Kerala – God’s Own Country, the land of beautiful backwaters and vast heritage. Whatever your urge for nature, whether you are an adventure tourist or beach walker, this holiday guide outlines the top attractions, tourist destinations and hidden treasures as well as tips to make the most of your holiday in Southern Kerala.
1. Munnar
Location: Munnar is a hill station in the Western Ghats region of Idukki district in Kerala.
Details: Munnar is famous for the large tea estates covering the rolling hills of the region (often referred to as heavenly mist). Munnar has a very high biodiversity, and indeed, a wide variety of flora and fauna can survive in the hot and humid climate here.
Key Attractions:
- Eravikulam National Park: One of the most important natural habitats of Nilgiri Tahr (rogue mountain goat), tourists can see these mountain goats at Eravikulam National Park.
- Anamudi Peak, the highest peak in South India, provides a bird’s eye view of the surrounding countryside to anyone able to climb it.
- Mattupetty Dam – This dam and reservoir are situated in a picturesque garden setting surrounded by trees, offering a tranquil environment for boating and bird watching.
- Attukad Waterfalls: One of the most stunning natural attractions in the world. The Attukad Waterfalls plummet from the rocks with incredible force.
- Plantations & Tea. There are some green tea estates to visit in Munnar. You can learn all about how to cultivate tea and how it is processed, with tea tasting.
- The spots around Munnar, such as Devikulam (a tranquil lake), Rajamala (within the Eravikulam National Park), and Marayoor (with its Sandalwood forests and Dolmens), are worth visiting.
2. Kochi
Location: Kochi, situated in the central part of Kerala on the coast, is an important city that bridges cultures and history.
Details: Otherwise known as Cochin, this big port city is a melting pot of cultures, where for centuries people of Arab, Chinese, Portuguese, Dutch, and British merchants have come together. Its traditions and architecture are a testament to this.
Key Attractions
- Fort Kochi: There are well-preserved Dutch colonial buildings in this old town, beautiful Chinese fishing nets on the beach and some of the oldest churches you will find, like St Francis Church.
- Mattancherry Palace: An ancient building called the Dutch Palace, it has quite a lot of murals depicting scenes of the Ramayana and other relics belonging to the royal family of Kochi.
- Santa Cruz Basilica: Probably one of the oldest churches in India (built by the Portuguese ), and the Santa Cruz Basilica is a massive building with magnificent architecture and paintings.
- Chinese Fishing Nets: The bizarre cantilevered fishing nets, supposedly brought in by Chinese traders several hundred years ago, are now the gateway symbol of Kochi harbour.
- Jew Town & Paradesi Synagogue: The heritage district of Kochi consists of the Paradesi Synagogue, the oldest functioning synagogue in the Commonwealth and a busy street filled with antique shops and spice bazaars. Places Nearby: City of Ernakulam, the backwater village of Kumbalangi and sandy beaches at Cherai Beach are all within easy reach of Kochi, offering various activities.
3. Alleppey (Alappuzha)
Location: Alleppey is known for its large and scenic backwaters.
Details: Venice of the East (Aleppey)! (formally called Alappuzha) It is a significant canal-like settlement where you can take a houseboat cruise and enjoy the harmony of the backwaters of Kerala, a convoluted network of canals, lakes and lagoons in which there is thick forest.
Key Attractions:
- Alleppey Backwaters Seeing the incredibly intricate waterways on a classic houseboat is the essence of a trip to Alleppey, which offers views of life in the street, nature on the backwaters, a variety of flora and fauna.
- Sandy beach overlooking the Arabian Sea, with an old pier on top of it and a lighthouse on the side. It’s a Local favourite for relaxing and exploring the beach.
- The Old Palace, Krishnapuram Palace (native palace), is an architectural style of traditional Kerala architecture, with original mural painting “Gajendra Moksham” (salvation of the elephant king).
- Ambalapuzha (Sree Krishna Swamy Temple) is an ancient temple that is famous for its trademark “Palpayasam”, sweet milk porridge (prasadam), and standard Kerala temple architecture.
- Around: Alleppey is surrounded by vast paddy fields of Kuttanad, the peaceful island of Pathiramanal (in Vembanad Lake) and calm Marari Beach. All these have different but equally enjoyable experiences.
4. Kumarakom
Location: Kumarakom is a quiet backwater resort on the seashores of the vast Vembanad Lake in Kottayam district.
Details: A place with all service facilities to promote your self-relaxation in enchanting backwaters, to witness a variety of birds in the bird sanctuary and luxury backwater resorts to enjoy nature and relax for any purpose.
Key Attractions:
- Kumarakom Bird Sanctuary, on the shores of Vembanad Lake, provide habitat for an immense biodiversity of both migratory and resident birds and also provides several bird watching opportunities.
- Vembanad Lake, the largest lake of Kerala, is great for boating, fishing and for the sheer beauty of its depth and surroundings.
- Backwater cruise Kumarakom backwater on a traditional houseboat (or canoe), witness stunning views, sounds and smells all over as you also participate in local culture.
- Aruvikkuzhi Waterfalls: With views of the rubber plantations on both sides of the waterfall, Aruvikkuzhi is a popular destination for picnics.
- These are educational, church and temple places… Kottayam Temple town, Ernakulam Urban hotspots & all these places are well connected from Kumarakom.
5. Vagamon
Location: At the top of the Idukki district, Vagamon is a hill station and has some unusual and pleasing scenery.
Details: As an unusual hill station, Vagamon boasts extraordinary beauty, featuring grand green meadows, pine forests, and rolling hills. The scenery creates a lovely and peaceful atmosphere, complemented by a cool and refreshing climate.
Key Attractions:
- Vagamon Pine Forest: This pine forest is exquisite; it’s fantastic to walk around, take photos and enjoy the natural splendour.
- Kurisumala Hill, A prominent Christian pilgrimage spot with a church built on top, offers excellent views of the valley and hills all around.
- Thangal Para: A Sufi pilgrimage place with a massive spherical rock structure, Thangal Para is a religious destination and offers lovely views.
- Paragliding: Vagamon is now one of the top places for paragliding, and the open grasslands and the gentle winds offer thrilling rides and spectacular aerial views.
- Nearby Locations: The hill stations of Peerumed, famous for its spice gardens and historical connections, Kuttikkanam with picturesque landscapes and Mundakayam with rubber plantations and adventure sports are located near Vagamon.
6. Thekkady
Location: Thekkady is a safe and diverse wildlife sanctuary located in the Idukki district.
Details: Thekkady is part of the Periyar National Park, one of India’s largest and most distinguished wildlife reserves, offering a chance to explore the rich flora and fauna of the Western Ghats.
Key Attractions:
- Periyar National Park: The famous national park provides a wide range of wildlife viewing opportunities through its various boat safaris on the Periyar Lake, from where elephants, deer and birds are often observed, as well as treks and nature walks.
- Periyar Lake is a man-made lake in the national park. A part of the heart of the sanctuary, Periyar Lake offers dazzling views of the various forests and hills surrounding the lake and can be seen on a boat safari.
- Spice Plantations: There are several spice plantations in Thekkady, and tour guides will take tourists on tours to learn the process of growing, processing and using spices like cardamom, pepper and cloves.
- Chellarkovil ViewPoint: Beyond Thekkady lies the Chellarkovil viewpoint, which offers panoramic views of the plains and great hills. Most attractive views would be at dawn or dusk. Principal Attractions Near Thekkady include the town of Kumily, which serves as a gateway to Thekkady. Vandanmedu is a spice-growing zone, and Pullumedu Scenic is a nearby scenic spot.
7. Varkala
Location: Varkala is a unique coastal town in the southern part of Thiruvananthapuram district.
Details: Varkala is known for its dramatic red laterite cliffs & its exposure to the Arabian Sea, and not to be forgotte,n its clean beaches along with its religious importance
renders it a different and interesting place.
Key Attractions:
- Varkala Beach (Papanasam Beach) is a romantic beach on the banks of a conical spring and is renowned for its folk remedies. The cliffs on the beach side offer magnificent views and are housed in cafés and shops.
- Janardanaswamy Temple: An ancient and essential temple dedicated to Lord Vishnu on the beach. It is also one of the leading pilgrimage sites in Kumbh.
- Sivagiri Mutt: One of the best-known ashrams of the great social reformer Sree Narayana Guru, Sivagiri Mutt is home to spiritual education and attracts a lot of pilgrims.
- Anjengo Fort: About 5 5-minute drive from Varkala, this fort has some British colonial heritage and a lovely beach with clear waters.
- Locations nearby: Kollam city (renowned for cashew trade and backwaters), the picturesque Parippally area and Attingal town (Memories of the past), are all within commutable distance from Varkala.
8. Thiruvananthapuram (Trivandrum)
Location: This capital city of Kerala is located in the southernmost district.
Details: Trivandrum is a city which handles its rich past heritage very well and blends it with today’s urban life very well. It boasts ancient temples, museums and galleries of art, and beautiful beaches.
Key Attractions:
- Sri Padmanabhaswamy Temple: A great historic temple dedicated to Lord Vishnu, especially for its immense Dravidian architecture and wealth.
- Napier Museum: A small and not very impressive building with its architecture, it displays a wide variety of art and historical material such as bronze idols, Greek ornaments and ivory sculptures.
- Kovalam Beach: Popularly visited and scenic place that lies about an hour’s drive away from the city, Kovalam is famous for its lighthouse, crescent beaches and the various resorts.
- Poovar Island: This picturesque and peace-loving island right on the banks of the Neyyar River, near the Arabian Sea, is full of backwaters, golden sandy beaches and Ayurvedic resorts.
- Vizhinjam Lighthouse: Vizhinjam, the famous lighthouse in the vicinity of Kovalam, provides an epic view of the sea and the coast.
- Around: Nearby tourist places include the well-known beaches of Kovalam, picturesque Neyyar Dam with its wildlife sanctuary, Ponmudi hill station and various other cultural and sporting interests.
