Kerala, also known as “God’s own country” is the all in one package that anybody would love to explore. Wedged between the Lakshadweep Sea and the Western Ghats, this state is India’s twenty-second largest state with an area of 38,683square kilometres. It is embellished with green-carpeted hills, breathtakingly beautiful backwaters, a rich conglomeration of flora and fauna, pristine beaches, culture and art, ayurvedic therapies, tea plantations, and spices and the tantalizing cuisines. You can also stay in houseboats and treehouses within the lap of nature. So, if you’re willing to visit God’s own country here are the top 10 most beautiful places of Kerala.
- Alleppey
Also known as the Venice of the east, it is famous for its serene backwaters and cruising on houseboats. It has a unique crisscross canal system that connects the whole area allowing the travellers to explore the entire area while relaxing on the houseboats. Another attracting spot is the Alleppey beach. At a distance of two kilometres from the Alapphuza Railway station this beach is a lovely white sand beach on the Arabian sea lined with rich palm groves. One more exciting place in Alleppey is the Punnamada lake which is famous for its Nehru Trophy Snake Boat race. Each snake boat is accompanied by 150 oarsmen showing their skills on a track of 1.5 kilometres.
- Vagamon
This is a hill station hidden from all the city bustle, ornate by green-covered hills, mystical gardens, aromatic tea plantations, and misty valleys. These hills stations have many attracting spots like the Barren hills whose vastness and green-carpeted hills which mostly stay barren will amaze the travellers. Other than this it has many other tourist-attracting spots like the Marmara waterfalls, Vagamon falls, pine forest, the Pattumala church, and Thangal hills. The best time to explore Vagamon is the month of August to May.
- Kovalam
Kovalam beach is among the best beaches in Kerala famous for its ayurvedic therapy, effective message, sunbathing, and water sports like parasailing, swimming, and paragliding. The crescent-shaped coastline always buzzes with different activities from different cultures. It also has other tourist-attracting spots like the lighthouse beach erecting a 30meter tall lighthouse on the Kurumkal hills. The other exciting spots are rock-cut caves, Hawa Beach, Kovalam Jama Masjid, halcyon castle and Vijhinjam marine aquarium.
- Thekkady
This place is a pure paradise for nature and wildlife lovers. Some of the rarest species of animals are seen here like the lion-tailed macaques, gaurs, sambars, and tigers. In addition to these, there are other animals like boars, deer, bison, and lions. The trekking path from Moozhiyar to Thekkady Gavi is one of the most famous trails of south India. The best time to visit this place is the month of November to May. The other attracting spots are Ayurvedic garden, Mullaperiyar Dam and Mudra cultural centre.
- Wayanad
Wayanad means paddy field land in Malayalam, which is one of the greenest places in Kerala that people like to visit. The calm atmosphere, rich culture, and Godly beauty have made Wayanad living heaven. This place is a mixture of man-made heritage and nature. Small unnamed waterfalls increase the charm of this place. The best time to visit this place is the monsoon season when one can trek and explore the adventure activities. The other famous spots are the Lakkidi viewpoint, Padinjarathara Dam and the Thusharagiri hills.
- Kumarakom
This is one of the most tranquil places situated near Vembanad lake. It is a mixture of everything here, fresh air, fresh coconuts, beautiful backwaters, and the authentic Kerala food and the variety of flora and fauna. 16kilometers away from Kottayam railway station this place offers the best houseboat stays with undisturbed solitude and privacy. The best time to visit Kumarakom is the month of September and May. There are also some other places that attract tourists like the Bay island driftwood museum, Thirunakkara Mahadev temple, and Aruvikkuzhi waterfalls.
- Munnar
It is the best place for couples for a honeymoon trip. It has tea plantations spread over 80000 miles, low flying clouds, misty valleys, and aromatic vegetation. The best time to explore Munnar is the month of October to March. Except for the misty valleys with low flying clouds, some other places that attract visitors to Munnar which are the Life of the pie church, Kundala lake, Indo Swiss Dairy farm, Attukal Waterfalls, and the famous Tata Tea Museum.
- Varkala
It is the most scenic seaside place in Kerala. The cliffs o one side and rich greenery on the other makes the place more photogenic and charming. The sunset on this beach will make you feel ecstatic and the colourful rays make it more mesmerizing. This is one of the most religious places in Hindu culture attracting many religious travellers. It has many temples with beautiful architectural works like Sarkara Devi temple, Vishnu temple, and Janardan Swami temple. Another attraction of this spot is the Varkala tunnel, Papanasam beach, and Kappil lake.
- Idukki
It is known as the gem of Kerala. This place is ideal for relaxing and while watching colourful birds and also the perfect place for trekking. Surrounded by aromatic tea and spice plantation nestled amidst the verdant hills and rich forests are the ideal place for nature walk bird watching and trekking. The best time to visit Idukki is the month of November to January. The other attracting spots in Idukki are Thattekkad Bird Sanctuary, Kolukkumalai Tea Estate, Thommankuthu falls and the Kalvari Mount.
- Ponmudi
The mountaineers paradise with lush mist-laden hills is the best spot for hiking and trekking. With many narrow winding roads and tea gardens spread all around makes it more charming. It is divided into upper and lower retreat, focusing mainly on the upper area for ecotourism projects. The mountain wildflowers, unique and colourful butterflies and small unnamed rivers make Ponmudi an even more attracting place than any others in Kerela. One can visit at any time of the year to explore this hill paradise. Some of the other attracting spots in Ponmudi is the Meenmutty Falls, Mankaym falls and the Ponmudi rock.