10 Best Places to Visit in Kerala, India
Last Updated on April 27, 2022
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Kerala, a state situated on the tropical Malabar Coast of southwestern India, is among the top tourist destinations as the most serenely beautiful state in India.
There are many incredible and unique places to visit in Kerala for any type of tourist.
Its remarkable ecotourism initiatives and beautiful backwaters make Kerala famous and an indulgent place to go and relax.
Apart from the popular sightseeing places, there are many other places for a tourist to visit in Kerala, such as diverse wildlife, beach, Anthirappilly Falls, and fishing among others.
If you love nature and culture, you’ll never be at a loss for what to visit in Kerala.
Kerala has a bucket list of things to do for a tourist like attending a traditional Kathakali dance performance, cruising the backwaters on a houseboat, or taking some time to go tea tasting.
🧳 MUST-HAVE: Before you head out on your trip, make sure you have travel insurance. I recommend either SafetyWing or World Nomads.
Table of Contents
10 Best Places to Visit in Kerala
1. Munnar – one of the best places to visit in Kerala
If you’re wondering which district is beautiful in Kerala, India, look no further.
Munnar, located in undoubtedly the most beautiful district in Kerala – Idduki district, is one of the most known places to visit in Kerala.
One of the most famous places in kerala, this place is known for its beauty and tea plantations making it the most visited tourist spot in India.
The reason for opting to visit Munnar in Kerala, India is because of the cool weather around the year with flourished flora and fauna.
However, to ensure your visit is extra special, the best time to visit Munnar is between November and February when the weather is coolest.
The top station border in Munnar allows you to fly in the sky. There’s plenty of great hiking in Munnar if you want to get some of the most incredible views of the region!
The lakes, mountains, waterfalls, and valleys provide the best of nature as part of leisure and luxury, and they are ideal places for tourist visits.
Also, Munnar is the perfect place as its utilities are best for family vacations, corporate meetings, and couples, especially honeymooners.
Where to stay in Munnar
Amber Dale Luxury Hotel & Spa (Luxury accommodation)
This is one of the most luxurious and scenic getaways in all of Kerala, Amber Dale Luxury Hotel.
The views are nothing short of breathtaking as you wander through lush greenery with jagged mountains looming over it like guardian angels on watchful duty! – For the latest prices and availability click here
2. Alleppey
Alleppey or Alappuzha is one of the most beautiful districts in Kerala, famous for its backwaters and houseboats.
Here has the best sightseeing and points of interest in the form of old temples and religious places.
It is a blend of various canals, beaches, paddy fields, different lagoons, temples, and churches hence making it a viable location for a visit.
The serene beauty of Alleppey is visually seen in backwaters cruises, which will take you to the local places thereby giving you perfect picturesque.
Alleppey has many of the the best places to visit in Kerala.
You’ll fine natural flora and fauna, magnificent seashores and islands ideal for bird watching, and some of the most beautiful beaches in Kerala.
Tourists can also experience the backwaters through various means such as houseboats, public ferries, shikara, and canoes.
There are even other gems like lighthouses and palaces that attract tourist.
But fair warning, Alleppey is the largest district in Kerala by density – so be prepared for crowds! It’s worth it, though.
It is one of the best tourist places in Kerala for one day trip, although you might not want to leave!
Luckily, there are plenty of amazing options for accommodation, including authentic houseboat stays.
Where to stay in Alleppey
If you are looking for an authentic experience, look no further than Spice Routes Cruses.
Their houseboats come complete with cooked lunches and dinners while you’re cruising the canals – not to mention the dishes they serve are authentic and delicious Kerala food, some of the tastiest Indian food!
The staff were very friendly and helped make our stay even more special – highly recommended! – Check latest prices and availability here
3. Thekkady
Located near to Kerala-Tamil border, the sanctuary is famous for its cool climate, scenic vistas exotic wildlife, and dense evergreen forests.
Thekkady offers the best wildlife sighting places in India with the best touring places.
There are lots of things to do while in Thekkady such as boating on the lake, taking a jeep safari in the wilderness, jungle patrol, border hiking, and a plantation tour amongst others.
Sightseeing tours in Thekkady offer a chance to explore the quaint hill towns, hill slopes, spice and tea plantations, and wildlife sanctuaries.
The Periyar Lake and tiger park, the temples, and waterfalls are some of my favourite places to visit in Thekkady.
📸 PRO TIP: My go-to camera for all my travels is the Sony A7iii – I highly recommend it!
4. Wayanad
If you’re wondering which is the best district in Kerala for hiking, Wayanad is the place for you.
Situated in the northeast region of Kerala, Wayanad is one of the most mesmerising tourist places to visit in Kerala.
It is best known for its delightful scenery of hills and mountains, serene atmosphere, richness in culture, and tribal heritage.
Wayanad is a perfect mix of natural and human-made heritage with the most attractive places to visit.
Islands occupied by rare birds, flora and herbs, hills and mountain peaks perfect for trekking, wildlife sanctuary, deep valleys with waterfalls, tombs, and caves are excellent places to visit during a family vacation.
Being the greenest tourist place in Kerala, Wayanad is comprised of various points of interest to visit such as viewpoints, temples, dams, and rivers.
Wayanad is one of the best places to visit in Kerala in March as the cooler temperature makes it ideal for hiking.
But as one of the mountainous North Kerala districts, it is generally a bit cooler year-round than those on the water.
Where to stay in Wayanad
I stayed in this accommodation during my stay in Wayanad. The staff at this hotel were so kind and made a special effort to make sure that we had an amazing time in Kerala.
They offered us the celebrity pool villa which also came with its own private pools, let me just say I was extremely happy!
You can even go zip lining from here, past the waterfall and onto another side!
We had an amazing traditional lunch served on banana leaves which were so delicious, highly recommended! – For the latest prices and availability click here
5. Kumarakom
Kumarakom, situated near Vembanad Lake in Kerala, is one of the most beautiful places in Kerala India with alluring sceneries, pleasant weather, and exotic flora and fauna.
It is a combination of everything in Kumarakom, backwaters, authentic Kerala food, and deliciously fresh coconuts among others hence making it the loveliest tourist place in Kerala.
There are lots of things to do, choosing from boating, crushing, fishing, and houseboat stay. Kumarakom holds the best Kerala sightseeing places.
Waterways, decorated lakes coconut grooves, fresh paddy fields, thick mangrove forests, and unpolluted freshness of the air.
Kumarakom has various tourist attractions sites to visit, including Kumarakom bird sanctuary, a waterfall, temples, islands, beaches, and Vembanad lake.
Where to stay in Kumarakom
Kumarakom Resort is one of the most incredible luxury resorts in Kerala to stay.
This has got to be a hotel that any royalty would feel privileged with, not only because it was Prince Charles who stayed here last but also for how luxurious everything seemed! – For the latest prices and availability, click here
6. Kovalam
Kovalam beach is one of the best beach places to visit in Kerala, famous for its beaches with shallow waters and low tidal waves.
This is the best district in Kerala to enjoy activities like swimming, sunbathing, boating, and yoga.
A visit to Kovalam is a special, memorable holiday trip to remember; the beach has many points of interest to visit such as:
- the famous beaches
- the lighthouse
- freshwater lake
- sunset points
- marine aquarium
- old big fort
- a temple containing 18th-century rock sculptures.
Also, Kovalam has a crescent-shaped coastline that is always buzzing with activities like deep strong massage, sunbathing fests, and water sports like parasailing.
💡 TOP TIP: Looking to stay in this trendy location? Definitely check out Booking.com for the best deals on accommodation.
7. Varkala
Varkala is one of the best seaside places to visit in Kerala. It is a peaceful coastal city that blends nature and spirituality perfectly.
It is home to serene backwaters, enticing coastlines, cliffs, canals, lakes, and extended beaches making it the most exceptional Kerala point of interest in India.
For water-adventure enthusiasts, there is a ton of activities to do such as boat riding, surfing, parasailing, horse-riding, and jetting.
Varkala has exciting places to visit such as gorgeous beaches, Lakes with quiet and attractive coconut groves, beautiful waterways, and the old fort which features old structures including a century-old convent and tombs of soldiers.
The view of water stretching into the horizon is stunning and makes it the best sightseeing spot in Varkala and often considered one of the top five places to visit in Kerala.
8. Thiruvananthapuram
Thiruvananthapuram, also known as Trivandrum, is the capital city, as well as the biggest city in Kerala.
Despite being the capital city, Trivandrum is an evergreen city built on seven hills with many Kerala attractions spots to visit for all types of tourists.
The place is ideal for family trips, picnic sports, and tours with friends among others.
There are famous temples, wildlife sanctuaries allowing you to explore nature, ports where you can enjoy serene sunsets, lighthouses giving great aerial beach views, and museums to make you a memorable holiday trip.
There are adventurous activities in Trivandrum. Ranging from water sports like scuba diving and rafting to various air adventures like sky diving and paragliding.
Trivandrum has a dam ideal for touring where activities like boating and fishing are experienced
Not surprisingly, the city is in one of the most popular district in Kerala for both foreign and locals tourists to visit.
It’s among the best tourist places in Kerala for friends starting their travels through Kerala.
9. Kochi
The city of Kochi set on the southwest coast of India is best known for its alluring backwaters. It’s also known for its beaches, hill stations, and a serene environment that is rich in flora and fauna.
Kochi is one of the best Kerala tourist spots that is blended with different cultures and architecture.
And as one of the biggest cities in Kerala, Kochi has lots of great places to visit for tourists, from marine drives, beaches, palaces built by the Portuguese, and St Francis church which was the first European church built in India.
There are lots of activities to do while in Kochi like exploring gorgeous India’s oldest paradise synagogue, watching a cultural dance performance, and playing with elephants, among others.
Kochi also has the best hotels offering the perfect accommodation for tourists.
10. Bekal
Bekal is one of the most famous places in Kerala due to its large and well-preserved forts. Because of this, it is often rated among the best tourist places to visit in Kerala.
This serene place has popular tourist attraction sites such as the Bekal fort, temples, backwaters, caves beaches, and aqua parks.
Bekal is an ideal visit place for honeymooners owing to its exotic beauty and serenity. Bekal is full of exciting things to do for tourists indulging in an Ayurveda massage and tasting exotic cuisines.
The thick palm trees, golden sand, and mighty walls of the form together form a picturesque location.
Tourists may go on a relaxing stroll on the beach or enjoy camel riding, horse rides, and local snacks as well.
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Frequently Asked Questions
✅ Which is the most beautiful Kerala district?
The Idukki district. The district’s city of Munnar is often considered the most beautiful city in Kerala – and for good reason. The gorgeous rolling valleys, majestic mountains, and alluring waterfalls all make it impossible not to be taken in by the beauty of Munnar.
✅ Which is the best place for a family trip in Kerala?
Most of the districts of Kerala are suitable for a family trip depending on your interests. But the best places to visit in Kerala for families are Munnar, Thiruvananthapuram, and Wayanad. Wayanad is particularly popular as it is so close to Kozhikode, which is considered the safest district in Kerala.
✅ What is Kerala popular for?
Kerala is known for being an excellent eco-tourism destination. It is also popular with families and those who love the outdoors due to its expansive range of outdoor activities and breathtaking views.
Tell me below which places in Kerala are at the top of your list!
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