Known as God’s own country, Kerala, (which is really a state), lies on the south western end of India. It’s warm there all year long and monsoon season is between June to August. Kerala is a good tourist location for those who are willing to step out of their comfort zone and don’t mind getting a little down and dirty. For those who are not quite ready for that yet, there are still beautiful resorts, 5 star hotels and high class tour packages available. The good news is that in most parts of Kerala, you will still be able to communicate in English, enough to get by and get the information you need.
The scenic backwaters in Kerala and the spicy fresh food are some of the main attractions of the state. The calming house boat rides make Kerala a great option for those who want to relax. The adventurous coracle boat (pictured above) during the high water season is a fun activity for those who want the thrill. Other attractions within Kerala include touring tea plantations in Munnar and enjoying waterfalls in Athirapally. Visiting the unlimited number of beautiful Christian churches, Hindu temples, and Islamic mosques are another favorite. The best part of doing everything you want to in Kerala is that it won’t cost you an arm and a leg.
How it all started…
My love for traveling started with a Kerala trip for a friend’s wedding. This was the first time in India without my parents and I was able to visit many places I wouldn’t have otherwise. I had a driver and car with me the whole time, making it easier to plan the activities. On some days, I either had relatives or a family friend who stayed with me join in on the trip. Because of this, I felt very safe and secure.
The good news is that you don’t have to pre-plan most activities in India. You just show up. Most things are on a first come first serve basis, given that you will pay the price for it. One thing I would recommend to book ahead is a driver and a car for the days you are there. The hotel/home you are staying at will be able to help you find a driver and car. Just make sure to finalize the plans and payments prior to booking them! Following is a list of things that I was able to do during my trips to Kerala!
Kumarakom or Alleppy Backwater Boat Rides
Backwater boat rides are a great way to relax and see the greenery in Kerala. The scenery and the calm waters makes this a must do activity. On the more modern boats, there is usually a bedroom and bathroom and sometimes even a television! They provide you a fresh cooked meal on the boat, usually with the fish they catch the day of. They also make a stop or two if you would like to do some fishing or exploring the island. This may not be a fun activity to do alone, but definitely recommend it for a group of family or friends.
How to book a trip? Go to main towns where the boats take off from early in the morning. You will get bombarded with different boat owners/workers trying to make you an offer for a ride. Make sure you bargain a little and get a good deal.
Konni Elephant Cage, in Adavi Eco Tourism Center
This was my first time riding an elephant and I loved it. I loved talking to Priyadarshini, the elephant and petting her. However, the elephants here were tied down most of the time and were used for the rides only. The good thing was that we are able to sit on the elephant and not on a seat tied to the elephant, which is that much more harmful to the elephant’s spine.
This is on a first come first serve basis. We went in the morning, paid for our tickets and got to ride the elephant soon after.
Timings; 10AM-5PM.
Would I do this again?
No, I wouldn’t. It wasn’t until I experienced the elephant sanctuary in Thailand that I realized the animals in this center are not being treated right. It made sense, because these elephants were not very friendly…you could see that in their eyes. The ones in the sanctuary on the other hand were so playful and loving. If the elephants are tied down and being used only for rides, don’t ride them. I don’t want to contribute to this act by visiting or paying for this, ever again.
Achen Kovil River Oracle Boat Ride, in Adavi Eco Tourism Center
The oracle boat ride is an adventurous activity if you go at the right time. I went during the dry season in January and the rivers were very calm with little water. There were four of us in a boat along with a guide. We all got to row for a little while along the stream and the guide rowed the rest of the way. If you go in the monsoon season and after, there will be higher waters and tide, causing the boat to go faster.
Would I do this again?
Definitely! It was a lot of fun, even with the calm waters. The only thing I would suggest is keeping your life jacket on at all times. In high waters, the current can be dangerous so make sure they offer you (working) life jackets and you use them during the whole ride. The picture above was taken after our ride, right before getting off.
Explore the fields, streams and local walkways
There is so much open land in Kerala to be explored. Some of the land is private property, like the picture on the bottom right, which belongs to my uncle. You have to be careful into whose property you wander into. You might also stumble upon some pathways that look like the picture on the bottom left. The best thing to do is explore with a local who know how to get around.
You can walk through the fields, but be prepared to roll up your pants and get a little muddy! The scenic view and experience are worth it!
Visit the Temples and Churches
There are so many beautiful churches, mosques, and temples. Women are not allowed to enter mosques, but the Hindu temples and Christian churches are open to all. No matter where you go, it is important to follow the rules of the religion and be respectful. Not only is it wrong, but you may get into some trouble with the officials if you go somewhere and behave out of place.
Inside our home Church in India 
Outside of an old Orthodox Church 
At a Hindu temple for a festival 
During a festival at a Hindu temple
Athirapally Water Falls
On my last day in Kerala, we decided to make the most of it and take a trip to the famous waterfalls in Athirapally. This place was packed with so many people, most of them sitting around, enjoying the view. We walked along the river paths since the waters were low, but during the high seasons, there can be flash floods without warning. Again, it’s best to travel with a local, because there is so much that a tourist or even an NRI (non-residing Indian, like me) won’t know.
Visit Toddy shops & Eat !!!!
Toddy shops are basically bars but they serve natural fermented alcohol from coconuts. Back in the day, it was a place mainly for men to go drink and hang out; definitely not a place for women to be. Now, there are many family oriented shops that cater to women and children. Besides the fermented alcohol, they also serve mouth watering, delicious food. The main courses include seafood, fried or baked inside a leaf.
Check out this Youtube video on how to make delicious Kerala style dishes!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wWw9FWhD5ek&t=6s
What else?
There are many things I still haven’t done in Kerala. One of those things include traveling up to the north side of Kerala. There are several tea plantations in the North; the three most famous being in Munnar, Wayanad, and Vagamon. Munnar also offers scenic waterfalls and many resorts and bungalows. Palakkad is another city, known for it’s greenery, mountains and picturesque scenery. Thrissur is a cultural city, that often hosts the big onam celebrations and the famous “Thrissur pooram”. Thekkady is the area you want to visit if you like forestry and wildlife. Kozhikode, known as Calicut, is known for the culture and delicious Malabar food, including dum biriyani. Idukki, filled with plantations and beautiful scenery is also high on my list for our next trip. Fort Kochi, located southwest of Kerala, is yet another great place to explore to get the experience of the local people and history.
No matter where you plan to go in Kerala, I would not suggest you travel alone. Especially if you don’t know the language or place, you should definitely go with a travel buddy or even a group. I usually don’t book many tour packages, but this is one place I would recommend you book it! Packages usually include rides to and from your home/hotel and that in itself is a big advantage.
Recently, Kerala has been through two major flooding from monsoon season, one a year after the other. The people there are working hard to get back on their feet and get their lives going again. They are picking up back on tourism and need the most support at this time.
Visiting another part of India? Check out my post on North India!
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