10 Best Places to Visit in Kerala

Kerala is also known as God’s Own Country, a state that boasts of extremely beautiful tourist destinations, that grab the attention of tourists from around the world. It possesses hill stations, backwaters, commercial cities, hamlets, and much more for one to explore. Rich culture and heritage of the state also attracts nature lovers from across the world. We promise you, once you set foot in this beautiful paradise, everything else seems inconsequential.

1. Alleppey – the backwaters

Alleppey tops the list of tourist places you must visit in Kerala. Its backwater trips, houseboat stays and serene beauty attract a fair number of people to its territory. In fact, it is one of the most popular places to experience Kerala’s backwaters. Lord Curzon depicted Alleppey as the Venice of the East, and that is definitely not an overstatement. A houseboat vacation is what people look for in particular, when visiting Alleppey. There are acres of paddy fields, quaint chapels, interesting fishing villages, lakes filled with water lilies, and much more. All of this makes it one of the best places to see in Kerala.

The fascination of Keralites with coconuts and banana leaves in their food proves to be a good experiment if you haven’t done it before. The cobbled pathways and comparatively cleaner roads will take you on an old-world tour.

Tourist attractions: Alappuzha Beach,Krishnapuram Palace, Kumarakom Bird Sanctuary, Marari Beach, Revi Karunakaran Museum, Marari Beach, Punnamada Lake, Pathiramanal, Sri Krishna Temple in Ambalappuzha, and the Snake Boat Race.Best time to visit: September to May.Closest airport: Kochi Airport – 53 km away from the city.Closest railway station: Alleppey Railway Station – well within the city limits.

2. Wayanad

Wayanad literally means the ‘land of paddy fields’ in Malayalam. Wayanad is one of the greenest places to visit in Kerala. Enriched with godly beauty, serene atmosphere and a very rich culture, the place is a perfect mix of nature and man made heritage. The place is famous for its richness in cultures, traditions and tribal heritage. Adding to the place’s charm are small, unnamed waterfalls, that line up the city haphazardly.

Tourist attractions: Thusharagiri Waterfalls, Thirunelli Temple, Banasura Hill, Lakkidi View Point, P Kuruvadweep, Puliyarmala Jain Temple, Kabini, Papanashini River and Padinjarathara Dam.

Best time to visit: October to May; adventure enthusiasts should visit during the monsoon months of July and August.

Closest airport: Karipur International Airport at Calicut – 95 km away.

Closest railway station: Kozhikode Railway Station – 72 km away.

3. Thekkady

The place is simply heaven, hidden in thick forests and wild vegetation. You get to see near extinct species of animals like tigers, sambars, gaurs and lion-tailed macaques, and also elephants, lions, deers, bisons, boars, and the Great Indian tigers. Thekkady boasts of abundant beauty and exotic wildlife. Its trekking path from Moozhiyar to Thekkady Gavi is one of the most popular treks in South India. Apart from all this, boating and wildlife observation are two favourite pastimes in this area.

Tourist attractions: Periyar Lake, Kadathanadan Kalari Centre, Elephant Junction, Deepa World Spice and Ayurvedic Garden, Kumily, Ramakkalmedu, Mullaperiyar Dam, Periyar Tiger Trail, Mudra Cultural Centre, Vandiperiyar, Chellarkovil, Murikkady, and Vandanmedu.

Best time to visit: November to early May.

Closest airport: Madurai Airport – 136 km away.

Closest railway station: Kottayam Railway Station – 114 km away.

4. Bekal

This region is specially known for the famous Bekal Fort, which is rated among one of the best tourist places in Kerala. Indian movies like Rang De Basanti and others have been filmed in the fort premises. The sea breeze passing through your hair, pleasant weather and good company are key ingredients to having a good time in Bekal. Owing to exotic beauty and serenity (like the rest of Kerala), it is among the top three honeymoon places in South India.

Tourist attractions: Bekal Fort, Ananthapura Temple, Valiyaparamba Backwaters, Bekal Beach, Mallikarjuna Temple, Chandragiri Fort, Kappil Beach, Nileswaram, Bekal Hole Aqua Park, and Pallikere Beach.

Best time to visit: September to May.

Closest airport: Bajpe Airport – 72 km away.

Closest railway station: Kasaragod Railway Station – 12 km away.

5. Varkala

This place is the best seaside place to visit in the state of Kerala. The enticing coastline has cliffs on one side and lush greenery on the other, which attracts thousands of tourists and water-adventure enthusiasts. Varkala is popular for activities like boat riding, surfing, parasailing, jetting, horse-riding and more. The unmatched beauty of the beach is at its prime during the daily sunsets. The hues of colorful rays make for a surreal atmosphere. Add a dash of luxury by choosing from the most exotic beach resorts around Varkala, and you are set for an unforgettable vacation.

It is also an important religious place in Hindu culture. Adorned with several Hindu temples, it welcomes many religious travelers and heritage lovers with open arms. With so much packed in a single city, Varkala is fit to be one of the best places to visit in this southern state of India.

Tourist attractions: Varkala Beach, Janardhan Temple, Sivagiri Muth, Kappil Lake, Papanasam Beach, Janardan Swami Temple, Vishnu Temple, Anjengo Fort, Sarkara Devi Temple, Varkala Tunnel, and Kaduvayil Thangal Dargah.

Best time to visit: August to mid-May.

Closest airport: Trivandrum International Airport – 53 km away.

Closest railway station: Varkala Sivagiri Railway Station – within city limits.

6. Idukki

If relaxation and rejuvenation is the main aim of your trip, then Idukki is where you must head to. Nestled amidst verdant hills and luxurious forests, Idukki allures ardent travellers, nature enthusiasts, and photography buffs with stunning natural aura. Surrounded by aromatic tea and spice plantations, Idukki is undeniably one of the best places in Kerala perfect for treks, nature walks, and bird watching.

Tourist attractions: Thattekkad Bird Sanctuary or Salim Ali Bird Sanctuary, Kolukkumalai Tea Estate, Thommankuthu Falls, Ramakkal, Kalvari Mount, Idukki Arch Dam, Cheeyappara Waterfalls and Kalvari Mount.

Best time to visit: June to August and November to January.

Closest airport: Kochi

Closest railway station: Theni – 60 kms away.

7. Palakkad

Palakkad features the most awesome weather, picturesque mountains, sparkling lakes, beautiful dams, lush green forests and majestic temples and forts, just like a beautiful picture postcard. With vast sprawling paddy estates and tea plantations, Palakkad is one of the most scenic places in Kerala. Thus it is correctly known as the ‘granary of Kerala’.

Tourist attractions: Silent Valley National Park, Palakkad Fort, Malampuzha Garden and Dam, Parambikulam Wildlife Sanctuary, Jain Temple and Seethargundu Viewpoint.

Best time to visit: November to March.

Closest airport: Coimbatore Airport.

Closest railway station: Palakkad Junction and Palakkad Town Railway.

8. Poovar

Located in the Trivandrum District of Kerala, this city is famed for its scenic beach. The beach is also dotted with classy resorts that make it one of the ideal places to visit if you’re in search for a lovely tropical vacation in Kerala.

Tourist attractions: Aazhimala Siva Temple, Poovar Beach, Arjuna Backwaters.

Best time to visit: October to February.

Closest airport: Trivandrum International Airport – 30 km away.

Closest railway station: Thiruvananthapuram Railway Station – 27 km away.

9. Pommudi

If you are an adventurous, mountain-child and wish to lose yourself amidst lush mist-laden hills, Ponmudi is the ideal place for you. This is one of the best places to visit in Kerala, especially for the hikers and trekkers since there is so much to explore. The landscape of Poovar looks surreal, with many narrow, winding roads. The tea gardens spanning all around add charm to its beauty.

Tourist attractions: Meenmutty Falls, Mankayam Waterfalls, and Ponmudi Rock.

Best time to visit: All year

Closest airport: Trivandrum International Airport – 67 km away.

Closest railway station: Thiruvananthapuram Central railway station – 55 km away.

10. Guruvayur

This happens to be one of the most spiritual places in Kerala, located in Thrissur District. Being a small town, Guruvayur is one of the lesser known tourist places to visit in Kerala, and thus a perfect spot to get to know the local culture of the state.

Tourist attractions: Guruvayur Sree Vishnu Temple, Mammiyoor Temple and St. Thomas Church.

Best time to visit: October to March.

Closest airport: Cochin International Airport – 87 km away.

Closest railway station: Guruvayur railway station

Hope you liked this article where we have reviewed some of the best places to visit while you are in the state of Kerala. Keep watching our Travel Scoops space for more travel content, and leave your comments as well. If you liked this and will be planning a trip to Kerala, why no try one of Korners of India’s special packages?

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