Top 10 Things to Do in Kerala

As far as things to do in Kerala are concerned right at the top of the list would be to cruise through the backwaters. Kerala is known as God’s Own Country and the backwaters happen to be a prime reason why this moniker has been bestowed on this state. In any case, the backwaters happen to be the most popular among all the tourist attractions in the state. When you pass through the snaking waters over here in a houseboat cruise and take in life all around the experience that you gain is one that stays with you for life.

Alleppey happens to be one of the best destinations if you are looking for points from which you would start such a tour. However, given the plenty of waterways in this state, there are many other spots that you can choose as well.

Visiting a Tea Plantation:

Munnar in Kerala is located in the Western Ghats area and happens to be a great place to visit, not least for its tea plantations. The landscape of this region is stunning in every sense of the term. It seems like the rolling green hills would never come to an end, they stretch as far as the eyes can see. It also helps that the tea over here is some of the freshest you would ever come across. There are plenty of good tours that you can avail in order to better explore the tea plantations of Munnar.

Visiting a Spice Plantation:

Kerala is known as much for its spices as it is for its tea. In fact, if anything, spices seem to have the advantage over here because there are some other parts of the country that are better known for their tea but none come close to this southwestern Indian state as far as spices are concerned. Kerala is also known as the Garden of Spices and you should take out an afternoon to visit one of these plantations. The area best for such an endeavor is Periyar where spices such as cardamom, cinnamon, and ginger are grown aplenty.

Kerala originally gained fame in this regard for its black pepper trade that dates back to the prehistoric era.

Hiking in Munnar:

Apart from the fabulous tea plantations, Munnar is also known for its scenery that can really take your breath away. It is one place that you would love if you happen to love the idea of staying outdoors. There are a number of treks in Munnar that would reward you and thrill you equally. The best among these are the Kannan Devan Hills trail and the Idukki Forest Walk.

Visiting the Beaches:

Since Kerala is located right next to the Arabian Sea there are a number of good beaches over here. In spite of this, the beaches over here are surprisingly not as famous as the rest of their brethren across the country. The coastline is stunning and if you are a beach bum you would surely love it. The sand here is soft and in most cases the sunshine is soothing. If you are looking for the kind of character and atmosphere that you normally find in other beaches then you would find it aplenty as well.

The best options in this regard are Marari Beach and Kovalam.

Visiting the Periyar Jungle:

Periyar is located right at the heart of the Western Ghats and is also well known for its sanctuary. It is very serene and happens to be absolutely different from the Malabar Coast. While you are in this part of this wonderful state you can always add jungle walks to your travel schedule. If it is a lucky day for you, you can come across animals such as Asian elephants, plenty of monkeys, giant squirrels, and more than 260 species of birds.

Visiting a Village:

When you take a houseboat tour you could come across plenty of villages on the way. However, if you can take some time out and visit one of the villages you would get a proper idea of how simple life is in the traditional villages of Kerala. When you come to know about their lives you would feel rewarded and humbled at the same time. You can be sure that you would get plenty of time to talk to the villagers.

Exploring Fort Kochi:

Exploring Fort Kochi and the areas around the fort is something that you must do when you are in Kerala. The city itself happens to be a historic one with a port that is always busy and the Chinese fishing nets that are famous all around the world. In fact, this city happened to be an important part of the Spice Route of yore. You can easily take guided tours or go around yourself, and discover the grandeur and heritage of this city. Over here you would also come across colonial era mansions that are still impressive and Portuguese churches that are really impressive.

Watching a Kathakali Show:

India is famous for its various dance forms and as far as the classical ones are concerned Kathakali of Kerala ranks right up there as one of the best. Watching a Kathakali show would fill you with a rich sense of Kerala’s culture. Easily the best place to catch such a magnificent performance is the Kerala Kathakali Centre at Kochi. The highlights of these performances are easily the colorful costumes and makeup that are surely unlike anything you have ever seen before.

Bird Watching in Kumarakom:

Kerala is where you would find hundreds of different species of birds. As such it is well on its way to becoming one of the best destinations in the country for bird watching. You might not be such an ardent birdwatcher as such but if you wish to truly appreciate the wonderful landscape of Kerala a bird watching tour is a must. The same can also be said in the context of the wildlife and nature of the state. The best place for this is easily the Kumarakom Bird Sanctuary.