13 Attractions you should never miss on a Kerala Tour
God’s Own Country, Kerala, is a sought-after travel destination when it comes to find a place that complements vacation with peacefulness and unwinding experience.
In the introduction of the state, attributes such as tranquil beaches, majestic hill stations, waterfalls, stunning backwaters, wide range of biodiversity, lush greenery, exotic art forms, delicious cuisines, lush greenery, rich heritage, architectural splendor, and a lot more.
Here's a comprehensive travel guide to Kerala Tourism. You may also want to check out the 5 best luxury hotels in Kerala.
Kerala is also known as one of the best destinations for monsoon holidays in India.
Thus, there are numerous tour packages for Kerala that are sold like hot cake, throughout the year. Here are some of the major destinations of Kerala that are considered a must visit to ensure a memorable vacation.
Alappuzha
Alappuzha/Alleppey, popularly known as the ‘Venice of East’, is one of the popular destinations in Kerala. There are numerous canals, lagoons and lakes that serve as the lifeline of Alleppey. Raja Keshawadasan, Divan of Travanacore, founded Alleppey in 1762.
Numerous coconut trees and pristine backwater adorn the place. The pleasant climatic condition also plays crucial role in making the place a must visit travel destination. Thus, Alappuzha is a place to visit if you are looking for a relaxing vacation.
Best Season: September - March
Weather: Summer 20°C to 36°C; Winter 16°C to 32°C
Attractions: Alleppey Beach, Kumarakom Bird Sanctuary, St Andrew's Church, Kumarakom Backwater, etc.
Bekal
Though being a small region, the natural setting of the place also attracts tourists from all parts of the globe to visit Bekal. The region lies in the Pallikare village in Kasargod district of Kerala. There are numerous architectural splendors that make this small region a worth visit destination. The tranquility is also one of the major attribute that makes this a relaxing destination.
Best Season: September - March
Weather: Summer 22°C to 35°C; Winter 20°C to 25°C
Attractions: Bekal Fort, Bekal Fort Beach, Kappil Beach, Chandragiri Fort, etc.
Fort Kochi
In the list of popular cities in Kerala, Kochi occupies a prominent destination. The region is beautifully set with the Arabian Sea in the west and Western Ghats in the East. The World Travel & Tourism Council also acclaims the destination as one of the top three tourist destinations.
Along with this, Fort Kochi ha also acquired a prominent position in ‘50 greatest places of a lifetime’ by National Geographic Traveler's. There are numerous attractions that win the heart of travelers.
Best Season: October - March
Weather: Summer 24°C to 37°C; Winter 17°C to 33°C
Attractions: Jewish Synagogue, Cherai Beach, Fort Kochi, Chinese Fishing Nets, Willingdon Island, etc.
Kovalam
Kovalam, city with four sandy bays, is located at a distance of 16 km from Kerala. The name ‘Kovalam’ means ‘groove of coconut trees’. In 1930, the prominent beach resort outpaced the obstacles and emerged as the beautiful tourist attraction in South India.
Travelers looking for a place to redefine tranquility, Kovalam is the destination to be. There are beautiful beaches to win the hearts of guests and enjoy the sand, water and sun. The pleasant climatic conditions also play crucial role in making the place an enjoyable experience.
Best Season: September - March
Weather: Summer 20°C to 36°C; Winter 16°C to 34°C
Attractions: Hawa Beach, Samudra Beach, Lighthouse Beach, Ponmudi, etc.
Kumarakom
Kumarakom, the tropical city, is another must visit destination in Kerala. There are beautiful islands around the popular Vembanad Lake also attracts tourists from all across to spend a memorable vacation. Additionally, lush greenery adds to the unspoilt tranquility of the place.
There also are various picnic spots making it an ideal destination for family vacationers. This place is also a paradise for honeymooners and an inspirations of great ideas for honeymoon and romance in Kerala.
Best Season: September - March
Weather: Summer 20°C to 37°C; Winter 18°C to 32°C
Attractions: Backwaters, Kumarakom Bird Sanctuary, Bay Island Driftwood Museum, etc.
Munnar
Munnar, a beautiful hill town, located at an altitude of 6000 ft is a paradise for honeymooners. The destination had served as an ideal summer retreat for British Colonies.
Along with tranquility and natural beauty, the exotic flora and fauna has also attracted tourists palaces to visit in Munnar. Lush greenery also adorns the place and wins the hearts of the visitors.
Best Season: August - May
Weather: Summer 19°C to 35°C; Winter 11°C to 32°C
Attractions: Anamudi Peak, Mattupetty Dam, Pothamedu View Point, Salim Ali Bird Sanctuary, Hill View Park, etc.
Thekkady
Thekkady acquired a prominent position in the list of major tourist destinations in India. Along with scenic beauty, the exotic wildlife is also one of the major attributes attracting tourists from all round the globe.
Along with nature lovers, wildlife enthusiasts also get their interest fulfilled. Lush greenery also makes the place appear a real paradise for travelers.
Did you get any idea to plan your wildlife vacation in India?
Best Season: September - March
Weather: Summer 20°C to 36°C; Winter 16°C to 32°C
Attractions: Periyar National Park, Bamboo Rafting, Periyar Lake, Abraham's Spice Garden, etc.
Varkala
Varkala, along with meeting the interest of nature lovers and honeymooners, also fulfills the requirement of adventure lovers. There are numerous thrilling activities such as parasailing and paragliding organized.
Along with this, there also are temples that serve to the architectural splendor of the place. Beaches are also a heart-winning place here to enjoy quality time with family, friends and a special someone.
Best Season: October - March
Weather: Summer 22°C to 40°C; Winter 12°C to 33°C
Attractions: Anjengo Fort, Varkala Beach, Sivagiri Mutt, Janardhanaswamy Temple, etc.
Wayanad
The name Wayanad is derived from Vayal Nadu, which means Paddy fields (Vayal) and land (Nadu). Being cozily settled in the mist clad mountains, lush greenery and intense forests, Wayanad serves as a great tourist destination for nature lovers and honeymooners.
Moreover, this hill town is also praised for excellent climatic condition and exotic flora and fauna.
Best Season: October - May
Weather: Summer 20°C to 36°C; Winter 10°C to 31°C
Attractions: Edakkal Caves, Kuruva Dweep, Pookot Lake, Thirunelli Temple, Soochipara Falls, etc.
Periyar
Periyar is a praiseworthy destination in India for providing shelter for an exotic range of fauna and flora. The national park was established in 1982 with the core area of 140 sq mi (350 sq km) out of the total area of 357 sq mi (925 sq km).
The Periyar national park provides shelter to about 35 species of mammals, 265 species of birds, 45 species of reptiles, 40 species of fish and about 160 butterfly taxa.
The range includes both preserved and endangered species. Additionally, the national park is also a must visit for nature lovers as there are about 140 species of orchids and 171 species of grass.
Best Season: September - May
Weather: Summer 21°C to 24°C; Winter 15°C to 20°C
Attractions: Periyar National Park
Thrissur
Thrissur is the short name for Thrissivaperror which is named after Lord Shiva. The cultural and spiritual richness is one of the major attribute that wins the hearts of the visitors. The place is also praised for housing various artistic, cultural and academic institutions.
The scenic beauty of the place has also won the hearts of the visitors and attracted them to live a memorable experience. Vadakkumnathan temple is one of the must visit architectural splendor, which is devoted to Lord Shiva.
You may also want to check out the Top 5 Richest Temples in India.
Best Season: October - March
Weather: Summer 23°C to 37°C; Winter 17°C to 20°C
Attractions: Athirapally Falls, Shankara Samadhi, Vadakkunnathan Temple, Heritage Garden, etc.
Gavi
Gavi is a small village in Pathanamthitta district of Kerala. The village is a must visit destination in Kerala as there is bountiful of natural beauty. There are evergreen forests which are praised for excellent wildlife.
One can spot tiger, leopard, elephant, sambar, mouse deer, Indian gaur, bear, lion tailed macaque, barking deer and Nilgiri marten. Along with this, the forest is also a paradise for bird lovers as there are almost 250 species of birds including both native and migratory.
Best Season: October - March
Weather: Summer 20°C to 28°C; Winter 15°C to 20°C
Attractions: Evergreen Forests
Kuttanad
Kuttanad is a praiseworthy destination identified for various paddy fields and beaches. The region is segregated into three divisions namely Lower Kuttanad, Middle Kuttanad and Upper Kuttanad.
The place has also played a crucial role in the history of South India. One can also find a few Buddhist sites as the place also serves as a center for Buddhism. The temperature is pleasant and thus, encourages the visitors to enjoy outside activities to the fullest.
Best Season: September - March
Weather: Summer 20°C to 36°C; Winter 16°C to 32°C
Attractions: Kuttanad Backwaters, Vembanad Lake, etc.
Also check out the Top Places to Visit in India.
Do check out this Kerala tour packages if you are interested planning your vacation to 'God's own Country'.
Contributed By Neelam Talreja