The Best places to visit in Kerala and a perfect Kerala Itinerary

Enchanting forests on rolling hills, mesmerizing waterfalls, winding roads through lush green plantations, serene backwaters and pristine beaches – the little state of Kerala is a paradise for nature-lovers. No wonder they call it God’s own country. Kerala is home to some of my most favorite places to visit in India. Here’s a list of the best places to visit in Kerala.

Note that I am talking about holiday destinations where you can spend atleast two to three days if not more. Within these places you have some top attractions I will be talking about.

My top 5 places in Kerala

Munnar

Situated at an elevation of 1600 m, Munnar is the most beautiful hill station in South India. A former summer resort of the British, Munnar is famous for the lush green tea plantations on rolling hills. It is also home to some of the most beautiful waterfalls in Kerala like the Lakkam falls, Chinnakanal falls etc. While it is a perfect destination for families, Munnar is attracts adventurists for the several hiking trails. 

Points of interest:

• Eravikulam National Park famous for the endangered Nilgiri Tahr
• Anamudi Peak – highest peak in South India
• Matupetty dam
• Kundala Lake
• Anairankal dam
• Kanan Devan Tea estate
• Top Station

Where to Stay:

• Elephant Passage
• Sterling Munnar
• Fort Munnar

Alleppey

Who has not heard about Alleppey, the Venice of the East. You can stay in a houseboat and have a soulful experience in the backwaters of Kerala. Or just take a ferry with the locals to explore the villages of Alapuzha. A boat ride in the Vembanad Lake will take you through the vast lake as well as the narrow canals passing through the villages. Float in the waters waving at the inquisitive locals, enjoying the views of rural life, succulent paddy fields and watching birds that visit from far-away lands.

Apart from backwaters and birds, Aleppey is notable for amazing religious architecture. You will find some of the prettiest churches here as well as some beautiful temples. And of course, the quaint and clean beaches of Alappuzha in the west. 

Points of interest:

• Vembanad Lake
• Aleppey Backwaters
• Aleppey Lighthouse and museum
• Alleppey beach
• Pathiramanal
• Ambalapuzha Sri Krishna Temple

Where to stay:

• Deshadan Backwater Resort
• Sterling Lake Palace
• Houseboat for large group

Poovar

Coastal Kerala is dotted with enchanting islands accessible only through backwaters. One such island located at the southern tip of Thiruvananthapuram is the unspoiled island of Poovar. I was lucky to visit this serene village on a short corporate trip. It is a wonderful place to detox and revive yourself in the weekend and come back with new energy to work on a Monday.

Interesting Places and Activities

• Backwaters
• Poovar Beach
• Thirparappu Falls, etc.

Places to stay:

• Estuary Saovar Portico
• Over The Hill

Thekkady

Thekkady is located in Idukki, the most beautiful district of Kerala. Did you know that the famous Sabarimala Temple (yes that one that broke into national news) is located at a hill-top in Periyar forest? In fact the trek to Sabarimala on foot begins from a temple here. It is one of the biggest Hindu pilgrimage and has a great deal restrictions on all those who want to visit it.

Interesting places and activities:

The main attraction of Thekkady is the Periyar Tiger Reserve. Here are some things you will enjoy in and around the reserve:

Jungle Safari in Periyar Tiger Reserve, attend cultural performance at Kadathanadan Kalari Centre, Periyar Lake cruise, Spice garden tour, Ottakathalamedu, Bamboo rafting, shopping at Kumily.

Places to stay:

• Spice Village CGH Earth
• Kalpavanam Heritage Resort

Kovalam

Located only 16km from Thiruvananthapuram, the capital of Kerala, Kovalam is the home to some of the most picturesque beaches in the country. While in here, you can stroll around, indulge in beach activities or in other fun-filled activities around Kovalam Beach, Lighthouse Beach, Hawah Beach, and Samudra Beach.

Points of interest:

• Vellayani Lake
• Lighthouse Beach
• Chowara Beac
• Kovalam Beach
• Halcyon Castle, etc. 

Where to stay:

• Raviz Kovalam located at a cliff overlooking the sea
• Rockholm at the Lighthouse beach

My other Favorite places in Kerala

Wayanad

Wayanad is a mid-size district in Kerala with many small hamlets in the wild and wonderful nature. It is a fascinating place, not just for nature-lovers but also for history-buffs. Archeologists found traces of human civilization that have existed here for over 6000 years. The Edakkal caves are the glowing evidence of the claim. It also has the largest tribal community in Kerala.

The three main regions in Wayanad for tourists are Vythiri, Kalpetta and Sultan Bathery. You will need at least four days to enjoy all the major attractions of this beautiful state. For a weekend trip from Bangalore you may shortlist one of the three main regions to explore. Read the Wayanad travel guide to know more.

Key Attractions in Wayanad:

• Chembra Peak
• Bansurasagara Lake
• Vythiri viewpoint
• Edakkal Caves
• Kuruva Island 

Places to stay:

For easy access to most attractions, you can base your stay in the beautiful towns of Vythiri or Kalpetta. For a more offbeat experience, you can plan to stay in Sultan Bathery. Here are my recommendations:

• Vythiri Resort in Vythiri
• Wayanad Wild in Vythiri
• Pepper Trail  in Sultan Bathey
• Zostel Wayanad in Kalpetta

Kasargod

Kasargod, the northernmost district of Kerala is one of the least explored regions in Kerala. In this small region you will be able to satiate your quest for mountains, and seas, scenic backwaters and historic forts.The 300-year-old Bekal Fort which is the largest and the most well-preserved fort of Kerala is the highlight of Kasargod.

Spend a day in the tranquil backwaters of Nileshwaram. It is famous for beautiful Hindu temples as well.Near Nishwaram there is a beach called Thaikadappuram which is famous for olive Riddley turtles. 

You can reach Kasargod by train or bus from Kochi. A roadtrip from Bangalore to Bekal is also a great idea.

Kochi

Trivandrum

Idukki (Town)

Kollam

Varkala

Vagamon

Thrissur

Forest, waterfalls, beaches, temples and culture- Thrissur has it all. Yet, it is one of the offbeat tourist destinations in Kerala. Have you seen the visual spectacle of people riding a large number of royally decked elephants? That’s the Thrissur Puram festival – a grand annual temple ritual celebrated in this district.

It is also home to the most beautiful Athirapally Waterfall, the one that inspired the iconic scene in Bahubali. 64km away from Thrissur town lies the Silent Valley National Park which is famous for the lion-tailed macaque. Besides you can also visit historic Hindu temples and serene beaches on your trip to Thrissur.

To reach Thrissur you can take a cab from the Cochin International Airport or take a train to the Thrissur Railway station.

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If you liked the post, save it so that you can plan your next jungle safari in India. This is the 11th post in the series “My Fabulous Five” for #BlogchatterA2Z. You can read other previous posts here. Subscribe for email updates and connect with me on Instagram for more travel stories.