Kerala has a limitless list of tourist destinations that will please any tourist. Famous for its scenic places and natural charm, Kerala is sure to delight any nature lover with its hills, backwaters, shores, waterfalls, and wildlife. It is hard to choose the top 5 best tourist places in Kerala. The only suggestion while you visit Kerala is to take a prolonged vacation to maximize your stay in the state. Make sure you make it to all these tourist places and curate some of the most beautiful memories out of your trip.
Best tourist places in Kerala
Alleppey (Alappuzha)
Alleppey is one of the best and most visited places in Kerala. At a distance of 150 km from Trivandrum and 60 km from Kochi, Alappuzha is a magnificent destination with a mix of Backwaters and Beach. There is Kerala on one side, and then there is this excellent tourist destination called Alleppey! The houseboats you find in the backwaters of Alappuzha are a reworked version of the Kettuvallams of olden times. Kettuvallam is a Malayalam word, a Kettu means living structures, and Vallom means boat.
The modern houseboats have equipped with all the comforts of a good hotel room like air conditioners, modern toilets, cozy living rooms, a kitchen, and even a balcony for angling. Alleppey, the water locked district, is picturesque and poetic all at once. A night stay in the houseboat is best to explore the length and breadth of figurative backwaters. Backwater tour is one of Kerala’s most mesmerizingly beautiful experience. Alleppey is one of the best tourist places in Kerala which you cannot miss on your honeymoon tour.
A houseboat cruise in these backwaters is a refreshing experience. It connects Kumarakom and Cochin to the North and Kollam to the South. The never-ending scenery of dense green paddy fields, overlooking coconut trees, sparkling water, and long canals around Alappuzha make it a pleasant destination. Kumarakom, Kottayam, Pathiramanal Island, and Kumarakom Bird Sanctuary are some popular Alleppey Houseboat places.
In the past, Alappuzha port was amongst the busiest trade centers and traded with the Persian Gulf regions and even Europe. It is also famous for its boat races, and marine products.
Ideal Trip Duration: 1-2 days
Nearest City: Kochi (60 KMs)
Best Time to Visit: October-March
Great For: Beaches, Sightseeing, Adventure Sports
Munnar
Munnar is considered one of the most beautiful tourist places in Kerala. It plays a crucial role in India’s spice plantation industry by growing spices like cardamom, cinnamon, nutmeg, ginger, and turmeric are produced in abundance here. The view of undulating hills as they touch the clouds in Munnar rejuvenates your mind and soul. Rising 1.6km above the sea level, a vacation in the beguiling locales of this hilly retreat is all about the lofty clouds, picturesque mountains, rolling hills, and a peaceful ambiance. It is one of the best tourist places in Kerala and among the must include destinations in your honeymoon tour packages. It is also one of the famous weekend getaways from Kochi, Coimbatore & Madurai cities.
Visit the Tea Museum to learn about the history and the method involved in fermenting tea leaves. The museum houses photographs, machinery, and various other things that speak about the history and origin of tea plantations in Munnar. It is also known for being the spice center of Kerala. One of the best ways to see places in Munnar is by taking a cycle tour of the region. Hire a cycle, traverse the tea plantation, enjoy flowing waterfalls, explore sparkling lakes, and spot an animal called the Nilgiri Tahr at the Eravikulam National Park of Munnar.
The nearest airport to reach Munnar is at Kochi, about 125 km away. Munnar offers different experiences throughout the year, while March to May is the peak season. It usually takes at least two full days to explore Munnar sightseeing places.
Ideal Trip Duration: 2-3 days
Nearest City: Kochi (125 KMs)
Best Time to Visit: October to May
Great For: Hiking, trekking, cycling, and touring tea plantations & Museum.
Thekkady
Thattekad has so many natural wonders, a picturesque destination, masked in the glory of plentiful flora and fauna. This wonderful place is located on the Njiyapilli Hill and is mainly famous for the Salim Ali Bird Sanctuary. The sanctuary contains 265 species of birds includes migratory. You can see species of Malabar grey hornbill, Indian pied hornbill, drongos, woodpeckers, flycatchers, babblers, spectacular Malabar trogon. The sanctuary is also home to a wide variety of reptiles. The Periyar Lake and streams have several species of fish that includes the masher. I cannot describe the scenic beauty of Thattekad Bird Sanctuary in words, only be felt and enjoyed. It offers a safe paradise for birds as the forest has covered with a variety of tropical deciduous and evergreen trees. Periyar Wildlife Sanctuary is one of the best wildlife sanctuaries in India. It is well known as a summer getaway in Kerala state.
The ideal time to visit Thekkady is between October & May, but the peak season is from Feb to May. It usually takes half-day to 1 day to visit this sanctuary.
Ideal Trip Duration: 1 Complete Day
Nearest City: Kochi (120 Kms)
Best Time to Visit Gokarna: October to May
Great For: Jeep Safari, Boating, Temples, Sightseeing, and Bird Watching
Cochin or Kochi
Cochin is blended with cultural importance and modern ideas. The backwaters of Kerala can be experienced by the waterways running across Cochin in rivers and lagoons. Such sites have converted into picnic and fishing points, where travelers can boat and stop midway on a separate camp for some leisure time with nature. Cochin is one of the best tourist places in Kerala due to its finest natural harbors in the world. The main tourist spots to explore in the city are Fort Cochin, Ernakulam, and Willington Island. It is one of the famous places in the development of Tourism in Kerala. Cochin has also known for its spiritual houses particularly British-era churches, and forts converted into temples.
Cochin tourism is admired for its picturesque charm, traditional architecture, and cultural heterogeneity. The city has an international airport located in Nedumbassery about 38 km from Cochin. Cochin has better connectivity from major cities in India and countries like Dubai, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Malaysia, Singapore, USA & Europe. The other attractions in Kochi are Marine Drive, Mangalavanam Bird Sanctuary, Cochin Jewish Synagogue, and Mattancherry Palace. You can not miss the beautiful dance of Kerala, Kathakali.
Ideal Trip Duration: 1-2 Days
Best Time to Visit: September to March
Great For: Shopping, Sightseeing, Traditional Architecture
Kovalam
The beautiful Kovalam Beach is also recognized as the ‘Paradise of the South’. Kovalam means ‘A grove of coconut trees’, a set of three adjacent beaches, sharing shores- Lighthouse, Haawah, and Samudra. All these beaches mutually form a half-moon shape. The top attraction amongst the three beaches is Lighthouse Beach. Lighthouse Beach got its name due to the old Vizhinjam Lighthouse located on top of the Kurumkal hill. The beachside is a rich combination of breezy air, rocky streams, waving palm peripheries, and aquamarine water best suitable for watersports activities. Kovalam enlarged importance when Maharani Sethu Lakshmi Bai, the Travancore Queen, constructed a palace, the Halcyon Castle near the beach in the 1930s.
Kovalam is perfect for relaxing and killing time leisurely. Beach activities in Kovalam include camping at the beach, sunbathing, fishing, kayaking, etc. Kovalam is also known for its Ayurvedic massages and many yoga retreats.
A spectacular trip to Kovalam from Thiruvanthampuram is a journey worth cherishing. Thiruvananthapuram, the capital city of Kerala, is just a stone’s throw from Kovalam. Bikes and bicycles are available on hire for tourists at Thiruvananthapuram and Kovalam.
It is also one of the best tourist places to visit in Kerala. Kovalam is visited by Indian and international tourists throughout the year but avoids monsoon season starts from June to October. The best time to visit Kovalam is from October to March. It usually takes half or a complete day to explore Kovalam.
Ideal Trip Duration: 1 Day
Nearest City: Thiruvananthapuram (15 Kms)
Best Time to Visit: October to March
Great For: Beaches, Nature, Rivers, and Sightseeing.
