Kerala: A Trip into the Heart of South India
Why visit Kerala?
Kerala has such a variety of things to visit and enjoy whilst travelling around here. It varies in scenery from rolling green hills in eery, misty mountains to scenic beaches over the Arabian Sea.
It is a very laid-back state which contrasts with the rest of India where it feels chaotic and crazy so this is the perfect place you can chill out and relax. Be aware of the crazy humidity here though, it may say it’s cooler down south but boy the humidity is on a different level.
How long do you need?
Every place suggested in this article you could easily spend 2-3 days in depending how fast you want to visit things or whether you would rather relax and enjoy the beautiful beaches and take your time sightseeing. You should try to spend at least a week in Kerala but if you have less time then it’s still possible to visit all the key touristy sites here.
1.Kochi
Kochi is a beautiful port located in North Kerala and is a special place to visit with the contrast of the cosmopolitan city to the traditional fishing methods you can see still being used today. It’s commonly known as the ‘Queen of the Arabian Sea’ thanks to its natural beauty and vibrant culture.
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?
You can travel to Kochi from Bengaluru or Alapppuzha. There are regular trains and buses from these locations so it is really easy to travel to.
Where to Stay?
Budget – The Hostellar Fort Kochi – This is a vibrant hostel with modern rooms and a nice communal area and there is even air conditioning.
Medium – Rossitta Wood Castle – this cute little hotel has a pretty little courtyard and nice rooms to match.
High – Eighth Bastion – CGH Earth – This beautiful hotel has a swimming pool as well as beautiful interior design, truly the most luxurious place in Kochi.
2. Munnar
Munnar is a nice place to retreat from the chaos of India. It is located high up in the mountains and is a lot cooler and less humid from the rest of Kerala. It has spectacular waterfalls as well sprawling tea plantation and beautiful green hills surrounding this incredible place.
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.
The best way to see all the sites around Munnar is to hire a driver for the day. They usually have a list of the attractions to see and you can pick and choose what you’d like to do.
How to get here?
The only way to get to Munnar is via a bus from Kochi. The bus is a long journey and includes a very long windy road so if you get travel sick then be sure to take some tablets before going on this journey.
Where to stay:
Budget – Landy Queen – This is a cheap hotel that is clean and comfy and even offers bicycle rental.
Medium – Kurinj Wanderlust Munnar – This nice hotel offers nice views over the dramatic landscape around Munnar as well as nicely furnished bedrooms that are clean and comfy.
High – Abad Copper Castle Resort – This hotel is located just out of Munnar centre with breathtaking views and nicely decorated modern rooms.
3. Alappuzha
Kerala is most famous for its beautiful backwaters. The best place to enjoy the backwaters is in Alappuzha. It’s up to you how you would like to see the backwaters of Alappuzha, some options include:
- 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 can also hire a smaller boat to go down the smaller backwaters that the bigger boats can’t go down.
You could also see:
- Alappuzha beach
- Nagaraja Temple
- Sree Krishna Swamy Temple
- Pathiramanal Island
- Kalloorkad St Mary’s Basilica
How to get here?
If you are in Kochi then you could either get here by taking a train or bus. The train is the quickest option and there are lots of trains running here each day. The bus only runs once daily and takes over 30 minutes longer.
If you are travelling from Varkala then the best way to travel is by train, there are lots of trains running and it’s the quickest option. You can also travel by bus and these are very frequent but this takes longer.
Where to stay:
Budget – Mom&Pop Thyparambil Heritage – located in the centre of Alappuzha and close to the backwaters this nice little homestay is a great place to base yourself.
Medium – Malayalam Lake Resort – Located next to the river, this stay will offer you one of the nicest views in Alleppey. Be sure to book a river view room, this way you can just sit on your deck and enjoy the boats passing by.
High – Cyrus Resort – This nice resort is furnished exquisitely and even includes a swimming pool and games room for you to relax in.
4. Varkala
Varkala is a beautiful coastal town that is unique as its hills come right up to the Arabian Sea. It has stunning scenery and beaches that are perhaps more beautiful than Goa. This bustling town has lots of restaurants and gift shops for tourists as well as offering a variety of water sports activities such as paragliding and para-sailing.
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.
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?
To get to Varkala you can either take the train or bus from Alappuzha or you can take a train from Thiruvananthapuram. The transport to Varkala is regular so it is easy to get here.
Where to stay:
Budget – HostelExp – This hostel is a nice little hippie den which is cheap and has a nice spiritual feel to it and is very welcoming to all guests.
Medium – Magnolia Guesthouse Varkala – This sweet little guesthouse has a swimming pool as well as being located near the beach.
High – Fragrant Nature Backwater Resort & Ayurveda Spa – This resort has stunning views over the backwaters and has its own swimming pool, gym, and beautiful rooms.
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