Your Very Own Travel Guide to God's Own Country: The 10 Best Places to Visit in Kerala in 2019!

Rightly termed by many as God’s own country, Kerala has its mesmerizing beauty with palm-lined beaches and backwaters. Kerala is the state located in southwestern India with around 600 km Arabian sea shoreline. It is situated on the Malabar coast. History says that the Chera Dynasty is the prominent kingdom that ruled Kerala. It has widespread tea, coffee and spice plantations. It is a great spice exporter since 3000 BC. The language spoken here is Malayalam. Kerala’s economy is the 12th largest economy in India. Religions widely followed in this state are Hinduism, Islam, and Christianity.

It has everything from beaches to beautiful hills, from tea and spices garden to dense forests. Their primary production is natural rubber and pepper. They also have a significant contribution in agricultural sectors leading the plantation of cashews, tea, coconut, coffee, etc. Major attractions are backwaters, greenery, ayurvedic practices. Elephants form the cultural integration of Kerala culture. Every festival has at least one elephant decorated beautifully adding colours to the festival. National Geographic Traveller magazine named the state as one of the "ten paradises of the world" in 2012. Here are the ten best places to visit in Kerala for a beautiful and memorable experience.

Edakkal caves host the two natural caves located at Edakkal, a remote location in Kerala. Edakkal is located 3900ft above the sea level and is 25 km from Kalpetta in the Wayanad district. The caves have the pictorial paintings believed to be written by Neolithic man around 6000 B.C. There are three types of petroglyphs found inside the cave, and the oldest one dates back to 8000 years. These carvings are rare and believed to be the only Stone Age carving found in south India so far. Evidence suggests that the caves should have been inhabited several times in history. The person behind the discovery of the Edakkal caves is Fred Fawcett, a police official of the Malabar state. Though it is called caves, technically it is a Rock shelter caused by a fissure, splitting a rock from its main body. The finding, made in 2009, indicates that the Harappa civilization was active in this region.

Ponmudi is a small yet charming hill resort located on the Western Ghats range. It is located in the Thiruvananthapuram District, at about 1100m altitude. It is known for backpacking and trekking. The nearest Railway station is Trivandrum Railway Station, and the nearest airport is Trivandrum international airport which is 65 Km from Ponmudi. The en route to Ponmudi gives a thrilling experience with 22 hairpin bends. An ideal place to visit in to sit and relax amidst lush green trees is the mist-laden Golden Valley. It also gives you access to the Kallar river. Some notable tourist attractions are Peppara Wildlife Sanctuary, Echo Point and trekking spots. Another must visit the place is Agasthyarkoodam, one of the highest peaks in the Western Ghats, it’s altitude is 1868 m. Ponmudi is rich in flora and fauna. It is also hosting to some highly endangered species like Travancore Tortoise, Malabar Tree Toad, Malabar Gliding Frog, and Nilgiri Tahr can be found in the hilltop.

Cherai Beach is located in the suburban city called Cherai in Kochi. The beach spreads 10 km long. The nearest airport is Cochin International Airport. The place is popular for frequent dolphin sightings, Cherai beach is known for swimming as the waves are mostly gentle. You can also take part in many water sports available near the beach. Relaxing at the beach and looking at the sunrise is a memorable experience. Other must visit places include Wonderla, which is the largest amusement park in Kochi, Kerala featuring many land & water rides. It is India’s first ISO and OHSAS certified amusement park. You can also check the Lulu mall, which is the largest mall in India with a giant food court. Vypeen island is also a must visit a place which is a Portuguese developed island. The island has one of India’s oldest European Forts, built in the year 1503 and lighthouse in Ochanthuruthu.

Kerala is rich in its cultural heritage. To know about Kerala’s culture and art forms, Punarjani Traditional Village is a must try. Located at the second mile Pallivasal, which 8 km away from Munnar town. It is a co-operative venture by a young group of artists based in Munnar. Punarjani in the Malayalam language refers ‘rebirth,’ and the purpose of this venture is to rejuvenate and preserve the cultural heritage of Kerala. Punarjani focuses mainly on promoting two traditional Kerala art forms; 'Kathakali' which is the classical dance drama and 'Kalarippayattu,' the mother of martial arts. It also encourages Ayurvedic therapies.

Kathakali is a combination of literature, costumes, music, facial makeup, and dance. Daily there is a show to represent local art for a one-hour duration.

The Kathakali dance performance begins at 5 pm and Kalarippayattu at 6 pm. An entry fee of 200 rupees is charged per head for all those above five years of age.

Gavi is an eco-tourist sport in Kerala. It is a village in Kerala located in Pathanamthitta district. Gavi is part of the Periyar Tiger Reserve. It’s a retreat for people who admire nature. Gavi has maintained its scenic beauty and has in itself more than 260 species of birds. Nilgiri Tahr and Lion-tailed macaque are often sighted at the outskirts of Gavi. Elephants can also be sighted abundantly. On the way to Gavi, you will be able to see a lot of tea plantation, which is a truly refreshing experience. This place has some breathtaking viewpoints like the Valley View offer a spectacular view of the forest below.

Sabarimala, the famous pilgrim destination is a short trek from Gavi. For those interested in nocturnal wildlife, night safaris to Pullumedu, Kullur, Pampa, and Pachakanam provide many opportunities for wildlife viewing. As the roads are sturdy, we recommend taking a jeep like a vehicle. The nearest railway station is Kottayam.

Periyar Tiger Reserve is located in Thekkady. The nearest railway station is Kottayam. Thekkady is intensely rich in flora and fauna. Though it is open throughout the year, the best time to visit this place is from October-March. It also has a few watch towers inside, which are excellent for viewing wildlife. The temperature of this place varies from 15 degree Celsius to 31 degree Celsius. The forest contains teak, oak, sandalwood, mangoes, bamboo, etc. The only south Indian conifer, known as Podocarpus Wallichianus scientifically, grows in the forests of the Periyar Tiger Reserve. Records show that there are 35 species of mammals and 266 species of birds can be seen in the park. The reserve is also home for many insect and bird species. In addition to this, Kerala Wildlife department also organizes trekking starting from 500 rupees per head. For all nature lovers, make sure this is on your bucket list.

Vembanad Lake is the largest lake in Kerala and the longest in India. The famous Nehru Trophy Boat Race is conducted in this lake. The serene backwater of Kumarakom turns into starlit during Onam festival and snake boat race. During these festivals, the backwater comes back to life as thousands of people gather to cheer for their favourite Chundan Vallams to chase the title. Kumarakom Bird Sanctuary has coordinated its location to the east coast of this lake. One can go boating in this beautiful lagoon and enjoy the scenic beauty of the lush green trees. Staying in the boathouse is the best idea to enjoy the backwaters. Houseboats come with 1/2/3/4 bedrooms. For tourists looking for a perfect backwater, then Vembanad Lake is the best choice. This lake is easily reachable from any part of Alleppy by road, and rental vehicles are also available. Experience the best of weather to visit Vembanad Lake is September-March.

Kerala has a lot of tourist spots covering hills, wildlife backwaters and many more. However, highly crowded tourist destination may not have a calming effect on people. Hence for tourists looking for an unexplored destination with pristine environment, Nelliyampathy is a must try. It is located 62 km from Palakkad. The nearest railway station is Pallakad, and the nearest airport is Coimbatore International Airport in Tamil Nadu. As you travel, you can see tall trees, high altitude roads, and serene tea and coffee plantations, which is a visual treat. Trekking to Kesavan Para is very enjoyable because one has to pass through thick greenery, and the view from the top is gorgeous. The 19th-century dam called Pothundi Dam is the entrance to Nelliyampathy. Pothundi dam has facilities for boating. On the way, you can see some viewpoints that offer a serene view of Palakkad and the widespread view of paddy fields.

If you love soothing natural beauty and love adventure, then the Chembra Peak is a perfect spot. Chembra peak is at the altitude of 2000 meters above sea level. The mountain can be seen from most parts of Wayanad. 'Chimera Peak VSS' which is under the Wayanad Forest Development Agency, is responsible for arranging treks. Trekking to the peak takes about 3 hours, and the average fee charged for a group of 10 members is 500 rupees and 1000 rupees for International tourists. From the peak, you will be able to get the full panoramic view of Wayanad. Road transport facilities are available to reach Chembra. You can take either the government or private buses. Get down at Kalpetta and from there head to Chembra. Chembra Peak is worth visiting throughout the year, but we recommend you to avoid the Chembra on rainy season, as the pathway and descent become slippery during monsoon.

Silent Valley National Park is located in part of the Nilgiri hills. The area was explored by the botanist Robert Wight in 1847 and found that the national park host home was a too rare species of flora and fauna. The national park is one of the last undisturbed places of South Western Ghats mountain rain forests. This was recognized by UNESCO as the Western Ghats World Heritage Site in 2007. Once you get into the main entrance of Sairandhri (the secret identity of Panchali, from the epic Mahabharata), you’ll be open to dense and wild jungles where the most fauna lurk untamed and where the adventures await. Though Silent Valley is a year-round destination, we would recommend you to visit between December and April for comfortable weather conditions and get the high chances of wildlife sightings. Many have passed through here, but no one has been able to express their emotions and experience evoked by the forest on them. It is something to be observed first, this perfect gift of nature.

Kerala is a state that has a bounty of blessings from nature. From serene tea plantations to wildlife, backwaters to golden beaches, Kerala has everything to satisfy the need of a tourist, earning it the moniker God’s own country.

Kerala is also famous for its Ayurvedic practices, healing people inside out. It has a distinct cuisine like its culture, flavoured by seafood and vegetables and garnished with best aroma spices. Its culture is very vibrant with ethereal music and dance. When in Kerala, bathe elephants, discover remote villages, treat your taste buds with flavours you never dreamt existed, camp in the woods lying awake listening to the music of nature at night and in the morning, let the mountain mists awake to yet another beautiful day.

The trip is guaranteed to touch your soul and keeping you planning to come again. Kerala is not just a destination; it’s an epic of experiences! Pack your backpack to any of these ten best places to visit in Kerala and get ready for a soulful journey.