5 Must see places in Kerala
You always wanted to visit South India but you never knew where to start of your journey and what to include in your travel itinerary ?
Then this blog post is exactly what you were looking for.
Kerala, also famously known as “God’s own country” is located on the southern coast of India. Home to a beautiful network of lagoons (backwaters), sprawling tea plantations, palm tree lined beaches and the famous Ayurvedic massages.
How to get there:
We started our trip in the city of Kochi. The best way is to fly to Cochin International Airport, which is the gateway to the state of Kerala and serviced by many international Airlines.
Please keep in mind to spend more hours on the streets while driving. Also be prepared for a different experience on the streets of India, as it can not be compared to the western style of driving, especially when it comes to following common traffic rules.
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1.Munnar
The perfect way to start our trip was by visiting the beautiful mountain range of Munnar. Famous for their breathtaking tea estates and various shades of greens surrounded by misty hills and valleys, you will reach this point from Kochi after a drive of approximately three hours.
Where to stay?
I highly recommend staying at the Windermere Estate. It is quite a bumpy ride getting there due to some unpaved roads. However, I must say once you arrive you won’t regret the way up. Inspired by the magic of plantation life, the Windermere Estate sets you back in time.
The food, which was prepared by the chef himself, was by far one of the best meals I had on my entire trip through Kerala. The beautiful concept of creating dishes with ingredients that were harvested daily without being tied to a menu was something I found to be a beautiful approach towards avoiding mass production and rather relying on the availability nature has to offer.
Moreover the chef can adjust meals for guests who have special dietary requirements.
The road leading to Munnar might be a driving experience on its own but totally worth it when catching a glimpse of outstanding carpets of tea bushes, beautiful estates of coffee, cardamon and pepper. Temperatures are pleasant and the air is crips and fresh. Munnar is the highest town in Kerala which lies at the heart of the tea country therefore remember to grab a cardigan or a comfy sweater as it tends to get a bit chilly.
What to do:
Since we were staying at a retreat all we wanted to do at the beginning of our journey was to enjoy the beautiful scenery and unwind. Once you have regained your energy from your busy schedules back home, some of the best activities include walks through the breathtaking tea plantation and a climb up to a beautiful sunset point view.
If you don’t mind the cold you can take a quick dip into the pool. If you would rather cozy up inside I would recommend visiting the beautiful library which is equipped with lots of books as well as board games.
While you are at it, don’t forget to order a hot glass of delicious Indian chai.
2.Thekkady
Thekkady is a town located near the Periyar National Park and is known for its natural spices. The drive from Munnar down to Thekkady takes about two hours and fifty minutes depending on the traffic situation.
Where to stay:
We planned a one night stay at the Spice Village Resort . This eco friendly hotel is located in the picturesque hills of Thekkady. If you are a lover of nature and wildlife you would most definitely love this region. Even though we just had a short stay at this resort, I quickly fell in love with the conscious approach within their facility. From reusable water glass bottles to upgrading Bio-waste into paper. Interestingly, you can find their handmade recycled papers in each room in form of a notepad and other stationary items.
However, as much as I enjoyed my stay at the resort I was quite disappointed with the “so called” famous boat safari tour at the Periyar Tiger Reserve. All we got to see on the safari cruise were birds and bisons. I do want to mention that there are seasons where you can encounter elephants and tigers. It might have been due to the ending of the rainy season or simply unlucky timing. If you have the chance to stay longer, I do recommend to add Thekkady to your travel itinerary. Regarding the boat safari, I believe it was one of those tourist traps that can surely be skipped and replaced with the Jeep Safari. I haven’t done the Jeep safari myself, but I researched and heard that it could be a much better option for a more private and exclusive wildlife experience.
One of the major spices produced in the region is cardamon. If you are interested in spices, you can do a “spice walk” tour, in which you get an insight into how they grow, harvest and process various spices as well as pointing out their health benefits.
3.Alleppey
Located in the heart of the backwaters of Kerala, Alleppey is definitely a must see. Iconic for its beautiful houseboat cruises and not to be missed on a road trip through Kerala.
The drive from Thekkady to Alleppey took us approximately three hours and 40minutes.
Where to stay:
If you have more time on your hands make sure to spend a night on one of the traditional houseboats. We booked our houseboat tour on www.xandari.com and decided to go with the option of a four hour cruise.
What did I enjoy the most during our trip to Kerala? Hands down, the experience on this beautiful houseboat! Feeling the breeze while cruising through the backwaters and catching glimpses of green paddy fields, was without a doubt one of the best experiences I had, so unique and different than anything else I had done before.
These houseboats are traditionally called Ketuvallam. We rented an entire houseboat to ourselves and voyaged about four hours along the beautiful network of lakes. We got a glimpse of the villages while passing through the canals and enjoyed the upper deck while sipping on fresh coconuts.
To enjoy the ultimate backwater experience and have an additional touch of relaxation while floating down the lagoons, I highly recommend to rent a boat that has an upper deck.
Renting a houseboat is definitely something I would do again, even though we just rented it for four hours it was worth every second. Being taking care of by the boat crew that whipped up fantastic Indian dishes such as fried bananas locally known as (Pazham Pori) followed by Indian chai and coffee was an experience that should not be missed.
The Crew was so kind to even drop us off directly at our next Hotel before check-in. If I had more time I would have loved to stay on the houseboat overnight in order to experience the epic sunrise which I have heard so much about.
4.Kumarakom
Kumarakom is a sleepy little village which is located on the Vembanad lake. It is the perfect stopover if you decide to spend a night in one of the resorts that are only accessable by boat.
Where to stay:
Our next stop was the Coconut Lagoon Resort. It is surrounded by coves of coconut groves and the beautiful Backwaters.
What to do:
Treat yourself to one of the famous massages at the Ayurveda Centre. They offer a wide range of massages for beauty, rejuvenation and stress, which are all based on India's ancient healing art of Ayurveda. Do not forget to roam around this beautiful resort, if you are a home decor lover like me. You will get a lot of inspiration throughout the entire resort. I especially loved the old agrarian houses which were restructured into charming Keralan-style homes.
5.Varkala
If you want to end your trip with some beach time, the coastal town of Varkala is a good place to do so. It is known for its laid back atmosphere and hippie culture. You can choose to stay on top of the cliffs or in a homestay not far from the beach. The car ride from Kumarakom to Varkala took us about three hours.
Where to stay: Villa Jacaranda
Villa Jacaranda is a boutique guesthouse on the south cliff of Varkala. The beach is just a five minute walk from this guesthouse which is pretty convenient.
What to do:
Rent a bike and explore Varkala`s town and suroundings.
Also don’t miss out on the stunning sunset, which is best enjoyed up on the cliff while having a drink or heading out for dinner.
Make sure to stroll around the cliffside to have a look at the little shops while hunting for souvenirs to take home.
The cliffside is lined with various restaurants which also includes Nepali food.
My highlight was finally finding a good cup of coffee. There are several cafes along the cliffside that serve Italian coffee, so if you are a coffee lover like me, get your caffeine kick right there.
TIP: for the best coffee head to nomade!
While exploring on the bike we came across all these yummy fruit stands! Don’t miss out on trying the bananas! They are so delicious you won’t be able to go back to eating bananas anywhere else.
Apart from that, the fruit stalls looked so pretty, I just couldn’t resist snapping a few photos here.
Varkala mainly draws a young backpacker crowd as well as Indians, coming to spend their holidays at the beach.
I love finding inspiration for home decor in souvenir shops while traveling, therefore I was very excited when I found the Agora Shop and was able to buy some beautiful jewellery and handcrafts to take back home. So, make sure to keep some space in your luggage incase you are looking for a souvenir for yourself or a gift for your loved ones.
Varkala is all about relaxation and zoning out.
I made sure to get away from the stress by taking walks at the beach and lounging at one of the cosy coffee places.
Seafood is a must have when staying at the beach, so make sure to order some delicious Fish Molee (Keralan style Fish Curry).
Travel Tip:
Combine your trip with an island getaway to the Maldives. Did you know that it is just an hour and 25 minute flight to get to the capital of Malé?
If you plan to do so, fly out from Trivandrum International Airport. It is just about an hour drive from Varkala and a perfect decision to avoid the long drive back to Kochi.
Planing a trip to beautiful Kerala in the near future? These “good to knows” might come in handy.
Kerala at a glance
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