One of the beautiful states in our country is Kerala. Kerala is situated in the south western region of India. A state filled with natural beauty, Kerala is also known as “God’s Own Country”. Kerala is an extraordinary state that has many attractive points inside it.
Kerala, a very prominent state in India, known as the “God’s Own Country” is a coastal state. The state is bordered by a number of beaches; covered by hills of Western Ghats and filled with backwaters. Kerala is situated in the southwestern region of India; Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, and Andhra Pradesh are the neighboring states to Kerala.
Kerala major cities include Munnar, Thekkady, Alleppey, Kovalam , Wayanad ,Kochi.
The southernmost district and the capital of Kerala, God’s own country, one who visits capital Thiruvananthapuram, visit heaven experiencing the ecstasy of being here. It is situated along the Arabian Sea with isolated hills on a coastal plain.
Though Kerala is a year-round destination, the best season to visit Kerala depends on which place in Kerala you’re visiting. While some lace is most enjoyable during the monsoons, others are best visited during the winter season. Overall, the best time to visit Kerala is from September to March, when the weather is pleasant, making it easy for tourists to explore the myriad facets of the state the hills station beaches, and backwaters.
Summers in Kerala are from March to May, and this is when the weather is hot and humid in most parts of the state. The humidity makes it hard to enjoy sightseeing, although it does get cooler in the evening. Hills stations remain cool during summer as well, so one can surely visit places like Munnar, Thekkady, or Wayanad during the summers. Places such as Kochi, Alleppey, and Kumarakom on the other hand, turn too humid and uncomfortable for being outdoors that does deter tourists from taking advantage of the lower offers season prices.
Monsoons, from the months of June to August are perfect for visiting most parts of Kerala, Including the backwaters, beaches, and hill stations. In monsoons, one can enjoy a refreshing climate as well as witness the lush green landscapes of the state in full bloom.The monsoon season is also ideal for indulging in Ayurvedic therapies and the spa offers respite is also from the humidity and wet and cold weather help ignite a sense of rejuvenation.
December marks the start of winters in Kerala with milder temperatures till February. The winter season is perfect for visiting the backwaters and the beaches since the humidity are lower and the weather is cool and pleasant. Winter makes the hill station slightly cooler than general. In winters, places such as Munnar and Thekkady offer beautiful views of mist-clad mountain tops and foggy tea gardens, a mesmerizing sight for those with a penchant for nature walks. In fact, winters are the best time to visit Kerala for a honeymoon.
The largest airport in Kerala, Cochin International Airport is located at Nedumbassery, about 25 kilometers northeast of the city, Kochi Airport also happens to be the seventh busiest airport in India and is connected well to the city by car rental services and taxis.
Trivandrum International Airport is 7 km from the city center. Trivandrum Airport is a major gateway for tourists traveling to Middle East Southeast Asia and also serves as a pilot training center. There are various ways to travel to and from the airport like taxis, buses, and autos.
There are many languages spoken in Kerala, though the official language of Kerala is Malayalam. This language belongs to the Dravidian group of languages. Almost 90% of people of Kerala speak Malayalam. There are 5 main regional dialects of Malayalam. Other common languages that are spoken in Kerala are English and Tamil.
Kerala is all about beauty and thrills and water sports in Kerala are a coming together of fun and adventure. Some of the activities that travelers and adventure enthusiasts are often seen trying out are listed here. Take a quick glance and take your pick!
Kayaking, Canoeing, Scuba Diving, Catamaran Sailing, Snorkeling, Parasailing, Windsurfing, Water Skiing, River Crossing, Banana Ride, Knee Boarding, Bamboo Rafting, Sea Surfing, Boating.Fishing.
Get ready for the magical retail therapy with the wide Kerala shopping options!
Kerala is a popular Indian travel destination that receives a heavy number of tourists every year owing to its sublime natural beauty and rich culture and traditions. But it is not just its beauty or various enjoyable activities that attract travelers from all over the world, but also the great opportunity for your Kerala shopping trip. A plethora of fantastic items such as aromatic spices, coffee, exquisite silk products, or intricate jewelry that you can either get only here or have to compromise on quality elsewhere, is a major attraction too.
Coffee, Tea, Aroma oils, Spices, Cashew Nuts, Kasava Mundu, Banana Chips, Coir and other handicraft items, Jewellery.
Munnar is a popular hill station of Kerala perched at an altitude of 1600 meters in the Western Ghats. Famous for its tea estates, various shades of green, blankets of mist and craggy peaks, Munnar is aptly known as the ‘Kashmir of South India’.
Situated on the banks of three rivers- Madupetti, Nallathanni, and Periavaru, Munnar is also blessed with natural viewpoints apart from the tea plantations. Munnar is divided into Old Munnar, where the tourist information office is, and Munnar, where the bus station and most guest houses are located.
Rock climbing and rappelling are some of the popular activities offered in and around Munnar.
The Eravikulam National Park, tata tea museum, Salim Ali Bird Sanctuary, chinar wildlife sanctuary, and tea plantations are its major attraction.
Staying in a Tree House is emerging to be the new vacation thing and it is definitely going to be one of the most exotic experiences of your life.
Home to the country’s largest Tiger Reserve- Periyar, Thekkady is a great way to enjoy a jungle vacation.
Periyar National Park, being a major attraction, is one place where you can enjoy bamboo rafting in the catchment area of Mullaperiyar Dam, hiking, and in the midst of the wilderness, shopping! Popular for its good eating joints, you can also enjoy its vast stretches of spice gardens and various adventure sports. You can also enjoy a night trek in the wilderness of Periyar. The early morning ride in the boat within the sanctuary is an extremely awesome experience and you might be able to spot wild elephants, bison, wild boars, various kinds of birds, etc. Anakarra is also located nearby which is a great
place to enjoy nature. Murikaddy is located around 5 km from the city and is famous for coffee and spices plantations..
Periyar Tiger Trail, Periyar National Park, bamboo rafting, Spice Shopping, Green Park Ayurvedic & Spices Plantation, Jungle Camping are some of the most popular places to visit in Thekkady, for the tourist.
Officially called Alappuzha, Alleppey is the picture-perfect place known for its beautiful backwaters and the houseboats offering overnight stays. The coastline of Alleppey offers some of the best beaches in Kerala with water sports during the dry season.
Alleppey is located close to Kochi in the South Indian state of Kerala. Its palm-fringed inter-connect network of canal backwaters attracts a lot of tourists from all over the world. Coupled with other beautiful places in Kerala, Alleppey is often considered for a honeymoon or for a great family vacation.
There are plenty of houseboats, homestays, and rejuvenating Ayurvedic resorts that make staying in Alleppey brilliant. The houseboats pass through the serene backwaters, where you can catch glimpses of green paddy fields, choir-making activities, beautiful avifauna, and witness the life of locals in Kerala.
Be sure to catch a traditional snake boat race in the months of August and September and try out some toddy (palm wine) at a local toddy shop for adding a touch of authenticity to your travel experience in Alleppey.
Places to visit – Alappuzha beach, Marari beach, Nehru Trophy Boat Race, Backwaters in Alleppey, Vembanad Lake.
Kovalam is an idyllic coastal town located around 13 km from Thiruvananthapuram in Kerala. Famous for its three adjacent crescent-shaped shallow water and low tidal beaches, Kovalam is dotted with resorts and ayurvedic massage centres.
Ayurvedic treatments and massages are one of its most popular indulgences along with yoga, meditation as well as other cultural activities. Kovalam perhaps comes full circle as it is also a shopping destination given the rich spices, wooden statues and handicrafts that can make popular takeaways.
Places to visit – Lighthouse Beach, Vizhinjam Marine Aquarium, Ashoka beach, Ayurvedic spa & massage, Artificial offshore coral reef, houseboat.
Popular excursions – Surfing, Catamaran ride, Water sports – The water activities which are offered by the sports clubs include parasailing, snorkeling, windsurfing and backwater cruise.
Replete with waterfalls, historical caves, comfortable resorts, and homestays, Wayanad in Kerala is famous for its spice plantations and wildlife. Walking through the sprawling spice plantations, trekking to the pre-historic caves and experiencing a resort holiday are one of the many things you can do to get a taste of Wayanad.
Wayanad is best known for the wildlife reserves – Wayanad wildlife reserve which is home to an exquisite variety of flora and fauna. Wayanad wildlife reserve is an integral part of the Nilgiri biosphere reserve peacefully located amidst the serene hills of Western Ghats. Wayanad homes a wide variety of wildlife like elephants, leopards, and bears. If taking a road trip from Bangalore, you will drive through three national parks: Nagarhole, Bandipur, and Mudumalai.
Places to visit – Wayanad Wildlife Sanctuary, Edakkal Caves, E3 Theme Park, Chembara peak, stay in a Treehouse, Soochipara Falls.
Situated on the southwest coast of India, Kochi or Cochin is a bustling commercial port city with a trading history that dates back to at least 600 years. Called as the Queen of the Arabian Sea, the city is the financial, commercial and industrial capital of Kerala.
A gaggle of islands interconnected by ferries, this cosmopolitan town has upmarket stores, art galleries, and some of the finest heritage accommodations. In a true vintage-meets-future fashion, pubs, restaurants, shopping hubs and futuristic stores crowd Ernakulum, Jew Town and Fort Kochi while palaces, beaches, temples, and heritage sites marking their presence too. Kochi is also an important place to see Kathakali and Kalarippayattu performances and the annual Biennale Festival.
Top places to visit in Kochi – Marine Drive, Willingdon Island, Bolgatty Palace, Lullu mall, Wonderla amusement park, Cherrai Beach, Kerela kathakali center. MG Road shopping centre, Chinese fishing net.