Whether it’s the upcoming holiday season or the list of long weekends through the rest of the year. If you are looking for a destination to visit next, let us give you enough reasons in this article today why Kerala should be on your travel bucket list. No matter what you are looking for in your next holiday or travel – serene beaches, tranquil backwaters, mystic mountains, charming meadows, historical places to wander or luxurious staycations to just stay put or even camping in the wild – Kerala has it all. No wonder Kerala is our favourite destination. So, without further delay, let me walk you through why Kerala should be on your travel bucket list for sure.
#1 The connectivity to Kerala is awesome
Kerala is one of the most well-connected states in India.
It has several airports including those of Kochi and Thiruvananthapuram as the major airports. When we travelled to Kumarakom, we made an indigo flight booking to Kochi and then another one from Trivandrum back to Bangalore. It was a breeze. And this was years back. Fast forward to today. And there are so many flights being operated by Indigo and other airline operators with super connectivity to these major cities of Kerala.
Kerala is even well connected by rail network and road network. Except for the hills, the rails reach most of the major destinations in Kerala. Including Kannur, Bekal, Kozhikode, Kochi, Trivandrum etc. And what’s more, from nearby states, you can travel overnight.
PS : A road trip from Bangalore to Bekal and things to do in Bekal including the Bekal Fort
I would be lying if I told you that when I did a trip to Andaman with my 6 month old baby, I didn’t have any connectivity worries in my mind. In fact, I was wondering all the time, what if she fell sick and I needed to abruptly end the trip etc. But when it comes to traveling to Kerala, I have no such worries at all.
#2 The backwaters of Kerala are the most unique
The backwaters of Kerala are a unique phenomenon. Nowhere in India or around the world, is there anything similar. Particularly the majestic yet calm Vembanad Lake. Which is accessible from both the laid back and beautiful Kumarakom and the houseboats of Alleppey. It operates hundreds of houseboats in Kerala on a daily basis. Staying in the bamboo and sustainable material-made houseboats, roaming around floating in the lake in literally a several-room house, eating fresh catch from the lake for food while cruising through the narrow canals of the backwaters and witnessing some of the best sunsets of a lifetime are only some of the many experiences that one can have on a houseboat in Kerala. This itself makes for reason enough why Kerala should be on your travel bucket list.
#3 The beaches of Kerala are some of the most pristine in India
If there is any other state in India, the variety and beauty of whose beaches can match those of Goa then it has got to be Kerala. And then they are much less crowded than the beaches of Goa !! Some of the best beaches that you must experience in Kerala include –
- The blue water and fine sand beach – Marari Beach just on the outskirts of Kochi
- The dramatic cliffside beach of Varkala with fine sands on one side and rocks on the other which you can explore on a trip to Varkala.
- The cliffside beach of Trivandrum
- Pristine blue water beach almost on the edge of south India in Kovalam which is also flanked by a lighthouse.
- The lesser-known but serene beach of Bekal in north Kerala
- The “drive-in” beach of Kannur – where you can drive a 4-wheeler right through the waves!!
And I am sure there are many more beaches of Kerala – unexplored, hidden and pristine. Another compelling reason why Kerala must be on your travel bucket list!
#4 The hills of Kerala are some of the most beautiful in the country
Of all the hills I have visited, I have personally not seen meadows as green as the hills of Munnar. Add to that the low-hanging clouds, the widespread tea gardens and some of the enchanting peaks. The Hills of Kerala definitely make for some of the most beautiful in this country. Some of the must-visit hills of Kerala include –
- Munnar
- Vagamon
- Idukki
- Wayanad
These hills of Kerala are full of lush green forests, tea estates, enchanting waterfalls, winding mystic roads, beautiful rivers and several wildlife sanctuaries.
PS: A perfect 4 days trip to Munnar
#5 Kerala has a very rich history
The old forts built all the way from Trivandrum in the south to the famous Bekal Fort in the north are testimony to Kerala’s rich history. So are ancient temples and beautiful palaces. If you are a history buff, you have a lot on your hands to explore and admire when visiting Kerala. Some of my personal favourites include –
- The old Fort Kochi area
- Beautiful & uniquely architectured Padmanabhapuram Palace of Kerala
- The majestic fort of Bekal
- One of the oldest temples in Wayanad – Sree Thirunelli Mahavishnu Kshetram
- The Edakkal caves in Wayanad which are home to some of the most ancient human-made carvings and inscriptions – indicating that Kerala was predominantly one the cradles of human civilisation in India.
#6 Kerala has some of the best mouth-watering cuisines in India
Like every state in India, Kerala has its own unique set of mouth-watering cuisines. Which are prepared in a unique style and served traditionally on coconut leaves. Some of the must-try cuisines in Kerala include Puttu, Kadla Curry, Appe or Appam, Idiyappam, Fried Banana Pakora or Fritters, Malabar Parota, Kerala Parota, Kerala style non-vegetarian recipes like Prawns and some unique seafood cuisines. A very unique “thali ” (platter) is the “Onam Sadhya” served on the auspicious occasion of the Onam festival in Kerala. A compelling reason for foodies – why Kerala should be on your travel bucket list.
#7 Kerala hosts some of the most majestic waterfalls in India
Along the hills of Kerala lies some of the most enchanting and beautiful waterfalls in India. One of the most majestic of all is the Athirapally waterfall. Which we visited on our week-long road trip to Kerala. If you love to chase waterfalls, then Kerala is the perfect destination for you. While some of these are located right on the roadsides. There are others hidden inside the rainforests. And it will take a little trekking to reach them. There were several such waterfalls that we encountered on our trip to Munnar.
#8 The spice garden tour of Kerala – a one-of-a-kind experience
Another very unique experience to have in Kerala is a guided spice garden tour. Wherein the naturalist will tell you about all the different spices, their properties, benefits etc. Since Kerala is home to several spices, grown in abundance here and exported not just in India but throughout the world from here.
#9 The enchanting region of Thekkady and the wildlife sanctuaries of Kerala – a must-visit
A cruise in a boat on the Periyar River, citing the wild animals in their natural habitat on the banks in the Periyar Wildlife Sanctuary is another one-of-a-kind experience to have on a trip to Kerala. This lies in the beautiful Thekkady region. But apart from that, there are so many other wildlife sanctuaries and bird sanctuaries in the small state of Kerala. Some of the other must-visit ones include –
- Kumarakom Bird Sanctuary
- Eravikulam National Park
- Idukki Wildlife Sanctuary
- Wayanad Wildlife Sanctuary
And many others. If you like visiting and exploring wildlife sanctuaries and bird sanctuaries, then definitely Kerala is a must-visit for you.
#10 Kerala has some unique stay experiences
Just try a search like “the best tree house stay in India” or “camping in India” and the listings from Kerala will fill your results. And not just that, if you want to experience campervan travel in India, which is just picking up, again, Kerala is the perfect destination with a lot of options – from campervan rental to campervan with driver. Basically, you can enjoy some of the most unique stay experiences in Kerala. If you like experimenting with different stay options then you have got a very solid reason why Kerala should be on your travel bucket list.
#11 You can enjoy some of the most luxurious staycations of India in Kerala
Kerala has some of the most luxurious staycation options in India. From luxury resorts to 5-star hotels – they are all in to pamper you on a perfect staycation break. Some of these, particularly the ones in Bekal, Kochi, Wayanad and Trivandrum or Kovalam can be easily visited from Bangalore or Chennai via road or a quick flight over a weekend as well. These are located right beside the backwaters, the Vembanad Lake, and hilltops, overlooking water reserves and dams, on the brisk of wildlife sanctuaries, overlooking waterfalls like the Athirapally waters and other exotic locations that we usually dream of. So, if you are in for just a staycation, still, you still have got reasons enough to visit Kerala.
#12 Kerala calls for some of the most enchanting road trips in India
The roads of Kerala pass through some of the most beautiful regions. Sometimes they go up the winding hills, sometimes pass through rainforests and at other times run right beside the beaches. We were enthralled by the natural beauty of the surroundings on our own week-long road trip to Kerala. Some of the most beautiful stretches of roads that I have travelled on in Kerala include –
- Kochi to Munnar road trip through lush green enchanting hills and ghats
- Kochi to Alleppey road trip right through the middle of backwater canals
- Trivandrum to Kumarakom road trip through the backwater lakes
- A road trip to Bekal from Bangalore
- A trip to Athirapally waterfalls driving through Palakkad (when coming from Coimbatore)
#13 Kerala has some of the most beautiful religious sites in India – including the richest temple in India as well
Apart from all the reasons listed above, Kerala also attracts religious crowds. And not just from one, but all religions. Since it is home to not just some of the most beautiful and ancient temples of India. But also some of the most beautiful churches in the region.
Some of these places I would like to mention from our own experience travelling in Kerala include –
- The very ancient “Sree Thirunelli Mahavishnu Kshetram” in Wayanad district
- The richest temple of India – and one of the most revered Vishnu temples – Padmanabha Swamy Temple in Thiruvananthapuram
- Several churches of the Varkala region
- Sabarimala Sastha Temple
- Thiruvalla Temple
And the list goes on ☺
And you know what is the best part? You can experience all of the above in a trip to Kerala as short as 5-6 days!! Now you see why Kerala is called “ God’s own country”!! It attracts one of the highest numbers of tourists among Indian states.
With that, hope we have given you reason enough why Kerala must be on your travel bucket list. We have personally done 5 trips to Kerala so far. Including the week-long epic road trip across Kerala. And still, there is so much more to cover when it comes to Kerala. I guess we can continue doing micro trips year on year still we will have something or the other left to experience when it comes to Kerala.
What is the best time to travel to Kerala?
Kerala is a year-round destination. Different parts of Kerala can however be visited in different seasons. Some of these include –
- The hills of Munnar, Vagamon and Idukki can be visited around the year, except for the heavy monsoon months. They are particularly charming in the winter months right after the rains. And much soothing even in the summer months.
- The backwaters of Kerala like Alleppey and Kumarakom and the coastal regions of Trivandrum, Kovalam, Kochi and Varkala are best to visit in winter months. Or even the monsoon months of June to September.
- You can visit the rainforests, meadows and hills of the Wayanad district of Kerala in the winter months up to April or May until the monsoons start.
How to plan a trip to Kerala
If you live in the southern states of Tamil Nadu and Karnataka, you can do several micro trips to Kerala. Some of the most popular trips people take to Kerala include –
- Munnar – Thekkady – Alleppey trip which can be done in 5-6 days. It gives people a glimpse of the most beautiful regions of Kerala, touching upon the hills, backwaters, rivers, wildlife sanctuaries as well as beaches all in one short trip.
- A staycation trip to just Alleppey or Kumarakom to experience the houseboat stay
- Staycation or trekking trips to different regions of Wayanad district. Which is full of many luxurious and beautifully located staycation options in Wayanad.
- A cultural trip to Thiruvananthapuram or Kochi and around
- A trip to Varkala which is popularly called the Goa of Kerala. As the beaches of Varkala are as pristine as some of the best beaches of Goa. With its laid-back lifestyle, sleepy beaches, quaint cafes and dramatic cliffs, it definitely qualifies as a full vacation destination on its own.
If you are traveling from far, you can plan to cover the highlights of Kerala in a 1-week to 10-day trip. Or, even better, cover all the major destinations in Kerala in one single 2-week trip. You can pick from either of these –
- A weeklong trip around Kerala catching the highlights of Kochi, Athirapally, Munnar, Varkala, Trivandrum, Kovalam and Alleppey like how we did
- A complete 2-week trip covering all the highlights of Kerala including
- Bekal & Kannur
- Wayanad
- Athirapally
- Vagamon
- Munnar
- Kochi
- Varkala
- Alleppey / Kumarakom
- Trivandrum & Kovalam