In this marvel of land, there is no shortage of places to visit for any traveler. In this article, we have listed 15 places to visit in Kerala this winter.
Kerala is known for its endless palm groves, pristine beaches, sprawling tea plantations, rolling green hills, calming backwaters, delectable cuisine, and much more. This land is blessed with abundant geographical and cultural diversity, is situated between the Western Ghats in the east and the Arabian Sea in the west. It’s a marvel in and of itself that this tiny sliver of land contains such divine natural beauty and cultural heritage.
1. Wayanad
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Wayanad, Kerala’s green paradise, is nestled among the Western Ghats’ mountains, forming the greener part of the state’s border world. This land is rich in history and culture, clean and pristine, enchanting and hypnotizing. This verdant hill station, located 76 kilometers from Kozhikode’s seashores, is full of plantations, forests, and wildlife. The Wayanad hills are connected to Mudumalai in Tamil Nadu and Bandipur in Karnataka, forming a vast landmass for wild animals to roam in their natural habitat.
2. Cochin
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Ernakulam, also known as Cochin/Kochi, is a modern city with shopping malls, movie theatres, industrial buildings, amusement parks, and a marine drive. It is one of the many places to visit in Kerala but, this is the most exquisite commercial and information technology hub. Arabs, Chinese, Dutch, British, and Portuguese seafarers have followed the sea route to Kochi since time immemorial, leaving their imprints on the town. The Jewish Synagogue, the Dutch Palace, the Bolghatty Palace, and Portuguese architecture in Kochi add to Kerala’s cultural heritage. Chinese fishing nets are an iconic feature of Cochin.
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3. Varkala
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Varkala is a peaceful hamlet on the outskirts of the Thiruvananthapuram district. A beautiful beach, a 2000-year-old Vishnu Temple, and the Ashramam – Sivagiri Mutt a short distance from the beach are among the tourist attractions.
A natural spring can be found on Papanasam Beach (also known as Varkala Beach), which is ten kilometers from Varkala. It’s thought to have medicinal and curative properties. The name ‘Papanasam Beach’ comes from the belief that a dip in the holy waters at this beach will cleanse the body of impurities and the soul of all sins.
4. Alleppey
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Alleppey, also known as Alappuzha, was built in the 9th century AD on the edge of the great Ashtamudi Lake. Alappuzha, one of the many stunning places to visit in Kerala, is a district of immense natural beauty, with the Arabian Sea on the west and a vast labyrinth of lakes, lagoons, and several freshwater rivers crisscrossing it.
Travelers from all over the world compare this Backwater Country to Venice of the East, and it is also home to a diverse range of animals and birds. Because of its proximity to the sea, it has always held a special place in Kerala’s maritime history. Alleppey is known as the world’s leading coir supplier in the commercial world.
5. Palakkad
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Palakkad is a stunning expanse of gentle plains, rolling hills, pristine waters, and dense forests. The Palakkad Gap, which stretches for several kilometers and is also the northern gateway to Kerala, is located at the foot of the Western Ghats. It draws outdoor enthusiasts from all over the world because of its unrestricted natural landscapes. Palakkad is an important crossroads for trade between the East and West coasts of peninsular India. It’s a hybrid of Tamil and Malayali cultures.
6. Kovalam
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Kovalam is a world-famous beach with three crescent-shaped beaches adjacent to it. This beach offers a wide range of recreational opportunities. Some of them include sunbathing, swimming, herbal body toning massages, special cultural programs, and catamaran cruising. The tropical sun is so quick that a faint blush of coppery tan can be seen on the skin in a matter of minutes. The beach life starts late in the day and lasts well into the night. Budget cottages, Ayurvedic health resorts, convention facilities, shopping zones, swimming pools, and Yoga and Ayurvedic massage centers are all part of the beach complex.
7. Munnar
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Tea plantations abound, as do pristine valleys and mountains, exotic species of flora and fauna in its wild sanctuaries and forests, and the scent of spice-scented cool air. All of this is found in many of the places to visit in Kerala.
Munnar is a stunningly beautiful part of Kerala that can’t be captured in a single painting. We’ll be enthralled by everything and anything we see here. The misty hills, valleys, streams, waterfalls, tea plantations, and rare flora and fauna. It is a lovely tea town in Kerala’s Idukki district, easily reachable from Kochi and Coimbatore. The lovely hill station is perfectly situated in India’s South Western Ghats.
8. Kumarakom
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Kumarakom is a sleepy little village on Kerala’s Vembanad Lake, 13 kilometers from Kottayam. It has diverse flora, exotic sightseeing, boating, and fishing opportunities. The beautiful paradise, which includes mangrove forests, emerald green paddy fields, and coconut trees, as well as waterways and canals adorned with white lilies, enchants visitors from all over the world.
9. Kollam
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Kollam is known as Kerala’s dreamland because of its perfect blend of scenic surroundings, tradition, and hospitality.
Kollam is one of the Malabar Coast’s oldest ports, with a long history of attracting visitors from all over the world. In medieval and modern times, the town was a major spice market.
Sea, lakes, plains, mountains, rivers, streams, backwaters, forests, vast green fields, and tropical crops of every variety, both food crops, and cash crops abound in Kollam, the gateway to Kerala’s beautiful backwaters. God’s Own Capital is a fitting name for it.
10. Ashtamudi
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The most popular place to visit in Kerala is the backwater and lake in the state, Ashtamudi Lake. It has a unique wetland ecosystem and a large palm-shaped water body, which is only second in size to the state’s Vembanad estuary ecosystem. In the local Malayalam language, Ashtamudi means “eight coned.” The name refers to the topography of the lake, which has multiple branches. The lake is also known as the “Gateway to Kerala’s Backwaters.” Coconut groves and palm trees are interspersed with towns and villages along both banks of the lake and its backwater canals. A boat cruise on Ashtamudi Lake is available, along with delicious Kerala cuisine. It’ll be a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. The flora and fauna of Ashtamudi are diverse.
11. Guruvayur
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Lord Guruvayoorappan, a form of the revered Hindu deity Vishnu, is honoured at the Guruvayur temple. As a result, the temple is also known as the Guruvayur Sri Krishna temple. Lord Vishnu’s Guruvayoor form has four arms, one of which holds the conch Panchajanya, another the discus Sudarshana Chakra, the third the mace Kaumodaki, and the fourth the lotus with a Holy basil garland.
Krishna’s Guruvayoorappan form is Lord Vishnu’s form, as seen by Krishna’s parents Vasudeva and Devaki around the time of his birth. It’s no surprise that Guruvayoor has earned the moniker “Dwarka of South India.”
12. Idukki
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Idukki, a landlocked district in Kerala, is one of the state’s most natural areas, with forests covering more than half of the land. Wildlife sanctuaries, beautiful bungalows, tea factories, rubber plantations, and forests are all highlights of this rugged hill resort.
Idukki is known for its 650-foot-long and 550-foot-high arch dam that spans the Kuravan Kurathi mountain, the country’s largest. Idukki is also home to Anamudi, which is India’s highest peak south of the Himalayas. If proper infrastructure and promotional activities are provided, Idukki is one of the districts in the state with a lot of potential for eco-tourism promotion.
13. Kasargod
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Kasargod, one of the breathtaking places to visit in Kerala, is known for its coir and handloom industries and is known as the land of Gods, forts, rivers, hills, and beautiful beaches. Kasargod is Kerala’s northernmost district. Kasaragod’s temple architecture displays a wide range of styles. The Bekal fort, the state’s largest fort, is located in this district.
14. Kuttanad
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Kuttanad, also known as the “Rice Bowl of Kerala,” is located in the Alappuzha district, in the heart of Kerala’s backwaters. Its unique nickname comes from its abundance of paddy crops. It is a large area of reclaimed land located in the district’s inner reaches, separated by dikes from water that is higher than it appears. All who travel by houseboats through this area are enchanted by the view of the countryside. It is thought to be the only place in the world where farming can take place up to 2 meters below sea level. The Pampa, Meenachil, Achankovil, and Manimala rivers all flow through the area.
15. Athirappilly Water Falls
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A mysterious serenity overtakes you as you walk down the stone slabs that lead to the base of the Athirappilly waterfalls. With a height of over 80 feet, it is Kerala’s most famous and largest waterfall. The sight of water crashing onto the ground leaves you speechless in awe of nature’s sheer power and magnificence. It’s about 63 kilometers from Thrissur district and is a popular picnic spot for locals and visitors alike. Its lush surroundings are ideal for strolls and picnics with friends and family. It is a part of the Chalakudy River, which flows through the Western Ghats and lies at the entrance to the Sholayar forest ranges.
Well, here they all are. All of the top places to visit in Kerala when you visit. Is there any hidden gem we missed out on? Let us know in the comments down below. We wouldn’t want to miss out on any of these beautiful locations.