenicians, and Chinese. Kozhikode is known for its long stretch of beaches and ruins that talk of the rise and fall of monarchies. Bearing the marks of its bygone conquerors, Kozhikode is a much-preferred travel destination.
Best Time: October to March
Airport: Calicut International Airport in Karipur
Nearest Railway Station: Kozhikode Railway Station
Best Spots: Kozhikode Beach, Beypore Beach, Kozhippara Falls, Thusharagiri Falls, Thikkoti Lighthouse, Kadalundi, Tali Temple, Lion’s Park, Kalipoyika, Mananchira Square, and Krishna Menon Museum.
Bekal
An often overlooked tourist spot, Bekal is a silent spectator that watches over its visitors. Located on the west of the Malabar coastline, Bekal is a small town in the Kasargod district of Kerala. Kerala’s largest fort, Bekal, is known for its beaches and backwaters. It is perfect for a long, serene, and quiet vacation surrounded by swaying trees and bricks laid a hundred years ago, a place that lets your thoughts echo.
Best Time: October to March
Nearest Railway Station: Kasaragod Railway Station
Best Spots: Bekal Fort, Pallikere Beach, Bekal Fort Beach, Valiyaparamba Backwaters, Kappil Beach, Hosdurg Beach, Nileswaram Cultural Centre, Nityanandarshan Caves, TulurVanam, and Bekal Hole Aqua Park.
Kovalam
Kovalam is a coastal town located around 13 km from Thiruvananthapuram. This tourist spot hosts a thirty-meter-high lighthouse and a multitude of river bodies. A quieter version of Goa is perfect for an introverted beach-lover who wants the sun on their face and feet in the water. It is known for its exotic resorts and their unparalleled ayurvedic massages.
Best Time: September to March
Nearest Railway Station: Trivandrum Central Railway Station
Best Spots: Lighthouse Beach, Chowara Beach, Kovalam Beach, Hawah Beach, Samudra Beach, Shangumkham Beach, Neyyar Dam, Aruvikkara Dam, Edakallu, Karamana River, Halcyon Castle, Kovalam Art Gallery, and Valiyathura Pier.
Thiruvananthapuram
The capital of the state, Trivandrum or Thiruvananthapuram, is termed the Evergreen City of India. This most significant city in the state is located at the southwestern edge of Kerala.
Setting the perfect example of how rural life gets mixed with the contemporary way of living, Trivandrum is eccentric and quirky. Built upon seven hills, Trivandrum is silent and chaotic simultaneously.
A perfect traveller destination, the city lets you soak the best of both worlds.
Best Time: October to February
Airport: Trivandrum International Airport
Nearest Railway Station: Trivandrum Central Railway Station
Best Spots: Ponmudi, Kovalam, Shanghumugham Beach, Aruvi Waterfalls, Akkulam Tourist Village, Veli Tourist Village, Aruvikkara Dam, Anchuthengu Fort, Napier Museum, Zoological Gardens, Aaranmula Boat Race, Trekking, Meenmutty Falls, Golden Valley, and Peppara Wildlife Sanctuary.
Poovar
Meet the lake, now meet the river, and wait, there’s more. You can meet the sea here too. A stellar vacation spot, Poovar engulfs you with its water bodies. A small rustic town situated 27 km from Thiruvananthapuram with unspoiled, unexplored golden sand beaches and beautiful backwaters of Kerala will sink its charm into your hearts.
Best Time: August to March
Nearest Railway Station: Thiruvananthapuram Railway Station
Best Spots: Poovar Beach, Thiruparappu Falls, Fishing Village, Kalipoika, Kozhipara, and Thikkoti Light House
Let Kerala work its Magic on you
A beautiful state to explore your passion for travelling, get a quiet week of peace, hold hands with your loved ones, watch the children play on the seashore, or take time off to reflect, Kerala checks all the boxes.
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