Kerala: A Trip into the Heart of South India
Why visit Kerala?
How long do you need?
1.Kochi
Here are some of the things you can do in Kochi:
- The most famous thing to see in Kochi is the Chinese Fishing Nets which are still in use today. These are an example of fishing styles introduced by Chinese traders back in the 14th century.
- The Kerala Kathakali Center – Kathakali is a 300-year-old traditional dance that originated in Kerala. It tells stories mostly from Indian epics through dance, music, and costumes. The show lasts 2 hours and it starts every day at 5 pm. Other performances at the Kerala Kathakali Center include South Indian classical dances, Indian classic music, as well as yoga and meditation classes. You can have a look at all their services here.
- Visit the beautiful beaches located on the southwestern coast. Some of the best beaches to visit include Cherai Beach, Veeranpuzha Beach, and Munambam Beach.
- Religious sites – you can visit a range of religious sites such as the Santa Cruz Basilica, Gowreeswara Temple Cherai, St. Francis Church, and Ernakulam Mahadeva Temple
- Historical sites – There is a beautiful palace called Mattancherry Palace that you can marvel at or visit the Indo-Portuguese Museum to learn about the heritage of India’s earliest Catholic communities. There is also an ancient Fort that reflect the English, Dutch, and Portuguese cultures through its architecture.
How to get here?
Where to Stay?
2. Munnar
You can’t visit India without visiting a tea plantation, so what better place to do this than Munnar. There is a Tea museum located a short tuk-tuk ride away where you can learn about how tea is made and even sample some unusual flavours. You can also have a wander around the tea plantation as well and take dramatic photos of the rolling green hills.
There are 2 waterfalls located on the outskirts of Munnar, whilst they may not be the most spectacular waterfalls in the world it is still nice to visit and embrace the nature around Munnar. The names of the waterfalls are Lakkam Waterfall and Chinnakanel Waterfall.
Other plantations that are interesting to see around Munnar include: Abraham’s Spice Gardens and Coffee plantations. You can learn about how the different spices are grown and how coffee is grown as well as sample the products and buy some as souvenirs to take home.
How to get here?
Where to stay:
3. Alappuzha
- House Boats – these are large boats that you can spend a night on and range from luxurious to budget
- Shikara Boats – these are smaller boats that have comfy seating and even beds that you can lie on and enjoy the backwaters
- Public Ferries – these are the cheapest option and will make stops along the way to see the different sites but you will not have a choice about how long you stay in one place and they aren’t as relaxing as other options.
You could also see:
- Alappuzha beach
- Nagaraja Temple
- Sree Krishna Swamy Temple
- Pathiramanal Island
- Kalloorkad St Mary’s Basilica
How to get here?
Where to stay:
4. Varkala
In terms of touristy sites, there isn’t a lot to do here but the main thing you can do is relax and enjoy the beauty of Varkala beach and the cliffs which create dramatic scenery. Be sure to visit the black sandy beach in Varkala.
How to get here?
Where to stay:
Author
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Full-time doctor, part-time traveller. I am the kind of traveller who travels on a shoestring and somehow manages to pack two weeks worth of clothes, a tripod and all my books into a little rucksack.
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