Kerala, a state blessed by nature, is equally famous for its unique culture, colourful festivals and authentic customs. The tranquil and serene backwaters, beautiful hill stations, lush vegetation, exotic waterfalls, scenic mountains and beaches, tropical climate and rich culture, including the famous Ayurveda treatment.
The state is bordered by the Arabian Sea in the west and the towering Western Ghats in the east. The Western Ghats, which is a UNESCO world heritage site, is one of the eight hottest hotspots of biological diversity in the world.
Kerala is well connected to all the main cities via road, rail and air. It has direct air connectivity to most of the major cities in the world.
So if you are planning your next vacation in Kerala trust us you won’t be disappointed. But, before that you should have a clear picture of the Kerala tourist places you could explore so that you could use your valuable time properly while you are in Kerala.
Famous hill stations
So if you are looking for solace in the calmness of mountains you should visit the beautiful hill stations.
Among them, Munnar is more popular among the tourists. Located in the Idukki district of the state, Munnar lies at a height of 5,200 ft above the sea level has many peaks, sprawling plantations, and also houses the famous Eravikulam National Park.
Munnar is well connected to other parts of the state by road and for those who are coming from outside of Kerala Aluva (112) km and Angamali (116) are the nearest railway stations. For foreign tourists, Cochin International Airport (110 km) is the nearest airport.
Gavi, located in the Pathanamthitta district, is an adventure destination included under Ecotourism project of Kerala Forest Development Corporation. Gavi is a great place for trekking, wildlife watching and you can enjoy canoeing on the Gavi Lake. The nearest railway station is Kottayam (120 km) and Cochin International Airport is more than 180 km from Gavi.
If you want to be at a less exploed and less crowded place then Parunthumpara in Idukki district is what you are looking for.The place is called Parunthumpara (eagle rock) as it provides a bird’s eye view of a large area surrounding it. The place also has great trekking trails and picturesque landscape. It lies between Peermade and Thekkady (two other famous hill stations in Kerala). Alight at Kottayam railway station (96 km) to reach Parunthumpara. Cochin International Airport is 140 km from the destination.
Ilaveezha Poonchira is an ideal place for trekking and is in the Kottayam district. The place is surrounded by three hillocks and a natural pond is formed in the valley during the monsoon season. It is 87 km from Cochin International Airport and 55 km from Kottayam railway station.
Other famous hill stations include Wagamon, Mattupetty, Neelimala (Wayanad), Nelliyampathi (Palakkad), Ranipuram hills (Kasaragod) etc…
Famous beaches
The famous Kovalam beach is in the state capital Thiruvananthapuram. It is one of the favourite tourist hubs in Kerala. It is an ideal place for sunbathing and swimming the sea is also calm and peaceful. There are also many Ayurvedic resorts in the close proximity to the beach. The place is also close to the city and you just need to travel 14 km from Thiruvananthapuram Central railway station to reach there. Trivandrum International Airport is just 11 km away from the beach.
Another famous beach is Varkala beach. The beach is bordered by a long stretch of red laterite cliffs and there are lots of natural spas on the sides of these cliffs. It is also an ideal place for swimming. You can elite either at Varkala railway station (2 km) or Thiruvananthapuram Central railway station (51 km). Trivandrum International Airport is 48 km from the beach.
About 8 km from Varkala is another naturally blessed place Kappil. The Kappil beach is unique with the confluence of sea and lake. Unlike the Varkala beach, Kappil beach is secluded. Again you will have to get down at Varkala railway station (7) or at Thiruvananthapuram Central railway station (61 km).
Cherai is one of the cleanest and less crowded beaches in Kochi and can be reached easily from Cochin International Airport which is 30 km from the beach. The nearest railway station is Aluva (20 km).
The Kappad in Kozhikode is a historical beach in Kerala. It is the place where Portuguese explorer Vasco Da Gama first landed in 1498. It has got a beautiful corniche and park. Kozhikode railway station is 16 km away from the beach and Karipur International Airport is at a distance of 23 km.
In the Northern part of Kerala is the famous Bekal beach. Giving the beach a picturesque background is the historic Bekal Fort. Get down at Kasargode railway station (14 km) or at Mangalore International Airport (50 km) to get there.
Houseboat rides
You are in Kerala and how could you miss the famed boat ride through the serene backwaters of the state. Alappuzha is famous for the houseboat rides. It is an unforgettable experience and these boats are equipped with all the modern facilities. The place is also a great place to explore mouthwatering seafood cuisines.
Have you ever wanted to live in a little village which is blessed with scenic beauty? Then please don't forget to make a pit stop at Kumarakom during your Kerala visit. It is a little hamlet surrounded by Vembanad lake. You can refresh your mind with the exotic scenery, yummy seafood and peaceful atmosphere. The place offers houseboat rides, boat trips, fishing facilities and a perfect place to relax while sipping on tender coconut water. Kumarakom is also famous for the bird sanctuary and it houses a wide variety of migratory birds.
A houseboat ride through the Ashtamudi lake in Kollam district is a great place to enjoy the beauty of coconut groves and palm trees that border the beautiful lake. The place is also less crowded compared to Alappuzha
Majestic Waterfalls
Athirappally is undoubtedly the most famous waterfall in Kerala. The waterfall is 80 ft high and has been featured in many Indian movies. It is surrounded by lush green forests and is some 30 km away from Chalakkudy in Thrissur district. The nearest main railway station is Thrissur (60 km) and Cochin International Airport is 40 km away from the famed waterfalls. The waterfalls come alive during the monsoon season.
Meenmutty waterfall is one of the major tourist attractions in Wayanad. It is a three-tiered waterfall and you will have to trek about 2 km through the forest to reach the place. It is on the Ooty main road and is connected by buses to Kalpeta, which is 29 km away. Kozhikode is the nearest railway station (100 km) and Karipur International Airport is 110 km away from the waterfalls.
Other famous waterfalls are Palaruvi, Kollam, Sentinel Rock, Wayanad, Thommankuthu, Nyayamkadu and Keezharkuth in Idukki, and Thusharagiri in Kozhikode.
Pilgrim centers
Kerala is also a great place if you want to embark on a spiritual journey. The land has many famous pilgrimage places such as Guruvayoor, Padmanabhaswamy Temple, Palayoor St.Thomas Church (first church in India), Bharananganam (resting place of Saint Alphonsa's tomb), Cheraman Juma Masjid (the very first mosque in India built in 629 AD) and Beemapally. Kerala also has around 9 Jain temples.
Festivals
Perhaps Onam, the harvest festival of Kerala, could be one of the ancient festivals which are still celebrated by people irrespective of religion and caste.
The annual Thrissur Pooram attracts a large number of foreigners to Kerala.
Pulikali (tiger dance), a spectacular event, is annually done in accordance to Onam celebrations in Thrissur and attracts a large number of people from all over the country and outside.
Another perfect time to visit Kerala is during the famous boat races such as Nehru Trophy boat race, Champakulam Moolam boat race, Punnamada boat race and Payippad Vallamkali. You just have to visit Alappuzha between July and September to enjoy all these famous boat races.
Places you shouldn’t miss
If you just want to enjoy the cultural heritage of the state then you should take a trip through Cochin, Munnar, Alleppey, Kumarakom and Kovalam. In Cochin visit the Hill Palace Museum in Tripunithura. Many buildings and bungalows which were once part of the Colonial period are still standing in Fort Kochi and Mattancherry.
Munnar and Wayanad offers the glimpse of greenery in Kerala the perfect places to relax. Wayanad, which houses a part of the Wester Ghats, is also home to many indigenous tribal groups in Kerala. The land offers exotic landscapes and is famous for Edakkal Caves (two natural caves which have pictorial writings believed to date to at least 6,000 BC), Lakkidi is known as the Chirapunjee of Kerala,Wayanad Wildlife Sanctuary, Banasura Sagar dam, Pookot lake, Chembra Peak and its heart-shaped lake and Kuruvadweep are some of the exotic places you should visit in Wayanad.
Thekkady where the famous Periyar National Park is located is a big tourist destination in Kerala. The national park is the best place to site elephants, lion-tailed Macaques, tigers, deers, Indian bisons, Nilgiri langurs etc… It is also famous for natural spices such as black pepper, cardamom, nutmeg, ginger, cinnamon and clove.
Thattekad bird sanctuary is one of the best bird sanctuaries in the country. It is located in the Kothamangalam municipality of Ernakulam (Kochi) district.
The authentic Kerala cuisine is something you should taste once in a lifetime. So when you next think about planning your vacation remember that Kerala is your ideal place to relax, explore, enjoy and spend your precious time.
