5 best places to visit on your vacation in Kerala that you shouldn't miss
Kerala, God’s Own Country, is one of the most beautiful places in the world. Its phrase of God’s Own Country is well deserved. The entire region of Kerala is full of attractions and beautiful scenery and all the places are counted as a must to visit.
This paradise in India has hill stations, backwaters, beaches, wildlife sanctuaries, commercial towns, and much more to explore.
The places can be divided as per the seasons like Trivandrum during the monsoons, Munnar in Winter, and Wayanad in summer. It’s very difficult to shortlist the tourist spots in Kerala to narrow it down to five top spots. However, there is an attempt here, and you could include as many of them in your itinerary.
The only suggestion while you’re visiting Kerala is to take a long time off so that you can maximize your stay at the place. Here is the list of the top 5 best places to visit in Kerala.
1. Alleppey – The Venice of India
India’s Own Venice, Alleppey a.k.a Alappuzha tops the list of best tourist attractions in Kerala. It is best known for its world-famous Kerala backwaters. Backwaters are a network of brackish canals, rivers, and lakes that weave half of the state of Kerala. You can cruise down the backwaters while enjoying the unique feel of the “Kettuvallams” or houseboats that provide luxuries including the taste of typical Kerala cuisine.
The houseboats are equipped with all the comforts of a good hotel room, including furnished bedrooms, modern bathrooms, comfortable living rooms, a kitchen, and even a balcony for angling. You can enjoy an uninterrupted view of life in the backwater while staying in a houseboat.
Alappuzha’s Best Tourist Attractions
- Alappuzha Beach
- Krishnapuram Palace
- Marari Beach
- Revi Karunakaran Museum
- Marari Beach
- Punnamada Lake
- Pathiramanal Island
- Sri Krishna Temple in Ambalappuzha
- The Snake Boat Race
Best time to visit
August to February enjoys the perfect weather conditions to plan your trip to Alappuzha. While the second Saturday of August marks the occasion of the annual snake boat race, also known as the Nehru Boat Race.
How to reach
Nearest Airport – Kochi International Airport
Nearest Railway Station – Alleppey Railway Station
2. Munnar- Paradise on Kerala
Munnar is a beautiful hill station in Kerala. Situated at an altitude of 1600 m, at the confluence of the rivers Muthirapuzha, Kundala, and Nallathanni. It’s one of the best holiday spots in Kerala, favored by honeymoon couples from all over the globe. Munnar has been voted one of the most romantic places in the world. The view of the green hills as a touch of clouds in Munnar nourishes your mind and soul. Munnar is one of the largest producers of tea in India. Lush tea plantations, aromatic spice plantations, beautiful lakes, Agasthyakoodam mountain streams, rolling hills, etc. make it truly a wonderful destination.
Munnar offers a treehouse nestled in the woods. Treehouses are built on living trees, but without compromise on comfort or damage to nature. The sun’s rays shine through the leaves while the birds sing a song is one of a kind experience.
Munnar’s Best Tourist Attractions
- Echo point
- Attukad Waterfalls
- Anamudi Peak
- Tea Museum
- Eravikulam National Park
- Cheeyappara Waterfalls
- Top Station
- Marayoor Dolmens
- Indo Swiss Dairy Farm
- Kundala Lake
- Lockhart Gap
- Trekking, cycling, mountain biking,
- mountaineering, etc.
Best time to visit
Throughout the year, the charming hills have their magical bliss all year long.
How to reach
Nearest Airport – Kochi International Airport is 132 km away.
Nearest Railway Station – Aluva Railway Station at a distance of 120 km.
3. Wayanad - The very own garden of Nature
For nature lovers, Wayanad is one of the most popular travel destinations. The district is an integral part of the Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve, so it’s great for enjoying nature and adventures. You will be welcomed to God’s Own Country by the emerald beauty of the hills, the mists clouding the highways, thundering waterfalls, uninhibited wildlife. The attraction for adventure lovers is trekking.
Wayanad is a place that can always remind travellers of lush green hills and plenty of fresh air to breathe in. This place is perfect for those who like to travel the world just for nothing but pure nature and spend a lot of time in the bliss of this place.
There are many luxurious and eco-friendly resorts and a tree-house in Wayanad. Vythiri resort is one of them, it’s hidden in the rainforest. Visiting this place will bring you closer to nature, and the enchanting view it offers will leave you lost in words. In the middle of the night, those who love nightlife will be surprised by the sounds that nature has to offer!
- Wayanad’s Best Tourist Attractions
- Wayanad wildlife sanctuary
- Chembra peak, highest peaks in the region
- The Heart-shaped lake, the trek to Chembra Peak
- Meenmutty Falls
- Ayurveda Yoga Villa
- Edakkal caves
- Kuruwadeep, the Kabini River island, is also a popular eco-spot
- Banasura Sagar Dam
- Wayanad Heritage Museum
- Kanthanpara Waterfalls
- Karapuzha Dam
- Muthanga Wildlife Safari
- Grassroots for a true treehouse stay
Best time to visit
October to May. Wayanad is also one of the most beautiful places to visit to enjoy the benefits of trekking and other adventure activities during the monsoon in Kerala.
How to reach
Nearest Airport – Kozhikode Airport, 100km
Nearest Railway Station – Kozhikode Railway Station, 110 km away.
4. Kovalam- Sand, Surf, and Sea
Kovalam is one of India’s stunning, enjoyable, and relaxing beach destinations. A variety of luxurious hotels and several Ayurveda massage centers are housed in Kerala’s popular tourist destination. Spend time wandering along the sandy beaches, playing water sports, getting a luxurious massage, and enjoying tasty seafood. The peaceful environment of the beach is just right for a long day of relaxation.
Kovalam has three lovely beaches. The largest of the three beaches is the beach of the lighthouse. Hawah Beach is the second largest beach here, and Samudra is the third beach.
Soak your feet into the warm sandy beaches of Kovalam. There are a lot of coconut trees here as far as the eye can see, add to the prime resorts surrounding lush green vegetation, and you’ve got yourself a popular tourist destination.
Kovalam’s Best Tourist Attractions
- Lighthouse beach with an old lighthouse
- Hawah beach
- Samudra Beach
- Somatheeram Ayurveda Resort
- Karamani River
- Vellayani Lake
- Halcyon Castle
- Valiyathura Pier
- Vizhinjam Village
- Surya Samudra Kovalam, one of the most popular resorts to treat in Ayurveda.
Best time to visit
August to February, while the weather is better.
How to reach
Nearest Airport – Trivandrum International Airport, 25 km.
Nearest Railway Station – Trivandrum Railway Station, 25 km away.
5. Thekkady – Wildlife Adventures and Spices
In Kerala, Thekkady ranks among the top places to visit. It is a blessed natural sky with wilderness snuggled in the lush greenery of the Western Ghats. The well-known tourist delight is the forests of Periyar Wildlife Sanctuary besides the Periyar Lake. In fact, there are absolutely spectacular coffee and spice plantations. Periyar, one of India’s 27 Tiger Reserves, has nearly 35 species of fauna, such as elephants, tigers, sambars, gaurs, etc. The greenery is also populated by almost 265 species of birds. Besides, with activities like safari, jungle patrol, bamboo rafting, jungle camp, border hiking, etc., you can enjoy the wilderness.
Thekkady’s Best Tourist Attractions
- Wildlife safari on both the elephant top and the jeep
- Periyar wildlife sanctuary
- Periyar lake
- Eco-friendly resorts
- Kadathanadan Kalari Center
- Elephant Junction
- Ayurvedic Garden
- Mullaperiyar Dam
- Periyar Tiger Trail
Best time to visit
The weather conditions throughout the year are great for visiting this part of Kerala. Even the wildlife safari for the monsoon does not close, though after rains it becomes all the more special.
How to reach
Nearest Airport– Kochi International Airport, at a distance of 160 km.
Nearest Railway Station– Kottayam Railway Station, 114 km away.
Like I said It’s very hard to shortlist the tourist spots in Kerala to narrow it down to five, these are the top five most visited and rated places. But there are so many other beautiful places all over Kerala. Kumarakom, Varkala, Shri Padmanabhaswamy Temple, Thrissur, Idukki, and many other places attract tourists to Kerala.
Kerala is situated on Southern India’s Malabar Coast and provides reasonably comfortable weather throughout the year that differs from the coasts to the hill stations. But even, during the winter season (October to March), the best time to visit Kerala is when the temperature ranges from 24 to 30 degrees celsius. You can visit the magnificent hill stations of Kerala in the summers (March to May), and you can enjoy Ayurvedic treatments during the monsoon season (June to August).
Not only the beauty and nature, but the food in Kerala is also famous and delicious. Kerala’s cuisine offers a wide range of vegetarian and non-vegetarian dishes. Sadhya, Payasam, Biriyani, are some of the most famous dishes. And they’ve got tons of snacks that make you drool.
Now you can plan your trip with our well-planned Kerala vacation packages and make your vacation more enjoyable.
