Kerala earns its heavenly nickname by enthralling visitors with tranquil backwaters lined with coconut groves, mist-veiled mountains blanketed in emerald forests, striking golden beaches with lazy waves, vibrant classical art forms and temple rituals, tantalising fiery coconut curries and fresh seafood, rejuvenating massage therapies using medicinal oils and herbs, abundant elephants and tigers dwelling within protected parks and reserves, plus spectacular, larger-than-life festivals.
This Southern state promises experiences found nowhere else — float through palm-shaded channels on a converted rice barge, receive a soothing massage surrounded by cardamom hills, marvel at an elaborate Kathakali dance drama with ornate costumes and masks, meander through acres of pepper vines and vanilla orchards, venture out on a dawn safari to spot herds of elephants roaming wild through the forests.
Here are 8 compelling reasons Kerala should be on your travel list:
1. Tranquil Backwaters
Drifting along Kerala’s palm-lined backwaters, a network of brackish channels, peaceful lagoons reflecting clouds overhead, and smooth lakes allow you to soak in the region’s aura of deep tranquillity. One can lazily meander past tiny villages with tidy cottages painted in sapphire, lemon, and ruby hues, expansive emerald green rice paddies reaching the distant hillsides, and extensive coconut groves arching over the still, jade waters.
Top backwater destinations and activities:
Alappuzha: Cruise on converted rice barges and slender canoes
Kumarakom: Spot colourful kingfishers, try your hand at fishing, visit rural villages
Kollam: Embark on a backwater tour unveiling natural splendour
Kozhikode: Find peace surrounded by unspoiled, lush greenery
Best time to visit: September to March
2. Mesmerizing Hill Stations
Kerala’s mountain destinations warrant many visits. They include rolling hills blanketed in emerald, gushing waterfalls that invite expansive tea estates and rich flora and fauna unique to the Western Ghats.
Top hill stations and things to enjoy:
Munnar: Tour lush tea estates, trek to cascading waterfalls, and identify exotic birds.
Thekkady: See wildlife like elephants at Periyar Reserve on lake cruises
Wayanad: Hike through rainforests, try caving, rappel down tumbling falls
Ponmudi: Revel in a quintessential hill station with golden valleys to explore
Devikulam: Sightsee, traverse aromatic spice and coffee gardens
Best time to go: September to May
3. Beautiful Beaches
Kerala’s long, meandering coastline unveils breathtaking sandy stretches with gentle surf, swaying coconut groves, bustling seaside eateries dishing up the daily coastal catch, water sports and more for memorable beach holidays.
Top beach destinations and activities:
Kovalam: Lifeguard patrolled crescent beaches, views from the old lighthouse
Varkala: Admire vivid sunsets from russet clifftop perches, enjoy water sports, soak in mineral springs believed to have medicinal properties
Bekal: Wander through this picturesque seaside town home to one of Kerala’s most prominent forts and serene backwaters.
Marari: Appreciate the unspoiled shores and tranquillity
Cherai: Laze on the inviting sands of this “Princess Beach”
Best time to visit: October to March when the Arabian Sea is calmest
4. Scenic Spice Plantations
Meander through the aromatic spice and tea gardens, which Kerala has been famed for centuries, across misty highland districts like Munnar and Wayanad. Learn about cultivation directly from expert growers, tour processing factories, and buy fresh vanilla, cardamom, pepper, and more. Consider Munnar tour packages for a smooth travel experience that will let you fully enjoy these beautiful destinations.
Top plantations and things to do:
Munnar: Tour emerald tea estates taste various tea types like green Nilgiri
Wayanad: Stroll shaded coffee and spice plantations and see how pepper and coffee are dried.
Thekkady: Visit cardamom, pepper and vanilla orchards
Vagamon: Explore picturesque tea gardens cloaking rolling hills
Nelliyampathy: Check out orange groves nestled amidst the verdant heights
Best time for pleasant weather: September to March
5. Wonderful Wildlife
In Kerala’s well-protected wildlife sanctuaries and reserves, you can spot majestic Indian elephants, elusive tigers on the prowl, acrobatic leopards on tree branches, the rare lion-tailed macaque, and exotic birds like the Malabar trogon.
Top wildlife parks and sightings include:
Periyar Reserve: Elephants tigers during guided lake cruises
Eravikulam Park: The rare Nilgiri Tahr mountain goat grazes these highland grasslands
Silent Valley Park: Lion-tailed macaques and vibrant exotic birds dwell in this rainforest
Wayanad Sanctuary: Spot whole herds of elephants roaming these lush forests, where pepper vines and coffee bushes cover the understory.
Kumarakom Bird Sanctuary: A beloved home to migratory birds and various resident avian species dwelling within the mangroves.
6. Rich Culture
Immerse yourself in Kerala’s enduring cultural legacy through its vibrant classical art forms, such as elaborate Kathakali dancing, spectacular temple parades, flavorful cuisine, ancient martial arts like Kalaripayattu, and traditional architecture.
Top cultural experiences:
- Marvel at the intricate costumes and facial expressions of an authentic Kathakali dance drama
- Watch the grand Thrissur Pooram festival parade, with decorated elephants over 10 feet tall, priests beating large drums that echo around the grounds, and holy men holding up a shining gold statue to bless the crowds.”
- Practice Kalaripayattu, an old Indian martial art from Kerala. This art features complex attack moves and weapons such as curved blades, spiked shields, and daggers in each hand.
- Embark on an engaging village tour to experience enduring rural cultural traditions.
- Wander atmospheric Fort Kochi to admire artefacts left by Portuguese, Dutch and English colonists.
Best time to experience culture: September to March
7. World-Class Cuisine
Kerala cuisine shines with subtle, aromatic dishes featuring fresh seafood, coconut milk, spices, and herbs. The daily coastal catch transforms into tangy curries or is fried to crispy perfection, while vegetarian fare charms with complex flavours.
Must-try signature dishes:
- Seafood delicacies like fish molee, crab roast, shrimp, coconut fry
- Spicy curries like avial, erissery, theeyal
- Appam with vegetable or meat stew – soft rice pancake with bowl of stew for dipping
- Puttu: steamed rice cake enjoyed with bananas, chickpeas or sweet jaggery
- Payasam: beloved rice pudding made in myriad flavours
- Masala chai: robust black tea brewed with aromatic spices and warmed milk
The best time is any time to feast on Kerala’s flavours!
8. Adventurous Activities
Kerala gets your heart pumping with adventure options like trekking along narrow trails through tea estates, rock climbing sheer cliff faces, hurtling downhill on mountain bikes, shooting rapids while bamboo rafting, canoeing across tranquil lakes, parasailing over the Arabian Sea and more – all set against backdrops of lush forests and emerald fields.
Top adventure activities beckon:
Trekking: Follow narrow trails through Munnar’s tea estates or ascend Wayanad’s Chembra Peak
Boating: Canoe on Thekkady Lake, try bamboo rafting on the Periyar River
Parasailing: Soar over the Arabian Sea with Kovalam Beach as your launch point
White water rafting: Brave the rapids of the Chalipuzha River
Mountain biking: Careen down off-road trails across Munnar’s verdant tea estates
Best seasons for adventure: September to March
Conclusion
From cruising tropical waterways to going on jeep safaris, receiving relaxing Ayurveda treatments, and indulging in sadya feasts, whether you seek tranquillity or adventure, Kerala promises enriching experiences. With ancient ports, royal palaces, sprawling plantations, protected parks, and more, it’s easy to see why Kerala tops many travellers’ bucket lists.
Think about getting Kerala tour packages for a smooth travel experience that will let you fully enjoy this beautiful destination.”
