Best Places To Visit In Kerala
Kerala is a magical tourist destination and is called God’s Own Country for a reason. The backwaters are mesmerising, it is the spice capital of India and you can see natural beauty at its best. There is a whole range of places you can visit in Kerala from temples to wildlife sanctuaries, hill stations to backwater cruises, beaches to waterfalls and dams. Depending on what interests you, you can plan a trip to Kerala and be assured of fun, adventure and excitement.
- Alleppey or Alappuzha
- Wayanad
- Cochin
- Munnar
- Kumarakom
- Kovalam
- Thekkady
- Kollam
- Vagamon
- Kozhikode
- Ashtamudi
- Bekal
This heavenly place with its serene and quiet backwaters and boundless beauty is often referred to as the Backwater Capital of India or the Venice of the East. Located on the banks of the Vembanad Lake with its azure blue water, it is one of the most popular backwater destinations in Kerala and offers houseboat cruises and stay, Ayurvedic therapies, village walks and much more. Some of the places you can visit here are Alleppey Beach, Marari Beach, Kuttanad Backwaters, Krishnapuram Palace, Arthunkal Church and Mannarasala Temple to name a few.
Nestled in the Western Ghats, this hill station is situated between 700 to 2,100 metres and is the ultimate in pristine nature and having a great time. One of the top places to visit in Kerala, tourists can also get a taste of history as the lush forests in Wayanad are said to be inhabited since the last 3,000 years. Wayanad is also home to the Wayanad Wildlife Sanctuary, Banasura Sagar Dam, Chembra Peak, Sentinel Rock Falls, Kanthanpara Waterfalls and many more.
Cochin or Kochi is one of the unique tourist places to visit in Kerala and a perfect amalgam of cultural and modern values. This magnificent port city is referred to as the Queen of the Arabian Sea and has always attracted different people since the beginning of history making it a melting pot of various traditions and cultures. It is one of the most developed metropolises in India and carries the flavour of British history, Dutch establishments, Chinese nets and the traditional spice markets. You can visit Fort Kochi, Vypeen Beach and Island, Cherai Beach, Marine Drive, Bolgatty Island, Guruvayoor, Chinese Fishing Nets, St. Francis Church, Jewish Synagogue, Kodanad Elephant Training Centre and a whole lot of other places.
Another delightful hill station nestled in the Western Ghats, Munnar is located 1,600 metres above sea level and offers a soothing and relaxing ambience with its scenic mountains and rolling hills. One of the best places to visit in Kerala, Munnar cannot be given a miss. Its thick and lush forests and numerous tea plantations add to its beauty. Munnar offers many tourist attractions like Eravikulam National Park, Mattupetty Dam, Anamudi, Blossom Park, Devikulam and a host of other places.
Kumarakom is another enchanting backwater destination and its charm is enhanced by the beautiful Vembanad Lake. Very close to Kottayam city, it’s a place one can just laze around and relax with its coconut groves and rice fields. Backwater cruises and houseboat stays are very popular among tourists. Kumarakom is one of the top places to visit in Kerala and has a lot to offer in tourist destinations like Eravikulam National Park, Pothamedu View Point, Mattupetty Dam, Anamudi, Blossom Park, Devikulam, Pallivasal, TATA Tea Museum and Vattavada to name a few.
If you love the beach, Kovalam is the place to visit. This beach town is located only 16 kms from Thiruvananthapuram and has some of the most picturesque beaches in the country. There are a lot of beach activities for tourists around Kovalam Beach, Hawah Beach, Lighthouse Beach and Samudra Beach. Other tourist attractions in Kovalam are Vellayani Lake, Chowara Beach, Shanghumukham Beach, Aruvikkara Dam, Neyyar Dam, Edakallu, Karamana River, Halcyon Castle and Vizhinjam Rock Cut Temple among others.
Thekkady is famous for its greenery and natural beauty. It is known as the Spice Capital of Kerala and is home to various exotic wildlife species. Periyar National Park in Thekkady has a fascinating range of wildlife. You could also visit other places like Periyar Lake, Cardamom Hills, Gavi, Kumily, Spring Valley Mountain, Chellarkovil, Pandikuzhi, Mangala Devi Temple and a whole lot of other places.
This quaint port city has its own appeal and is surrounded by the turquoise blue water of the Lakshadweep Sea and the emerald green water of the Ashtamudi Lake. It is the perfect holiday destination and you can have a firsthand experience of the indigenous culture and traditions of Kerala be it fishing, cashew processing, agriculture or tourism. There are several beaches like Kollam Beach, Tangasseri Beach and Thirumullavaram Beach. That’s not to say that there aren’t other tourist attractions and you can visit Dutch Quilon, Ashtamudi Lake, Palaruvi Waterfalls, Paravoor, Punalur and a whole lot of other places.
This little explored hill station in the Idukki district is exceptionally scenic with a very pleasant climate and is one of the great tourist places to visit in Kerala. For those in search of adventure, it is the perfect destination for paragliding, rock climbing, mountaineering and trekking. You can also visit the Murinjapuzha WaterFalls, Ulipooni Wildlife Sanctuary, Idukki Arch Dam and several other places.
Kozhikode or Calicut goes by many names — City of Spices, City of Truth and the City of Sculptures. Located on the Malabar Coast, Kozhikode is one of the unique places to visit in Kerala. It is dotted with historical landmarks and tourist spots and is still reminiscent of the British and Dutch eras in India. The tourist spots include Kappad Beach, Kozhikode Beach, Beypore Beach, Kozhippara Falls, Thusharagiri Falls, Thikkoti Lighthouse, Kadalundi and the list goes on.
A quaint city of Kollam, Ashtamudi lies on the edge of the enchanting Ashtamudi Lake. Once a busy trade centre, it now attracts an impressive number of tourists from all over the world. Tourists come to enjoy the beauty and tranquillity of this place and can also witness coir manufacturing, cashew processing and traditional fishing. Apart from Ashtamudi Lake, tourists can also visit Thevally Palace, Alumkadavu Boat Building Yard and Monroe Island.
Located in Kasaragod district, tourists get a beautiful view of the majestic Arabian Sea and lush greenery. This tiny village is of historical importance and the grand Bekal Fort stands testimony to that. It is the perfect getaway to relax and you can visit places like Pallikere Beach, Valiyaparamba Backwaters, Hosdurg Beach, Nileswaram Cultural Centre, Nityanand Darshan Caves and a host of other places.
The beauty and tranquillity of Kerala is unsurpassed and it truly lives up to its name of God’s Own Country. This is not all that Kerala has to offer if you are planning to visit as a tourist. There are a whole lot of other places like Guruvayur, Idukki, Kannur, Kasargod and Malampuzha to name a few and you can visit the EuroKids website to get more information on places in Kerala that are a tourist’s delight.