Places To Visit In Kerala: The World is a book and those who don’t travel only read one page,” says Augustine of Hippo. And it is totally true. One can make lovely memories by exploring and travelling to various cities. In today’s day and age, the world has become very tiny and one needs to plan it properly to explore the world. All we say is travel to new places, meet new people, make new friends, learn about the place, taste the local food and be happy.
And today, we are here to present you with the most gorgeous state – Kerala. Often labelled as the “God’s own country”, Kerala is one of the best tourist attractions in the country as it is full of natural wonders. In fact, we can say that Kerala is the only state that fills you with awe and warmth with its look and feel. Many prefer this state for exploring for a good bunch of days to stay close to nature and make some unforgettable memories. Also, it is ranked as one of the best honeymoon destinations in the country.
With its natural wonders and man made creations like – monuments, temples and other stuff. This Indian state – Kerala is full of wildlife sanctuaries, waterfalls, forts, mountain ranges, tea plantations, beaches, ancient temples, churches, national parks, caves, museums, hills, dams, amusement parks, rivers and many more.
The Backwaters of Kerala, undeniably, elevate the look of the state. Another major aspect to discuss about the state is yummy food. The state and its tradition offer some amazing delicacies to the travellers.
And this guide is all about the best places to visit in Kerala. Read on.
Top 10 Best Places To Visit In Kerala (Updated 2024)
Kerala is a great place to explore and will fill your soul with calmness and peace. The best places to visit in Kerala include – Alleppey Backwaters, Sri Padmanabha Swamy Temple, Athirapally waterfalls, Munnar, Wayanad, Kochi, Kozhikode, Thrissur, Kannur, Thekkady, Thiruvananthapuram, Kovalam and many others. Here, in this article, we have summed up the list of places that are very popular for their beauty. Just give a quick read of the same.
Alleppey Backwaters :
With its stunning beauty, Alleppey is listed as one of the top tourist spots to visit.
The place offers trips on backwaters and we say nothing can beat the joy of these trips and also there is no such place on the Earth that offers such gorgeous beauty. Also, the Alleppey is labelled as – ‘Venice of the East’ by Lord Curzon.
In order to escape from the reality of hectic work schedules, you have to visit this place of backwaters. We say, all you need is a houseboat vacation. These trips also help you to experience the surreal scenes, beautiful landscapes of paddy fields, fishing, water lilies, ducks and many other things. The sight of small chapels around the place adds more colour to the Alleppey.
We say that the best time to visit is between October to December. In fact, any time of the year will be a great time to visit Alleppey. And the delicious food that is served on banana leaves is a subject not to miss. You will remember these amazing flavours of food for a lifetime. Other attractions in Alleppey include – Krishnapuram Palace, Marari Beach, Sri Krishna Temple, Chettikulangara Bhagavathy Temple, Arthunkal Church and many others.
If you are a nature lover and would love to spend time with nature to calm your nerves then this is the place we strongly recommend to you. The Alleppey Backwaters has everything that you are looking for. It is full of plants, trees, house boats, food, gorgeous sights and all.
Wayanad :
Wayanad is yet another stunning location in Kerala that offers incredible beauty to the travellers. The word Wayanad is derived from – Vayal Nadu. Here Vayal means Paddy and Nadu means land. In other words, Wayanad means – Paddy fields. It is often called the Green Paradise. With its beauty, the Wayanad managed to make it to the list of best tourist attractions of Kerala.
The Wayand is full of gorgeous locations, culture, traditions and wildlife. One can visit the place during Summer for some amazing experiences as it offers the best sightseeing places in Kerala.
Another highlight of the place is the lifestyle of the tribes who are living in this region. It is a must visit destination in Kerala as it is a perfect blend of nature and adventure. The Wayanad is also a wonderful place for travellers and also for the lovers of trekking.
Other tourist attractions of the Wayanad include – Wayanad Wildlife Sanctuary, Lakkidi, Thusharagiri Waterfalls, Sentinel Rock Falls, Kalpetta, Edakkal caves, Banasura Sagar, Chembra Peak, Pookot Lake, Kuruva Island, Muthanga Wildlife Sanctuary, Soochipara waterfalls, Phantom Rock, Pakshipathalam and Thirunelli Temple.
What are you waiting for ? The Wayanad is a great land to explore and make awesome memories.
Thiruvananthapuram :
Thiruvananthapuram is the capital city of Kerala that is a fusion of nature, monuments and modern lifestyle. Thiruvananthapuram has a lot in store for the enthusiasts like you. The name Thiruvananthapuram means – The City of lord Anantha that holds a rich historical importance in our histories.
The major attraction of Thiruvananthapuram is the iconic – Sri Padmanabha Swamy Temple. The temple is one of the richest temples in the world and made headlines with its treasure. The monument captures the attention of the visitors with its charm and majestic architecture. The temple is dedicated to Lord Vishnu and is located in the heart of the city.
The architecture of the monument has to be discussed as it reflects the style of Kerala and Dravidian culture. Also, there are many stone carvings that are very ancient and also Mural paintings deserve credit.
It is a wonderful sight to watch Lord Vishnu reclining on the Serpent Anantha in the temple.
Thiruvananthapuram is a mixture of different people of different backgrounds. The city is a well developed one and holds India’s first IT park. Also this is Asia’s third largest Technopark. This makes it a place to refer to as the land of technology.
Other tourist attractions in and around the city are – Napier Museum, Ponmudi, Veli Tourist Village, Kuthiramalika Palace Museum and others. Make some time to visit this city and explore it well with good preparations.
Munnar :
In case if you are seeking to experience the beauty of nature, then you should make a visit to the Munnar in Kerala that is really stunning and worth taking a look at. Munnar is a hill station in the state and is one of the best honeymoon destinations in the country. This location is also a best spot for the tea plantations.
Munnar was once the summer capital for the British. The place offers some stunning experience with nearly 80,000 miles of tea plantation. Other natural wonders include – gorgeous valleys, low flying clouds and green foliage at every nook and corner of the place.
Also, Munnar is full of beautiful buildings, cozy home stays and lavish resorts and hotels for tourists. It is one of the most romantic destinations in the country and should be explored along with your loved ones.
The popular and other tourist attractions in Munnar are – Blossom Park, Life of Pi Church, Lockhart, Anamudi, Eravikulam National Park, TATA Tea Museum, Meesapulimala, Marayoor Dolmens, Mattupetty Dam, Indo Swiss Dairy Farm, Kundala Lake, Cheeyappara Waterfalls and many more.
Along with the colonial feel and look to the area, the Munnar is also a great spot for adventure seekers as it features waterfalls, trekking and hiking routes. Amazing right ? Pay a visit for sure with your family members or pick it as a honeymoon destination to spend some quality time with loved ones. All we say is that the Munnar is one of the great and attractive locations of Kerala that should be explored with all heart.
Kumarakom :
Labelled as one of the most beautiful locations on the planet, Kumarakom is known for its tranquillity and calmness. It is a tiny hamlet with some never seen before spots. We say the pleasant weather is an added advantage of its beauty. Also, the Kumarakom is filled with thick flora and fauna.
And yeah, how can one miss the delicious coconuts. Besides these aspects, the place – Kumarakom also offers fishing, cruising, houseboat stay and boating.
The paddy fields, thick vegetation, gorgeous lakes, coconut grooves, attractive backwaters, fresh air, delicious food and other aspects will create a special place in your memory. Another most interesting thing is the houseboat stay as it would be mesmerising to experience them all at a single location – Kumarakom.
The other tourist attractions of Kumarakom include – Vembanad lake, Kumarakom beach, Valiyapally, Bay island Driftwood Museum, Juma Masjid, Aruvikkuzhi waterfall, Kumarakom bird sanctuary Kumarakom backwaters, Cheriyapally, Pathiramanal Island and Thirunakkara Mahadeva Temple.
We say make some time and pay a visit to Kumarakom and enjoy the beauty of the backwaters while sipping tender coconut water, breathing fresh country air and tasting amazing flavours. When Kumarakom offers everything, including all aspects of food and nature, then why struggle so much ? Just visit the place and relieve your stress.
Thekkady :
Thekkady is another part of Kerala that steals your attention with its biodiversity and beauty. Thekkady is the location of the popular Periyar Wildlife Sanctuary. It is one of the great wildlife sanctuaries in the nation and is a home to various species of animals and also boasts thick vegetation.
Thekkady is a home to animals – elephants, lions, tigers, sambars, gaurs, leopards, bison, deers, rare lion tailed macaques and many others. Situated on the lake – Periyar, it covers an area of 777 square kilometres and note that the 360 square kilometres has been taken up by the green and thick forest. Elephants are the major attractions of this place.
Thekkady pulls crowds from all over the world with its scenic beauty and the presence of wildlife makes it lively and adventurous. A boat trip on Thekkady lake is a must discuss topic as it will help the tourists to see wild animals with naked eyes.
Remember that Thekkady is a wonderful place to spend time with elephants as they are very popular here and also the most common site. Another feather in its already overflowing cap is the boating. This boosts the serene beauty of the place and gives immense pleasure exploring the Thekkady. The Mullaperiyar dam is another tourist attraction here. It forms an artificial lake for Periyar wildlife sanctuary as it is situated on the River Periyar.
Thekkady is an amazing amalgamation of natural beauty and wildlife. In other words, it is a perfect spot for animal lovers and explorers. If you are a forest type of person who prefers spending some quality time among woods and animals, then we recommend this place for you. Just pay a visit and then decide the same for yourself.
Thrissur :
Thrissur is another popular tourist destination in the country as it holds special cultural, religious and traditional values. Originally known as – Thirusivapperoor, Thrissur is often labelled as the cultural capital of Kerala. Also it is very significant in terms of historic values. Thrissur is too good and interesting to explore.
It is also termed as the – Golden capital of Kerala because of the surprisingly high sales of gold that happen every year. In other words, Thrissur is a great place for business as well.
Another interesting aspect of the place – Thrissur is the Pooram. The Thrissur Pooram celebrations that take place every year during the time of April – May is a sight to take a look at. Large number of people, in fact thousands, visit the place to witness the spectacular Thrissur Pooram from all over the world. The Puli Kali also known as Tiger dance is one of the most famous folk art performed here during the Onam festival.
Kozhikode :
Kozhikode is one of the best tourist attractions of Kerala. Known as the Calicut, the Kozhikode is known for its cultural, traditional, educational and historical values. It used to be the main trading centre in the past between Kerala and rest of the world.
At first, Vasco da Gama, who was in search of spices, arrived at Calicut. And later, English and Dutch followed the path.
Another prominent aspect of Kozhikode is its authentic food. In fact, it is popular for the Malabar food it serves. The wide range of mouth watering delicacies includes – Chatti Pathiri, Dum Biryani, Kalummakaya, sweets and other foods.
It is one of the most active commercial cities in the Indian state of Kerala. The place also boasts campuses of – The National Institute of Technology and Indian Institute of Management.
It is a perfect blend of modern lifestyle including business, food, culture and nature.
Other tourist attractions of Kozhikode include – backwaters, Kozhippara falls, Thikkoti light house, Thusharagri waterfall, Kakkayam, Beypore beach,Lion’s park, Sweet Street, Elathur, Canoli canal, Peruvannamuzhi dam, Kallai River, VellariMala, Kappad beach, Kadalundi bird sanctuary, Tali Temple and many more.
Kochi :
We think Kochi is one of the most advanced cities of India and needs no introduction. Known as the Cochin, in earlier days, it was a port city and is situated on the West coast of India in the Arabian Sea. It is part of the district of Ernakulam. The Ernakulam is also titled as the – Queen of Arabian Sea as it is one of the finest natural harbours in the world.
Today, Ernakulam is one of the fastest growing cities in India and is shaping well with a good bunch of industries, factories and IT giants in and around the city. Another interesting aspect is that in the past, various people from British, Chinese, Dutch, Arabs and Portuguese visited this place and also left their impressions here.
The Kochi is a home to Port of Kochi, Indian Coast Guard, Indian Navy and few other major industries. It is the best tourist destination in Kerala. One can enjoy good flavours of food here.
The tourist attractions in and around Kochi are – Kochi Harbour, Kochi Marine Drive, Jain Temple in Mattancherry and many more. The Fort of Kochi is a must visit place as it is rich in history and architecture.
Kovalam :
The beaches of Kerala are ranked top in the country. And Kovalam is one such place that boasts some amazing beaches. For many, Kovalam beaches make it to their bucket list as they are too good to spend time on the sand. The Ayurvedic treatments, spas and massages at the same places help you to spend some quality time and make lovely memories. If you are a beach person, then make some time to visit these fun and beautiful beaches of Kovalam. Many also prefer to celebrate their special occasions, weddings in particular, at the beaches.
With stunning lighthouses on the southern side of the crescent shaped beach is full of life. It provides an incredible view of the city. Particularly, Vizhinjam mosque and moon shaped beach. To its North, the Samudra beach and Hawah beach at the centre of Kovalam elevates the look and feel of the place.
We say, the beaches make wonderful tourist attractions with their even more beautiful sceneries. Also the Kovalam beach is a favourite spot for several people, who seek thrill and adventure. The place will also be buzzing with several water sports including boating, parasailing and others. We say, the beaches of Kovalam are nothing short of any other beach in the country.
Other tourist attractions of Kovalam are – Hawah beach, Samudra beach, Halcyon castle, Akkulam lake, Vizhinjam fishing harbour, Karamana river, Rock cut caves, Valiathura Pier, Vizhinjam Marine Aquarium, Lighthouse beach, The Lighthouse, Thiruvallam Parasurama temple, Vellayani lake, Aruvikkara, Jama Masjid and many more.
Conclusion :
Now, you would have understood why the Indian state – Kerala is often referred to as – God’s Own Country. It is a great place to explore as it is filled with amazing natural wonders at each and every corner of the state.
The exotic beaches of Kerala enhance the look and beauty and on the other hand, the backwaters will make you think that you are living that ‘lifetime dream’. Spending at least a day on the backwaters of Kerala will help you to rejuvenate and relieve your stress levels. And houseboats and their trips on these backwaters definitely deserve a mention.
Just imagine a day sitting on the houseboat, sipping some tender coconut water, looking at the wonderful sceneries and tasting Malabar delicacies, sounding amazing right ? Well, each and every day of yours in Kerala as a part of vacation will help you to make some stunning memories for lifetime.
We say, Kerala is one such state that is filled with scenic beauty including tea plantations, beaches, forts, mountain ranges, hills, rivers, backwaters, national parks, wildlife sanctuaries, paddy fields and many more. Not just the above mentioned places, there are also many other locations including – Vagamon, Bekal, Nelliyampathy, Marari, Malampuzha, Ashtamudi and the list never seems to end.
Book your vacation in Kerala now and take a look at some breath-taking visuals.
